Skin REPUBLIC
Dear Dr. Jen, I have flabby upper arms and thighs. My internist said that I am not a good candidate for liposuction due to my diabetes. Is there another way to slim down my limbs that will not put my health at risk?
Giselle
Dear Giselle, There are many FDA approved, non-invasive ways to shape your body. The most popular are Radiofrequency and Infrared (Apollo, Thermage, Titan, etc). These lasers firm up the skin by restoring firmness in the area treated. As expected, the results are not as drastic as liposuction but it will help to a highly satisfactory degree. The wonderful thing about facelifting and body-contouring lasers is the absence of surgery. Also, it is cheaper than going about it surgically plus there is no recovery time required. However, there are two things to be mindful of. First thing to ask is what machine your dermatologist is using. You can even go so far as to ask how much the machine is. Chances are the cheaper machines probably are not as well made, meaning higher risk for side effects and less than optimum results. More importantly, research about the dermatologist (not cosmetologist) doing the procedure and make sure they are certified and properly trained. Good luck and hope you enjoy the benefits of nonsurgical skin tightening soon!
Dear Dr. Jen, My mother was diagnosed to have skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) in the US which was removed from her face. She is fine now, however, I am anxious about getting skin cancer too. My question is: am I at risk too and how often should I have my skin checked for cancer?
Amy
Dear Amy, I am very sorry to hear about your mom's condition but I am glad it was treated appropriately. Basal cell carcinoma is one of the most common skin cancers in the world. It is a very "polite" skin cancer because it does not metastasize and is very treatable simply by removing it.
To answer your question, yes, you are at risk to a certain degree, especially if you have Caucasian ancestry. But what is more influential in developing basal cell carcinoma is chronic sun exposure. If you grew up being constantly outdoors or at the beach, then that would put you at a risk. Be suspicious of early signs of skin cancer such as non-healing wounds, reddish patch on the face that does not respond to medicine, and elevated growth with rolled borders. You can have an over all skin check yearly to document your moles and other suspicious-looking lesions. This will only take 10 minutes of your time every year but will put your mind at ease. You can check the PDS (Philippine Dermatological Society) website for a dermatologist nearest you who can give you a thorough check for skin cancers. Don't forget to slather on the sunblock so you prevent putting yourself at risk!