Radiance Blog

What was the number one procedure in 2011 according to the readers of American Health and Beauty?  Not surprisingly it Lipo.  Radiance Medspa Tampa provides the advanced Slimlipo Procedure.
Although non-invasive devices and procedures are on the rise, surgical procedures continue to get the most dramatic and transformative results. The top surgical procedure, as voted by the 2011 Readers' Choice Awards from American Health and Beauty was the popular body contouring procedure liposuction.

As obesity rates continue to climb and Americans steadily gain more weight, it is no surprise that the most popular surgical procedure researched on American Health and Beauty is liposuction. However, as new non-invasive technology have been giving surgical procedures a run for their money, new advances are also transforming the traditional liposuction procedure. Offering patients less invasive options, new liposuction technology may result in less downtime and less cost as some of these new body contouring devices may be performed on an outpatient basis and may not require general anesthesia. See Original Article >

By Dr Aamer and Lesley Reynolds Khan
PREPARE to bare your legs. If you want to impress this party season take a style tip from the celebs and choose glamorous gowns slashed to the hip.

Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez and Yasmin Le Bon put 20-something celebrities to shame when they appeared on the red carpet last week in a succession of form-fitting, floating dresses that revealed their long, lean limbs.

This is a style guaranteed to make you stand out from the crowd so consider a mini-makeover before wearing a side split.

From banishing cankles (the part of the leg that’s neither calf nor ankle) to smoothing cellulite and saggy knees there is still time to perfect your pins before Christmas with a combination of treatments and lifestyle changes.

Problem: Saggy knees

At the clinic: Knee wrinkles will be familiar to women of a certain age. In the late 30s saggy skin and deep grooves suddenly appear. They occur as a result of loss of collagen in the skin due to ageing, weight loss, sun damage and dehydration. Fraxel Repair laser gives a great knee lift, tightening the skin by about 30 per cent and stimulating new collagen.

Expect two weeks of downtime. Results last for up to five years. Prices start at £1,000.

At home: Good nutrition and exercise combined with regular exfoliation and massage with a good body cream will improve skin tone. Try Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, £27.50 (boots.com) on crepey knees. It will temporarily smooth and improve the look of your skin. Support tights in a tan tone will also work miracles. Try Marks & Spencer 10 Denier Firm Support Tights, £5 (0845 302 1234).

Problem: Cankles

At the clinic: When fatty deposits settle in the lower part of the leg they blur the distinction between the calf and ankle creating the dreaded “cankle”. This effect can also be caused by oedema (swelling), pregnancy or kidney problems so get checked by your GP before proceeding.

If your doctor confirms that fat is the problem one option is Smartlipo, which can help create a more defined lower leg. Unlike traditional liposuction this process involves inserting a small fibre-optic laser under the skin to break down unwanted fat cells. These are naturally excreted out of the body and the knock-on effect of the treatment is an increased production of collagen. Knees and thighs look more toned after just four weeks. Prices start at £1,500 and results are permanent.

At home: Exercise that targets the calf area may help tone the lower leg giving more muscle definition. Try standing on tip toe, hold for a couple of seconds and then lower your heel to the ground. Repeat 50 times every day.

Problem: Lack of tone

At the clinic: Reaction is a new non-invasive treatment giving brilliant results. It incorporates radiofrequency energy with vacuum therapy to attack the irregular fat cells on the multiple layers of skin. The treatment takes around one hour and three to six sessions are normally required. Patients usually see significant results after two or three sessions and the results improve over time as new collagen is formed.
Prices start at £200 per treatment. At home: Eat a good diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and protein including fats such as avocado, nuts and olive oil. Regular exercise is essential for toning your legs and one of the best methods for slimming and firming thighs is to combine aerobic exercise with toning moves such as squats, lunges and leg lifts.
Results won’t appear overnight but you should start seeing changes after six weeks of regular workouts.
Enlist the help of a personal trainer to teach you the right exercises. 

Problem: Cellulite

At the clinic: Cellutite will smooth out dimpled orange peel skin. A probe is introduced under the skin which delivers high-energy radiofrequency to destroy the fat, break down the fibrous bands and tighten skin. The procedure is carried out as a day case under local anaesthesia. Support garments are worn for four weeks but normal activities can be resumed within 12 hours. Prices start at £1,500 and results are permanent. At home: Nothing beats body brushing for quickly improving the appearance of cellulite. Invest in Liz Earle’s Natural Bristle Body Brush, £7.50 (uk.lizearle.com) and always brush towards your heart. Adjustments to your diet can also make a difference. Limit your salt intake since too much can result in your body retaining water. Drink more water to help rid your body of fluid build-up. Eat more protein and fibre such as meat, fruit and vegetables and cut out junk food, alcohol and smoking. Finally, increase exercise as boosting circulation will help tone.  See Original Article >