Yes, self-care is awesome, but I’m referring to actual rules! Based on all the amazing clients I see every day, I am beginning to think that few people truly understand the rules of self-care, so I’m inspired to write a blog about it. So, without further ado, here’s what you need to know about self-care:
1. In order to do it right, you have to benefit somehow.
Self-care means taking care of yourself — not the dog, or your kids, or the house. You can take care of others and feel good about yourself in the process, but oftentimes, we take this to the extreme and wipe ourselves out. Are you spent by all the “self-care” you do? Hint: That’s not self-care. If you’re feeling depleted, it’s a red flag that you need to stop and take a moment (or several) to recharge.
2. Injectables ARE a form of self-care (don’t listen to your husband or other naysayers).
Certain critics who do not understand cosmetic treatments fail to realize that injectables and other aesthetic treatments are amazing self-care tools. They boost confidence immediately, especially when results are immediate. But even if results are gradual, my clients leave feeling refreshed and excited about themselves. That’s priceless!
3. Self-care doesn’t always mean spending money.
Cosmetic treatments are wonderful, but you can also take care of yourself with tea breaks or a simple stroll outside. Spending quiet time in your bathroom also works! I knew a friend who would retreat to the bathroom for a few minutes just to get some quiet time away from household pressures. That’s self-care, too (not the most glamorous environment, granted), but in a pinch it does the trick!
4. It’s an every-day affair.
If you are saving up for a special outing or treatment, that’s great. Just remember that self-care is vital to your well-being so it should be integrated into your everyday routine. Every day is a perfect day to treat yourself to YOU time, even if it’s just five minutes of meditation!
If you’re feeling inspired to practice some self-care at AVIE!, we can’t wait to help! From skin treatments to makeup and skin care, we’ve got all your needs covered! AVIE! proudly serves clients from Leesburg, Ashburn, and all over NoVA. See you soon!
– Kim
Category: BOTOX®, Page: 3
How to Enhance the Benefits of Your Next Injectables Session! Leesburg, VA
We can’t emphasize enough that the skill of your cosmetic injector makes all the difference with your injectable treatment. That’s why our team at AVIE! Medspa has undergone advanced training and offers decades of experience to help you achieve optimal benefits safely and consistently. You deserve the best injectable experience, and we are totally obsessed with providing it! Did you know that we were recently selected by NorthernVirginia as one of the best medspas in Best of NoVA 2019? We are so grateful for your continued support these past 10 years in business!
That said, there are a few things you, our amazing clients, can do to help boost your Botox® and dermal filler benefits.
1. Start using retinoids in your skin care regimen.
Retinoids or retinol are derivatives of vitamin A, the most powerful and widely-studied skin revitalizing ingredient.. Incorporating retinol or a retinoid into your daily skin care routine doesn’t work magic overnight, but slowly goes to work speeding cellular turnover, prompting new collagen growth, and strengthening your skin for a smoother, younger-looking complexion over the long term. Injectables combined with daily topical vitamin A formulations is a potent skin-renewing combo that won’t fail you! (The only catch is to avoid applying your vitamin A products for the first 24 to 48 hours following your treatment, because it can irritate your injection sites.)
2. Avoid aspirin, alcohol, and the 4 G’s.
All blood-thinning substances, including alcohol and aspiring or non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDS), are a big no-no because they will increase your risk of bruising and slow your recovery. The 4 G’s are ginkgo, ginseng, garlic, and ginger. These natural herbs will thin your blood, too! Maybe we should call it the 5 G’s, because green tea is a blood thinner as well.
3. Prepare for a few days of downtime.
Even though injectables are officially a minimal to no downtime treatment, do yourself a favor and schedule ample buffer time after your treatment, so you can stay home and relax, applying ice every hour or so when swelling is highest.
4. Avoid getting hot!
No saunas, intense workouts, or yoga, please! Anything that increases blood flow and dilates your blood vessels will exacerbate your symptoms and make your swelling and bruising worse.
Please call 703.870.3844 or request your personal consultation today!
— Kim
It’s Never Too Late for an Awesome Summer! Leesburg,VA
Confidence is everything. When you feel confident, it’s so much easier to relax and enjoy the moment, isn’t it? I think it’s because when you’re busy feeling your best, you’re not thinking about the little things or imperfections that make you feel lousy, like razor burn or belly fat. You’re just happy being you!
In case you didn’t know, I’m in the business of confidence boosting here at AVIE! To boost your confidence this summer, here are a few of my favorite treatments:
Laser hair removal
If you’re on the fence about laser hair removal, I urge you to take the plunge and schedule a series of 5 laser hair removal treatments this year. It will change your life! (Seriously!) While summer isn’t an ideal time for laser hair removal since your skin needs to be tan-free, this treatment is a MUST to fit into your grooming routine whenever you can. So many women I know have struggled their entire lives with painful and embarrassing ingrowns or razor burn (on their bikini line, especially). This tricky area is sensitive and prone to aesthetic issues, which is why I encourage laser hair removal because it will set you free! Imagine being able to walk the beach or pool without a cover up this year because you don’t feel compelled to cover up your imperfections? You deserve to enjoy smooth, carefree comfort that’s long-lasting, not temporary, and you can find it with laser hair removal right here in Leesburg.
Skin tightening
If you are bothered by certain lines or crepey skin that’s aging you before your time, we can help you look as young as you feel with a wide range of solutions. In addition to tried-and-true injectables like Botox® and dermal fillers, we offer the most advanced skin tightening treatments on the market—Vivace™ Fractional Micro Needle RF and SkinTyte™ II. Vivace is a microneedling and radiofrequency treatment that helps to tighten and smooth skin anywhere you need it while also shrinking pores and evening skin tone without discomfort or downtime. SkinTyte uses non-invasive infrared energy to tighten lax skin. We’ll help you figure out which treatment or combination of treatments best suits your needs.
Body contouring
The other major confidence robber is unwanted fat. Do you battle with a muffin top or underarm fat? Our pesky fat bulges have a mind of their own and refuse to leave despite our most ardent attempts at exercise and dieting. It’s not fair! But whatever your body concern is, we can help with our complete selection of body sculpting treatments for reducing fat, toning muscle and tightening skin without surgery or downtime. Whether it’s EMSCULPT®, CoolSculpting®, Kybella®, or Ultherapy®, we’ve got your needs covered! Did you know that AVIE! was named a Top 5 Ultherapy provider in the Southeast by NewBeauty, and that we’re also a CoolSculpting-certified practice and member of the CoolClub, having performed more than 4,000 successful treatments?
Give yourself the gift of confidence this summer and beyond by calling703.870.3844 or requesting a consultation online today!
—Kim
Awesome Father’s Day Gifts Leesburg, VA
We know how to surprise Dad this Father’s Day—give him a gift card to AVIE! We guarantee he won’t see it coming, but once he realizes that he can finally tame his spare tire without surgery, get thicker, fuller hair with PRP Hair Restoration, or clear up his mottled complexion with a non-invasive photofacial, YOU will be his favorite for life!
Here’s a closer look at some of our most popular Dad-day indulgences. And while you’re at it, treat yourself! Our medical spa is the ultimate bonding experience!
Botox®
More men than ever before are turning to FDA-approved Botox to smooth away pesky lines and wrinkles on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes. Dad will be amazed at how efficient and comfortable this popular treatment truly is, and he’ll be thrilled when he notices his younger-looking appearance within a week following his treatment.
EMSCULPT™ & CoolSculpting® Body Contouring
EMSCULPT is a non-invasive treatment that triggers 20,000 muscle contractions while you lay back and relax. EMSCULPT helps to tone and strengthen muscles on the abdomen or buttocks, but also reduces fat for a slimmer, trimmer and firmer look without downtime. CoolSculpting is another proven body sculpting favorite for reducing unwanted fat bulges without invasive measures or downtime. We’re a CoolSculpting-certified practice and member of the Cool Club, which means we’ve received advanced training and performed a high volume of treatments to become CoolSculpting experts. The big difference between the two treatments is that CoolSculpting is designed for reducing fat deposits, while EMSCULPT’s main focus is muscle building on the abs and buttocks. CoolSculpting also targets other areas including the thighs and chin. We can help you figure out which treatment or if a combination of treatments suits your needs during your personal consultation.
Laser Skin Treatments
We’re not sure why more men aren’t aware of laser skin rejuvenation, but we’d be glad to enlighten them ASAP! If Dad has broken capillaries on his face, redness, age spots, sun spots, or other pigmentation irregularities, it’s time for Dad to experience a non-invasive BBL™ photofacial. The power of BBL (broadband light) is truly incredible, targeting imperfections of the skin and revealing a clearer, more evenly-toned appearance with little to no downtime.
We can’t wait to treat Dad to the treatment of his choice, and we are so grateful for your continued support of AVIE! year after year! We work hard to be there for you by providing the best treatments and services on the market. Thank you for inspiring us and making us the top medspa in Northern Virginia!
To buy a gift card, please call 703.870.3844, stop in, or request a consultation online today!
–Kim
“2019’s Most Worth It Procedures” Leesburg, VA
Awesome news! So many of my favorite treatments have been included in RealSelf’s list, “2019’s Most Worth It Procedures!” RealSelf is where real patients and doctors connect online to discuss everything you need to know about every aesthetic treatment and surgery out there. Each year, their readers—people just like you—vote for the top aesthetic treatments. I’m thrilled to see that so many of the awarded treatments are the same ones I rely on to give my patients amazing results.
My treatments that made the “Most Worth It” list are…(drum roll, please…)
Emsculpt®!
I’m thrilled that this amazing new body sculpting technology made the list! Using high-intensity electromagnetic energy, Emsculpt produces the same result as 20,000 crunches in 30 minutes. FDA-approved for the abdomen or buttocks, this treatment is a game changer for anyone seeking more ab definition or a buttock boost who can’t devote hours in the gym. Emsculpt is the perfect complement to CoolSculpting®, which focuses on fat reduction for almost any area of the body. We can help you plan your optimal body contouring plan during your free personal consultation.
HydraFacial®!
I adore the way my skin looks and feels after this iconic treatment—and so do all our clients! This multi-step skin resurfacing treatment cleans, exfoliates and infuses skin with nourishing nutrients and hydration to leave you looking absolutely radiant with zero downtime. And to make your HydraFacial experience even better, we now have Alastin® and Senté® boosters to drive clinically-tested active ingredients into the skin!”
Injectables!
Injectables are another proven favorite here at AVIE! Botox®, Juvéderm® and Volbella® all made the list for their age-defying benefits and ease. Since 2009, we’ve performed more than 200,000 injectable treatments. That’s a lot of satisfied customers!
Chemical Peels!
A tried-and-true complexion perfector, chemical peels are suitable for almost every skin type. I rely on a range of results-driven chemical peels to provide an impressive range of benefits, including smoother, brighter, younger-looking skin with more even tone and texture. I’m glad to see that RealSelf readers love them, too!
Eyelid surgery!
Our medical director, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Khalique Zahir performs exquisite eyelid surgery for our patients needing rejuvenation of their delicate eye area. I’m so glad that AVIE! is able to offer this popular and “Most Worth It” procedure!
Did you know that just about every treatment on our menu has been awarded with top honors? To learn more about ALL our acclaimed services, including microneedling, microblading, Halo™ laser skin renewal, BBL™ photofacial, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for hair loss, and much, much more, please call 703.870.3844 or request a complimentary consultation online.
—Kim
Perfect Your Pucker for Valentine’s Day! Leesburg, VA
I can’t think of a better excuse for an injectable session than Valentine’s Day. Then again, do you ever need an excuse to look your best?
FDA-approved dermal fillers and Botox® are trusted cosmetic treatments that have helped millions of women and men to look and feel their best year after year without surgery. They are tough to beat for their winning combination of almost immediate satisfaction and minimal downtime.
Here are a few of my all-time-favorite options for revitalizing your look with injectables:
Pucker up!
You have two options for enhancing your pout. If you want to enhance your pucker without giving away your secret, Volbella® is the way to go. Volbella is formulated to be a thinner consistency for revealing subtle benefits like smoothing vertical lip lines and accentuating your cupid’s bow and lower lip. For those who desire more dramatic lip augmentation, Juvéderm is our go-to workhorse. This award-winning filler contains bigger hyaluronic acid molecules to achieve noticeable, long-lasting enhancement.
Lose the lines and look natural!
Did you know that some people are still afraid that Botox® will make their forehead look frozen? It’s kind of a myth, because Botox is truly an invisible treatment. All it does is relax the muscles underneath your skin, preventing wrinkles from forming. Botox is the world’s most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatment, but I still think it’s underrated. It’s absolutely wonderful for reducing crow’s feet and smile lines around the eyes, not just the forehead. It can take years off your appearance, and no one will have any idea you had it done. It’s truly that simple.
Get cheeky!
Enhancing the volume in your cheeks with Voluma™ is such a powerful beauty aid! It provides a subtle, natural-looking lift to your face, smoothing lines and wrinkles for a refreshed, vibrant look. The best thing about Voluma is that it can last up to two years per treatment so you get quite a bang for your buck.
There are so many ways to bring out your best for Valentine’s Day! For a dewy glow, schedule a HydraFacial®. If you’re hoping to correct a few spots here and there, a BBL™ photofacial will help you achieve a more even tone with no downtime. To discover the ideal treatments for you, we can’t wait to help! Please call 703.870.3844 or request your personal consultation today.
-Kim