Who doesn’t dread the first sign of bikini season? After months of incredible spring weather, blossoming flowers, irresistible patio dining, and schedules packed full of social events, most of us aren’t prepared to hop into our bathing suits. Sure, the thought of this alone can be terrifying, but with new technology comes quick and easier-than-ever solutions to feel good and strut in style. Here are our top 5 non-invasive ways to get in shape:

1. CoolSculpting: Pinching an extra inch here or there? With CoolSculpting’s innovative new fat reduction treatment, if you can pinch it, it can be treated in one hour flat. Drop in during your lunch hour or in-between errands and reduce your bulge by up to 25% with little to no downtime. Plus, should you need a little extra help, repeat the treatment within a few weeks for even greater results.
2. Liposonix: One treatment, one hour, one size smaller – that about says it all. This non-invasive fat reduction treatment utilizes ultrasonic waves to eliminate fat from multiple areas of the body. In a few weeks your pants will fit better, and you will experience a new level of confidence in your swimsuit!
3. Thermage Body: Even when you are looking and feeling good, cellulite can be an unwanted distraction. The key to cellulite elimination is to stimulate new collagen in the dermal layer of the skin to firm up the “cottage cheese” that has developed on your thighs over the long cold winter. Enjoy results that last for years with one treatment.
4. Triactive: Relax with this mild cellulite treatment. Combining a low energy laser with a massaging action, this series of 30 minute treatments delivers smoother thighs perfect for accenting your swimsuit body on that Hawaiian island vacation!
5. LightSheer Laser Hair Reduction: Even a perfect body can go unappreciated when unwanted hair is poking out of that adorable suit. LightSheer offers a series of treatments that will permanently eliminate unwanted bikini-line hair.

These easy, quick and often cost-effective treatments will get you ready in time, but don’t delay, summer vacation is just around the corner!

Brian was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 21

As I look back at my career choices, I find fulfillment in making impactful changes for people, but I also ask myself the question, “How can I save a life?” The practice (Van Dyke Laser & Skin) has raised money for various charities (Susan G. Komen, American Heart Association), donated copious amounts of silent auction items and walked and ran for a number of great causes. My incredible staff has always contributed as well, giving freely of their time and talent to support our community. Even still, I wasn’t feeling the life-saving connection that so many doctors feel in their work.

All this changed two years ago when I found my connection. It was my son Brian. He was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the ripe old age of 21. Overnight, things changed in Brian’s life. No longer could he casually grab a bite to eat. Life became a constant math equation – converting food and exercise into units of insulin. One mistake will ruin his day, a lot of mistakes over time and he risks losing his vision, kidneys or feet. One big mistake and he loses his life.

Not fair, not right. Damn the genetics and whims of nature that killed the cells in his pancreas and forever removed his ability metabolize food energy like everyone else. No, he is not fat or sedentary and diet and exercise will not help him. He is what the medical industry used to refer to as a “juvenile diabetic,” afflicted with an autoimmune disease very different from the more common life style disease called Type 2.

When he was diagnosed, I told him that his job was to take care of his body until a cure was found. The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) is where the cure will come from. The artificial pancreas is well on its way to being the godsend that we need, and JDRF continues to be instrumental in raising funds to make this a reality.

Both myself and my practice are passionate and proud to help the cause. We will hold a silent auction at our April 14th Open House and offer up all of the cosmetic procedures that we offer to the highest bidders. Our goal is to raise $20,000 for JDRF. If you are able, set aside some time for fun, food, music, information, bargains, and educational lectures on everything that Van Dyke Laser & Skin does. Place a bid on any procedure, and together we can save some lives.

When you think of statements that instantly grab attention, “Let’s Get Naked” would invariably near the top of the list. It comes as no surprise that the world’s great marketing minds would flip this into a truly outstanding marketing campaign, which is exactly what CoolSculpting™ has done for their version of a non-invasive fat reduction treatment (I am sure you have heard me speak about this before). I must admit – I love CoolSculpting. We’ve now hit the one year milestone of reducing belly bulges, muffin tops and love handles , and are now the most experienced practice in Greater Phoenix having performed over 800 treatments to date. I can tell you that it works, and not just on bellies and flanks, but also arms, bra fat, and even inner thighs. Sure, I believe in diet and exercise and I encourage myself and my patients to embark on a healthy, active lifestyle. I do, however, take issue with those who say the only acceptable way to look good is thru diet and exercise! What about those who still have a stubborn spare tire despite best efforts? All you post-menopausal ladies may be able to relate. Once the hormones go south, the fat becomes more stubborn. We have also seen great results on the super fit young crowd carrying a little bulge here and there.

Equally exciting to announce, Van Dyke Laser & Skin has just signed on as Arizona’s exclusive provider of a brand new non-invasive fat reduction treatment, Liposonix®! While similar in nature to CoolSculpting, Liposonix differs in the treatment process. Instead of using cold to freeze fat, it uses focused ultrasound technology to melt fat. It focuses heat one-half inch below the skin surface to give the average patient a one inch reduction in waist size in one hour. After that hour treatment, Liposonix takes about 12 weeks for full effect and, similar to CoolSculpting, will help you achieve your body shaping goals.

Looking at the immediate history of both treatments, Liposonix® was FDA approved in September 2011; CoolSculpting in September 2010. I am often asked which I like better, but that’s difficult to answer. What I like best is offering two excellent choices for non-invasive fat removal (the first in the southwest to offer this choice), ultimately making people happier and more comfortable with their bodies!

I have been doing laser resurfacing for nearly 20 years now. In fact, I had the procedure done myself before I ever treated a patient. I was 41 years old and had just been diagnosed with skin cancer. Thankfully it was basal cell carcinoma, the most manageable of the skin cancers. Easily curable and rarely life threatening, this type of cancer is unlike the melanoma that my aunt just passed away from. Around the same time as my diagnosis, my mother had several basal cell cancers removed from her face, and by the time she passed away at the age of 77, she had over a dozen surgeries to remove the sun induced lesions.

This taught me an important lesson – prevention. I sought a way to immediately reduce the risk of contracting additional skin cancers on my face, and remove the sun damage and wrinkles that developed over the years. I decided to undergo laser resurfacing treatment, and decided to make it available to my patients. I flew to La Jolla, California and trained with two icons of laser treatments: Mitch Goldman, MD and Richard Fitzpatrick, MD. I returned to La Jolla a few weeks later and Dr. Fitzpatrick treated me.

At the time, laser resurfacing was harsh and the recovery long, but I never regretted the decision. Today, at the age of 57, I have yet to contract skin cancer on my face. My cosmetic improvement has been fantastic; sun damage and wrinkles gone. Since then, I have treated several hundred patients with amazing results.

Resurfacing fell out of favor for a few years; there was a search for easier ways to accomplish the same dramatic results. About 10 years ago the concept of fractional resurfacing developed and has since become the gold standard in resurfacing. In the last few years, the power of this technique combined with a much quicker recovery period is being appreciated. Active FX and Deep FX (when combined, the treatment is called Total FX) is the very latest in resurfacing. These are the two approaches that I now use at Van Dyke Laser & Skin. We also have Fraxel Dual (for lesser sun damaged skin) and Clear + Brilliant (for early stages of sun damage). With these tools and techniques, I can now give my patients a treatment that fits their needs

We have come a long way!

The party’s over. You felt the love this holiday season, but now you are feeling the added weight that comes along with all the treats, goodies and celebrations. We see it so often – people overdoing it during the holidays only to swear off the sweets and eats come January, leading to countless sessions at the gym and little progress made by Spring. This year, we would like to offer an alternate perspective, one that will allow you to shape up and tighten up before the swimsuit season knocks at our door. Here are some tips for what you can do now to avoid losing steam and results after a few months and instead, embark on a program that will increase results down the line, when it really counts.

Target:Stubborn areas of fat such as love handles, muffin tops and back fat. Plus, the dreaded roll below the belly button and even chubby arms.

Solution:

CoolSculpting. This treatment of freezing fat right off your body has now been around for well over a year now and we have seen a incredible reductions in these stubborn areas on patients we have treated. Just one procedure can reduce the fat layer by 20% or more on average. The treatment takes one hour per targeted area and during that time you can relax, read, watch TV or a movie on our HDTV, or even eat lunch! There is no downtime and results maximize after 3 to 4 months. You can also repeat for better results!

Target: Saggy skin and cellulite on arms, legs, thighs, buttocks and tummy

Solution:

There is hope! Thermage is the “gold standard” for collagen tightening without downtime. Thermage is a non-invasive way to attack these problem areas while improving tone and tightening your skin. Schedule a treatment now and in 3 months enjoy maximum results. One treatment takes roughly 1.5 hours per targeted area.

Bulls-Eye: Spot-fat reduction AND skin firming and tightening.

Solution:

ThermaCool! Our name for the combination of CoolSculpting and Thermage, this treatment combination is showing great promise on both fronts, and when used together, patients are achieving optimal results.

For a glimpse of what I am talking about, click here for our live demo on 12News or join us at our next in-person demo detailed below!

Three years ago (and just two months into the recession) I was brainstorming with my marketing-genius son, Brian. It was the day before Thanksgiving and the topic of conversation was how to give back to our patients, and how to give them a gift they would truly want. Brian exclaimed “BLACK FRIDAY!” It sounded crazy to me, but why not? We sent out an email to all of our wonderful patients with the promise of a great value on everything we offered. The only requirement was that patients had to prepay over the phone during a 2 hour window to take advantage of the huge savings. We staffed the phones, held our breaths and when the appointed hour arrived…well, inundated doesn’t even begin to describe it!

We killed two birds with one stone. We delivered a great value, offering full-service treatments with our highest level of professionalism (this isn’t Groupon, where often times the savings gets passed along to the consumer in degraded service). Second, we stimulated our local economy during recessionary times.

Three years later, Van Dyke Laser & Skin is strong and healthy. Black Friday has now become a tradition in which we thank our loyal patients from the bottom of our hearts. It’s the perfect end to the Thanksgiving Holiday. Thank you for being a part of the Van Dyke Laser & Skin family!

The vast majority of skin cancers are linked to UV exposure. Melanoma, the deadliest form, is continuing to increase in number. Over 68,000 cases were diagnosed last year (including in one of my golfing buddies). Babies born this year have a one in 50 risk of developing melanoma in their lifetime. Nearly every hour in the US someone loses their life to melanoma (including my aunt who died months after the initial diagnosis).

So, what can we do??

SkinCancer.org has some great suggestions for us all.

Fall brings with it many outdoor spectator sports. Here are some suggestions to healthy skin all year round even for the football fan.

• Wear Sunscreen

  Sunscreen is a must. Choose a product with an SPF of 15 or higher, and some combination of the following UVA-blocking ingredients: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide. Apply a full ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to the entire body, including a nickel-sized dollop to the face, 30 minutes before heading outside. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after sweating heavily. And don’t skip the sunscreen if it’s overcast: Up to 80 percent of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation) can penetrate clouds — and harm your skin.

• Dress the Part

  The more skin you cover, the better. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants protect the skin on your arms and legs, and are perfect for the changeable fall weather. If you’re worried about overheating, look for clothes made of breathable materials, like certain microfibers and specially-treated athletic wear. For cooler days, densely-woven, dark-colored fabrics (like deep blue denim) are heavy enough to keep you warm, and lightweight enough for comfort.

• A baseball cap may be your idea of a hat, but a hat with at least a 3” brim all around (such as an outback or bucket hat) will protect your head, neck, and shoulders — the parts of the body that sustain the most sun damage, and the most common sites for precancers and cancers.

• Cover Your Eyes

  Between five and 10 percent of all skin cancers occur on the eyelid, and UV radiation can also lead to eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Protect your eyes with a pair of UV-blocking sunglasses. For the most sun protection, choose larger-sized frames that shield the eyes, eyelids, and surrounding areas, or a wraparound style with side shields.

• Look for a pair of sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of UV radiation (the sunglasses’ tag or packaging should say this). Make sure your shades fit comfortably. Sunglasses that slip down your nose don’t give as much protection.

• If you’ll be watching a sport on a solid-color surface (like grass or Astroturf), brown-tinted lenses provide great color contrast and visibility.

• Sit Strategically

  If possible, sit in the shady section of the stadium or field — under an awning or overhang, if possible. If you can’t find a seat out of the sun, consider bringing a portable shade structure or an umbrella with you.

But I don’t think age is only a number, I have proof. My practice is full of the over 50 crowd and our needs, wants desires may not be the same as they were in our 20s and 30s but we still care about how we look. It is now about making our outsides match our insides. I feel great and I want to look great for the stage that I am in in life.

I introduced CoolSculpting into the practice in March of this year. It literally can freeze fat and make it go away. CoolSculpting is great for treating stubborn areas of fat that does not respond to diet and exercise. As expected there was a huge interest from the public (because it actually works). Not expected was the large number of men and women over 70 who showed up wanting the treatment. Maybe the naked dancing days are over but they still wanted to look better in their clothes. And if fat reduction is not needed Thermage Body does a nice job of tightening up saggy, crepey skin on the arms, legs and tummy.

I find that what we all want is to feel good about what we see in the mirror. We have the ability to look great for our age. We call it skin rejuvenation. Consider laser skin resurfacing, remarkable improvement in sun damage and wrinkles can be achieved with CO2 laser treatments(Active FX, Deep FX and Total FX). Sure there is some downtime (about a week of redness and some swelling) but there is no better way to clear away the years with a single treatment.

I would be remiss if I did not include the fact that loss of volume is a huge factor in making us look “old”. We all suffer from shrinkage of facial fat, muscle and bone. Too bad the skin doesn’t shrink too. The solution? Add the volume back. SculptraAesthetic can do this. It involves several treatments of injections over several months to replace years of lost volume.

I used to think 40 was old, not so, there are so many things that we can do in our 50s 60s 70s and beyond. If you feel good, you can look good.

BRILLIANT: wonderful, smart and exciting. (I love when Hugh Grant says it). It also means “sparkly, reflective and shiny” like a diamond.

Clear + Brilliant is now a laser. Interesting name. Can it deliver clean, translucent, wonderful, smart, exciting, sparkly, reflective and shiny skin?

This new laser Clear + Brilliant (C+B) is from Solta, the same world renowned and respected company that makes the FRAXEL laser and THERMAGE. C+ B is designed to fill the gap between the FRAXEL (a serious wrinkle, acne scar, sundamage laser) and the lighter microdermabrasion and superficial peels. This is a welcome addition to our armamentarium to fight aging and sundamage. The younger patient who is not satisfied with the spa offerings but it not yet ready for the serious laser resurfacing treatments will love the C +B.

C+ B comes with a very attractive price point ( one third the cost of a Fraxel) and there is no real downtime. It actually is a lunch time laser. I am pretty excited about being one of twelve centers in the US to get our hands on this laser. It is newly FDA approved (May 2011) and will officially be launched in the US July 1, 2011. It looks like an Apple computer, great design, great technology.

I think it has a future in our lineup of rejuvenating lasers. Although, not sure it will raise your IQ.