Skin Care - Obagi


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Skin Care - Obagi

What Is Obagi?
Is Obagi Safe?
Where Can Obagi Be Used?
How Long Does Obagi Last?
Your Obagi Treatment
Post-Treatment Instructions
Questions You May Have

What Is Obagi?
Over time, normal aging and damage from the sun, environmental pollution, and stress cause your skin's cell turnover rate to slow down, meaning that the new cells take longer to form and reach the top and the old cells accumulate and stay on the surface longer. As the surface of your skin thickens and the area of new cells shrinks, skin becomes less healthy. Daily exposure to sunlight causes the amount of pigment in each skin cell to increase. Collagen and elastin begin to break down. And you begin to notice those unwelcome signs of aging, including fine lines and wrinkles, freckles and age spots, uneven skin tone, loss of elasticity, and loss of natural skin hydration.

The Obagi System, a physician-prescribed skin care system, accelerates the cellular turnover rate of your skin. The Obagi System penetrates below the skin's surface to correct damage in all layers of the skin: the stratum corneum, the epidermis, and the dermis. It corrects functions of the skin at the cellular level so that the skin not only looks younger and healthier, but also replaces cells at a younger and healthier turnover rate.

The Obagi System:
� Pushes fresher cells to the surface faster, for smoother skin, reduced wrinkles, and increased tolerance
� Corrects current pigmentation (freckles and age spots) and prevents the appearance of new pigmentation
� Promotes more uniform cells at the deepest layer for better skin structure and balanced, even skin tone
� Increases collagen and elastin for firmer, more resilient skin
� Increases nutrient's natural hydration and circulation for supple, healthy-looking skin

Visible improvement in the appearance of your skin is generally seen in four to six weeks from your initial Obagi treatment. Of course, results may vary among individuals. The staff and doctors of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will work with you to develop an Obagi skin care treatment program that meets your individual needs and gives you the facial renewal results you desire.

Is Obagi Safe?
The Obagi System is the first and only prescription-strength Vitamin C skin care system of products available in the United States. Its patented formulation, using proven ingredients, provides a systemized treatment for brighter, revitalized skin. The Obagi skin care products are prescription strength formulations and are regulated by the U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Obagi products can only be sold through authorized physicians, such as the doctors of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery.

Where Can Obagi Be Used?
Obagi is a topical skin treatment designed to reduce wrinkles, age discoloration, and sagging that occurs in the facial area and hands. With the exception of the Obagi Nu-Derm System Eye Cream and Cffectives 5%, you should avoid using the products around the eye area, where skin is thin and delicate. The Obagi products can be used on the neck and chest and the back of the hands. However, the skin on the neck and chest is different than that of the face so be sure to consult with the doctors of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery about the correct dosage and frequency when using the Obagi products on these areas.

How Long Does Obagi Last?
The results achieved with the Obagi System will last as long as you continue to use the Obagi skin care maintenance program. Your skin is your largest living organ and is constantly in the process of renewal. Skin cells mature and migrate to the surface every 28 days. The dead cells remain on the surface for another 12 days before sloughing off. When you stop using the Obagi products, you have interrupted the healthy cell renewal process. Eventually, the improved healthy cells will revert to where you started with abnormal skin cell function. You will begin to see diminishing results within weeks.

Your Obagi Treatment
Studies have shown topical Vitamin C, in the most effective form (L-ascorbic acid), can repair sun damaged skin, improve sun protection, reduce fine lines, stimulate collagen building, and reduce discoloration of the skin. As the first and only prescription-strength Vitamin C skin care system, the Obagi System combines the proven benefits of physician-strength Vitamin C with a patented formula of prescription-strength complementary ingredients to correct damage in all layers of the skin.

The Obagi System skin care products transform your skin at the cellular level to look and act younger and healthier. Each of the three Obagi products is specifically designed to work together as a system to transform your skin. When used together, the three Obagi products effectively balance the pH level and penetrate ingredients to all layers of the skin, resulting in a renewed and more youthful skincare appearance.

The Obagi System includes:

o The Obagi Nu-Derm System accelerates cellular turnover for skin with moderate to severe sun damage.
o The Obagi-C Rx System is for brighter, Photolumines skin with mild to moderate sun damage.
o The Obagi Blue Peel System is a peel performed in the doctor's office, used in conjunction with the Obagi Nu-Derm System.

During treatment, you will experience four phases as your skin transforms to a more healthy and younger-looking appearance. The length of time between the phases will vary based upon several factors including your age, skin type, amount of damage, and daily compliance.

In the initial phase of your treatment program, a new layer of fresh, healthy skin cells replaces the damaged top layer of skin. This process takes approximately six weeks. During this phase, you can expect to experience one or more of the following results:

� Your freckles, age spots, and dark patches begin fading
� Exfoliation and flaking
� Redness and dryness
� Wrinkles and acne may look worse temporarily

In the second phase, your skin will begin to build tolerance to peeling and flaking. During this time, the Obagi System is working at the cellular level to continually transform skin cells. New skin cells continue reaching the surface and the production of collagen and elastin increases. You will begin to notice significant improvement in the appearance of your skin:

� Reduction of wrinkles
� Tightening of your pores
� Further lightening of your freckles, age spots, and dark patches
� Subsiding redness and flaking

In phase three of your Obagi treatment, collagen and elastin are increasing production and skin becomes more supple and resilient and uneven color and pigmentation evens out. Your skin has been transformed to function properly, making skin look and act younger and healthier. Your skin is:

� Firmer and more resilient
� Even in color tone
� Smooth and naturally hydrated

In the final, maintenance phase, you continue with the Obagi Nu-Derm System to keep your skin looking and acting younger and healthier. By continuing with a maintenance protocol, you can expect to:

� Maintain healthier, younger-looking skin for a lifetime
� Prevent future damage
� Improve anti-aging effects

The doctors and skincare specialists of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery can advise you on the most appropriate Obagi skin care treatment protocol for your skin type, level of damage, and desired results.

Precautions
There are a few precautions to keep in mind prior to your Obagi treatment:

� Do not consume alcohol leading up to and immediately after your Obagi Blue Peel treatment because alcohol can effect the circulation and blood flow in your body, which could impact the effectiveness of your treatment.

� The non-prescription Obagi products are safe to use during pregnancy and nursing. The prescription products contain Hydroquinone and Tretinoin and should not be used by women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or nursing.

The doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will discuss these precautions and answer any specific questions you may have during your initial consultation.

Post-Treatment Instructions
While there are limited side effects from the use of the Obagi skin care products, there are a few post-treatment instructions you should be aware of. The doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will discuss these instructions and answer any questions you may have prior to your treatment.

� Immediately after your treatment with the Obagi Nu-Derm System or the Obagi-C Rx System, your skin will most likely appear a bit red and some flaking and dryness will occur. This is a completely normal result and part of the skin renewal process; however, if the redness or flakiness does not disappear in a few weeks or seems to get worse, call The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery.

� Depending on the depth level of your Obagi Blue Peel treatment, healing time varies between 3 and 10 days. After the procedure, you will experience light swelling and your skin will begin to peel within 2 to 3 days.

� Avoid touching the treated area within six hours of your treatment. After that, the area can be gently washed with soap and water.

� Avoid exercise and alcohol for six hours after your Obagi treatment.

� It is important to contact the staff and doctors of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery for a follow-up visit as you were directed during your initial consultation. Follow-up visits usually are scheduled for once a week for the first three weeks after your Obagi treatment.

Questions You May Have
� Are there other procedures that could be used along with the Obagi System to reduce wrinkles and restore the youthful appearance of my face?

Botox cosmetic is frequently used in combination with a comprehensive skin care program to achieve a multidimensional rejuvenation of the face. These non-surgical procedures complement each other to produce a refreshed appearance.

In addition, there are many surgical procedures that can be used to enhance the youthful appearance of your face and neck: facelift, forehead and brow lift, neck lift, and eyelid lift are a few examples. Complementary procedures will be discussed with you during your initial consultation with the doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery.

� Will my insurance coverage pay for my Obagi skin care treatment program?

The Obagi skin care treatment program is considered a cosmetic treatment and, therefore, is not covered by your insurance. You are responsible for the full payment for your treatment program. Cost and payment information will be discussed in detail with you during your initial consultation.