Ideal Image Joins the Oscar Party in Top Nominees' Gift Bags

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 27, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This year's top Oscar nominees can expect the gift of beautiful skin in their SWAG bag, courtesy of Ideal Image, an industry leader in laser hair removal. Contenders in the top categories of best actor/actress, supporting actor/actress, best director and Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres will each receive $5000 in skincare services from Ideal Image.

"At Ideal Image, we believe that everyone deserves to feel their best and to be 'Red Carpet Ready' every day of the week," said Bruce Fabel, President of Ideal Image. "Not only for celebrities, but for everyone, including their fans, we know the importance of looking and feeling your best in today's modern, fast-paced world. This is why Ideal Image is committed to helping people achieve this goal in new and innovative ways, and striving to provide results that stand true to our mission to 'Change Your Life Forever.'"

Regarded as a leader in laser hair removal, Ideal Image has recently added the following new offerings to complement its laser hair removal services:

 - Ultherapy skin lifting and tightening
 - Injectable wrinkle relaxers and cosmetic fillers
 - Laser tattoo removal

As with its laser hair removal services, only highly qualified and trained medical professionals (Registered Nurses, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners) will administer Ultherapy treatments, aiming to ensure the ultimate safety and comfort of each guest.

In line with its continued national and recent expansion into Canada, Ideal Image now has 125 centers in 31 states across the U.S. and one location in Canada.
To learn more about Ideal Image and the locations offering its new services, please visit www.idealimage.com.

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About Ideal Image:

Ideal Image is an industry leader in laser hair removal and cosmetic medical services, and uses advanced techniques for permanent hair reduction. Ideal Image distinguishes itself from its competitors through its unparalleled passion for incorporating continual advancements in the industry and encouraging the highest standards of medical training. Ideal Image takes pride in its rigorous hiring practices and unwavering dedication to customer privacy, safety, and comfort.

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Ethos Spa and Laser Center Advises CoolSculptingâ„¢ Non-surgical Fat Removal Now for Beach-ready Body by Summer

Summit, New Jersey (PRWEB) February 26, 2014

People looking to shed excess body fat in time for summer bikini weather should take advantage of the final weeks of winter by scheduling CoolSculptingâ„¢ therapy now, according to Hardik Soni, M.D., Medical Director of Ethos Spa Skin and Laser Centers in Summit and Englewood, New Jersey. The new CoolSculpting non-surgical liposuction alternative offers the latest in non-invasive body-sculpting technology, but since full results can take two to three months to achieve, now is the time to get started.

Since adding CoolSculpting fat removal technology from Zeltiq to its list of services in November 2013, Ethos Spa Skin and Laser Center has catered to a steady stream of clients who either prefer or require the non-surgical alternative to liposuction for shedding fat. Soni has built his practice and reputation on providing successful aesthetic treatments that eliminate the need for procedures that have historically been performed surgically.

CoolSculpting is an in-office procedure that utilizes a small device placed on the desired treatment areas, which include:

•     Upper and lower abdomen
•     Flanks/love handles
•     Inner thighs
•     Banana folds (underneath the bottom)
•     Underarms
•     Bra line fat

Through a process known as cryolipolysis, fat cells are selectively targeted, frozen, absorbed and eliminated naturally through the body's own metabolic process. Patients can expect a 20-25 percent reduction of fat in the treated area with a single treatment, although some go for two or three CoolSculpting treatments to achieve ideal results.

“For patients who are not candidates for a surgical procedure like liposuction, CoolSculpting is the most effective body-contouring solution available for minimizing small areas of fat that aren’t responding to diet and exercise,” Soni says. “The best results are seen in people who are no more than 10-15 percent over their ideal body weight.”

Final results with CoolSculpting take two to three months to fully achieve. Since it’s a non-surgical procedure, CoolSculpting can be performed in-office in just 1-2 hours, with no anesthesia required and no downtime. Patients can return to their daily routine immediately.

For more information on CoolSculpting or any of the expert aesthetic services available at the Ethos Spa, Skin and Laser Center, visit the Ethos Spa website, call the Summit location at (908) 273-5400, or call the Englewood location at (201) 541-6600.

About Hardik Soni, M.D. and Ethos Spa, Skin and Laser Center:

Ethos Spa, Skin and Laser Center Medical Director Hardik Soni, M.D. strives to achieve the best possible results for his patients by drawing on his experience and proficiency with multiple laser platforms, earned from having performed more than 15,000 cosmetic treatments including botulinum injection (Botox and Dysport), dermal fillers (Juvederm, Restylane, Radiesse), laser hair removal, chemical peels and laser skin rejuvenation. He is a platinum level injector with Allergan, the makers of Botox and Juvederm; his primary focus is on minimally invasive and non-invasive cosmetic procedures including Aesthera Candela, Cutera, Fraxel, Sciton and Syneron. Soni believes in a more conservative approach to cosmetic procedures, and prioritizes patient education. Clients are able to decide on their own ideal treatment after discussing their options, and weighing the expected outcomes, costs and risks.

He finished his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and is board certified in Emergency Medicine. Soni currently works as an emergency room physician at Overlook Medical Center in Summit, New Jersey, as well as serving as medical director of Ethos Spa, Skin and Laser Center. He was recently chosen to the Advisory Medical Panel of Bella Magazine in NYC.

Ethos Spa, Skin and Laser Center is committed to providing the safest, most effective aesthetic procedures, customized to each individual client, utilizing the latest advances in non-invasive cosmetic treatments and technologies. Within a peaceful, luxurious environment, patients can choose from a wide array of cosmetic services and products to enhance the skin’s appearance.

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Looking Good: Cosmetic laser hair removal grows in popularity

Laser hair removal has grown to become the third most popular minimally invasive cosmetic procedure performed in the United States, behind Botox and dermal fillers. People in warm climates are concerned with body hair year-round, but a smooth bikini line and hair-free backs are becoming the trend nationwide.

There were more than a million laser hair removal procedures performed in 2012, which was a 52 percent increase during the past 12 years.

A very effective treatment, laser hair removal, can assist patients in reducing unwanted hair anywhere on the body. The best candidates for laser hair removal are people with light skin and dark hair. The hair must have pigment to respond to the laser, and coarse hair responds better than fine hair. Black and brown hair responds the best, grey and red hair slightly less, and fine light hair (peach fuzz on the face) responds poorly.

Laser hair removal is done with a contact hand piece. The light energy is delivered to the skin in pulses. The energy is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair follicle, destroying the bulb. Growing hairs respond to the laser, and a series of treatments are required because not all hair is in a growth phase at one time. Usually a series of six to eight treatments are required, two weeks to two months apart, depending upon the area treated.

Each treatment takes 10 to 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated. Not every hair will be eliminated by the laser.

Patients are asked to shave the area to be treated the day of treatment. Shaving will increase the efficacy of the laser because the less hair that is on the surface of the skin, the more energy can be delivered into the source of the hair â€" the follicle.

The discomfort depends on the area being treated, with the bikini line and upper lip being the most uncomfortable. Our patients generally rate the most intense discomfort as moderate. Newer technology with a “cool tip” and larger hand piece is faster and less painful than previous lasers. In addition, numbing cream can be applied to the area to help alleviate pain.

The most common side effects include some redness and swelling at the treatment site, which can last up to 24 hours.

The hair follicles that are destroyed are gone for good, but about 10 percent of the hair will not be eliminated. However, hair that regrows is fine and lighter than it previously was.

Certainly, technology for laser hair removal continues to improve, and patients interested in the procedure should be sure that the place they choose to perform the procedure is using state-of-the-art devices in order to benefit from the efficiency and comfort of the newest lasers.

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Laser center merges clinics into Elm Grove facility

To establish a more centralized location for its patients, Enhancing Light Cosmetic Laser Centers has merged its Delafield and Franklin clinics into a new, 1,800-square-foot space in Elm Grove.

Enhancing Light Cosmetic Laser Centers, which has an additional location in Mequon, specializes in cutting-edge treatments related to laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, blue light acne therapy, microdermabrasion, tattoo removal, and cellulite and fat reduction.

The new Elm Grove center, located at 740 Pilgrim Parkway, Suite 200, positions the clinic in a densely populated area near Brookfield Square where crowds flock for shopping and dining.
"It's an area that a lot of people migrate to," said Amy Pizur, one of the Elm Grove center's two clinic managers.

With the consolidated clinic, which opened at the beginning of February, Enhancing Light hopes to secure a stronger client base. The company currently consults about 3,000 patients from Wisconsin and Illinois.

The new facility provides an easily accessible location for prospective patients as well as for many current patients who live and work in Brookfield, Waukesha, Wauwatosa and surrounding areas, according to Pizur.

"By moving toward a busy, centralized location, we're able to offer a convenient location for both our current and future patients," Pizur said.

The Delafield and Franklin facilities each measured about 1,000 square feet. The combined space will allow the clinic to roll out an expanded menu of services with the introduction of spa services, such as facials and massages, as well as wellness services including yoga and Pilates.

The clinics' staff of three managers and three laser technicians, all of whom are board certified medical aestheticians, promote facials and massages to existing patients, but the additional square footage will enable the company to provide those services in house at the Elm Grove center.

"Now that we are able to expand and have more room, we'll be able to offer those as well," Pizur said.

With the new spa and wellness services, Pizur envisions that Enhancing Light will bring on board a massage therapist and a yoga and Pilates instructor.

In terms of medical services, offerings will likely remain the same in both Elm Grove and Mequon, according to Pizur.

Among Enhancing Light's most cutting edge and popular laser treatments are the skin tightening and skin rejuvenation procedures. Both treatments are non-invasive and require little to no downtime during recovery. While the skin tightening procedure helps build collagen to firm up skin, the skin rejuvenation procedure calms redness in the skin due to acne, irritation and sensitivity and lightens or eliminates dark spots caused by the sun, aging, broken capillaries or hormones.

Those procedures are examples of the company's targeted approach to laser treatment. While the laser centers' assortment of treatment options isn't as extensive as other medical spas, Pizur said, the company focuses on delivering a selective set of services to accommodate the most pressing needs of its clients.

"Our focus has always been on patient care," Pizur said. "We take pride in getting to know the patient and their concerns, gaining their trust in us, and helping them figure out the best skin care program to address their skin and/or body concerns."

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Laser hair removal: Does it really work?

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) -

You've heard the ads - laser hair removal promising to eliminate embarrassing body hair - but does it really work? Hundreds of you who tried it responded with mixed reactions on our Facebook page.

Laser hair treatments can be effective in reducing hair, but professionals say you're likely going to see some regrowth. There are also conflicting opinions on what kind of lasers work best and on whom.

The swipe of a laser aims to destroy active hair follicles. Rondell Futrell had his beard lasered at Medi Spa West in Henrico, a year ago.

"For issues with ingrown hairs here that were actually painful," said Futrell.

Rondell said now he only shaves every few days. Much of his facial hair doesn't grow back.

"It has helped my self confidence, actually," said Futrell.

Licensed practical nurse Hilary Ashby says at least six initial treatments are needed.

"Your body is constantly making new hair follicles, so you will always have hair growth," said Ashby. "It will just be minimal, compared to what you had when you started."

So don't expect perfection. The FDA only considers the treatment as "laser hair reduction."

Professionals also have contrasting opinions on which lasers work best for different hair and skin combinations. The FDA and the Virginia Board of Medicine don't make any determinations.

Most agree the ideal candidate is fair skinned, with dark hair.

"The laser is attracted to the pigment in your hair," said Ashby.

Some lasers are now being touted as effective for dark skin and hair, but results can vary. Your body, hormones and which laser you choose are all factors.

Consult different professionals to decide which laser may work best for you and be realistic - you may end up with less fuzz, but future touch-ups could be needed.

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