Dr. Alex's Blog: June 2011

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Descent of the cheek fat pad

Everyone is born with a fat pad on the cheek just under the skin. Over time, due to gravity, this fat pad starts to descend, leading to the formation of naso-labial folds, also called smile lines or parentheses lines, as well as jowls, which are visible portions of the fat pad along the jaw line. Fillers such as Juvederm and skin tightening procedures work well to improve these changes that occur as we age.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Importance of Using a Toner

A toner is an important part of a skin care regimen that many people do not think about. Toner should be used as the second step in the regimen immediately following a face wash. The face wash cleans the skin, eliminating oil and debris and simultaneously opens the pores. The toner serves to close the pores and decrease the pH of the skin, allowing for better penetration and absorption of the subsequent products such as exfoliants, retinoids, vitamins, moisturizers, bleaching agents, and more. Use of a toner twice a day will increase the efficacy of the products in the regimen, leading to brighter, healthier skin.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

The Aesthetic Show 2011

The Aesthetic Show 2011 was held at the convention center at the Aria resort and casino in Las Vegas, NV June 2-5. Numerous world-renown experts in the field gave talks on various topics including neurotoxins such as Botox, fillers such as Juvederm, chemical peels, Latisse, skin care products, laser therapy, and much more. Also present were representatives from various companies including skin care lines, lasers, and others. Doctors, nurses, aestheticians, and staff members travelled from all over the world to attend this exciting conference. The highlight of the show was the ceremony on Saturday night hosted by Dr. Andrew Ordon of the award-winning television show "The Doctors." Multiple awards were given for best procedures and several prizes were given away in a drawing including products, a vacation, and even a Syneron eMatrix laser for sublative rejuvenation. The show was a great hit and should be again next year!

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Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD was raised in Los Angeles, CA. He attended UCLA for college and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Biology in 1998. He received many accolades including Phi Beta Kappa, College Honors, Departmental Honors, Goldenkey International Honour Society, and Mortar Board National Honors Society.

In 2000, Dr. Alex moved to Nashville, TN to attend the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s distinguished Medical Scientist Training Program. With scholarships from the National Institutes of Health and the Canby Robinson Society, he graduated with an MD and a PhD. Dr. Alex completed his post-graduate training in Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, NM. Dr. Alex has had clinical training in dermatology at Vanderbilt University, UC Irvine, USC, UCLA, University of New Mexico, Veteran’s Affairs Hospitals in Nashville, TN, Albuquerque, NM, Long Beach, CA, and Los Angeles, CA, as well as in various private clinics in southern California. He is also certified in the injection of Botulinum toxin and dermal fillers as well as in the use of lasers for cosmetic applications.

Dr. Alex has done research for over a decade. His interest in research was sparked early in college when he worked in a nephrology lab. He then spent four years in a molecular biology lab in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at UCLA under the direction of Harold G. Martinson, PhD. His dissertation in graduate school was in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology in the laboratory of James E. Sligh, MD, PhD where he studied genetic factors involved in photo-aging of the skin and in non-melanoma skin cancer. He has given oral and poster presentations at numerous conferences including the American Academy of Dermatology, Society for Investigative Dermatology, and American Society for Human Genetics. He has publications in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Free Radical Biology and Medicine, and Cardiovascular Toxicology. He is also a contributing author for the Textbook of Aging Skin.

Dr. Alex has held a number of leadership positions including University of New Mexico School of Medicine Resident Voice committee member, Committee of Interns and Residents member, Dermatology Interest Group Association president and founding member, Executive Board member of Vanderbilt Hillel, Vanderbilt University MSTP Physician Scientist Speaker Series Committee member, Vanderbilt University Careers in Medicine Interest Group member, Vanderbilt University MSTP Student Advisory Committee member, and Vanderbilt University Dermatology Interest Group president. He has also participated in numerous service activities including Miles for Melanoma, Sun Protection Project, Camp Discovery, Links for Locks, and the Shade Tree Clinic.

At Alex Eshaghian Medical, Dr. Alex is translating his research in photo-aging to his clinical practice. His passion is to prevent signs of aging in the skin to make patients look and feel their best.