We'd love to hear what you think about this so let me start by asking for comments....

Now, having said that, I'll tell you what we think.  If ever there was a cosmetic treatment taking the nation by storm - it's Botox.  With a level of name recognition akin to Starbucks or at least Viagra, it's a word that most people know, use appropriately, and finds it's way into comedy sketches with more than its share of regularity.

Many people struggle, and understandably, with the issue of what's the best way to age?  Fountain of Youth or graceful aging - leaving the look of youth just for the young?  And the answer here, in my opinion, is that you shouldn't have to choose.  I realize that may sound like a bit of a cop out but don't mean it that way.  

The frozen foreheads that we have all come to associate with what I refer to as "bad botox" is at the very heart of this discussion.  Put more simply, there is a critical difference between gentle use of botox - a delicate art, "better botox" as I call it and the immovable faces that come from too much (and worse yet placement in the wrong areas).

You see, Botox injections are an absolute art and one best performed by highly experienced injectors who understand the science, the anatomy and MOST IMPORTANTLY the individual nuances of faces. Stick to these principles and what you're left with is someone appearing to age with grace and beauty, deviate from them and you will look like you had "work done".  So...why is it that the folks in hollywood - people with resources to afford top-line care end up looking badly?  It's a popular question. Maybe because they ask for a flat look, maybe because their injectors think that's what they want.  

But it's not like that here!  At Welcare MedSpa, we want our clients to look and feel fabulous.  Imagine softening the deeper lines...sounds fabulous doesn't it?  That's better botox.  There's a reason we have the best injector in the region.  We're not the cheapest - and they're out there believe me.  You see somebody advertising price...worry.  This is your face we're talking about after all.  

Our mission?  Better Botox, Fabulous Botox - tailored to your needs and at affordable prices.  Come get to know us and say hello to fabulous.  You'll be glad you did!

As we wrote the title for the blog today, we realize that it sounds far from insightful or revolutionary - in fact it sounds pretty obvious and intuitive.  BUT, now it is clinically proven and the study itself was interesting so we thought we'd spread the word.

The study, just published in the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, divided the participants into four groups (regular cola, diet cola, semi skim milk, and water). Each group consumed 1 liter of their designated beverage each day for 6 months.  And here are the astonishing results:

In the regular cola group, muscle fat increased 117%-221%, abdominal organ fat increased 24-31%, Triglycerides increased 32%, and total cholesterol increased 11%.  Both milk and diet cola reduced blood pressure by 10-15% compared with regular soda.  AND, get this, aside from that - diet cola had effects similar to water!

A key point here, well articulated by Dr. Frank Hu at Harvard School of Public Health is that "this study suggests that the adverse effects of sugary beverages go beyond just weight gain or fat it gain.  It's gaining of the wrong fat in the wrong places."

And what does he mean by this?  Well, this shows that regular cola consumption increases abdominal fat which is much more dangerous than subcutaneous fat (the stuff right under the skin).  In fact, these are the fat increases that most studies have shown to increase the risk of things like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and liver disease. 

At The Welcare Center we are here to help our patients look and feel fabulous!  This study shows us that regular cola consumption not only causes weight gain (as we have known from earlier studies) but is increasing the risk of long term illnesses.  So check the label before you drink that next beverage, and as always we're here to help you love the way you look.  Just give us a call... 

Today has been one of those days that reminds me just how much confusion there is around the idea of concierge medicine.  So...I thought it might be a good day to take a step back and reflect a bit on what it is, what it's not, and why everyone should at least think about it.

Concierge medicine is defined (and we'll turn to Wikipedia for this part) as "a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays a fee...in exchange for enhanced care"

For those of you who have ever: 

1.  Felt it to be difficult to reach your physician when you need her/him (and I mean the actual physician who takes care of you regularly)

2.  Struggled to have the time you need with your doctor

3.  Felt lost in the system with a few specialists and not able to make sense of it all

4.  Wanted to focus on prevention and wellness and not just acute care

Concierge care may be your answer because in addition to all the good things that you are used to with high quality medical care, concierge medicine addresses these 4 challenges front and center.  

And the best part...it is VERY AFFORDABLE.  In fact, for less than what you pay your cable TV or cell phone provider every month, you can enjoy all of these benefits and more.  Seriously.  It is the farthest thing from expensive - it's just still not well known.  For those that know it, it is like the best kept secret and the proof is in the pudding there.  I mean, there is a reason why 97% of patients renew their memberships every year!!

Now let's talk briefly about what concierge medicine is NOT.  Well, we already just discussed that it is not expensive (so that's a good thing), but it is also not a pay to play environment.  And sadly, there are those who think, hey I've paid my fee so now you need to give me what I want.  Good medical care never, ever works that way.  From antibiotics to narcotics, to everything in between, medicines are dispensed based on an appropriate need, in an appropriate setting and for the appropriate duration.  

So, if you're looking for a doctor who will put you first, look no further, Dr. Jennifer Dupre is here at The Welcare Center and ready for the honor of taking care of you.  But if you're looking to buy prescriptions, concierge medicine is NOT your answer and we can't help you.

For more information on our practice or to discuss joining our practice, call anytime: 215-793-9999. 

Today, as we offer a promotional special on laser tattoo removal, it seems like the right time to take a step back and talk a bit about what this is and how it works.  And since more than 1/2 of people with tattoos wish they didn't have those tattoos, don't worry - we can help.

When you get a tattoo, the artist uses a needle to inject permanent ink beneath the skin.  And if you ever watched one done (or had your wits about you during your own) what you'd see is a hand piece that works pretty much like a sewing machine.  All this with one purpose in mind - to give you a permanent image on (really in) your skin.  Now not only do they use permanent ink - they use one of 100s of different types of ink making it essentially impossible to ever really know what is in there.  

And this is what makes removing them a bit of a science.  A well-trained professional needs to look at the color and make some predictions about what wavelength of light that color will absorb.  THAT is a critical setting for the laser.  Once absorbed, it heats up the ink, re-liquifies it and your body's immune system takes it away from there.  Nice and easy. 

Of course in practice it's a bit more complicated than that.  Some tattoos that look black are really dark green, for example, and so it can take a few treatments to really begin to see the removal you want as the real color becomes obvious.  Also, dark colors (red/black) generally remove readily whereas lighter greens, for example can be a bit stubborn.

Newer equipment and the physics that go with it help make tattoo removal much more effective than it was in the past, and additional skin texture lasers can be used to reduce or remove any residual irregularities from the tattoo that you can still feel.  So if you have a tattoo you regret, give us a call and let us help you take it off and love the way you look all ever again!

In the meantime, here's a video clip of tattoo removal at The Welcare Center:

This is the week for our buy one get one FREE special!

It's simple:  Just buy any package and receive another of equal or lesser value....FREE!  We'll even set you up with anice gift certificate for that special someone.  Re-gifting made fun and easy and it is only available at The Welcare Center and just for this week.

Of course you are always more than welcome to keep it for yourself too...

Flu season is off to a mild start, but confirmed cases have ben seen in 30 states so far - and January and February are often the peak.

Which is why health officials on Monday urged everyone to get their flu shots so they're "protected before the holiday season begins, when you get on that plane, train or bus to go see loved ones," according to Anne Schuchat, Director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

If you haven't gotten your's yet - come see us and we'll take care of you here.

If so, then you'll be happy to learn that the FDA just approved the first insomnia pill designed specifically for people who wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble getting back to sleep.

The medicine, called Intermezzo, is a pill containing low dose zolpiderm (the active ingredient in Ambien).  But, "with this lower dose there is less risk of a person having too much drug in the body upon awakening, which can cause dangerous drowsiness and impair driving," according to Dr. Robert Temple, director for clinical science in FDA's drug center.  And in clinical studies, those taking the drug fell back to sleep more quickly than those taking placebo.

Of course, medication for insomnia is just a part (and a small part) of its treatment so if you're having trouble with sleep (falling asleep or staying asleep), talk to your doctor or come see Dr. Jennifer Dupre at The Welcare Center.

In the spirit of holiday safety and prevention we thought we'd use today's blog to share a safety message with anyone planning to deep fry a turkey this year.

The biggest risk here is that when people place the turkey into the vat of hot oil, it can cause the oil to spill over the top of the pot and right into the flame below it.  The result?  A large and dangerous fire.  

So here are some key safety tips:

1.  After heating the oil, turn off the flame BEFORE adding the turkey

2.  Once the turkey is settled in the pot and theres no oil spilling over - restart the flame

3.  ALWAYS and ONLY deep fry your turkey OUTSIDE and not on wood or decks

4.  Use hits when touching the pot....it gets VERY hot

William Shatner, in conjunction with State Farm Insurance, did a PSA on turkey fryers which is educational, entertaining and worth a watch.  And, if you want to see a legitimate demonstration of what can really gowrong - The Department of Homeland Security put together an informative demonstration video on the hazards of turkey frying.  So you know it must be an issue for them to take time from their terrorist-busting schedule to issue a warning on turkey fryers.

So...with the right (and simple) safety measures in place, you too can still enjoy a deep fried turkey - if of course that's what's on your menu this year.  

Have fun, stay safe, and have a GREAT Thanksgiving!

A study just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed that high blood pressure in early adulthood spells future heart problems and should NOT be ignored.

This study of 19,000 people showed that having elevated blood pressure in college increased the risk of cardiovascular problems later in live.  In fact, every 13.1mmHg increase in systolic blood pressure (top number) was linked to a 5% increase risk of death from any cause, 8% risk of death from cardiovascular disease and 14% increased risk of death from coronary heart disease.

And of course all this is consistent with national guidelines which make clear that high blood pressure should be treated regardless of age.

So if you haven't gotten your's checked or you know young adults who haven't - it's time to go to the doctor.  And if you're looking for a new doctor, Dr. Jennifer Dupre at The Welcare Center is right around the corner!