(1) ​What is it?
Plasma Pen is a skin tightening device used to enact controlled micro-damage to the upper layer of skin causing fibroblast stimulation (known as “fibroblasting”).
(2) What is it made of?
It is a hand-held device which utilizes plasma energy to target fibroblast stimulation beneath the dermis. It does not contain needles, nor does it actually come in contact with the skin. When it comes within a couple centimeters of the skin, an energetic reaction occurs and a carbon crust forms on the top of the skin surface. When the carbon crust scabs and falls off, new collagen is produced by the underlying fibroblasts in the dermal layer over a period of 6-12 weeks. 
(3) What to expect from procedure?
Plasma Pen skin tightening is a 30-45 min procedure depending on area used with 2-step topical numbing process. Pain should be minimal during the procedure and there is downtime for about 2 weeks post-procedure. The plasma energy created by the device increases collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid production over the following 6-12 weeks for smoother, firmer and healthier skin.
(4) Is there any down-time?
Downtime is  7-14 days, and it is crucial to remain out of direct sunlight and to always wear a mineral-based high SPF sunscreen and a hat when outdoors post-procedure! The carbon crust scabs take about 3-7 days to fall off completely, depending on the individual patient's healing abilities. Mild swelling and/or bruising may occur for the first 1-3 days post-procedure. 
(5) When will I see results?
Results are gradual and usually can be obtained after 1-2 procedures, although more may be required depending on area, skin type, lifestyle factors etc. This procedure does require a pre and post-op appointment with Dr. Williams in either of our St Petersburg or Tampa, FL clinics. The pre-op appointment is important and includes a thorough discussion of the patient's goals and target areas for treatment. The post-op appointment occurs 6-weeks after the procedure to check collagen production and skin tightness and determine whether another treatment may be needed. Additional treatments cannot be done until at least 12 weeks post procedure, as it takes about 12 weeks to achieve optimal collagen production. 
(6) How long do results last?
Once baseline is achieved, results may last 3-5 years on average. The patient's skin type, lifestyle factors, age and adherence to a strict skincare regimen all factor into how long results will stay viable. 
(7) What treatment areas do you target at Pacholec Center for Weight Loss & Anti-Aging Medicine?
Upper and lower eyelids, crow’s feet, forehead lines, accordion lines, nasolabial folds, marionette lines, smoker’s lines/vertical lip lines, neck crepe and “orange peel” skin are all acceptable target areas at both our St Petersburg and Tampa, FL clinics. While the Plasma Pen skin tightening device can be used all over the body, we are not currently offering services outside of facial areas. 
(8) Is this device FDA approved?
The Plasma Pen skin tightening device has current FDA class II approval.
(9) How do I maintain results?
Collagen supplementation is key to extend and maintain results over time. Dr. Williams recommends Skinade collagen drink, which is clinically proven to support collagen formation, diminish fine lines and wrinkles and improve skin tone and texture. All of our Plasma Pen patients will receive at minimum a 30-day supply of Skinade to assist in optimal collagen formation. 
(10) How much does Plasma Pen skin tightening cost?
Plasma Pen skin tightening ranges in price depending on treatment area. Smaller treatment areas, such as the fine lines above the upper lip (i.e. "smoker's lines") start around $1200. The most popular treatment area is the double blepharoplasty (i.e. upper and lower eyelids) which starts at $1895. More extensive skin resurfacing can be upwards of $2500. All procedures include at least a 30-day supply of Skinade collagen supplement drink with price. Your actual price will be determined at your pre-op consultation with Dr. Williams in either of our St Petersburg, FL or Tampa, FL locations.  Call today to set up your consultation! 

Pacholec Center for Weight Loss & Anti-Aging Medicine has come a long way over the years! What started out as a small weight loss practice has grown over the years to now include anti-aging medicine, hormone therapy, holistic support for gastrointestinal diseases, IV vitamin therapy and aesthetic medicine in addition to our weight loss services. With so many different types of products and services now available, our staff and providers are happy to provide our clients with this list of our favorite things in 2021! Each team member was asked to pick their #1 favorite product and service and give a brief description for why each was their favorite. See below for their answers! All products and services are available in both the St Petersburg, FL and Lutz, FL locations for Pacholec Center for Weight Loss & Anti-Aging Medicine. 

Jeskya V., Favorite Products: "It was difficult to pick just one product! I love Vitamin D3 because it helps improve immune function, protects against cancer and prevents breakdown of bone tissue. It is also a small capsule that I can incorporate into my daily routine easily and it is inexpensive; under $25 for a 90-day supply! My favorite skin product is Retinol Complex 1.0, by SkinMedica. I have had issues with blemishes and pigmentation my whole life and since I started using Retinol Complex, many of my issues have disappeared and my skin is glowing and smooth. This is an easy to apply cream you incorporate into your bedtime skincare routine. Don't forget to moisturize and wear sunscreen with any Retinoid product!"  
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Jesyka V., Favorite Service: "My favorite service is the fat-burning injections and B12 shots we provide as part of our weight loss and anti-aging programs. These shots are full of B vitamins and amino acids which help burn fat, detoxify the liver, decrease inflammation and increase energy. They are given weekly and patients may notice effects right away or they may notice improvements over time. Everyone is different and has a unique response to the injections, so we normally recommend purchasing one of our affordable monthly packages to give it a try for 30-days and see how you respond!"

Kelly S. Favorite Products: "I found it hard to choose just 1 product! My favorite anti-aging and weight loss product is OptiCleanse by Xymogen. This product is a functional food protein shake which you mix with milk, water or in a smoothie to use as a meal replacement if you are trying to lose weight or as a vitamin supplement if you do not like taking a million different capsules. It is packed full of protein, vitamins, minerals and amino acids to assist in liver detoxification, decrease inflammation and help your body more effectively burn fat. It also tastes great and comes in two flavors - chocolate and vanilla. Skinaide Collagen is an amazing supplement that you drink daily. It improves collagen production from the inside out, targeting the dermal layer of the skin specifically. After a 90-day course of treatment, you will notice a significant reduction in fine lines, wrinkles and even cellulite! It works best in combination with our aesthetic procedures, such as Plasma Pen Skin Tightening, Sculptra filler and MINT thread-lifts."
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Kelly S. Favorite Service: "My favorite service we offer is peptide therapy. The field of peptide therapy is amazing and there are many different peptides to help with weight loss, aesthetics, gut health, immune function and brain health! One of my favorite peptide therapies is Sermorelin Glycinate, which is a sub-cutaneous injection that assists with weight loss, memory, muscle mass and increases human growth hormone (HGH) production. I tried it for a month and lost 8 lbs without any additional diet or exercise!" 

Taimi G. Favorite Products: "I love SkinMedica products because these products truly work for me and keep my skin looking fresh and young! You are never too young or too old to start a good skincare routine. My favorite products are the Uplifting Eye Serum and the TNS Advanced Serum, which both hydrate the skin and target fine lines and wrinkles. My goal is to age gracefully and so far, I am loving it! I also use a small amount of Botox periodically which not only helps me maintain a younger look but improves my migraines significantly!"

Taimi G. Favorite Services: "I have been a big fan of IV therapy since we introduced it a few years ago. I love the Beautify Blend which hydrates the skin, boosts immunity and improves my energy levels. My hair and nails have never looked shinier or been stronger! This is a great service to use in combination with some of our other aesthetic procedures to help improve beauty from the inside out."

Joel G. Favorite Products: " I love getting Botox occasionally as it helps assist in the aging process and helps me boost my confidence when I notice my deep lines disappear. I am happy I am starting Botox at an early age as it helps to prevent my lines from getting any worse!"

Joel G. Favorite Services: "Two of my absolute favorite products are IV therapy and Botox. Since I began with IV therapy a few years ago, I haven't found any better treatments for keeping energized, boosting my immune system, and feeling refreshed. IV vitamin therapy can also assist with weight loss, and I have noticed many of our patients achieve their weight loss goals faster when they get an Energy Boost IV once or twice a month. You can do the IVs in combination with fat burning injections and appetite suppressants for optimal results!"

Lauren D. Favorite Products: "My favorite products are Botox and our Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Cream. I love helping patients age gracefully while achieving natural looking results with this powerful neurotoxin. Results last 3-6 months depending on your skin and lifestyle factors. Our Anti-Wrinkle Peptide Cream is a combination of three different peptides to help combat lines and wrinkles topically! We lovingly refer to it as "Botox in a Bottle." When used in combination with Botox or Dysport it will help extend the results of these treatments, making lines and wrinkles less visible over time."

Lauren D. Favorite Services: "I enjoy using functional medicine to treat our patients and address underlying health issues. One of my favorite tools to use is peptide therapy, which is a safe and effective way to address auto-immune issues by upregulating certain components of the immune system. My favorite peptides to use are Thymosin-Alpha 1 and BPC-157. Thymosin-Alpha upregulates T cell function, which helps improve immunity against colds and flus and BPC-157 combats gastrointestinal disorders, such as leaky gut syndrome, IBS and Chron's Disease." 

Dr. Williams Favorite Products & Services: "I love combining VI Peel and Botox. VI Peel is a non-invasive way to renew my skin. A huge perk associated with this treatment is that it offers little to no skin discomfort with the results being fresh, healthy and vibrant skin! I love that I can get my Botox treatment the same day too! Botox is perfect for minimizing the lines I have (shh...don't tell!) and preventing new lines from forming. Prevention is key and Botox is the answer!"

Dr. Pacholec Favorite Product: "I love our new skin tightening device, Plasma Pen! Some of you may remember, I had my upper lip done in a LIVE demo over Zoom by Dr. Williams. She is a true artist! The procedure was not too painful (we have a two-step numbing process) and I could see results after just 1 week of downtime. Optimal results will occur at 12 weeks post-treatment, but this photo is after just one month! You can see my upper lip lines have almost disappeared!"

Dr Pacholec Favorite Service: "One of my favorite things about being a functional medicine doctor is helping people get to the root cause of illness. For many, this means determining cellular nutritional deficiencies which can impede weight loss success, contribute to thyroid and adrenal problems, lower immunity and even contribute to cancer risk. We have an amazing test developed by ALCAT Sciences to help determine your nutritional deficiency status for over 50 different types of vitamins, amino-acids and minerals. Results take about a week to come back and come with an e-book that is accessible on the patient portal and gives tons of detailed information on how you can improve your nutritional profile. It is one of the most useful tests we do at Pacholec Center for Weight Loss & Anti-Aging Medicine!"

Some of these products you can purchase on our Online Store or in office at your next visit. If you have any questions or wish to schedule your next visit or a FREE 15-minute consultation for new patients, please give Pacholec Center for Weight Loss & Anti-Aging Medicine a call!

 We have some great specials to celebrate love this month at Pacholec Center for Weight Loss! BOGO IV treatments for you and your best Galentine or you and your Valentine to help rejuvenate your cells from the inside out, and a special VI Peel + Botox package to treat your face to some rejuvenation too.

The VI Peel + Botox includes 20 units of Botox at a discounted rate of $9/unit and one Precision Plus VI Peel to treat for melasma, hyperpigmentation and stimulate collagen production. Getting a peel in combination with Botox helps create a sterile injection site for the Botox and helps extend the benefits of the Botox itself! The BOGO IV special includes 2 IVs of your choice, with the less expensive one at half the cost. You can purchase both specials for yourself,  a friend or a loved one if you would like, but they must be purchased and used within the specified time period from Feb 8-19th. Both specials are available from February 8th through the 19th in our clinics in Lutz, FL and St Pete, FL. Appointments are limited, so call today or fill out the form below to schedule your next treatment!

Pacholec Center for Weight Loss & Anti-Aging Medicine is very excited to offer Plasma Pen Therapy to our practice! This amazing procedure tightens and smooths skin by utilizing plasma energy to target fibroblasts underneath the skin. Fibroblasts are cellular components of connective tissue which produce collagen proteins. The plasma energy is created when the probe of the pen gets near enough to the skin to cause an ionized energetic reaction, without ever actually touching the skin. A carbon crust then develops over the area "sparked" by the plasma pen, which begins the process of rejuvenation and collagen stimulation. The carbon crust is visible as small red dots, which look similar to tiny scabs that typically fall off within 3-4 days post treatment. Other than the crust that forms, there is minimal downtime and swelling may only occur for 24 hours post-treatment. See some before and after images below! 

Plasma Pen Therapy not only tones, tightens and smooths the skin, but it also stimulates collagen production and reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks and cellulite as well. Blepharoplasty is one of the more popular treatments, but it can be used over the entire body to target specific areas of concern. Dr. Kristen Williams, MD performs this procedure in both the St Petersburg, FL and Lutz, FL locations at Pacholec Center for Weight Loss by appointment only. A consult prior to treatment is required to go over goals and target areas. Depending on a patient's skin type, age and lifestyle factors, 1-2 treatments may be all that is needed to correct areas of concern. Each treatment lasts between 45-60 minutes and patients can resume normal activity or work immediately after. As with most procedures, strenuous exercise is not recommended for at least 24 hours post-procedure. Results are usually visible within a few days or weeks, and will continue to improve as collagen is produced. This procedure works best in combination with some of our other holistic collagen-inducing procedures and products, such as Sculptra Aesthetic, MINT PDO thread lifts and Skinade supplement drinks. 

To introduce this new service to Pacholec Center for Weight Loss & Anti-Aging Medicine, Dr. Williams will be performing a live demonstration over Zoom on 01/22/21 at 12:30PM on our other practitioners, Dr. Pacholec and Lauren DeNeve, ARNP. She will be discussing her technique and patients will be able to see exactly what to expect during and immediately post-procedure. Exclusive discounts will be available ONLY to demo attendees and there will be a raffle available to the first 10 people to sign up and attend the demo as well! The raffle prize is a Kenesko skincare kit valued at $200, which contains collagen inducing eye, face and décolleté masks as well as a quartz roller. RSVP for the event below and call either of our St Petersburg, FL or Lutz, FL offices for any additional questions.

Fall is a season of change; the signs of aging are all around us. Another year speeds quickly towards its conclusion, but just because we can’t slow down time doesn’t mean we can’t slow down the aging process. Injections of Botox Cosmetic help to keep a youthful appearance and smooth out fine lines and wrinkles. Botox Cosmetic is the most popular neurotoxin used for cosmetic procedures in the United States and is FDA-approved for cosmetic use. Facial expression, stress, genetics and other factors may lead to unsightly wrinkles that can make you look and feel older. Do you often find yourself wishing you looked younger? Does your appearance lead to personal insecurities? While you may have to watch the leaves decay outside, you don’t have to watch your face suffer the same fate! Botox Cosmetic is a non-surgical way to reduce or eliminate unsightly wrinkles and lift the brow. Botox Cosmetic can also be used as a preventative by weakening facial muscles that cause wrinkles to appear. Interested in learning more about Botox Cosmetic? Read below for 7 of the most frequently answered questions.

(1) What is Botox Cosmetic?
Botox Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles, specifically the facial muscles, to temporarily alleviate moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults. Botox Cosmetic temporarily reduces the muscle activity in these areas of the face to visibly smooth these lines and wrinkles. It is the only FDA-approved treatment for smoothing wrinkles and fine lines and has many clinical studies to prove its effectiveness and safety in use. On average, the effects of Botox Cosmetic last 3-4 months, so you will need to continue treatment to see results.

(2) How is Botox Cosmetic administered?
Botox Cosmetic is an injectible medicine, administered to the muscle surrounding the sides of the eyes for crow’s feet or the corrugator and the procerus muscles for frown lines. Botox procedures must be performed by a licensed medical professional. Results typically last 3-4 months, and usually results can be noticed right away with minimal side effects.

(3) What does Botox Treat?
Botox Cosmetic treats fine lines, wrinkles and crow’s feet in the face. This includes more specific areas like horizontal lines across the forehead, frown lines, lines on the sides of the nose, “lipstick lines” around the corners of the mouth and neck banding as well. Botox Cosmetic also has reported medicinal use, including migraine relief, sweating reduction, lifting the brow, and has been used to reduce eye squinting as well.

(4) What are some Benefits of Receiving Botox Cosmetic?
Botox Cosmetic can increase your self confidence by helping you look younger and combat the aging process. Botox has also been proven to aid in migraine reduction, excessive sweating and eye squinting, although it is only FDA-approved for cosmetic use. There have also been clinical studies performed on patients who receive Botox Cosmetic treatments and its link to human emotions. These studies used volunteers who regularly receive Botox treatments for the treatment group and volunteers who do not receive Botox treatments for the control group, and asked them to respond to a questionnaire of emotion-producing sentences with three answers, “angry”, “sad” or “happy”.  When prompted with questions to encourage negative feelings, the participants took longer than the control group (no Botox) to read and understand it. The study was performed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin. Professor emeritus of psychology, Arthur Glenberg, said “normally, the brain would be sending signals to the periphery to frown and the extent of the frown would be sent back to the brain. But here, the loop is disrupted, and the intensity of the emotion and of our ability to understand it when embodied in language is disrupted.” Simply put, the angry and sad emotions did not compute as easily as before their frown and wrinkle lines were paralyzed. This research is part of an exciting field in psychology called, “embodied  cognition” which theorizes that most of our cognitive capabilities are rooted in and reflected by the body. Do the results of this research prove that people who receive Botox are happier? Not necessarily, but the best way to find out is by scheduling your Botox consultation today!

(5) Is Botox Cosmetic Safe?
There are minimal side effects from Botox Comsetic reported for healthy individuals who do not suffer from chronic nervous system diseases such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. In clinical studies, 3% of patients experienced eyelid drooping in the frown lines and 1% experienced eyelid swelling for the crow’s feet treatment. Other possible side effects include discomfort or pain at the injection site, headache, eye problems, double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids and swelling of your eyelids. Make an appointment with our Nurse Practitioner, Lauren DeNeve, to find out if Botox Cosmetic is right for you!

(6) Why Choose Dr. Pacholec’s practice for Your Botox Consult?
Our Nurse Practitioner, Lauren DeNeve, is fully qualified to perform Botox injections and has been practicing for over 5 years. She thoroughly understands facial anatomy, especially the muscular network that underlies the skin. She is gentle, accurate and precise, making the Botox experience easy and comfortable for the patient. She truly enjoys performing Botox Cosmetic procedures and helping patients discover their vitality and recapture their youth!
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(7) What other cosmetic procedures does Dr. Pacholec offer?
At Dr. Pacholec’s practice, Pacholec Center for Weight Loss, we strive to offer the best treatments for our patients. Our nurse practitioner, Lauren DeNeve, administers the Botox Cosmetic procedures and also offer facial filler injections, including Juvederm and Volbella. Juvederm treatments last between 9-12 months and are useful for people with moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, specifically the nasolabial folds, which run for the corners of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Volbella is the recommended treatment for lips, lines around the lips and fine lines and wrinkles. Volbella lasts for 12-18 months and is the longest lasting lip filler on the market. If you are interested in any of these cosmetic procedures, call the Lutz, FL office at 813-909-4430 to schedule your consultation with Lauren DeNeve!