Who should consider having this procedure?

• Women and men ages 40 to 70+ who want to:
• Remain more competitive in their careers by looking vibrant and youthful
• Enhance or maintain their facial attractiveness
• Delay future signs of aging
• Avoid plastic surgery or injections of substances such as Botox and Restylane
• Women and men in their 30s and 40s who are interested in preventing and slowing visible signs of aging on the face and neck

What are the typical results of the Acugems Facial Rejuve™ anti-aging procedure?

• Improved overall health and spirit
• Increased collagen and elastin production, which helps to fill out and contour the face
• Tightened skin, including drooping jaw lines
• Improved skin texture, color and muscle tone
• Improved blood flow, resulting in youthful, glowing skin
• Smoothed lines
• Deep wrinkle reduction
• Reduced blemishes, acne breakouts and age spots
• Speedier recovery from eyelid surgery and surgical facelifts
• Stimulated release of excess fluid and toxins by the lymphatic system
• No swelling, bruising, redness, blisters, discomfort or undesirable side effects

Why are collagen and elastin so important to maintaining a youthful appearance?

Collagen is considered the fountain of youth because it wards off fine lines and wrinkles. As much as 75 percent of the dermis layer of the skin (the substantial second layer that is protected by the translucent outer layer called the epidermis) is made up collagen. Aging, exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors diminish the body's ability to produce collagen. Skin becomes thinner and loses its flexibility.

Elastin, also located in the dermis, holds the collagen bundles together and gives structure to the skin. When time and elements decrease the body's ability to produce elastin, the skin wrinkles and sags.

Collagen and elastin also are important because they bind the skin to the fatty layer beneath the dermis, called the hypodermis or subcutis.

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, the skin's elasticity declines dramatically when people are in there 50s. Although this is true for both men and women, it impacts women much more dramatically. Women's skin has less collagen content than men's skin. Also, the drop in estrogen following menopause impacts the fibroblasts in the dermis and the cells that create collagen and elastin. As a result, women may look older than men who are the same ages and who have had similar sun exposure.

How long does each treatment take?

The treatment is about one hour or less. There are up to seven steps in each treatment, which are customized to the individual. There are no undesirable side effects afterwards so you may go about your normal activities immediately.

Do I need to do anything in advance to prepare my skin?

Good hydration is vital to beautiful skin so staff recommends that you drink an adequate amount of water every day. Ladies may wear their usual cosmetics to the salon. We will cleanse your face when you arrive and apply a lightweight gel on your face and neck prior to beginning. A powder room is available so that you may reapply cosmetics afterward.

How many procedures are required to get results?

A series of 12 to 18* treatments over several months are required for maximum and lasting effects. There are no side effects so you may undergo consecutive treatments in rapid succession, if desired.

Recommended Frequency:

• For the first 12 treatments, twice per week
• For the remainder, once a week

*Additional treatments may be required for smokers, the elderly and clients with extensive sun exposure

Why do cigarette smokers typically require more treatments than nonsmokers?

Cigarette smoking creates biochemical changes in the skin tissues that accelerate aging. They also can give skin an unhealthy yellowish hue.

How does exposure to the sun speed up the skin's aging process?

Repeated exposure to the sun (called photo-aging) breaks down collagen and impairs the creation of new collagen. It also affects another essential protein for youthful-looking skin and elastin.

As a result of sun exposure, the skin loses its ability to resist gravity and "spring back" from repetitive facial expressions. Photo-aging is evidenced by lines, deep grooves, age spots, freckles, fine wrinkles and spider veins on the face. The worst-case scenario is loose, wrinkled and leathery skin on the face and neck.
The damage from photo aging accumulates beneath the surface of the skin for years before it is visible to the naked eye. The amount of damage to the dermis can be determined by using UV photography.

People who live in sun-intense areas such as Arizona and even California can show signs of photo-aging as early as in there 20s.

How do I maintain the results?

The need for follow-up with procedures varies with the individual. This may be as infrequently as once every 2 to 3 months, to as often as every 4 to 6 weeks. The results will be enhanced by good health practices. This includes protecting your skin from the sun; not smoking; drinking a generous quantity of water every day; getting enough sleep; and avoiding caffeine and alcohol, which quickly dehydrate the body.

Will I feel any pain or discomfort during or after the Acugems Facial Rejuve™ treatment?

It is highly unlikely and would be very unusual.

Will I be able to go out in public immediately following the procedure?

Absolutely! It is a relaxing process with no visible or undesirable side effects.

Are there any contraindications to this procedure?

There are several conditions which would preclude the Acugems Facial Rejuve™ treatment. These are:

• Epileptic, seizure or brain cancer patients
• Women in their first trimester of Pregnancy
• Oral herpes outbreaks
• Known precautions and contraindications will be discussed with you prior to starting treatments.

What does it cost?

I would be happy to estimate the cost of a course of treatment that meets your individual anti-aging goals and needs. Please call me at 415-383-1145 to schedule a no-obligation consultation.

How is Acugems Facial Rejuve™ procedure unique?

Rather than using knives or foreign substances to change the skin from the outside, Acugems Facial Rejuve™trade; gives you the added benefit of high grade gemstones used during the treatment such as emeralds, sapphires, tourmaline, swiss blue topaz and of course diamonds. Acugems Facial Rejuve™ in combination with microcurrent stimulates the body to repair environmentally damaged skin and speed the growth of collagen, elastin and new cells that provide a more youthful and healthy appearance.

Acugems Facial Rejuve™ works with the electrical signals that naturally travel across cells the basic component of the human body. During the procedure, imperceptible micro currents and a spectrum of beneficial colors of light and gemstones are gently applied directly to clients' skin. By delivering these two forms of energy stimulation together, the effect of each is significantly enhanced.

How do gemstones like tourmaline help the skin?

When tourmaline crystals warm, as they can when they are when combined with the Acutron Mentor and needles, they have the unique feature of becoming positively charged at one end, and negatively charged on the other. It is this feature that makes tourmaline so effective at increasing the absorption of nutrients into the skin, so that the skin can be healed and protected as a result. Because tourmaline is an energizing crystal as well, it can contribute to the vitality of the skin, making it appear more radiant and youthful.

What is a micro current?

These are micro amps of current, or one millionth of an amp, similar to the body's natural electrical current. It is so small that most people can't feel it. Because the human body is very sensitive to electrical currents, it is vital that appropriate levels and frequencies of current be applied. The less energy that is applied, the greater the healing that results.

During the facial rejuvenation treatment, the micro currents, gems and colored light frequencies are varied according to specific protocols. (Protocols are designated steps to be followed.) The trained professional selects the most effective means to treat each "trouble area.

Do the TENS devices used in physical therapy, chiropractic and pain clinics use micro currents (micro amps)?

No. These devices use much stronger currents called milliamps (currents in the thousandth of an amp range). Milliamps produce a strong, buzzing feeling and don't produce long-lasting effects. They are so overbearing on the body's innate electrical activity that they literally shut down some of the pain-carrying pathways in the central nervous system, thus reducing the sensation of pain.

Is the Acugems Facial Rejuve™ treatment essentially the same thing as other anti-aging procedures that use light, such as Fotofacial or laser?

No. The procedure and the results are different. Also, there is no pain or discomfort during or after the Acugem Facial Rejuve™ procedure, nor is there any down time. Acugems Facial Rejuve treatments allows you to go back to work or to a social function immediately afterward, looking relaxed and refreshed.

What equipment does Acugems Facial Rejuve™ use?

Acugems Facial Rejuve™ uses the state-of-the-art Acutron Mentor, which is manufactured in the United States. Doctors and trained professionals in the United States and 19 foreign countries have used this equipment for a variety of health-related purposes for nearly 20 years.

The equipment that Acugems Facial Rejuve™ uses for the anti-aging procedure is unique. Its patents cover its use of light; its range of 12 colored light options; and the wands' dual tips which administer micro current and colored light therapy concurrently. In addition using the ACUGEMS™ Gemstone Therapy, which provides the healing properties of gemstones in your treatments.

How long has the Acugems Facial Rejuve™ anti-aging procedure been available?

Since 2000, thousands of women and men in the United States and Europe have benefited from Acutron Mentor Technology.