Emsculpt NEO, microneedling with PRP combine to trim, tighten and take years off appearance.
The pork rub recipe that has been passed down through three generations consists of 17 ingredients, five of which Madison* will not reveal under any circumstance.
“Most of the ingredients are foundational things that are found in every rub recipe,” Madison offers. “I’m talking about things like paprika, brown sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper. The five I can’t reveal are the ones that make the rub special.”
Originally concocted by Madison’s grandfather, this recipe has helped Madison’s family win four blue ribbons at barbecue festivals around the country the last eight years.
“That’s our thing,” Madison offers. “In the spring and summer, my family spends almost every weekend at a county fair, state fair or barbecue festival barbecuing ribs and competing against other pit masters. It’s a lot of fun.
“The only drawback is that you’re on the road a lot, which makes it hard to eat healthy. Throw in the fact that you spend your weekends tasting barbecue ribs to make sure they’re just right, and it’s hard to keep your weight in check.”
Madison, 42, has been fighting such a battle for about three years. She was convinced she was winning after losing 28 pounds — until a year ago, when her weight plateaued while trying to lose the final seven to reach her goal.
“I was really proud of myself for what I’d done,” Madison offers. “I started working out and worked really hard at eating right, and it paid off big time. But no matter what I did, those last seven or eight pounds just wouldn’t come off.
“And, of course, those seven or eight pounds were all right around my tummy and sides. I’m at an age where I can still look good in a bikini, and I wanted to look that way again, but I needed some help. So, I went to see Dr. Dean.”
Hitting the Target
Melissa Dean, MD, is the founder of the Dean Wellness Institute in Vero Beach, where she practices traditional medicine, offers a holistic approach to wellness and specializes in the treatment of menopause and andropause.
Dr. Dean also specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), which is considered the most natural and effective solution for hormone-related issues such as insomnia, vaginal dryness and lack of focus.
Madison has been a patient of Dr. Dean’s for several years, with appointments for regular checkups the way many would see a primary care physician. Last year, she went to Dr. Dean seeking help with those unwanted pounds.
“I look better than I have in years.” – Madison
Dr. Dean recommended Emsculpt NEO®, an FDA-approved, nonsurgical body-contouring treatment that she says burns stubborn fat, tones muscle and tightens skin.
Ideally suited for people who have a body mass index (BMI) of less than 35, Emsculpt NEO delivers rapid pulses of high-intensity electromagnetic and radiofrequency energy.
“The energy is emitted through an applicator that is applied to the area of the body to be treated,” Dr. Dean educates. “The energy heats the fat cells to a degree where they simply can’t survive. Once the fat cells die, the lipids inside them are released into the lymph system, and they’re excreted over time.
“At the same time that the fat cells are being targeted, the muscles are heated, and there’s a contraction device on the applicator that, when working the abdomen for instance, simulates the body doing about 20,000 stomach crunches in half an hour.”
Emsculpt NEO treatments are performed while the patient lies comfortably on a table and typically last about 30 minutes. They can be used to treat multiple areas where stubborn fat remains or a need for increased muscle tone is desired.
Clinical studies show that within weeks of completing four Emsculpt NEO sessions, patients report a 30 percent decrease in fat and 25 percent increase in muscle growth.
Madison is among those who achieved the results she was seeking.
“I did six sessions targeting my tummy area, the front and back of my arms, and my thighs and buttocks,” Madison offers. “The results were incredible. I lost three inches around my arms and three inches around my waist.
“The best way for me to explain how happy I am is to say that for the first time in years I can walk by a mirror and smile. I feel sexier than I have in years because Emsculpt NEO gave me a huge boost in confidence.”
Liquid Gold
Madison received a further confidence boost through microneedling with platelet rich plasma (PRP), a skin-rejuvenation treatment in which a trained technician uses a small handheld device to induce microtraumas to the skin that are then treated with PRP.
Treatments begin with a blood draw from the patient’s arm. The blood is placed in a centrifuge and spun down. Afterward, a special kit is used to separate red blood cells from the plasma and PRP.
“What you’re left with is what we refer to as liquid gold,” Dr. Dean explains. “That’s the plasma with all the growth factors, or PRP. We put that into a syringe and disperse it like a lotion across the targeted area while performing the microneedling.
“When performing microneedling, the body responds naturally by sending growth factors from inside the body to the site of the microtraumas. With PRP, we’re also applying growth factors to the outside of those microtraumas.
A typical microneedling session, including prep, blood draw and procedure, lasts about an hour. It can be used to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles, tighten skin and even reduce or eliminate scarring.
“There’s no downtime with this treatment,” Dr. Dean concludes. “The effects are like that of a slight sunburn, so you can leave our office following a treatment and go right back to work or whatever you’d like without any concerns.”
Madison received three microneedling treatments across a three-month period and says they left her with a “very refreshed complexion” that has earned many compliments. As a result, she plans to continue the microneedling and Emsculpt NEO treatments.
“I really love what Emsculpt NEO and the microneedling with PRP have done for me,” Madison enthuses. “I look better than I have in years, my husband can’t stop complimenting me, and it was all so easy to do.
“The treatments are very relaxing and not painful at all, so I gladly recommend them to anybody. And I strongly recommend Dr. Dean and her staff. I love that crew to death. They’re the best.”
