Need A Lift?

The white, cotton eyelet dress that Lana* wore to her first Holy Communion wasn’t purchased off a rack at a department store. It was designed by her mother and sewn by her father, and it inspired her to become the successful woman she is today.

“I absolutely loved that dress,” Lana says. “My parents gave it to me as an early Communion present, and I will never forget how moved I was by the fact that it was something they created together.

“That was also the first time I realized what my father did for a living. Before that, all I knew was that he worked in a clothing store. What I didn’t know was that he was a very talented tailor with a long list of loyal clients.”

Inspired by the dress’s beauty, Lana tried her hand at designing and sewing clothes herself but found her niche selling designer women’s wear. She now owns a boutique that caters largely to young professionals.

Sufeeya (left) and Jasmine are both certified Evoke technicians

As the “face of the boutique,” Lana believes it’s her duty to always look her best. That means dressing sharp and maintaining a healthy appearance. To ensure the latter, she recently took a step beyond using facial creams, peels and masks.

“I’m 58 years old, and I felt like I was starting to look very tired and much older than that,” Lana confides. “It was as though gravity was starting to win the fight in some critical areas of my face — especially my cheeks, jawline and neck.”

Loss of Laxity

Lana’s dilemma is common. As people age, their skin naturally loses elasticity and the muscles throughout the face atrophy. As a result, the skin sags and the cheeks, jawline and neck lose their youthful definition.

Face-lifts can correct such problems, but Lana had no desire to undergo surgery. She was happy to learn she wouldn’t need to while discussing the issue with her dentist, Naved Fatmi, DMD, of Health and Wellness Dentistry.

“I was seeing Dr. Fatmi for some restorative work, and we got to talking about the issues I was having aesthetically,” Lana informs. “My timing was perfect because he started telling me about the aesthetic services his staff provides, such as JUVÉDERM^® and BOTOX^® Cosmetic. I told him I was looking for something a little different. That’s when he mentioned Evoke.”

Developed by InMode, Evoke is an innovative, nonsurgical facial rejuvenation system designed to restore a more youthful appearance. It targets the cheeks, chin and neck, where subdermal tissue is remodeled and youthful definition is restored.
Evoke achieves these results through the use of a hands-free headset that delivers radiofrequency energy to areas of the head and neck where skin can sag. Dr. Fatmi says the treatment provides the effects of “a mini face-lift” without any cutting.

“This is not just another spa treatment,” Dr. Fatmi adds. “This treatment uses a controlled device and changes your facial anatomy. That’s why it must done under a licensed doctor’s supervision.”

Health and Wellness Dentistry is one of only two Florida dental practices providing treatment using Evoke technology. It has two technicians certified in its administration: Sufeeya Irani, who treated Lana, and Jasmine Camareno.

“Her biggest complaint was her sagging jawline, or jowls,” Sufeeya says of Lana. “She also hated the way her neck looked. She covered it by wearing scarves regularly. Her goal was to add more definition and pull up the skin in both areas.”

Sufeeya determined that Evoke was the perfect option for Lana’s objectives.

“For people who have the kind of skin laxity she had, this treatment will decrease the fat cells, bump up the collagen production and reduce the laxity in those areas,” Sufeeya explains. “It targets the subdermal layer of the skin, the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, by causing an inflammatory reaction that increases the production of collagen cells and destroys fat cells.”

Looking Healthier, Younger

Evoke technology does not discriminate against any skin tone, according to Jasmine, nor does it burn the skin as do some other machines. Jasmine adds that treatment can begin immediately after an initial consultation.
The protocol begins with a thorough cleansing of the areas to be treated. An ultrasound gel is applied, and the headset is secured onto the patient and adjusted to ensure a comfortable fit.
“We then change the settings depending on the person’s skin type,” Jasmine explains, “and they sit back and relax.”
The treatment lasts 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the patient’s objectives. Afterward, sunscreen is applied to the targeted area, Jasmine says, “and the patient can go about their day.”

Dr. Fatmi, Jasmine, and Sufeeya recommend that patients receive four treatments to obtain optimal results. Lana followed those guidelines and was elated with the outcome.

“When you see yourself every day the results come rather subtly, but I can tell you that I no longer look as tired as I once did,” she says. “My face definitely looks more sculpted. That puffiness is definitely gone. I look healthier and more youthful. Evoke took years off my appearance, and I didn’t have to go through all that microneedling that a lot of people do.

“This treatment was exactly what I was looking for. It was like getting a mini face-lift without surgery. I definitely recommend it, and I strongly recommend Dr. Fatmi and his staff. He really has a quality practice.”