Category Modeling

When’s The Next Shoot?

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Blue Dress pickup 2 - CopyI love modeling so much that I prefer having a stacked shoot schedule. I truly look forward to the majority of my shoots and always anticipate what types of images will result from each shoot. The only thing I DON’T look forward to is packing wardrobe. That can be a real drag because half the time, I can’t even remember what I have, and if I need to get creative, it takes time for me to put looks together. I have had as many as 12 shoots in a month, and that shoot schedule was adjusted around my work schedule.

There are busier times of the year for sure, but they are unpredictable and I never know when they will emerge. I simply roll with whatever is put before me. Some of you might be under the impression that I shoot with anyone who asks me to shoot, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I am VERY selective about which photographers I will shoot with.

I am amazed by how incredibly fortunate I am to have shot with some of the most talented photographers in the fitness, fashion and glamour industries. It’s a rare privilege to model so frequently despite the fact that I am only a couple of years away from the big 5-0. I have recently been into more “outside the box” concepts, partially because I have gotten a tad burnt out on the standard fitness and bikini shoots, and also because my creative mind always enjoys exploring original concepts. So don’t be surprised if future shoots reveal edgier looks. That’s kind of how I roll!

Maybe I AM A Vampire…

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I have spent my entire adult life never looking like my chronological age, so I am accustomed to people scratching their heads when I reveal my age. When I was 20, I could pass for a teenager, and when I was 30, people thought I was 20 or 21. As the number of years I logged began to creep up more, I noticed slight shifts and changes, such as the loss of the very full cheeks and deep dimples I had when I was younger (the dimples are still there, just not as deep). Yet my appearance still belied my age, and for that I am truly grateful.
Me at 18
What blows my mind is that people now regularly guess my age to be roughly 15 years less than what it actually is. Does this mean I am looking younger as I age? Since we are our own worst critics, I will admit that I see the skin sagging and annoying grey hairs that no one else really seems to notice or pay attention to, so my perception is that I am aging just fine. But then I get a glimpse of what other people might see when I am perusing images from a recent photo shoot. When I look at my face, I don’t have the furrowed lines and flaccid skin that I often see in patients, many of whom are younger than me. Yes, I have had a touch of filler, but not a lot. I don’t undergo any intense skin treatments, nor do I take any super supplements. When I use topical skincare products, they are usually pretty basic, with my current lineup consisting of Vitamin C serum, hyaluronic acid/zinc serum, and a light oil-free moisturizer. I don’t slather any exotic creams on my face, and I certainly have never had any type of facial surgery.Me at 31

I have reviewed images from several years ago when I began competing versus now, and I honestly think I look even younger now. I work out like a beast regularly and do not slack on my routine. I eat clean meals which are balanced and chock full of alkalinizing vegetables and fruits. In addition, I take lots of natural supplements on a daily basis to optimize my nutrition and gain the protective effects of the substances in my regimen.

I have great genetic stock from my Japanese mother and a Hungarian father, so who knows? Maybe there IS vampire blood in me!

Botox Treatments Are NOT An Urgent Issue

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injectables and faceWhile I appreciate the aesthetic benefits and self-confidence boost that injectables treatments confer upon the people who undergo them, I get very annoyed by the sense of urgency which some people adopt when it’s time to get treated again. I am not kidding you when I say I have had patients contact me asking for Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Juvederm, Restylane, Perlane, Belotero, or Radiesse with a hint of desperation in their voices, as if it was a matter of life or death in getting a treatment lined up immediately.

In a way it makes perfect sense because these non-surgical fixes are a cost-effective way to smooth lines and furrows and restore lost volume. When the clock is turned back the first time and a new patient sees the results of injectables treatments, it’s a wonderful reveal which causes the patient to see himself or herself differently. The neurotoxins (Botox, Dysport and Xeomin) yield effects which last from 3 to 6 months, with muscle function gradually returning over time, along with the corresponding lines and wrinkles. Fillers have greater longevity and dissipate from 6 months to two years after the treatment is performed. The dissipation tends to be gradual, not sudden.

So when I have patients calling the office, calling me or texting me, insisting that they MUST come in IMMEDIATELY for treatment, I almost want to ask, “Where’s the fire?” Sometimes the request is on such short notice that I cannot accommodate it, which sometimes upsets the patient greatly. The response from the patient goes something like, “But I need it NOW! You need to do this for me. I’m sure you can find time in your schedule to stay late or somehow accommodate me.”

Such treatments are NEVER an emergency, and your face isn’t going to fall if you don’t get shot up with neurotoxin or filler immediately. Trust me on this!

Invasix Body Fx Treatments…If You Are Lean, Beware!

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BodyFxI have a problem area which is constantly being tortured in an effort to to correct the issue, namely, mild but stubborn cellulite on my hamstring area. In the past I have tried Exilis treatments, and I always make sure to do infrared body wraps before I compete to minimize the appearance of cellulite in this region. However, the results of both of these procedures are temporary, and consequently I am always on the hunt for something more effective.

Enter BodyFx by Invasix, which is a radio-frequency and vacuum device which allegedly targets fat cells while also tightening the dermis and causing collagen contracture. The promise of less fat along with tighter skin seemed too good to be true, but I was willing to try this technology 1) because I am a physician who specializes in aesthetic medicine, 2) I will be stepping onstage very soon, and 3) I HATE the dimpling on the backs of my thighs.

I was told that the treatment, which combines focused radio-frequency energy, deep tissue heating, and suction coupled negative pressure, would be uncomfortable, but MAN OH MAN! Between the intense someone-is-lighting-me-on-fire heat and the intermittent zapping sensation I experienced at the end of some of the pulses, I was in agony. I am a tough cookie with a high pain threshold too, which should tell you a lot. The procedure was so painful that I was yelling obscenities and grabbing onto the treatment table, getting a great chest workout as I wrestled it like it was an enormous squeeze ball. I know that my body fat is at around 14% right now, that I have very little storage fat on the backs of my legs, and that the leaner a patient is, the more painful the BodyFx treatment tends to be.

Here’s a YouTube video which describes the technology:

I find it amazing that the patient featured in this video only reported mild heat sensation, so I am guessing that she has significantly more body fat than I do. Truth be told, my procedure hurt like the dickens. I had to endure ten minutes on each thigh, with more distal and lateral aspects of my posterior thigh being the most intensely painful areas. It was no picnic!

BodyFx treatments must be performed weekly for an 8 week treatment period, which means that I must endure SEVEN more weekly sessions to see optimal results. A one treatment maintenance every 6 months is also part of the treatment protocol. Oh goodie. I am honestly dreading the pain I will be experiencing later this week when I go in for my second BodyFx treatment. But you know what? If it truly works, all the pain will be worth it.