DENVER, CO – A new, authoritative skin cancer study confirms what has been long suspected: the growing popularity of tanning beds plays a role in an alarming increase in the incidence of melanoma, particularly among young women.

Researchers from the University of Michigan, writing in the health journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, say those using tanning beds have three times the chance of developing melanoma, one of the most deadly forms of skin cancer.

“As a health care professional focusing on skin care, I find the tanning bed craze unfathomable,” says Dr. Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, a Denver facial plastic surgeon and otolaryngologist who is owner and medical director of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics. “I see the effects of sun damage every day – early-onset wrinkles, loss of skin tone, pigmentation problems, even skin cancers – and I want young women to know the adverse health effects and long-term detriments of excessive tanning and tanning beds far outweigh the short-term benefits. My older patients would advise their younger sisters to take care of their skin now so that they will age more slowly and protect their health.”

Melanoma skin cancer results in nearly 10,000 deaths per year, and one of the key findings in the new study is that average age of those being diagnosed with the disease is getting younger. Indeed, researchers note that skin cancer is now the most common form of cancer diagnosed in young adults, with the increase showing up most notably in young women.

Tanning salons have been around for decades, but the industry really took off in the 1990s with new technology for tanning beds. Since that time the phenomenon has grown into a more than billion-dollar industry. The damaging health effects off tanning beds have been discussed for some time. In fact, in an effort to dampen the popularity of tanning beds, the new health care legislation pushed by the Obama Administration contains a 10% tax on tanning bed services, a levy which goes into effect in July 2010.

Dr. Raval, a skin care specialist, recommends that people avoid tanning beds and excessive exposure to sun. Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics specializes in a wide variety of skin-care procedures and techniques, including hair reduction, tattoo reduction, vein reduction and anti-aging skin care. Many of the procedures performed at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics involve the use of modern medical lasers, and Dr. Raval and his staff also feature a full line of both prescription and non-prescription skin care products designed to fight the effects of aging and protect the skin from sun and environmental damage.

“Tanning beds are really not a good idea,” says Dr. Raval. “They may even be addictive in that using them has been shown to release endorphins in the body. Everybody, but especially young people, should avoid tanning beds, and they should use skin-care products that include sun blocks and provide skin moisturizing. With proper skin care people will be healthier, and they will maintain their youthful appearance and skin tine far beyond their friends using tanning beds.”

At Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics , Dr. Raval and his medical assistants stress wearing SPF 30 at a minimum. Dr. Raval carries RavalRx, a proprietary line of skincare products he has developed to meet the needs of his patients, plus Obaji, Nia 24, Vivite, La Roche-Posay and SkinCeuticals. Sun protection lotions and crèmes are part of each product line available in the clinic and online at www.ravalmd.com, the facial plastic surgery arm of Dr. Raval’s practice sharing the same office.

Dr. Raval and his aestheticians use Visia® Complexion Analysis to map a patient’s face and the resulting sun damage, perhaps the biggest contributor to aging skin, wrinkles and brown spots as well as melanomas. This topographic map is then interpreted by Dr. Raval and his medical techs to determine specific recommended treatments for each individual patient.

Using a variety of skin-smoothing treatments from Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) FotoFacial Laser Therapy to Sciton Laser Ultimate Laser Peel, Sciton MicroLaserPeel, Sciton Profractional Peel, Sciton ClearScan, and Sciton BBL Photofacial, medical aestheticians and the doctor restore a youthful glow to patients’ complexions, erasing wrinkles and fine lines. These laser treatments also promote the development of collagen, the connective protein contained in skin cells that keeps the skin taut, firm and young looking.

“Most of the skin damage we see on patients occurred before age 18,” adds Dr. Raval. “It can be 20 years before melanoma appear. And not all melanomas show up in areas that are exposed to the sun. We’ve had patients display melanomas inside their ears or between their toes, underscoring the importance of regular self-exams and annual physical exams at minimum.”

For more information on skin-care laser treatments and skin-care products available at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics, visit www.rockymountainlaser.com or call 303-985-8520. The clinic is located at 250 Steele St., Denver, CO 80206 in Denver’s famed Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

Dr. Jeffrey Raval of Denver’s Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics has high-tech solutions for acne, but says scarring from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder call for behavioral changes as well

DENVER, CO— Acne sufferers can find a good measure of relief with cutting-edge photodynamic therapies and lasers, as well new topical treatments, however a predisposition for acne combined with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), particularly Compulsive Skin Picking (CSP), can be result in skin scarring that may require the intervention of licensed psychologists, reports Dr. Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS, clinic director and manager of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics in Denver’s Cherry Creek North neighborhood.

Repetitive picking at one’s own skin to the extent of causing damage is usually limited to the face, says Dr. Raval, though OCD organizations like OCD LA report that the picking can extend to any part of the body. Patients with Dermatillomania, Neurotic Excoriation, or CSP pick at freckles and moles, at pre-existing scabs, sores or acne blemishes, or even at imagined skin defects that nobody else can see. They use fingernails, teeth, or tweezers and pins causing bleeding, infection and permanent scarring.

Another term for the disorder is Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) which is an obsessive preoccupation with a perceived physical defect. The cocktail of the disease topped off with typical teenage acne or adult acne for that matter is just starting to be studied. A recent study found that 23% of the patients in the test group diagnosed with OCD and 27% of those with BDD, also had CSP.

Sometimes the picking is prompted by an itch or urge or it can be a conscious response to anxiety or depression. But often it is an unconscious habit, says Dr. Raval.

“Our practice is to refer suspected cases of OCD to licensed psychologists,” says Dr. Raval.

One of the forms of treatment that has been shown to work is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy called Habit Reversal Training, he adds. “The patient learns to identify the triggers to skin picking and then learns to adopt alternative behaviors vs. picking.

Beyond the behavioral issues, Dr. Raval treats acne, and other forms of facial skin blemishes, with a variety of high-tech therapies and topical therapies.

“In our practice then, we treat the cycle of inflammatory acne vulgaris using both the BLU-U Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy Illuminator Model 4170 to control moderate acne, or Photodynamic therapy (PDT) with an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser for more advanced cases,” says Dr. Raval.

The BLU-U is a special blue light that kills the Propionibacterium acnes, often referred to P. acnes bacteria, in the skin in 15-minute sessions twice a week. The BLU-U unclogs the sebaceous glands beneath the skin’s surface which allow p. acnes to grow inside forming a pimple often noticeable because of the swelling.

Photodynamic therapy takes only 20 minutes per treatment and there is no downtime, just some peeling after treatment. Patients show a significant reduction in acne, unwanted pigmentation and blotchiness in the skin. Plus the results are long lasting and the skin texture is improved.

The third treatment used at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics is NeoBenz™ Micro, a topical treatment that is proven to work fast against whiteheads, blackheads and inflamed pimples. NeoBenz combines benzoyl peroxide, a powerful antibacterial medication, that kills the p. acnes bacteria that causes acne as well as reducing inflammation, opening plugged hair follicles and slowing the formation of whiteheads and blackheads. It comes in different strengths depending on one’s intensity of acne.

“Overcoming the compulsion to pick at one’s skin is not achieved overnight, but certainly beating acne at a dermatological level underscores successful treatment,” adds Dr. Raval.

Visit www.rockymountainlaser.com for information on skin care treatments for acne scaring.

Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics uses two different famous label lasers to do precisely that

Denver, Colo.—The inevitable loss of collagen as we age causes the skin to look decades older than it has to. It sags. It loses elasticity. Wrinkles and creases begin to form in place of plump, healthy younger-looking skin. Now there’s a system to rebuild collagen and Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics is leading the way.

There is no downtime when treated using the Cynosure laser.

Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics has invested heavily in state-of-the-art lasers that have laser tips that are adaptable to perform a wide variety of specialized skin treatments.

The Sciton laser is used to perform The Ultimate Laser Peel, the MicroLaserPeel, the Profractional, CLeARSCAN™ and the BBL Photofacial. One of the laser tips uses with the Sciton is the SkinTyte laser that deeply heats dermal collagen, promoting partial denaturation and contraction of collagen. The heat also initiates the body’s natural healing process which encourages new production of natural collagen resulting in firmer skin. During treatments—a series of two to three are recommended over a month’s time—the powerful cooling mechanism maintains the surface of the skin at a cool temperature.

Yet, it’s the expert aesthetic technicians at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics that perform the diagnosis of each patient’s skin condition, building a treatment plan for individuals that is customized specifically to their needs. The results of these rejuvenating laser treatments begin to be apparent to the naked eye a couple of weeks into the series of treatments.

Make an appointment for a consultation to learn what laser treatment is recommended to repair damaged skin, inspire collagen production and smooth away wrinkles and creases. Go online to www.rockymountainlaser.com or call the clinic at 303-985-8520.

Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics is headquarters for younger looking skin this season. Here’s why RavalRx is the product line to make you look younger:

A number of factors like our age, sun exposure and skin care regiment affect our skin. There is not one magic cure-all for wrinkles, but advances in dermatology are significantly improving wrinkle prevention and reduction treatments. Take charge in the battle against aging. Pollution strips the skin of vitamin E, smoking elevates carbon monoxide levels in blood, which causes the formation of free radicals, and UV exposure causes photoaging. The solution for the effects of our environment is antioxidants.

According to the Mayo Clinic, free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules, meaning they have only one electron instead of two. By nature, electrons are found in pairs, and to become stable molecules, the free radicals scavenge for the missing electron, which breaks up another stable molecule. What does that mean for your face? The ongoing process causes mellatoproteinases, or secretion of proteins. Translation: breaks down collagen and causes wrinkles.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which is why many over-the-counter wrinkle prevention products contain the most common antioxidant, Retinol. Dr. Raval’s new line of prescription wrinkle solutions offers antioxidant C & E Ferulic Serum, which is a highly concentrated antioxidant for maximum wrinkle prevention. It contains vitamins C, which aids in the production of collagen and at this concentration oxidizes slowly. The hydroxyacid provides short-term micro exfoliation and long-term firming and protective benefits. This product is by prescription only so that Dr. Raval, board-certified plastic surgeon, can make sure it is the best product for your personal skin condition. An in-office consultation is required, but this will allow you to purchase the product online for one year.

Make your appointment today at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics. Call 303-985-8520.

DENVER, CO—The majority of patients seeking facial plastic surgery would prefer that the procedure be performed by a specialist in facial surgery including the head and neck, rather than a plastic surgeon who performs the wide range of cosmetic procedures, according to an informal survey of patients undertaken by Jeffrey Raval, MD, FACS in 2009.

His findings from patient consultations are consistent with a recent study released by the American Academy of Facial and Plastic Surgery in February 2010 showing that 85% of Americans would undergo facial plastic surgery if given the chance and that 80% of those surveyed would prefer that the treatment be performed by a plastic surgeon that specializes in facial surgery.

“It’s really a function of the New Think in our society,” says Dr. Raval of his micro study compared to the general U.S. study. “Specialization is preferred at all service levels today, from Starbucks coffee and Nike shoes globally to the Steadman Clinic locally in Vail. The majority of new patients I see in my practice for dermal fillers to facelifts share with me that they’d rather be treated by a specialist, or a sub-specialist because a more focused pays attention to the little details. It’s the face that others recall about a person. It comes right down to the pores. It’s in the fine details.”

With more than 2.3 million facial plastic procedures (according to the American Academy) performed in 2009, 38,000 were revision surgeries including scar removal, sometimes caused by injuries and other times resulting from facial treatments.

Dr. Raval is multi-board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, and is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American College of Surgeons. His office is located in Cherry Creek North at 250 Steele St., in the heart of Denver’s elite shopping and entertainment district.

Raval Facial Aesthetics, his main practice, is also home to Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics, a laser treatment clinic specializing in hair and tattoo removal and skin rejuvenation procedures including micro dermabrasion, lunch-time peels, and the weekend-facelift which is a hybrid treatment of facial dermal fillers including Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Radiesse, Volumalift, Dysport and Puretox plus Botox.

In addition, Dr. Raval recently launched his own proprietary line of prescription-strength skincare products called RavalRX. Essential Night Crème was released in January 2010 and a select group of companion products are due to be released in Spring 2010.

“This trend toward what I call the New Think is the result of patients having more information at their fingertips through the Internet,” says Dr. Raval. “Patients are not simply price-shopping; they’re doing their oun due diligence prior to treatment by interviewing surgeons and their medical backgrounds. Additionally, patients are seeking to align with a cosmetic surgeon who shares the same philosophy. At Raval Facial Aesthetics, we recommend series of smaller, often non-invasive treatments on a regular basis to retain a youthful look without having to go to the extreme. As a rule, patients welcome our approach because it aligns with tighter budgets and reduced downtime.”

Contact Dr. Jeffrey Raval at Raval Facial Aesthetics for information at jeffrey@ravalmd.com or call 303-381-FACE (3223).

Remove unwanted hair without pain at Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics located in Cherry Creek North in Denver, CO. Our laser aestheticians are specialists in the most up-to-date treatment methods, having completed extensive laser safety training before they join our practice. Employees of Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics regularly attend continuing education courses on laser hair removal learning the secrets of effective laser hair removal.

Laser hair removal is your best solution to get rid of your unwanted hair fast. This lasting treatment uses selective laser light to treat the face, body, arms, legs, bikini area, and back. After a series of laser treatments, the skin is soft and smooth, no need for tweezers or shaving ever again.

Super intense pulsed light lasers are safe and economical to reduce the hair growth on both men and women. The most popular hair removal method on the market today is laser hair removal because it is easy, almost pain-free and gives lasting results.

Celebrities, stars and supermodels use laser hair removal and now you can too. Performed by professionals the solution to unwanted hair using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) epilators leaves skin enviably soft and sleek.

Contact Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics today for an appointment and be ready to wear shorts and swimsuits this spring without embarrassment.

Denver, CO—With only eight more days ’til Christmas, chances are you need help get your shopping done! Online gift certificates are now available at www.ravalmd.com and www.rockymountainlaser.com.

Jeffrey R. Raval, MD FACS added his new online store to his two websites Dec. 15, 2009 just in time for the holiday season. It’s a move to make holiday gift giving a beautiful experience. From now until Dec. 31, 2009, online shoppers can buy a $100 gift certificate for products and services at Raval Facial Aesthetics and Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics and PAY ONLY $75. That’s a $25 savings.

Raval Facial Aesthetics and Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics are located at 250 Steele St., Denver, CO 80206. Besides gift certificates, facial plastic surgeon Dr. Raval has added his own name-brand prescription-strength line of skincare products to his online store and live location.

Essential night cream with antioxidants vitamin C and A is sold under the Raval Rx label. An enhanced medical grade Essential Night Cream is available to existing patients and the formulation includes Retin A and Hydroquinone. The ingredients in this new beauty product are designed to contradict signs of aging, especially at a high altitude.

The price of this Night Cream is surprisingly inexpensive—the 40g container is only $100 for the basic Night Cream and $120 for the prescription-grade cream enhanced with Retin-A and Hydroquinone.

“We’ve added our online retail presence because we recognize that our patients and prospective patients have less and less time for themselves,” says Dr. Raval. “Everyone is working harder days and longer hours to keep up in this economy. We want to make it exceedingly easy for our patients to continue their cosmetic beauty regime without fear of running out of product. Plus our gift certificate program is the gift that a woman (or man for that matter) can use at will while saving on product and treatments.”

Dr. Raval has had an online presence for the nine years he’s been in practice in Denver, Colorado. Over that time, he’s grown to be known as The Nose Doc for his rhinoplasty surgery, particularly for revision nose jobs, correcting the surgeries other doctors have performed. As a American Board certified head/neck surgeon, Dr. Jeffrey Raval is also board certified as an Ear/Nose/Throat surgeon also called an otolaryngologist.

To purchase a gift certificate online, visit www.ravalmd.com or www.rockymountainlaser.com.

Call Dr. Raval at 303-381-FACE (3223).

Located at 250 Steele St. in Cherry Creek North, RMLA shares space with Dr. Raval’s facial plastic surgery practice and ENT practice, Raval Facial Aesthetics.

Dr. Raval’s team of aestheticians and laser technicians deliver the latest medically approved cosmetic treatments available on the market today. With a bank of 10 different laser machines, the newest technology on the market, Dr. Raval and his staff perform a full range of services from laser skin resurfacing to cosmetic injections plus hair reduction and tattoo reduction. Patients can purchase medically prescribed products including Obagi, SkinCeuticals, Nia 24, Vivité and La Roche-Posay—the classification of product that delivers more profound results than over-the-counter products.

Now, with the introduction of Dr. Jeffrey Raval’s facial plastic surgery office, the district gains yet another distinction—the premier district for cosmetic surgery and laser hair and tattoo removal. American Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Jeff Raval treats men and women, restoring a youthful, refreshed and rejuvenated look to their faces, necks, skin and hands. Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics also offers injectable, non-invasive cosmetic treatments including BOTOX, Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Radiesse, Dysport and PureTox. Visit www.rockymountainlaser.com or www.ravalmd.com to learn more.

That’s the reason Dr. Jeff Raval located his medical practice and his laser clinic in the 16-block district—to afford his patients the convenience of proximity to the city’s finest dining and restaurants and the metro area’s most sought after retail shopping like Store of Lingerie SOL, White House Black Market, St. John Boutique, Chico’s and BCBGMAXAZRIA to name a few. Raval Facial Aesthetics and Rocky Mountain Laser Aesthetics offer free patient parking. Since 2006, Dr. Raval, board certified cosmetic surgeon, has welcomed patients to his elite practice for treatments for hair, tattoo and vein removal plus every modern laser skin treatment that has been approved by the FDA. Dr. Raval, MD FACS, performs blepharoplasty eye lifts, facelifts, forehead lifts, neck lifts and he also performs non-surgical, non-invasive treatments including injections of Botox, Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, Radiesse, Dysport and PureTox for rejuvenation of the face, neck and hands.