A Mitzvah Makeover by Debra Schonfeld
Let’s be honest, most women are unhappy about something relative to their body and wish they had the guidance to help them make a change. This particularly comes to light when faced with a big event, like their child’s Bar or Bat Mitzvah. They know that they will be in the spotlight as well as their child and want to look their best. It’s all about being your best YOU, not looking like someone else.
We got the chance to speak with Debra Schonfeld, a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner who is giving us the lowdown on injectables and great information if you are considering a little makeover for yourself.
MM: Please explain your credentials.
DS: I am a Board Certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. We are registered nurses who obtain a Master’s Degree in Nursing and get board certification in a particular specialty. My academic training encompasses all areas of women’s health. My initial training in aesthetics is from the Aesthetic Enhancement Institute, which is a nationally recognized training institute that has certified thousands of Physicians, Dentists, Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in anti-aging treatments for 20 years. I also regularly attend medical conferences to remain current on trends in the industry.
As an NP, I have a collaborative practice with an MD. This means that he is available to me 24/7 for consultation. I have been a nurse for 30 years, an NP for 16 years and Oh So Vain, my aesthetics company, just celebrated 5 years. I am currently on staff at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn since 1994, where I am a hospital administrator and have a large women’s healthcare practice.
MM: What types of treatments do you specialize in?
DS: I am very familiar with Botox® and fillers such as Restylane® and Juve’derm® to diminish fine lines and enhance lips. I also have a lot of experience with mild to moderate medical grade peels that do a tremendous job brightening and freshening up skin tone. I also work on spider veins with a treatment known as sclerotherapy. It is quite amazing what results you can see with just one session with any of these treatments.
MM: Who should consider minor cosmetic enhancements?
DS: Anyone and everyone. Considering aesthetic procedures are not covered by insurance, this is a reasonable and cost effective way to reverse aging. There are safe, effective and affordable treatments available that can provide the change you’re after.
MM: What should we be asking about before getting an injectable?
DS: Any competent practitioner will entertain a discussion about risks and side effects prior to any procedure. What is the down time? How long is the procedure? What safety measures are in place incase of an adverse reaction? What measures have been taken to provide pain relief?
MM: How can Mitzvah Mom’s take advantage of your services?
DS: Plan ahead. As a 4-time Mitzvah Mom myself, the momentum of the event has a life of its own. As the date gets closer, there are more and more demands for your time and never enough money to take care of them all. If this is something that you have dreamed of for yourself, but there was never the right time, consider a free consultation. Call me 2-3 months before the event to discuss it. Maybe you would just like your skin to have that healthy glow. Consider a chemical peel. Your skin will feel better and your make up will look better. Get the facts from someone who does the same thing over and over. I am not a jack-of-all-trades, just an expert in a few. This is also a nice thing to gift to a sister or mother, who might not be inclined to indulge themselves in this way.
MM: Can you give us some timelines for injectables?
DS: Injectables: Botox and fillers- 3-4 weeks ahead because we always worry about small bruises and touch-ups.
Veins- 8 weeks or more ahead because there is always bruising and they get darker before they go away. We also never know how many treatments you need.
Skin care- 2 weeks before. There can be slight peeling after 3 days that you want completely resolved before your big event.
MM: Any new industry trends?
DS: There’s a new competitor to Botox called Dysport. Same price, but works a few days faster. There are all types of fillers on the market. The leaders are still Restylane® and Juve’derm®, both because they have an extremely low profile for side effects. Juve’derm® lasts a few months longer and is a little more expensive, but I think it’s worth it.
Chemical peels and good skin pharmaceuticals (pharmaceutical grade skin cleansers and creams that are only dispensed from a licensed professional and can’t be obtained over the counter) are the way to go particularly in the 30 and over crowd. At the same cost as those fancy packaged brands from Nordstroms (and we all know who they are), you are getting more bang for your buck. Over the counter brands can only effect dead tissue, need to be applied often to see their effects, and will ultimately not make a lasting change in skin quality. At the very least, get the Clarisonic facial brush (like the toothbrush only for your skin) and a good moisturizer with sunscreen. Sclerotherapy still beats laser therapy for surface spider veins in my opinion. It hurts less, the treatment area is often bigger and it less expensive.
Thanks Debra for all this great advice. If you would like a free consultation, you can reach Debra at 516-315-5882 or email her at oohsovain@aol.com. Be sure to tell her Mitzvah Market sent you!
