Allure Blog

Millions of Americans would like to lose weight, and there are tried and true methods that work to some degree but are not so good for many people. If we could find a way to not gain extra weight in the first place, problem solved, right?

There can be many reasons why weight loss attempts succeed or fail, but most people didn’t know what researchers have discovered.

We hear about “anti-aging” therapies, “longevity medicine”, and “wellness” as opposed to traditional health care. Case study included in this story.

Snoring may be loud and disruptive to your bed partner, but how does it affect you? Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a term that includes habitual snoring and ranges to obstructive sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is when you have an obstruction of the airway that cuts off the air supply for at least 10 seconds, reduces your blood oxygen by at least 3%, and at least 5 times per hour.

With age comes multiple changes, both good and bad. We become smarter (or at least wiser), develop more connections, and have more experience. We also have physical signs of aging that can make us look older than we feel.

A thread lift can be performed to simulate some aspects of a facelift, but without cutting. A thread lift also has less downtime and is safer than facelift surgery.

They found the fat mass declined, waist circumference declined, strength remained the same, and the percentage of fat-free mass improved. I can find no study supporting the claim by podcasters, bloggers, and internet experts that support the claim that semaglutide has an unfavorable effect on lean body mass as a percentage of total body weight.

Semaglutide is the name for a peptide found in diabetic and weight loss medications.First developed for managing blood sugar in patients with type II diabetes, it has gained popularity for it’s remarkable ability for individuals to lose weight.

Individuals employed with a medical practice who were overweight or obese and wanted to lose weight were recruited. Lunchtime meals were supplied four days a week based on a Mediterranean diet.

The hype around the newest FDA-approved weight loss injections is well-founded. At first, I was very skeptical, and about a year ago, I wrote a blog about the drug semaglutide (branded as Wegovy® for weight loss in the US) and it's massive cost.

Sleep is necessary for health and well-being, and we are now learning that good sleep is associated with longevity and good health. Snoring is associated with poorer sleep, not only for the person snoring but frequently for their bed partner as well.

As reported in March of 2021, semaglutide, a diabetes weekly shot, helped nondiabetic overweight and obese adults lose a remarkable amount of weight over a period of 68 weeks. There were two groups of people, placebo users, and active drug (semaglutide) users. Neither group knew what they were injecting weekly to remove the "placebo effect".

Snoring can be annoying for the bed partner, and unknown to the offender. Other than the offensive sound of snoring, why worry?

When we look at available screening tests for cancer, only about one out of four cancers can be picked up before they're symptomatic with typical screening testing. This includes mammograms, colonoscopies, cat scans for lung cancer and smokers, pap smears, and other routine screening tests.

It is estimated that about half of the American adult population has some degree of sleep apnea. We know that sleep disorder leads to weight gain, and weight gain leads to worsening sleep apnea. Dr. Charles Mok of Allure Medical talks about NightLase® and how it can treat sleep apnea and in turn, help people lose weight and lead healthier lives.

50-70 million US adults have a sleep disorder, and the most severe form of sleep disorder, obstructive sleep apnea, is detrimental to your health and longevity. Studies on a new laser treatment, NightLase®, have shown that sleep apnea is reversible.

Sleep apnea is a fairly common disorder affecting approximately 20% of the adult population. NightLase® is a laser treatment that applies energy in a precise way to cause tissues to shrink and contract, opening up the airway. The results are fairly quick, with an improvement in sleep, snoring, and apnea almost immediately.

Stem cells for painful degenerative arthritis have been under attack by the US government (by the FDA) for several years. And the government has won (sort of). Until recently, physicians were using the patient's stem cells, derived from fat or bone marrow, to rejuvenate arthritic joints without the interference of the government regulators.

Dr. Charles Mok explained why droopy eyelids are a common concern and just what we can do to combat this sign of aging with Botox®, Xeomin®, Fraxel® laser resurfacing, and other laser treatments.

Dr. Charles Mok explores studies using the drug, Rapamycin, to reverse signs of aging. He discusses its potential and the details of how it effects our bodies, down to our cells.

With many cosmetic procedures and age defying technology reaching the forefront of the new age, it is understandable to have a few questions that need to be addressed, especially when it comes to the most popular of them all, cosmetic injections. Here at Allure Medical, we will break down our most commonly asked questions, with the biggest one being, how many units of Botox® do I need?

Wegovy is the newest FDA approved weight loss shot that hit the market in Summer of 2021 that has the most weight loss results than any of its kind. In this blog, Dr. Charles Mok discussed the pros and cons of this weight loss drug and compares it to others on the market.

A lip filler treatment involves injecting a substance to create more volume in the lips. A lip flip treatment involves injecting a neurotoxin such as Botox® to allow the outer muscles to weaken and the inner muscles to turn the lip out slightly. Which one is right for you? Dr. Mok explains the pros and cons of each.

Lip enhancement is a common cosmetic procedure. We can think of lip enhancement in two ways: making the lip fuller and more attractive or restoring lost lip volume due to aging and environmental effects. So, what can go wrong?

One of the most asked questions about Botox® is, "How often should I get it?" The answer is not as simple as you may think because everyone is different and desires different results. Master injector, Dr. Charles Mok goes into great detail about Botox® injection timing and what to watch out for when getting your treatment.

This blog will look into the facts related to common heart problems. I talked about the three most likely conditions that lead to premature disability or death. They include neurocognitive decline, like, Alzheimer's or dementia, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and stroke.

Botox® is a household name, and if you are reading this, you may be familiar with Botox®, or just learning about it. Botox® is a neuromodulator that blocks messages from the nerve to the muscle to lessen the appearance of wrinkles as well as to improve the appearance of your face through lifting things like your eyebrows or corners of your mouth.

The most common thing I hear is “I don’t want to be too big, I have a friend with crazy big lips”. To this I respond, “the crazy big lips are not a direct result of the lip filler, it is from the addiction to lip filler”.

The effects of Botox can fade over time. Read about this process and how you can prevent it.

In this article, we go over a brief overview of BTX, the top mistakes most inexperienced injectors make, and the proper use of BTX.

Lips are an important feature of our appearance and body language, second only to our eyes.

How can we use the technological advances occurring right now to reverse aging? Dr. Mok reviews the three most common hallmarks of aging: cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurocognitive decline. He discusses our options to help prevent these diseases years in advance.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, tummy tuck procedures have increased 70% over the past twelve years, which means that there are many people who are satisfied with the results they have seen in themselves as well as their family and friends. But there’s another procedure available, called the CombiTuck, a combination of liposuction and a tummy tuck, that offers a much shorter recovery time and lets patients go back to normal life in as little as a week.

With each warmer day, we are dreaming about time at the beach, long walks outside and picnics. But all that fun in the sun can definitely take a toll on our skin, leading to unsightly wrinkles, age spots and, potentially, skin cancer. We all know the basics – wear your sunscreen and reapply every couple of hours. However, this is really just the beginning. There are additional steps we all need to take to ensure that our largest organ – our skin – is well taken care of and stays as healthy as possible.

Most women choose to get breast implants with the goal of increasing the size of their breasts. Deciding exactly how much to increase the size can be a complex process: the majority of women want to see a significant increase in size while also appearing natural, although some do prefer a more obviously enhanced look. Many considerations, including body type and personal preference, should be taken into account when determining the right cup size for your body. Your doctor will determine what is best.

Allure Medical has been offering Botox since 2004. We have been recognized as a top 10 practice in the USA for Botox and Filler from Allergan for several years. You can feel confident in the hands of our experienced and knowledgeable staff with Botox treatments for several cosmetic concerns. We have collaborated with our own Dr. Charles Mok D.O., to address our customers' concerns and most frequently asked questions regarding Botox.

When skin is looking tired, blemishes are out of control, or your skin just needs a pick-me-up, a chemical facial peel can be the solution to your skin’s cry for help. If you are new to the skincare process or are curious if the treatment may be right for you, you may be wondering how it all works. Skincare professionals can help you determine your skin’s needs and provide you with a treatment plan, and our guide below serves as a closer look at chemical face peels.

The health and safety of our patients and staff has always been of utmost concern at Allure Medical. We always take the cleanliness of our offices seriously, but now it is more important than ever.

Menopause is no joke. It’s not all in our heads, and there are real treatments available to help with the symptoms. Hormones have always been good at messing with us, whether it’s coming from moody, confused teenagers, or crabby, overweight, spaced-out adults with a low sex drive.

I first heard about Coolsculpting when it burst onto the scene a few years back. I was skeptical because it was new, and seemed too easy. Shed the unwanted pounds in a matter of a few hours? I had a lot of questions.

The fabulous fungi you’ve enjoyed in countless soups, salads, and pastas is a nutrient-rich superfood that forward-thinking nutritionists are suggesting their clients enjoy every morning.

Due to the perceptions created by different people, there is a debate on whether workouts alone or diet can be best for the body. Various experts recommend using one or the other, depending on the needs of an individual.

Are you visiting a lake this year? Beware of swimmers itch! This unpleasant rash is caused by an allergic reaction to microscopic parasites picked up while swimming. The parasites associated with swimmer’s itch are the larvae of flatworms, which normally live in a host, such as waterfowl. The waterfowl excrete the worm which gets picked up by snails that tend to live close to the shore.

What does it mean to have “ugly legs”? We use the term “ugly legs” because this is the stage at which a patient’s veins start to physically alter the appearance of their legs. At the C4 classification, we start to see visual changes to the skin like eczema, dermatitis, brown spots or other discoloration.

Lectins, of which gluten is the most well-known, are proteins that bind to carbohydrate (sugar) molecules inside the body and alter the way those molecules are processed by the digestive system. According to Dr. Gundry’s research, these alterations lead to serious inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and gastrointestinal problems.

I often hear patients complain that they “have TMJ”. We all have TMJ, because it is a joint located in your jaw. Saying you have TMJ is like saying you “have an arm”. What you likely are suffering from is teeth grinding and clenching that is causing discomfort and damage to your TMJ and surrounding muscles.

Hormones pellets are tiny implants (about the size of a grain of rice) that are implanted just under the skin. They slowly and consistently release your hormones providing optimal therapy.

Have you been living with big, ropy leg veins? Maybe you’ve noticed the skin texture of your calf has become more and more scaly and discolored over time. If you have been living with these leg issues because you think they’re just “cosmetic” problems, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Varicose veins aren’t fun. They aren’t fun to look at, and they aren’t fun to live with. But for millions of Americans across the country, varicose veins are an unpleasant, everyday reality.

I’m pleased to announce that I’m now the Broadcast and Publicity Producer for Allure Medical – a thrilling challenge at this point in my career!

Though unsightly and itchy, Keratosis Pilaris is a common skin condition that can improve with age, but might never completely go away. Here are five things you need to know if you, or someone you know, suffers from this condition.

In 2018, many dietitians, nutritionists, and weight loss experts are pushing their clients to explore a low-FODMAP diet. So, what is a low-FODMAP diet and how can you get started with one? As a Nutritionist at Allure Medical I’d be happy to tell you…

Cold sore flare ups can be triggered by illness, cold weather or even stress. You can take an antiviral pill or use a topical antiviral medication to reduce the duration and severity of the outbreak. Keep in mind these options are more effective if used early before a blister forms.

In the 5:2 diet, you eat normal for 5 days, and fast for 2. This was compared in clinical studies to going on a very low calorie diet, such as 1200k calorie a day. The participants lost more fat in the intermittent fasting diet, and maintained lean bone and muscle mass. Whereas the people who were on the traditional low calorie diets lost less fat and they also lost lean muscle weight.

Atrophie blanche is a dermatologic finding characterized by white-or-light- colored patches of skin in regions with darker discoloration. This is a result of necrosis and the replacement of necrotic tissue with fibrin deposits and collagen.

In the battle against age, most men know they need to exercise and eat right if they want to look (and feel) young. But what most men don’t know is they need to make changes to their diet and lifestyle in order to keep their testosterone levels up. What happens to men when testosterone levels drop?

Venous insufficiency is a progressive disease. In a paper titled “Progression and Venous Pathology” the authors found that 58% of all patients with venous insufficiency had progression over time, worsening at a rate of about 4.3% per year over 13 years of observations. The most significant predictors of the progression of varicose veins towards leg ulcers were corona phlebectatica, skin changes, popliteal reflux, and obesity.

EMSCULPT is the only procedure to help both women and men build muscle and sculpt their body. In addition, EMSCULPT creates the world’s first non-invasive buttock toning procedure. Dr. Mok put Emsculpt to the test and shared his experience in the video below!

We firmly believe in the power of education—that by helping people better understand what varicose veins are and what causes them, we can help them live a happier and healthier life. Here is our latest article discussing how varicose veins and diabetes are related…

Many women have difficulty finding their G Spot, because its size, dimension, and location vary from woman to woman. The G Spot is an area approximately the size of a dime, and is very sensitive because it is made up of nerve tissue. The G Spot is often thought of being part of the urethral sponge.

How do you know if you have a blood flow problem? Your doctor can perform an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) test. An ABI test compares the blood pressure of your ankle with the blood pressure of your arm. In the case of patients who have symptoms of PAD, a healthcare professional is looking to see if there are blockages in their arteries as well.

The CEAP score is a classification used by most specialists who treat venous insufficiency. It’s not universal, only about 60% of practitioners use it, but more and more third-party payers are adopting the language. CEAP is a classification of chronic venous disorders, not varicose veins.

If you are obese or have concerns regarding weight gain, consider testosterone replacement therapy. There is conventional wisdom that testosterone needs to be extremely low before a man is treated, but this is nonsense. There is no predictable laboratory value that predicts which men will respond to testosterone therapy and which will not.

The obesity and overweight trend that has developed over recent years is an alarming public health concern. About 13% of Americans were overweight between 1960 and 1980. Between 1980 and about 1998, the rates of obesity almost tripled.

Are you tired of all the fad diets, so-called magical weight loss pills and empty promises? Are you ready to make a lifestyle change and become a “new you” in the New Year? At Allure Medical, we offer the ORBERA® balloon, a weight loss procedure that averages a 3x weight loss when compared to diet and exercise alone.

Hormone replacement therapy for women entering menopause was pretty much the standard of care in the 1980s, ‘90s and early 2000s. Then the Women’s Health Initiative Trial (WHI) cast doubt on the safety of artificial hormone drugs by reporting there was a slight increased risk of heart disease and breast cancer in women who started on hormone replacement 10 to 15 years after the onset of menopause.

Lower eyelid bags can make you look older and more tired than you actually are. These bags and shadows are usually caused by lower eyelid fat pouches that are bulging in combination with hollowing of the upper cheek in an area called the “tear trough”.