By Lori Lovely
Peoria-area residents may be familiar with the Illinois Eye Center for full-service medical and surgical eye care that helps them see the world better. They may not be as aware of Aesthetics, which offers cosmetic improvements that help patients look better.
Since 2007, Aesthetics has been offering a wide range of both surgical and non-surgical options to help people look their best, ranging from a skin care line for both sexes to facials, injectables, and facial surgery. Although it’s part of the Eye Center, Aesthetics has a private entrance and separate staff. “Our patients really value the discrete private entrance,” says Dr. Catherine Cuite, an oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon, who explains that the services they offer go hand-in-hand with eye care. “Once out of glasses, after cataract or LASIK surgery, patients want to take the next step to improve their appearance.”
Looking Good Is Feeling Good
People’s confidence, outlook, and attitude are better when they look their best. They even take better care of themselves when they look and feel good. “That is really what Aesthetics is about,” Cuite says. “We encourage our patients to honor who they are in their appearance; we don’t do treatments that would alter or distort a person.”
Harmony between the patient’s appearance, history, and heart is central to the practice’s philosophy. In order to achieve that, a long-term relationship based on communication is established; listening to the client is a cornerstone of the practice. “We are committed to a lifetime relationship with each client,” Cuite emphasizes. “We value getting to know each patient and developing a long-term relationship.”
Patient input in the treatment process is vital because each treatment is individualized. “Our job is to assist each client as they discover their own best self,” Cuite continues. For example, she says, “If I’m working with a salesman who frowns but does not realize it, I can reveal this facial message to him, and we can work to make his appearance better reflect the friendly, upbeat person he is. When he looks happier and feels better about himself, what do you think happens to his sales?”
Treatment Plans
Great skincare makes a good starting point for everyone. Aesthetics’ line, Skinmedica, is the most technologically advanced line available. “[It] gives all our patients amazing results,” Cuite says. It is effective in reducing wrinkles and improves the skin’s texture for a younger, healthier appearance.
Michelle Ford, their aesthetic coordinator, attends regular seminars all over the U.S. in order to remain up to date on the latest in skin technology and ingredient science so Aesthetics can offer the most cutting-edge products. “There are so many product lines that really provide no working ingredients,” Cuite explains, “and some product lines claim they either provide a result or contain an ingredient they actually don’t.” Education ensures that Aethestics patients get a personalized, effective skin care program that’s right for them.
A recent addition to their service line is KYBELLA, an injectable product that dissolves fat under the chin. This is an area where people sometimes retain fat after weight loss; others are genetically predisposed to have fat under the chin. KYBELLA (deoxycholic acid) injection is the first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment to contour and improve the appearance of submental fullness, sometimes referred to as “double chin.” A popular treatment for patients bothered by their neck contour, the procedure is nearly painless and requires no downtime. KYBELLA is inserted into the fat under your chin through injections. Many patients experience visible results in 2–4 treatment sessions.
Last year, Dr. Cuite became a certified Y LIFT provider. This process uses a long-lasting filler called Voluma to restore a patient’s youthful facial contours with no downtime. “Patients retain the integrity of their appearance,” she says. “They look like themselves, only better.”
Youthful facial contours are shaped like the letter “Y.” The face appears wide at the top in the eye and cheekbone region, narrowing to a point at the chin. As we age, the arms of the “Y” shape begin to widen steadily downward. As this widening occurs, the youthful shape of the face begins to disappear, and, like a balloon, the face deflates and loses volume. The surface that was once taut becomes misshapen, wrinkled, and sunken as a result of the aging process.
Y LIFT replenishes the lost volume and restores youthful facial contours. It also enhances the natural features, making the procedure suitable for patients of all ages. It accentuates the cheekbone region, revives the under eye area, and defines the jawline and upper neck, all without incisions, stitches, or general anesthesia. In addition to those yearning for a younger, fresher look, Y LIFT is a good choice for patients with weak jaw lines, collapsed cheeks, or thin faces that could benefit from improved bone structure.
Service with a Smile
“We keep our patients’ priorities in focus,” Cuite says. “Our patients know they can get straight answers from us, no matter what they are considering. In general, our prices are reasonable and consistent, so patients don’t feel sales pressure, and we don’t use volume discounts or other gimmicks.”
Patients are treated to the same professional quality of care they’ve come to expect at the Illinois Eye Center. At Aesthetics, clients are never double-booked, so there’s no waiting for appointments, adding to the discrete experience.
After a personal consultation with the aesthetic coordinator, during which she reviews the patient’s medical history, lifestyle, goals, and budget, the patient has an opportunity to ask questions and convey their priorities and interests. Next, they meet with Dr. Cuite to discuss options and go over the details of the procedures or treatments they’ve chosen. Most treatments are quick and painless, so many clients opt to have them done immediately following the consultation, although they can schedule an appointment for another time if they prefer.
Because there’s no downtime, patients can return to work after their procedures. However, Cuite recommends doing the HydraFacial on a day off because, she says, it’s “so totally relaxing and soothing, you won’t want to work after it.” She suggests it as a gift for Father’s Day. “Men love that time to relax and give their skin some well-deserved care.”
HydraFacial is a four-step, deep-cleansing infusion process that uses a hydrating, non-laser skin resurfacing technology to deliver a rejuvenated, glowing, and youthful appearance. After all, feeling good is the start to looking good, and it’s easy to see that everyone deserves that.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 309-243-3875, or visit www.illinoiseyecenter.com/beauty. Aesthetics at Illinois Eye Center is located at 8921 North Wood Sage Road in Peoria.