Don`t guess the age of your body`s largest "living" organ...

Posted Monday, August 27, 2007 to PROCEDURES > Skin

Posted by Mike Roe, Copywriter

cosmetic surgeon in Fresno... never thought I'd find myself searching for that, and yet it's exactly what I did today. Normally, I'd search things like "heath ledger the joker," or "guitar hero III" or even my own name (yes, I'm so popular I must check on a daily basis to see what's been added). Not today. So, why was I searching for a cosmetic surgeon in Fresno? Because, one day last week, I received two separate emails - one from a former co-worker and the other from my older sister - each with the same link to a quiz; no, I don't know how either email compromised the peace of mind normally afforded me by my webTV/hotmail's spam filter. Of course, each person started their particular email with what? You guessed it: "Learn more about an Erchonia laser treatment in Fresno." Just joking, although they might as well have. No, they opened with, "I don't normally forward things like this..."

Anyway, I'd like to think that it was pure coincidence that I received two emails on the same day about the same quiz from two people that had never met each other, but looking back, I think it was more likely a cosmic intervention, because it was what inspired me to search for and ultimately find a cosmetic surgeon in Fresno. You see the link was to a "Sun Smart Quiz," which calculates your skin's age based off of your answers to a short series of simple yes/no questions. Now, unlike the Erchonia laser treatment in Fresno for which I'm suddenly - and surprisingly - very well informed, I'm not especially "sun smart," but I know enough to get by, mind you. For instance, I know the sun is a star. I know it sets in the West. Do I really need to know much more? Considering a majority of my fellow Americans think it revolves around the earth (and they seem to get by okay), apparently not. Fact is the sun and I have gotten along hunky-dory for years... or so I thought. To the quiz...

Did you or do you still tan, indoors or outdoors, at least twice a week? No.

Do you use an SPF 15+ product each morning? Nope.

Do you drink five or more beers, glasses of wine or cocktails a week? I don't think 99 bananas is a cocktail, but I'll say, yes. A drink a day's good for the heart, right?

Do you munch on fruits and vegetables three or more times a day? "Three or more times a day" is not "munching," by the way. And, no... unless there really are 99 bananas in 99 bananas.

Do you smoke?

Mom!!! Did you write this!!! Very funny, ha-ha! What's next? Do I wear clean underwear everyday?

I can see this isn't going to end well.

Do you use antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, etc.) as a part of your daily routine? Ketchup has some antioxidant power doesn't it?

Let's just cut to the chase. My skin's age, according to the quiz?

51.

I'm 38, and personally didn't think that I looked a day over 45. Okay, that was it; I decided to call someone... just as soon as I finished my ketchup sandwich. I wanted to know more about the "Obagi" on whose site the "Sun Smart Quiz" resides. Given that the site states the skin is your body's largest "living organ," I had my doubts whether they knew much more about skin care then I do about the sun. Anyway, I did finally call someone. Not just anyone, mind you; the best! Why? Because, like you, when I seek a product or a service, it damn well better exceed my expectations!

I called Dr. Quita Lopez, a cosmetic surgeon in Fresno I found through the aforementioned search (thank goodness for Google); I was not disappointed. She knows all about the sun and the Obagi Skin Care Line, so I asked her to tell me a little about it. First, though, I quizzed her: if you're really a doctor, then what's the body's largest... "dead organ"? She hung up, but I'm persistent (and didn't have a lot else going on that day... or today), so I called back and apologized.

She took the time to tell me all about the Obagi Skin Care line, as well as both the Erchonia laser treatment and something called the Avelar TT; I told her I wasn't interested in a new car. She took so much time to talk with me that I told her she must be having a slow day, as well; actually, she said that she was quite busy. No, I know, me too. She then reminded me that skin is bombarded on a daily basis by everything from the sun's ultraviolet rays to pollutants in the air. Interesting, I said, thinking, duh. Then, she reminded me that the skin protects other organs from exposure to the aforementioned UV rays and dust, dirt, etc. Interesting, I said, thinking, I never really thought of that. I really just thought the skin was there for looks.

What's your skin type, she asked.

Uh, white.

She was very kind.

I found out that knowing your skin type and then tailoring a skin care program to it is very important if one hopes to prevent the signs of aging. She asked me what my current skin regimen was like. I told here it varies from one day to the next: one day it might be rinsing with tap water and the next, maybe, with some liquid hand soap; tangerine lily, I think is what my mom buys for me (I made a mental note to go back to that dang "Sun Smart Quiz" and answer "yes" to the antioxidant question).

Anyway, she told me how Obagi skin care can control dryness, protect against UVA rays, remove impurities, oil and makeup. I reminded her that I don't wear makeup. She said it can even improve uneven skin color, and that it works below the surface of the skin, at a cellular level to improve the function of skin cells.

And it doesn't hurt my other living organs when it goes behind the skin?

No.

Yeah, okay, doctor, but can I buy it across the street at the gas station?

No.

It's "pharmaceutical quality" and can only be prescribed by a doctor.

I told her she had me at Avelar TT. Anyway, I learned a lot that day about preventing and reversing the signs of aging and even though I live in Minnesota, I scheduled an appointment with the "cosmetic surgeon in Fresno. Okay, so I don't live in Minnesota, but with identity theft and all...

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