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| Wine,
cheese, massage, and…a sample of laser? It’s no ordinary
open house at A New Image Laser and Skin Care Clinic. Attend one of these
monthly parties and you can get a small taste from their menu of products
and services. One of them is the Affirm laser system, a machine that
performs the amazing, non-surgical face-lift. I have an awesome job. I get to meet successful business owners, visit their operations, and write stories about them. And every once in a while, I get to go in the back. I don’t mean behind the counter where they keep the candy. I mean behind the scenes where all the good stuff happens. This was one of those times. Excited about an invitation to watch the Affirm laser in action, I instantly became nervous when I had to remove everything that sparkled, reflected, dangled, or shined before I could enter the treatment room. (A precaution taken when working with lasers.) Leaving half my clothes and a pile of jewelry in the hall, I nervously fitted a pair of dark goggles over my rhinestone-studded eyeglasses. For the next 30 minutes, I watched a non-surgical face-lift performed by Cindy Goodman, certified laser specialist and owner of the clinic. As she meticulously worked her way over every inch of her client’s face with the laser, she talked to me about the procedure. Cindy says, “This is the only machine out there that actually rebuilds our own collagen.” (Collagen is the web of protein fibers giving structural support to our skin.) She explains that the Affirm system uses micro-pulses of light to stimulate the growth of collagen, which then fills out the wrinkles on the skin. Although the procedure can be slightly uncomfortable, it generally causes a minimal amount of pain. Cindy says they cool the skin with ice prior to the treatment and then again afterward. During the procedure, the laser is surrounded by a stream of cold air to keep the skin cool. Side effects are mild redness and puffiness, which subside in a few days. The vast majority of clients can resume their normal routines the day after treatment. The Affirm laser doesn’t just treat wrinkles. It also treats sun damage, pigmented lesions, and redness, Cindy states. She adds that most clients need three to six treatments. “I love it,” she shares. “It’s so exciting to see the results. I can provide a fresh look without surgery. It takes 10 years off.” Cindy has been in this business for almost 20 years. Originally from Tampa, Florida, Cindy grew up in a conservative Christian family. Her sisters became successful businesswomen, and Cindy also dreamed of owning her own business. Frustrated when she began noticing the growth of hair on her face, she sought treatment from an electrologist. Amazed by the results, Cindy knew she wanted to help other women experiencing the same problem. She wanted to help give them self-esteem and a new image, she says. Cindy went to school, became certified in electrology, moved to Colorado Springs, and opened Cindy Lee’s Electrology Center in 1988. “Women shouldn’t have to shave their faces,” she says. “I enjoy giving them their lives back.” As her business grew, so did the demand for more services. In 2002, Cindy became certified in laser hair removal and changed the clinic’s name to A New Image. She has expanded a little bit every year, adding a variety of treatments to her menu of services. In 2006, she hired Karen Evans, a veteran medical assistant with the same passion for helping women. Karen trained as an apprentice and became certified in both electrolysis and laser technologies. Supervised by Medical Director Eric Brewner, MD, and assisted by two licensed aestheticians and a registered MSN nurse, Cindy and Karen now serve over 1000 clients. They outgrew their 600-square-foot clinic and recently moved to a new facility with over twice the space. Hair removal has been a staple of their business from day one. Traditional electrolysis is available at A New Image for the removal of unwanted white, gray, and red hair. The procedure destroys each hair at the root by administering an electrical current through a very fine needle inserted into the hair follicle. For clients with light brown to black hair, Cindy recommends laser hair removal. A New Image uses Cynosure lasers for this procedure. Touted as the gold standard for lasers in the industry, because according to Cindy, they are recognized as the fastest, most comfortable and most effective, Cynosure has earned the Aesthetic Trends and Technologies’ “Laser and Light Choice Award” for two consecutive years. According to the manufacturer, Cynosure lasers emit a gentle beam of light that converts to heat, damaging the hair follicle and preventing the regrowth of hair. Because the laser can target only the hair follicles, the surrounding skin is not damaged. A New Image can treat acne and reduce acne scars as well. Chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and professional skin care products are all available. Cindy recommends and sells Cosmedix, a pharmaceutical-grade skin care line that doesn’t have preservatives and is 100% chirally correct. A New Image also performs non-invasive body sculpting. Cindy says the procedure is the equivalent of six weeks worth of gym workouts. Through the use of an electric paddle with heat and vibration, cellulite breaks down and travels through the lymphatic system and is then excreted from the body through urine and perspiration. Cindy says the results are similar to liposuction but do not come with the risks of surgery. For those clients who desire a more permanent reduction in fat cells, A New Image sends them to their partner MD at a local medical clinic. There the client can undergo LaserBodySculpting, a minimally invasive, laser-assisted fat removal procedure. Cindy’s husband and co-owner, Robert, is also certified in laser technologies and is an esthetician. While he is finishing his medical degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Robert performs procedures one day a week at the clinic. Once he completes his medical training, he will provide related TCM treatments at the clinic as well. Their 9-year-old daughter already has an affinity for the business, too. She wants to be a plastic surgeon. A New Image offers competitive prices for new clients as well as a referral fee to current clients who bring in a friend for services. In May, they are running a buy-one-get-one-free special on Affirm non-surgical face-lift treatments. A New Image is located at 5145 N. Academy Blvd., Suite 110. You can find out more about their services by attending an open house the fourth Friday of each month from 6 to 8 p.m., by visiting their Web site at www.laserhairremovalcolorado.net, or by calling Cindy or Karen at 719-592-1576. |
A New Image Laser |
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