My dad taught me that kooky little verse when I was a child. The visual images it conjured always made me laugh, but the words also conveyed the notion that loving yourself is silly and narcissistic. And the idea that you might love yourself enough to go to the movies alone was downright pitiful!

That poem still makes me smile, but for a different reason. I have grown to like myself, even to love myself. It has taken years, but now I embrace this truth: to fully receive love from others, I have to give it to myself. Self love may not mean sitting in a movie theatre holding your own hand, but it does mean seeing yourself as worthy of your own tenderness, care and affection.

When I ask myself what love feels like to me, I always think of the word “cherish”. It’s an old-fashioned word, but it resonates with a sense of affirmation and acceptance. It means “to hold or treat as dear.” When you are cherished, you are given innate value and respect. You are treasured. So how can we give ourselves that kind of love? You must begin with the awareness that self-love is essential to full personal development. Low self-esteem is an enormous barrier to giving and receiving love. If you don’t love yourself, you give love from neediness, and you don’t feel worthy of receiving it.

Here are seven practical actions to give love to the beautiful, unique person that you are:

1. Write It Down. It’s so easy to focus on all that is wrong with us or ways we have failed ourselves. We become our own television news program, focusing on the tragedies but never reporting the good. That thought pattern only reinforces a negative self concept. So switch gears. Go buy yourself a beautiful journal and starting writing. Start every day by writing down the qualities that you and others admire about you. Write down your success stories, no matter how trivial. Write down your acts of kindness and generosity. Write down how you forgive yourself. Just the act of writing these things is an act of love.

2. Make It Right. If you have done something wrong, go make it right. It’s hard to love yourself when you haven’t honored your own integrity and values. If you have hurt someone or made a mistake, apologize. If you have taken something, give it back. If you harbor a grudge, release it. Then forgive yourself and move on. Become free of the burden of misguided actions that cause shame and guilt and hold you back from loving yourself.

3. Honor Your Body. Do yourself a favor. The next time you are in a crowd, take a good look at everyone around you. Most folks are not fashion model beautiful. In fact, most have faces and physiques that are far from perfect. We are inundated with images of physical perfection in the media, but the reality is so far from that. In fact, our imperfections make us more real and approachable. You may not adore every aspect of your physical form, but honor it anyway. Treat it with respect through healthy eating, enough sleep, moderate exercise, and self care. If you are feeling particularly loving, take that body of yours for a massage or a facial or a dance class. And stop looking at magazines!

4. Put On Your Own Oxygen Mask First. Great advice on an airplane but it applies to loving yourself too. You must put your own essential needs first. For multi-tasking, care-giving women, that sounds extremely selfish, but it is quite the opposite. My essential needs are getting enough sleep, eating healthy, spending time with friends, doing something creative, having time alone, and having a peaceful environment. If those needs aren’t met, then I am depleted and irritable. I have very little left to give to others. Take a moment to define your essential needs and integrate them into your daily life. Make them non-negotiable, even if others moan and complain. They will come to respect you more for respecting yourself.

5. Have Fun! Life can be quite serious and task-oriented. We have our routines. We deal with conflicts and personal struggles. The patterns of life become monotonous and stale. When life was less complicated, having fun was spontaneous and natural. Now you might need to plan it, but work it back into your life. We have a finite number of days on this Earth. Spend them joyfully, with lots of laughter and even some silliness. Life doesn’t have to be so serious. Give yourself the gift of fun!

6. Be Still and Know Yourself. Give yourself time to be still and go within. Whether through prayer, mediation, yoga, or time in nature, find a way to quiet yourself, your busyness, and your constant thoughts. Be still, breathe and listen – for the voice of God, your own inner wisdom, or the sounds of nature. It is during these times that we gain creative insights and deeper understanding of ourselves. At the very least, the practice will bring you a sense of peace and calm and has many positive health benefits.

7. Go to the Movies and Hold Your Hand. So we are back to this. Grow to be comfortable in your own skin. Become your own best friend and advocate. Define your life consciously – what’s important to you, your values, your passions, and your needs. Hold your own hand tenderly, gently pulling yourself forward toward the life you want to live. In spite of all outside pressures and obligations, put yourself first. Fill your own tank. Give love to yourself unconditionally, and then spread it around to others. Now, go enjoy the movie!

by Barrie Davenport

Our favorite Roswell hair salon has moved.  The motif of the newly restored home of JH Design Studio in historic Downtown Roswell echoes the creativity and business dynamic of owners Whitney Johnson and Barbara Horvath. With its sage green walls and vaulted wood ceiling, the space has the look and feel of a high-end salon, but Johnson and Horvath have personally selected warm accessories that give it a comfortable, approachable and inviting vibe—much like the team at JH Design Studio….comfortable, approachable and inviting.

Built using reclaimed wood dating back to the Civil War, the space is a beautiful melding of a traditional 1930s home with a warm contemporary verve. “We wanted to maintain the historic elegance and integrity of the house, but make it fresh and functional,” explains Horvath who worked side-by-side with her husband, Darren Horvath, to transform the drab house into the welcoming, light-filled hair design studio it is today.

“A.C.C.M.S., who we hired to oversee the project, was tremendously supportive of our hands-on involvement. It allowed Darren–a lawyer by day–to complete most of the interior finish work, and his passion for restoration and meticulous attention to detail wows visitors from the moment they enter the building. We just love owning a piece of Roswell’s rich history.”

The beautiful space is a reflection of the refined and comfortable service you will experience at JH Design Studio. From the moment you walk in the door of this sophisticated and soothing salon you are experiencing the finest in hair-care hospitality. New clients aren’t treated like potential revenue; they are treated like new friends. And appointments with their regular clients are nothing short of friendly visits.

“We are fortunate that we genuinely enjoy everyone that comes in,” explains Johnson.

“We have a broad spectrum of clients from many different walks of life. Some of them we’ve been through a lot with through the years, and there’s a camaraderie that we have naturally come to enjoy. Our clients have become a big part of our lives.”

What distinguishes them from other fine salons? They are approachable, explains Johnson. “First-time clients are sometimes surprised to find out that we’re just normal people,” adds Horvath.

“While a client is here in our salon, we make every effort to ensure that they have a comfortable,  pleasant experience. We greet you when you walk in the door and offer you a beverage, as if you are a guest in our home. And then we talk about your hair. We build time in for a consultation so that we’re not rushed and you can enjoy your visit,” explains Johnson.

“We want you to have the best experience you’ve ever had, and we also want you to have the best results you’ve ever had,” adds Horvath. “We can take the length or style that works for you and keep it current. We want you to feel special when you walk in the door and even more special when you leave.”

by Amber Mette

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, visit www.jhhairdesign com  or call 770.649.8787.

Photography by Chris Hornaday.

Long deemed to be the place to give birth in the Atlanta area, Northside Hospital was recently recognized for service excellence under the J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Program. It’s official—this distinction acknowledges a strong commitment by Northside Hospital to provide “An Outstanding Maternity Experience.”

“In earning this distinction, Northside Hospital has truly demonstrated its commitment to service excellence,” says Kevin Lieb, senior director of provider programs at J.D. Power and Associates. “Providing patients with a consistently positive experience is crucial, particularly with the high value placed on the service aspects of their maternity stay.”

“We are delighted to receive this highly regarded recognition from J.D. Power and Associates,” says Bob Quattrocchi, president and CEO of Northside Hospital. “Northside delivers more babies than any other single hospital in the U.S. and our commitment to high-quality, compassionate care and service excellence is our calling card in metro Atlanta. The hard work and dedication of physicians, midwives, staff and others have created a reputation for maternity and newborn services at Northside that is second to none. Their efforts have made receiving this national recognition possible; and we thank them for all their work.”

The service excellence distinction was determined by surveying recently discharged patients from Northside Hospital about their perceptions of their hospital stay and comparing the results to the national benchmarks established in the annual J.D. Power and Associates National Hospital Service Performance Study. The telephone-based research conducted among Northside Hospital patients focuses on the five key drivers of patient satisfaction with their overall maternity experience. These drivers, which were identified in the national study, are: speed and efficiency, dignity and respect, comfort, information and communication, and emotional support.

Northside Hospital offers a full range of services for women including maternity, GYN, cancer care and surgical services by highly specialized medical and nursing professionals. More than 19,000 babies are born at all three hospitals annually. More than 18,000 are born in Atlanta alone, more than any other hospital in the country. Family-focused care allows for an individualized birthing experience.

The state-of-the-art Women’s Center on the Atlanta campus was the first, most comprehensive center focusing on women’s health and wellness in the southeast. The original Center, which opened in 1999, is designed to care for a woman throughout her life – from preconception and childbirth to midlife and beyond. In 2007, 175,000 square feet was added include private Special Care Nursery rooms for preemies and additional LDR suites, High-risk rooms and private postpartum rooms. In August 2008, Northside Hospital-Forsyth opened its long-awaited Women’s Center, bringing maternity and newborn services closer to home. This new facility rivals the nationally acclaimed Women’s Center in Atlanta.

by Lorrie Bryan

For more information, visit www.northside.com.

Northside Hospital has expanded its Spine Care Program to include a new location on the Northside Hospital-Forsyth campus, bringing the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of back, neck and spine problems closer to home.

Approximately 80 percent of Americans will experience low back pain sometime in their lives, whether due to a new, isolated injury or a persistent problem. Symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain and spasms. Treatment options vary just as much, from applying ice to medication to surgery, but many people don’t seek help right away, causing them to suffer needlessly or, worse, exacerbating the problem.

Northside Hospital-Forsyth’s comprehensive Spine Center makes evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of back, neck and spine pain as easy as possible, offering self-referral and appointments, within 24 hours in most cases. The Center is equipped to diagnose and treat any condition that involves the spine, many of which are relatively minor, but also including conditions that are severe or require immediate surgical intervention. Patients benefit from a conservative, coordinated and personalized approach, combining the expertise of specialists in neurosurgery, pain management, radiology and physical therapy, each available on-site so that care is expedited.

Being located on the Northside Hospital-Forsyth campus has its benefits. If surgery is necessary or other complications arise, the high quality care and resources that patients have come to expect from Northside are all available at the Center’s back door…literally. The hospital’s Center for Advanced Surgical Technology is home to some of the most clinically advanced surgeons and technology in the region if surgery is necessary.

There’s no reason finding relief from back  pain should be difficult. Whether you just require pain management or something more, Northside’s Spine Center will get you to the right provider, quickly and all under one roof.

Voted Atlanta’s Most Preferred Hospital in Overall Healthcare Services for ten consecutive years, Northside is ranked first in Imaging, Outpatient Surgery, Most Personalized Care and Highest Patient Safety by consumers in the 2008/09 National Research Corporation’s Healthcare Market Guide. Northside is continuing its tradition of healthcare excellence with the opening of the Spine Center in Forsyth.

Most major insurance plans are accepted and staff will assist patients with pre-certification if needed.

by John J . Moss, M.D .

Often the latest and greatest thing (phone, car, washing machine) is the most expensive option. But in medicine, the opposite is frequently the case. Pioneering physicians are constantly developing new procedures, using new technology, with the intention of improving results while reducing recovery time and subsequently costs. This was the motivation that lead Atlanta Plastic Surgeons  Dr. William Silver, F.A.C.S., and Dr. Louis DeJoseph, renowned board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeons at Premier Image Cosmetic and Laser Surgery, to create the QT Mini Face Lift™ and the Volumizing Undereye Enhancement (VUE™).

“Several years ago we started working to develop an alternative to a full face lift—one that would not be as surgically extensive, not require the recovery time and subsequently be more affordable for many of our patients. There were other options out there that touted those features, but the results were not satisfactory—they tightened the outer skin but did not address the underlying facial structure,” DeJoseph says.

“We wanted to develop a procedure that would tighten the deeper muscle layer, offer the same benefits as a full face lift, with less extensive surgery required, fewer incisions, less swelling and less recovery time. And we did,” Silver adds. “We’ve been performing 20 to 25 QT Mini Face Lifts™ a month now for six years, and the results have been excellent.”

This was one of the facts that attracted Cathryn McWilliams, 56, to Premier Image when she was researching plastic surgery options. “I consulted with several plastic surgeons to determine how to best achieve the results I was looking for. The QT Mini Lift™ was by far the best option, and Dr. DeJoseph impressed me with his professionalism and personable demeanor. He used computer imaging to show me what to expect, but I have to tell you, the results exceeded my expectations, and the recovery was better than I expected.”

Patricia Payne, who recently underwent a QT Mini Face Lift™ and eyelid surgery, concurs. “I had seen the ads for the QT Mini and read about the procedure on line. I liked it because it seemed like a better value with better results. When I met with Dr. Silver, he put me at ease, and I felt like I was putting my face in the best hands. I was right, and even though I knew what to expect, I’m amazed with the results. I had the surgery just three weeks ago, the bruising and swelling are gone and I look ten years younger. And it looks so natural—people look at me and ask me if I’ve done something different with my hair!”

The doctors achieve the same subtle results with another procedure they pioneered, the VUE™. “We set out to develop an affordable in-office injectable procedure that would improve the appearance of the under-eye area. We realized that the dark shadow was frequently the bigge st detractor, and the thing that our patients complained about the most, so we researched how we could best address that element,” DeJoseph says.

“We use injectable dermal fillers in the tear-trough area to alleviate the hollow, tired appearance caused by the dark circles and loss of elasticity in the lower lid, and the results can be a dramatic improvement. Sometimes this condition is unrelated to age—we have patients in their 20s with inherited features who love the results they get with this procedure,” Silver explains.

Vicki O’Connor, 53, says the VUE™ is the best money she’s ever spent. “It’s an incredible value. I would spend that much on eye creams e very year and still not get rid of those dark circles. My results have lasted nearly 15 months, though I understand that nine months to a year is more typical, and it was so easy and not painful at all. I went in, and they applied some numbing cream. I relaxed for 10 minutes while that took effect, then Dr. De Joseph, injected the fillers, and that was it—just 20 minutes and $800 and I look like I’ve had surgery on my lower eyelids. I’ll definitely do it again.”

“It’s very fulfilling for us to be able to offer our patients options like the QT Mini Face Lift™ and the VUE™,” Silver says. “We constantly strive not to simply stay on top of the latest procedures but to be innovative, be the doctors that are raising the standards, improving results while reducing the pain, recovery and cost to our patients.”

DeJoseph agrees. “We want to provide our patients with the best innovations that modern medicine has to offer along with exceptional, personable professional care.”

by Lorrie Bryan

For more information on Atlanta Plastic Surgeons, go to www.picosmeticsurgery.com or call 770.457.6303 (Shallowford Road in Atlanta) or 770.645.4310 (Alpharetta Highway in Roswell).

“I was unable to find work, I couldn’t provide for my family, I wasn’t sleeping at night, and consequently I was depressed and staying in bed until 11 a.m. most days,” he recounts.

And then something happened that helped to change his life around. Dean Rosson, of Boot Camp 360 in Cumming, offered Mark a Boot Camp scholarship. “I strongly believe in the powerful benefits of regular exercise, and I saw this as an opportunity to make a difference in Mark’s life,” Rosson says.

So Mark started going to Boot Camp 360 from 6:15-7:15 several mornings a week. “Because it was a scholarship, I was motivated to do the best I could. I didn’t want to disappoint Dean. The improvement—both mentally and physically—was amazing. I immediately became less stressed and irritable, and more energized and able to readily focus. And since I was already up, I followed Dean’s advice of using the morning hours to concentrate on my job search.”

Today Mark has a new job, a new home, and his wife and newest addition are doing fi ne. Motivated by Mark’s success, Dean Rosson and his wife and Boot Camp 360 founder, Angela Rosson, are launching an exciting new scholarship program which will offer fi tness classes to a large number of local jobless people.

“As individuals, we should not rely on government to do what we as a society should be doing. We know that families are in crisis and people are becoming depressed. Nothing turns things around more effectively than an aggressive exercise program. We’re calling this exercise program Proactive, and we’re offering free sessions, twice a week from 6:15-7:15 a.m., on Tuesdays and Thursdays with no strings attached to any unemployed individual.”

Boot Camp 360 is held at a 25,000-square-foot gym at First Redeemer Church in Cumming. In addition to Boot Camp for the unemployed, the church is offering additional support and services. “At the beginning of this year, our pastor, Dr. Richard Lee, declared 2009 the year of servant-hood. Angela and I were inspired and we are excited about this opportunity to empower and enable people that are experiencing financial difficulty to help turn their lives around,” Rosson adds.

by Lorrie Bryan

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, visit www.bootcamp360.net or e-mail bootcamp360@aol.com

I nodded knowingly. Eminence is the skin care line that Facelogic, a local skincare spa that I enjoy visiting, uses for their elite organic facials. By taking advantage of their membership packages and low overhead, you can enjoy the benefits of regular quality facials for much less than you would pay at a resort like the one I enjoyed or a day spa. And the signature products and expert care are the same. An affordable annual membership at Facelogic ensures that you will schedule a monthly facial and you will also benefit from a comprehensive skincare plan, ongoing skincare consultations and education and discounts on other skincare products and services.

By focusing exclusively on facial services, Facelogic is able to offer an extensive menu with something for everyone including men and women with varying skin characteristics and teens. Options include their signature facial, and an array of elite facials that feature Peter Thomas Roth®, MD Skincare®and Eminence skincare products. Eminence is my favorite. This 50-year-old Hungarian company has a tradition of providing quality organic products and a commitment to keeping the planet green as evidenced by their farming, harvesting, packaging and other business management practices. Facelogic offers two aromatic organic Eminence facials; a gentle facial designed to rejuvenate sensitive skin and a stimulating facial that will leave your skin detoxified, firm and hydrated through a series of exfoliation and hydration treatments.

And fortunately, you can enjoy the been-to-the-spa glow without traveling, checking into a resort and spending a whole lot of money. Facelogic is located one-half mile north of historic downtown Roswell and introductory facials are a mere $49.

by Lorrie Bryan

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, visit www.facelogicspa.com or call 678.822.0228. Bring in this article and receive $10 off the regular price in May or June.

In search of a beauty bargain, many people falsely assume that they can’t afford to go to a plastic surgeon. In fact, a trip to a board-certified plastic surgeon is likely the best value available. You get exceptional care, treatment options at various price points and unsurpassed medical expertise.

At Premier Image Cosmetic Surgery Center’s Shallowford location in Dunwoody and at their new medical spa in Roswell, a full array of treatments are offered, including specialized lasers and various injectables, and all of the procedures are performed by or under the direct supervision of a doubleboard-certified plastic surgeon.

Long heralded as one of the top plastic surgery practices in the Atlanta area, Premier Image provides comprehensive care and premium services to their patients. “We are a one-stop shop,” affirms Alpharetta plastic surgeon founder, Dr. William Silver. “We have board-certified specialists in both facial and body plastic surgery and a fully accredited surgery center at our primary Dunwoody location. Our medical staff is highly trained and takes pride in anticipating every need and providing the best possible care.”"Patients who think they need a full facelift or eyelift are often good candidates for one of the procedures we’ve developed which utilizes a combination of injectables. There are a variety of different fillers available—Restylane, Evolence. Radiesse—and no one filler is right for every situation or patient. Each has plus and minuses, and we use them in conjunction with each other to achieve the greatest success,” DeJoseph says. “We also have a variety of lasers that we can utilize to make the skin look more youthful.”

Alpharetta plastic surgeon DeJoseph adds that unlike estheticians who are trained to evaluate just the surface of the face, plastic surgeons are trained to see the face in three dimensions and address the entire face. “We analyze not just the skin but also the supporting tissue and structure and treat them in relation to each other rather than independently.”

So with so many options, how do you know what to do to achieve the results you want? “We offer a detailed consultation using computerized imaging so that our patients know exactly what to expect. Each injection and laser treatment is reflected on the morphing image they view of themselves. And because we can provide an entire spectrum of treatment options—both non-surgical and surgical—we are going to do what is best for the patient, and offer them a plan tailored specifically to meet their individual goals, not ours,” affirms Silver .

Want to get the most bang for your buck? Here are seven affordable treatment options Premier Image is currently offering for under $700. One or more of these may be right for you.

To get rid of unwanted fat:

1 Advanced LipoDissolve is a procedure that involves micro-injections of a formulation consisting of two naturally occurring chemicals into small fatty areas. These chemicals act like detergents to dissolve fat.

2 “LUST” (Lipolysis Ultra-Sonic Thermal) is a lipo-dissolve/cellulite reduction treatment. This non-surgical lipolysis (breaking down of the fat) treatment utilizes high-frequency thermal energy that causes the fat cells to shrink in size. The ultra-sonic thermal energy tightens and improves skin elasticity while smoothing and improving skin texture and scar-damaged areas.

To get rid of facial wrinkles:

3 EVOLENCE® dermal filler is used to diminish mouth folds and represents a breakthrough in treating the effects of aging by replacing the collagen you’ve lost with collagen that lasts. A truly novel dermal filler, EVOLENCE® can immediately improve and refresh your appearance by smoothing out and softening unwanted wrinkles and folds, and restoring structure and facial contour in volume-depleted areas.

4 BOTOX® Cosmetic , used primarily for the forehead and brow area and crow’s feet, is a protein commonly used to non-surgically reduce or eliminate the appearance of facial wrinkles. It is injected under the skin into areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth to smooth crow’s feet, frown and worry lines, and lines on the neck. The injections block nerve impulses, weakening muscles to relax wrinkles and give the skin a rejuvenated look.

5 Radiesse is a synthetic, injectable filler that non-surgically reduces most wrinkles, creases and scars by augmenting your body’s natural collagen supply. It is great for naso-labial folds, hands, nose, anything that needs filling in. Composed of microspheres in a biocompatible gel, Radiesse is made from the same minerals found in our bones, so it carries no risk of allergic reaction. For younger, revitalized eye area:

6 VUE( Volume Undereye Enhancement) is a procedure which fills the lines around the eyes that remain after Botox treatment using Restylane to fill the hollow “tear trough” area, correcting volume loss and eliminating the dark circles and tired look. To rejuvenate sun-damaged and aging skin:

7 ArcticPeel™ is a Premier Image exclusive in Atlanta. Have the kind of smooth, tight skin that only laser can give you but without the hassle factor. This lunchtime laser peel uses nothing more than blown chilled air to cool the skin. Best done in a series of five treatments, the ArcticPeel™ is by far the most popular laser procedure. No anesthetic is required. Mild redness is expected afterward, and patients typically return to work the following day. Best for those people who are beginning to see the results of sun damage and aging on their face but really don’t require an aggressive laser resurfacing procedure (or don’t have the time for one). Specific benefits for aged and photo-damaged skin include improvement in fi ne lines and wrinkles, reduction of brown spots and scars, and an overall tightening of the skin. Other laser procedures include: tattoo removal, laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, and laser removal of spider veins, scars and stretch marks.

by Lorrie Bryan

For more information, call 770.457.6303 (Dunwoody),or 770.645.4310 (Roswell) or visit www.picosmeticsurgery.com.

Photography by John Haigwood of Haigwood Studios and Jack Tuszynsk

“The most important part of our service takes place before we even touch our guest’s hair. We are going to spend some time analyzing your features and discussing your wishes and lifestyle first. Then we’re going to suggest a custom style that’s right for you—the color and cut that will make you look your personal best. If the style you want isn’t going to compliment your features or work with your hair type, we’re going to tell you up front,” says  Veronica Stone, a master stylist with more than 15 years of experience and an enduring passion for her profession.

Stone has the distinction of being one of the top color specialist in the state—she had the highest score on the American Board Certified Hair Color Test—and now she has the added distinction of being an educator/mentor/coach. “It’s my goal to pass on everything that I’ve learned in the last 15 years to other stylists that care like I do and want to learn. I want to help them build their careers and become like me or even better,” Stone explains. Thursdays are hair boot-camp day at Veronica Stone Salon. A small, hand-picked group of recent cosmetology school grads gather weekly for intense six-hour sessions of basic training, starting with a thorough understanding of the consultation process. “It’s the cornerstone of everything we do,” affirms Stone.

They progress at their own pace through the program which includes shampooing, blow drying, men’s cuts, women’s cuts, single process color and foils. “We custom tailor the program to each associate, and they are supervised at every step of the way. We take talented cosmetology school graduates who really care about hair and mold them into five-star stylist,” Stone explains.

“Veronica is amazing,” says Katrina Grigouyan, a recent cosmetology school graduate and fortunate participant in Stone’s training program. “I have learned so much in the last six months that I feel like I’ve been doing hair for five years or more.”

Stone explains that Grigoryan started as an associate at Veronica Stone Salon and has progressed to become a junior stylist with guests of her own. “Currently we have two associates and two junior stylists, and it is my mission to teach them everything they need to know and help them succeed.”

Not only do the young stylists benefit from the program, but guests benefit as well. “Through our junior stylist program we can offer services at a lower price point. Guests get the same great service and results for less money—five-star service at a high-end salon at a discounted price. You can’t beat it!” Stone adds.

by Lorrie Bryan

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

For more information, visit www.veronicastonesalon.com or  call 678.957.1000 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

We chatted pleasantly while she perused my birthday suit with a special tool that magnifies and makes mole colors more distinct. She found no black, irregularly shaped, large suspicious moles, but there was a little zit-like spot on my lower back that she decided to biopsy. It had probably been there for months, but I had not given it a moment’s thought.

In fact it was skin cancer—a basal cell carcinoma—I found out a few days later. A malignant growth, but not a potentially fatal melanoma, basal cell carcinoma will be diagnosed more than a million times in the U.S. this year. If left untreated it can be disfiguring though rarely fatal; however, if caught early it is a mere inconvenience and a call to action.

I went back to Dr. Gray to have it removed: a topical anesthetic, a quick procedure called curettage and desiccation and a little band-aid. That was it. According to Dr. Gray, there is a 50 percent chance I will be doing this again within five years. I will schedule annual skin cancer screenings by a dermatologist for the rest of my life, and once a month after I step out of the shower, I will take a critical look at my skin, using a hand mirror to examine my back.

“Most melanomas and also less aggressive forms of skin cancer are found on the legs and back. So you need to make sure that in addition to your front side, you check your back with a mirror. It only takes 30 seconds a month,” urges Dr. Gray, “and those six minutes a year can add years to your life. Look for the thing that doesn’t belong. If all your moles are fl at, round and brown except for one that is odd-shaped and black, you should be concerned and have it checked out.”

And, of course, I will wear broad spectrum sunscreen religiously. Dr. Gray notes that most of us have far more sun damage on our left side than on our right. Why? “People think that they are protected when they are in the car, but they’re not. You need to wear sunscreen when you are driving. The cumulative effects are significant.”

by Lorrie Bryan

________________________________________________________________________________________

To schedule a skin cancer screening with Dr. Leslie Gray, call Dermatology Center of Atlanta at 770.497.0699, or visit www.dermatology-atlanta.com for more information.

]]> http://www.northfultonliving.com/a-closer-look-at-your-birthday-suit/feed/ 0