People have been trying to outrun Father Time for centuries, always in search of the elusive fountain of youth. In modern times, some men and women have turned to invasive cosmetic surgery in hopes of turning back the hands of time, though this route often forces the patient to incur significant risk and considerable expense, as well as extended downtime.
Meanwhile, increasing numbers of people have sought a simpler, safer and more natural approach to battling back the telltale signs of aging—and they have found it in the care of Gambhir Cosmetic Medicine, an aesthetic medicine practice with offices in Exton and King of Prussia.
For Anshul Gambhir, M.D., and Vibha Gambhir, M.D., the answer lies within. The Drs. Gambhir offer a combination of innovative anti-aging procedures for the face and neck that utilize the innate healing powers of the human body.
“What I often say to patients is that the human face is like a pillow in that there are two different components,” he says. “There is the pillowcase, which can get wrinkled and stained over time, and that is the equivalent of the outer layer of the face. As it ages, the outer later can show crow’s feet, facial wrinkles and other signs of aging, so sometimes you need to pull the pillowcase tight, and that’s something we can achieve with lasers and other treatments.
“The second part of the face is the ‘stuffing,’” he continues. “This part is made up of multiple underlying structures, such as collagen, muscle, bone and fat content, and there are numerous things we can to do rebuild those structures, as well.”
One of these procedures is Sculptra Aesthetic, a cosmetic injectable made by Galderma. Used primarily in the cheek area, Sculptra Aesthetic restores the face’s inner structure and increases facial volume that has been forfeited to aging by replacing lost collagen. This treatment is often coupled with Thermage, a procedure pioneered by Solta Medical that uses radiofrequency to promote collagen growth throughout the face, from the forehead to the skin around the eyes to the neck line.
A third procedure is known as PRP (short for platelet rich plasma), which got its start in the world of orthopedic medicine for use in treating joint, tendon and muscle repair in athletes. In cosmetic use, PRP is used to rejuvenate the skin. How it works: A small amount of blood is drawn from the body and spun down in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets. When PRP is injected back into the skin, it initiates a localized stem cell response, which, in turn, spurs the growth of new collagen and blood vessels. As a result, patients benefit from smoother, tighter skin texture and improved volume, as well as healthier skin tone.
These procedures typically offer their best results two to three months after the procedure, though improvements can continue for several months afterward. Of course, none of these is a “permanent fix,” according to Dr. Gambhir, meaning some maintenance is required. Dr. Gambhir recommends twice-per-year maintenance visits for patients using Sculptra and PRP and a once-per-year maintenance visit for those using Thermage.
“With Thermage, there is no downtime, and with Sculptra, which is an injectable using an incredibly thin needle known as a cannula, the risk of bruising is minimal but not zero,” he says. “With PRP, which is something more and more patients want to have done, we suggest taking three days to recover; it’s not a matter of pain but more so appearance, because they will have some bruising and inflammation as part of the healing process.”
These advanced regenerative techniques have gained traction among both genders across a wide range of ages. The Drs. Gambhir offer other procedures in the anti-aging arena, including an array of dermal fillers and cosmetic injectables. In fact, this husband-and-wife team suggests its practice has become one of the top 10 providers in the nation—and No. 1 in the Philadelphia area—with Allergan, the maker of cosmetic injectables such as Botox, Juvéderm and Latisse.
Dr. Anshul Gambhir earned his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, while Dr. Vibha Gambhir received her medical degree from the Drexel University College of Medicine and completed her residency at Hahnemann University Hospital. The physicians perform the full gamut of nonsurgical cosmetic procedures offered, ranging from CoolSculpting and nonsurgical eyelifts to laser skin resurfacing and liposuction.
“We’re seeing more and more people who want to stay with an organic approach to anti-aging,” he says. “Rather than opt for something that is going to change them, we continue to see people who have an intense interest in anti-aging protocols that use the body’s own abilities to rejuvenate themselves.”
He adds, “We are triggering the body’s natural healing mechanisms and using them as a tool to stimulate the anti-aging process in a very organic way, leaving the face looking extremely natural. We can turn back the clock to a significant degree. This is known as regenerative medicine.”
Gambhir Cosmetic Medicine
610-518-SKIN (7546)
www.drgambhir.com
668 W. Lincoln Highway
Exton PA 19341
King of Prussia Medical Center
491 Allendale Road, Suite 208
King of Prussia, PA 19406
Photograph by Nina Lea Photography
