Dr. Saami is taking new patients at his clinic, SOM Aesthetics, in Encinitas, CA. Booking online is easy or you can call (760) 766-7546 or email concierge@som.md.

Dr. Saami hosts regular group training sessions through his company, Aesthetics Arts Academy. You can find the most up to date academy schedule or enquire about private trainings at www.som.md/academy, or contact his team at (760)766-7546 or academy@som.md. 

Botox is a brand name of botulinum toxin that acts at the junction between a nerve and the muscle. It decreases the ability of the nerve to cause the muscle to contract thereby decreasing the appearance of wrinkles that are perceived when we smile, raise our brow, or frown. Botox is best for wrinkles that are seen with movement caused by the previously mentioned expressions (aka “dynamic wrinkles”). 

The time to start Botox is dependent on one’s perception. Many younger patients choose to start Botox early to preserve their appearance and prevent the appearance of fine lines or deeper wrinkles. Older patients who already have deeper wrinkles and folds will also benefit from Botox but it may take longer to achieve a more complete benefit. 

Botox (and similar products such as Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau) can be used in a multitude of places on the face, neck and body. The most common places are the frown lines (aka “11 lines”) between the eyebrows, horizontal forehead lines, and crows feet around the eyes. Patients also ask for treatment of the masseter muscles to create a thinner facial profile; treatment of “bunny lines” in the nasal area; of the lateral brow to change eyebrow shape / position; around the lips to reduce wrinkles around the mouth; in the neck to treat vertical or horizontal bands; and treatment of the jawline to create a more defined jaw (aka the Nefertiti lift). The list of potential treatment sites goes on and on. Visit Dr Saami today to learn about his unique approach to treatment with natural, beautiful, and effective results. 

Filler is a gel made up of hyaluronic acid which is the same substance that makes up the building blocks of our skin. It is created by bacteria but is identical to the hyaluronic acid that our bodies make naturally. When injected under the skin it adds volume to decrease the appearance of shadowing or sunken in skin. It essentially restores the appearance of volume to areas that may have decreased tissue from gravity, sun damage, and time. It is best for wrinkles or shadowing that is present without movement, aka “static wrinkles.” In this context it is often used under the eye, the nasolabial fold, along the jaw line, and more. It can also be used to add volume to the lips, cheeks, and temples to name a few. Most hyaluronic fillers last between 6-18 months depending on the type of filler used and the location being treated. 

PRP is platelet rich plasma that is derived from a patient’s own blood. The platelet portion is separated from the rest of the blood and has many positive effects including hair regrowth, skin tightening and rejuvenation, wound healing and more. It does this through the release of growth factors on the areas where it is injected to stimulate collagen and fibroblasts which act to achieve the above-mentioned goals. And since it is from the patient’s own blood, it is very safe to use.  

Lasers are an incredible tool when used in the right hands. Laser treatments can improve sun damage, rosacea, scarring, wrinkles, acne, vascular growths, and even some type of skin cancers. In addition, certain lasers can be used to perform tissue tightening, body sculpting, fat loss, hair removal, and tattoo removal. Dr Saami is an expert in laser surgery and has worked directly with the inventors and developers of the newest and most advanced laser devices, including Fraxel laser resurfacing, CoolSculpting body contouring devices, and lasers for vascular and pigmented lesions.

The treatment of scarring depends on a few key factors: the age of the scar, its location on the body, and the depth of the injury. Generally, the earlier you intervene on scars the better, and areas that contain large hair follicles tend to fare slightly better than areas that don’t. Also superficial scars are easier to treat than deeper scars or if a keloid has formed. The most important things you can do at home early on are to strictly protect the area from the sun, since the sun will darken the scar, and keep the wound moist with aquaphor or vaseline, since a moist wound environment will heal faster. If the scar is mostly just red, we can treat it with lasers such as PDL or IPL. If the issue is more of a textural irregularity, such as a raised or bumpy area, a resurfacing laser such as the CO2 or Erbium:Yag laser will be a better choice. We can also treat with both lasers in a single session. Other methods depending on the cause can be treated with different methods including microneedling or chemical peels can also be employed.  

Stretch marks can be caused by a variety of issues ranging from pregnancy, weight change, hormonal issues, or inappropriate use of topical steroids. An excellent treatment for stretch marks is the use of microneedling together with PRP. This creates little channels with the microneedling device that allows the PRP to enter the skin and improve wound healing and remodeling. The same approach can be used with an ablative laser, such as the Erbium:Yag and microneedling. Other treatment options potentially include radiofrequency devices but it depends on your specific situation.  

Studies have shown that the two main food groups that may have an association with worsening are dairy and high-glycemic index foods, eg candy and other sugary items. Notably, even this association is weak but the data does seem to suggest that these items do make acne worse and it’s worth avoiding if you are struggling with acne. 

Rosacea can appear very similar to acne, and can sometimes be diagnoses as acne. The clinical distinction between rosacea and acne is important since they have different triggers and different treatments. Common triggers of rosacea including alcohol, spicy food, hot food or hot beverages, sun exposure, or dark chocolate. Trigger avoidance is the best treatment so figuring out your own specific triggers is important. Medical treatments require different creams than regular acne, eg metronidazole cream, and the redness of rosacea is treated differently than the acne-like bumps, eg through pulsed-dye laser rather than through topical agents. 

The primary driver of skin cancer is cumulative sun exposure. Genetic factors can also play a role, for example if you have a first degree relative with melanoma, your risk of melanoma is increased compared to people without this risk factor. 

A variety of methods can be used to treat skin cancer depending on the type. Very early lesions can be treated with topical creams or light-based therapies. More advanced lesions usually require surgery or other destructive methods. We tailor our treatment to you, the specific subtype of skin cancer you have, its location, and seeking to minimize scarring and preserving your appearance.

Typically new growths in a person over the age of 35 should be evaluated by a dermatologist. Our bodies should not make new moles in our mid- to late-30s and if you have noticed a new mole it should be checked. What you are looking for when you evaluate your moles is “the ugly duckling.” If all your moles look the same but one stands out from the rest, you should have it checked. Also if any of your moles are changing or symptomatic it should be evaluated by a board certified dermatologist. 

Of course, people can develop other new growths in their later years that are not moles and are not dangerous, such as seborrheic keratoses. For growths, if it is itchy, painful, growing rapidly, changing colors, or bleeding it should be checked.