I, along with my associates, Dr. Linda L. Smith, Dr. Bruce Ramsey, and our staff, are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Don Groot, the founder of the Groot DermaSurgery Centre.  It gives us all great comfort to know that he passed away peacefully and surrounded by family.

He was a mentor, a colleague, a friend, and someone who knew no bounds. His warmth, spirit, and dedication to dermatology will remain with each and every one of us.

Please feel free to visit his obituary.

Dr. Thomas Nakatsui
Medical Director, Groot DermaSurgery Centre

 

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Brilliant Distinctions is a program provided by Allergan, the company that produces Botox and Juvederm. This program allows patients to accumulate points from the use of Botox Cosmetic, Juvederm products, Belkyra, and Latisse.

 

Botox Cosmetic is used to treat wrinkles on the forehead, the angry lines between the eyebrows, the smile lines around the eyes, and other areas as well. Juvederm products can help bring back fullness to problem areas such as the nasolabial folds, marionette lines, cheeks, and lips that lose volume as we age or lose weight.

 

Belkyra is an exciting new treatment that can help reduce fat in the dreaded double chin zone and can help improve and contour your chin and jowl line. For longer and thicker eyelashes, Latisse can be used for lusher eyelashes.

 

Each of these treatments earn points that can be used towards the purchase of future Allergan products. For more information, please visit https://nakatsuiderm.com/treatments/botox-treatments-edmonton/brilliant-distinctions/ or http://www.brilliantdistinctions.ca

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Hot Tub Itch

There is nothing quite like slipping into a hot tub after a day of battling the winter elements. The positive memories of the experience can quickly fade if the event is followed by hot tub itch, medically known as pseudomonas folliculitis.  If an itchy rash consisting of elevated bumps, some pus filled, appears within 12 to 48 hours after a hot tub immersion then it is likely hot tub folliculitis. These bumps may develop into dark red, tender papules.

What causes hot tub itch?

A hot tub rash occurs when a bacteria known as Pseudomonas enters the pores of the skin causing an infection. Pseudomonas lives naturally and without consequence in the skin of about 15% of the population.

If Pseudomonas is introduced into improperly treated and maintained hot tub water the bacteria will take up residence in it. Once this happens it is very difficult to ‘evict’ because the bacteria develops a slimy layer that protects it from recommended levels of hot tub disinfectants. Super chlorination may help to get rid of the problem but it might be necessary to drain and scrub the tub with bleach in order to ward off the infestation.

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With fall here, it can only mean one thing: Party season!  From Thanksgiving to work parties to Christmas and New Years, we have many functions coming up.  The truth of the matter is, is that we want to look our absolute best at these events.  We want to have smooth skin, amazing eyes, and a body that fits perfectly into that cocktail dress.  How we look at the end of the night is a different story!

At the Groot DermaSurgery Centre, we offer various treatments that help fine-tune and tweak the little things.  Don’t like the wrinkles around your eyes whenever you smile?  Botox Cosmetic can be used to help treat crows feet so that when you’re smiling for photos, the wrinkles around your eyes will not steal the show.  What about your skin?  You want it to be flawless in those photos.  HydraFacial MD can help cleanse the skin and reintroduce important compounds back into the skin that have to lost due to the harsh summer weather.

How about the double chin that is always there whenever you look back at photos?

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Despite the fact that sweating serves the very important function of cooling the body it is considered to be unacceptable in certain social settings. For example a sweaty palm during a handshake is often frowned upon whereas sweaty palms while exercising falls within most people’s tolerance level. Sweat marks under the armpits while dining at a restaurant is socially undesirable whereas arm pit sweat while working in intense heat would be considered understandable.

For those socially awkward situations antiperspirants work for most individuals to control underarm sweating. However there is a condition known as hyperhidrosis where excessive sweating in any circumstance is a problem. The problem may be limited to the armpits, but often the palms of the hands and soles of the feet produce excessive amounts of sweat as well. Antiperspirants fail to work in individuals with hyperhidrosis.

There is no cure for hyperhidrosis. The good news is that there are controls. Sweat inhibiting injections of Botox have proven to markedly reduce sweating for anywhere between 3 to 16 months (average of 6 months) after 1 or 2 treatments.  The injections have been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of excess underarm sweating.

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Eye Creams – Do They Work?

 Knowledge is power – how is the skin around your eyes different from the rest of the skin on your face?

The skin around the eyes does not differ from the skin on your face. This is a misnomer propagated by the cosmetic industry.  Aging of the skin around the eyes is caused by heredity, sun damage, muscle pull, fat loss and gravitational pull on the skin. Often wrinkles appear first around the eyes because of the dynamic movement of the muscles around the eyes and the breakdown of the building blocks of the skin due to sun damage.  Sun damage leads to wrinkles, pigment changes and vascular discoloration which contribute to the appearance of aging. It also leads to skin cancers which if left unchecked can damage the eye itself. Another little known fact about aging around the eyes is that the eyelashes become shorter and thinner.

Are you wasting your money or do over the counter eye care products work?

The skin around the eyes is just as susceptible to sun damage as the rest of the face therefore protecting the skin around the eyes from the sun’s rays is important.

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As we age, our skin begins to lose laxity to the point where we begin to notice areas of loose and dangling skin on areas such as our arms, abdomen, and neck.  One of the most commonly complained areas of excess skin and fat from our patients is around the chin and neck, also known as the submentum.  Because our face and neck are the most visible parts of our body that is seen the most, it can be the area that can be most bothersome, even though other areas may be affected.

The typical treatments for tightening and removing excess tissue and fat around the neck and chin is a face and neck lift surgery.  This type of surgery is still the best option for overall improvement; however, many individuals do not want to go through with a surgery or cannot take the adequate time off after surgery.   In recent years, new or improved technologies and treatments have come through to

help eliminate fat, or tighten the skin around the neck and chin.

Belkyra is a new injectable medication that is approved for the treatment and reduction of excess fat under the chin on the upper neck. 

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Our skin is the largest organ we have.  It acts as a barrier between your surrounding environment and your internal organs.  Our skin is the first line of defence from the outside world and is constantly bombarded with various irritants in the environment such as dust, bacteria, and the effects of weather.  Many people suffer from sensitive skin and one of the most notable and common issues with our skin is eczema.  Eczema is inflammation of the skin usually due to dryness, irritation, and possible allergy.

The ”Mayo Clinic Regime” is a guideline for sensitive skin for people suffering from eczema:

YES:

SOAPS – Use products that are soft and non-irritating to the skin.  This may take some trial and error to find the perfect soap for you.

Use unscented laundry detergents.

Wash all new clothes and linens five times before using

White cotton gloves under vinyl or nitrile gloves for any activities where you anticipate your hands getting wet. Trim nails short or wear white cotton gloves full time.  Long nails are dangerous weapons to the skin.

 

NO:

No HOT water (use lukewarm only). 

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The Art of Hair Restoration Surgery

Hair transplant surgeries have become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for men and a large number of women.  Much of what happens before, during, and after a hair transplant surgery is uncertain for many curious people.  Here is what the typical process for hair restoration surgeries look like from consultation to 1 year after the surgery with Dr. Nakatsui.

Complimentary Comprehensive Consultation

A prospective patient will come in to our clinic for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Nakatsui.  During this consultation, Dr. Nakatsui will obtain a thorough history of the individual.  When did the hair loss begin, what types of treatments they have tried in the past, and what is their family history for hair loss are among a few of the typical questions asked.

Dr. Nakatsui then performs a thorough examination of the scalp to determine if there are any other medical factors that may contribute to the hair loss such as Alopecia Areata or Lichen Planopilaris.  These are conditions in which the body attacks its own hair and because of that, hair transplantation into these areas is not recommended.  Dr. Nakatsui then assesses the patient’s situation and expectations and determines if the individual is a good candidate for hair restoration surgery.

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Are you embarrassed to wear sandals because of your ugly toe nails – toe nails that are yellow, brittle and/or scaly? If so, it is possible that you have fungus of the toe nails (onychomycosis) – a condition that can be treated.

Two options are available: medication and laser treatments. Lamisil, Soranox or Nizoral are examples of prescription anti-fungal medications that are taken by mouth for a period of 3 to 6 months. They work from the inside out (systemically) with about a 70% success rate.  A new medication to the market called Jublia  is a topical ointment that is applied directly onto the problematic nail.

Lasers work from the outside in. Two treatments and the fungus is eradicated in 70% of cases. The success rate depends on how long you have had the fungus. If it has been left untreated for over a year then a combination of medication and laser treatments is usually required.

If you are hiding your toes, call us at (780) 482-1414 to find out if one of these treatment options might work for you. Then go out and buy a pair of those cute little sandals that you have been coveting.

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As we age, certain aspects of our appearance begin to bother us when we look in the mirror.  What we see in the mirror may not reflect what we feel on the inside.  The vivaciousness and energy that we carry may not be indicative of the bags under our eyes.

As we age, certain aspects of our appearance begin to bother us when we look in the mirror.  What we see in the mirror may not reflect what we feel on the inside.  The vivaciousness and energy that we carry may not be indicative of the bags under our eyes.

Botox cosmetic and dermal fillers such as Juvederm and Restylane have been around for many years.  They each have a specific role to play when dealing with facial rejuvenation. Botox and fillers can often become mixed up in their perceived usage.  Many times when a celebrity with large lips is seen on TV, one of the common phrases is that she has too much Botox in her lips.  In all likelihood, that celebrity had a dermal filler treatment to enhance her lips.

Botox (Onabotulinumtoxin A) is a substance that blocks localized nerve activity in the muscle. 

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The beauty of many of our Alberta golf courses is the tree lined fairways. I can attest to the fact that I have had up close and personal encounters with some of these trees while tromping through the underbrush in an attempt to find my ball. Having read an article written by Michelle Gagnon in the Rocky Mountain Outlook about Ticks and the risk of the Lyme disease I am more inclined to take the penalty strokes and leave the ball where it lies.

 

Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacterium is spread from small animals to humans by little biting arachnids called ticks. Ticks are like vampires – they attach to you and suck away, quite possibly and inadvertently leaving behind the bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The name of the bacterium is not as important as the damage it can do if a person is unfortunate enough to be exposed to it.

One of the first signs of Lyme disease is a bulls-eye rash around the site of the tick bite. Not all people get this rash so early detection may be missed. Other symptoms in the early stages are: fatigue;

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Hair transplant surgeries have been around for many decades.  Through technological advancement and improved techniques, hair transplant results have become both very natural and undetectable.  Historically, hair transplant surgeries have been associated with the word “plugs” or “doll hair” and those terms are not far from the truth.  Early iterations of the hair transplant surgery yielded unnatural results that were easily detected.  Large clumps of hair that looked like “plugs” were inserted into the scalp and had very large spacing in-between each graft.  The end result looked very much like a dolls head of hair.

 

Dr. Thomas Nakatsui, a board certified dermatologist, trained extensively with Dr. Jerry Wong under the most advanced technique of Hair Restoration surgery.  Dr. Nakatsui has been performing Hair Transplant surgeries for more than 18 years and his technique involves taking the very basic units of hair called grafts (seen in the photo above).  Each graft contains 1, 2, or 3 hairs.  The older plug technique typically had 5, 8, sometimes 10 hairs in a single graft.  Because Dr. Nakatsui uses the very basic units of hair, the grafts are incredible small, between 0.6-1.0mm in size.

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Patio Season is here!

Friends, Drinks, and great weather can only mean one thing: Patio season is upon us!  During this time we want to look our best when socializing with friends.  Firstly, we want to keep our skin looking young.  The easiest and simplest way to do that is to lather on the sunscreen.  Applying a good sunscreen with an SPF of 60 over all exposed areas of the skin will help prevent our skin from prematurely aging.  Protecting our skin by covering up will also help reduce the chances of skin cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Having a great fashion sense!

Hats are in fashion this year and wearing a large brimmed hat will not only keep your style up to date, it will also help add another layer of sun protection.  Your eyes are just as susceptible to sun damage as your skin.  Wearing sunglasses will not only allow you to express your style, sunglasses with 100% UV protection will help protect your eyes from possible sun damage.

Let the good times roll!

Laughing and smiling are all part of having a good time. 

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Through the advancement of laser technology, fine lines, wrinkles, and scars can become a thing of the past!  Fractional lasers such as Fraxel and Pearl Fractional place tiny holes deep in the skin selectively removing columns of damaged tissue leaving the surrounding skin intact. Patients see an improvement in photo damage, tone, and texture, as well as a noticeably smoother  and brighter complexion. The Pearl Fractional is often combined with the Pearl to achieve maximum benefit (Pearl Fusion). The photo  shows one of our patients after one treatment with Pearl Fusion. Additional benefit can be seen with more treatments.

Read more about our treatments for photoaging and learn how to rejuvenate your skin or you can call our office at (780) 482-1414 to book a complimentary consultation.

 

For your convenience, Botox and filler appointments, as well as Coolsculpting, Thermitight, and HydraFacial MD appointments can be booked directly online or by calling the office directly at 780-482-1414. There is a $100.00 refundable deposit required to reserve an appointment using the online booking service (please note there is a $20.00 administrative fee deducted from this deposit). If you cannot find a convenient time using the online scheduler,

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Approximately 3 percent of the population suffer from excess sweating.  The excess sweat can be generalized all over the body or in more targeted areas such as the armpits, palms of the hands, and soles of the feet.  This condition is called of excessive sweat is termed hyperhidrosis.  Excessive sweating becomes noticeable after puberty. Stressful situations such as examinations, job interviews, or an important date often aggravate the sweating. Sometimes, it takes almost nothing for the sweating to start and once it starts, it usually worsens until the affected person can get away from everyone else and cool down. Unfortunately, most over the counter antiperspirants do not control hyperhidrosis.

Treatments For Excessive Sweating

Aluminum Chloride Hexahydrate
Treatment aims to control the excessive sweating; it is not a permanent cure. A topical agent known as aluminum chloride hexahydrate in absolute alcohol is available in Canada without a prescription under the name of Drysol.

Other Treatment Options
Usually localized applications of aluminum chloride hexahydrate provide satisfactory sweat control. When this regime does not work, other options may include internal medications (such as anticholinergics), electrophoresis, a technique utilizing a device called the Drionic machine, dilute formalin (for sweaty feet).

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The answer is, unfortunately, yes.

One of Dr. Nakatsui’s patients presented this mole to him and when presented this mole, Dr. Nakatsui had a strong suspicion that this oddly shaped mole could be something sinister. Through a diagnostic biopsy performed by Dr. Nakatsui at the Groot DermaSurgery Centre, the results confirmed that the mole was indeed a malignant melanoma, the most worrisome form of skin cancer.

What made Dr. Nakatsui concerned about the mole? We can look at the ABCDE’s of mole checking.

A – Asymmetry: The mole is asymmetrical in shape. If you draw a line through the middle, it is not perfectly symmetrical.

B – Border: The border is uneven and ill-defined. Malignant melanomas typically have uneven, scalloped, or notched borders.

C – Colour: The colour variation in this mole was subtle, however there are elements of light and dark brown, and even some shades of dark blue. Having a multitude of colours in a single mole can be a warning signal. These colours can be reds, browns, blues, whites, and/or blacks.

D –

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Hair loss occurs in approximately 50% of males and approximately 40% of females during their life time. Hair loss can affect an individual’s self-esteem and affect how they live their daily lives. Dr. Thomas Nakatsui is a dermatologist who specializes in hair transplants, using the most advanced, state-of-the-art techniques in hair transplant surgery. At the Groot Dermasurgery Centre, he has performed hair transplant surgery for over 15 years with great success and is a recipient of the Consumers’ Choice Award for hair restoration.

Dr.Nakatsui has trained extensively with Dr. Jerry Wong in the state-of-the-art follicular unit transplantation using the lateral slit technique, for creating the most natural-looking hair transplant possible. Dr. Nakatsui is a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, the Canadian Dermatology Association, the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, the American Society of Hair restoration surgery, as well as a member of the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery.

Please click on the link below to watch Dr. Nakatsui discuss the hair transplant surgery and to see some before and after photos.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our clinic at (780)482-1414 or visit our dedicated hair transplant website. 

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  When performing a physical examination of a mole, Dr. Nakatsui, a board certified dermatologist, is looking for certain features in a mole.  Among other features, Dr. Nakatsui is looking for the ABCDEs in a mole. A – Asymmetry:  Unhealthy moles tend to be irregular in shape or non-circular. B – Border:  Problematic moles will have irregular, uneven borders. C – Colour: Healthy moles are generally uniform in colour.  Worrisome moles can contain multiple colours such as reds, blues, browns, whites, and even very dark moles can be worrisome. D – Diameter: Worrisome moles are usually larger than 6mm in size, typically the size of a pencil eraser. E – Evolving: When a mole begins to change it’s size, shape, colour, or begins to bleed, it is time to get it checked out.   Dr. Nakatsui strongly believes that having a yearly mole evaluation is an important part in your skin health.  In the interim, doing a monthly self evaluation is extremely beneficial.  Having a friend or family member assess your back is the best thing for those hard to see areas.  Taking photos every month of your moles with a ruler beside the mole can also help determine if there are any changes in a mole. ...Read More

The best way to prevent your skin from prematurely ageing is to apply sunscreen whenever you go outside!  Collagen deterioration is accelerated by the sun’s rays. The Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays and the longer Ultraviolet A (UVA) rays of the sun penetrate into the dermis, causing the breakdown of collagen and the formation of wrinkles, as well as other signs of sun damage: dilated superficial blood vessels; pigment changes; and scaly patches.  Wearing a hat to cover your face and sunglasses to protect your eyes can also help protect you from the damaging effects of the sun.

Through the use of SPF’s over 50, you can potentially help slow down the signs of ageing and also decrease the chances of skin cancers such as Basal Cell and Squamous Cell carcinomas.  If you would like more information on how to slow down ageing of the face or you would like to look more youthful, please contact our clinic at (780)482-1414 for a complimentary consultation.

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For your convenience, Botox and filler appointments, as well as Coolsculpting, Thermitight, and HydraFacial MD appointments can be booked directly online or by calling the office directly at 780-482-1414. There is a $100.00 refundable deposit required to reserve an appointment using the online booking service (please note there is a $20.00 administrative fee deducted from this deposit). If you cannot find a convenient time using the online scheduler,

...Read More