…that's how Dr. Denise Hyland likes to see patients leave her clinic, The LaZer Room.

As a family physician with 24 years of practice, Dr. Denise Hyland devoted herself to the practice of Cosmetic & Anti-aging Medicine in 2006. She trained extensively and studied first-hand, the techniques of some of the top cosmetic physicians in Canada. After a two year fellowship in Anti Aging and Regenerative Medicine in the USA, Dr. Hyland is studying towards a Masters' degree in Metabolic & Functional Medicine.

Q. So, how do you "turn back the clock" on your patients?

Most of my patients are concerned with the facial changes that accompany aging. We are able to address most of these concerns with minimally, or non-invasive procedures.

My task is to use a combination of Botox, fillers, lasers and peels to restore the natural contours of the mid and lower face, subtly enhance their best features, like their lips, cheekbones and eyes; to smooth out wrinkles, tighten loose skin, and lift jowls and brows so as to create a soft, symmetrical natural look.

Often the patient's family and friends will not realize that they have had "work done", instead remarking in how relaxed and refreshed they look—as if they were returning from an extended vacation.

Q. I suppose your cosmetic practice is exclusively women?

No, I enjoy working with men too. There are subtle differences in facial structure, and they generally prefer a minimalist approach. Nothing too obvious. I have done some fairly dramatic work restoring volume to the midface in a couple of men with marked facial sagging.

Q. Tell me about Laser Body sculpting….

The Accent XL laser is a painless, relaxing way of shrinking fat around the waist, hips, thighs and upper arms. It can also be used to diminish the lumpy appearance of cellulite. The ideal candidate for treatment is one who is at or near their ideal body weight, with localized fatty deposits.

We also have a Medical Weight Loss Program, and liaise it the university to offer hydrostatic weighing, cardiovascular fitness and metabolic testing to our patients.

Q. What exactly is Anti-aging Medicine?

The majority of women in their 50's can relate to the acceleration of the aging process that occurs around menopause: thin, dry skin with a tendency to wrinkle; loose skin around the eyes, sagging of the neck; unwanted facial hair, thinning of scalp hair; weight gain in body composition; loss of libido, cognitive (memory) and emotional changes; insomnia and the dreaded hot flashes, fatigue, vaginal dryness, urinary frequency and incontinence—all caused by declining estrogen levels, and a relative excess or sensitivity to circulating androgens.

Most people are aware of the controversy surrounding conventional HRT; but many are not familiar with the alternative…

Bioidentical HRT.

This approach entails:

• the use of transdermal creams vs (oral) pills
• hormones chemically identical to human hormones
• doses tailored to the needs of each individual
• monitoring of hormone levels, estrogen/progesterone ratios, and urinary metabolites
• addressing imbalances and deficiencies of other hormones, e.g. testosterone, DHEA, cortisol, melatonin, growth hormone, thyroid hormones
• aiming at restoring optimal health and functional status vs merely detecting disease states

Men also are subject to decline in testosterone and Growth Hormone—Andropause—resulting in loss of energy/drive; decline in cognitive status; loss of libido and erectile disfunction; changes in body composition—loss of muscle, increase in body fat, especially around the abdomen, putting them at increased risk of hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. These changes are all correctable by Bioidentical HRT.

As part of the anti-aging process, we also assess micronutrient levels digestive health, immune status, cognitive symptoms, and detoxification issues.

The cutting edge of this science is Regenerative Medicine: research centres worldwide are experimenting with stem cells to trigger the body's natural repair mechanisms.

In cosmetic medicine, stem cell extracts and bioengineering growth factors are already being incorporated into treatments for skin rejuvenation, hair loss, eyelash growth, stretch marks—some of which are available at The LaZer Room.