Rejuvalife Vitality Institute
Beverly Hills CA

Dr. Berger Goes Down Under, as Featured Speaker at A5M Conference in Melbourne

Dr. Berger recently returned from his trip to Australia, where he was invited to be a featured speaker at the Australasian Academy of Anti-Ageing Medicine (A5M) Annual Conference in Melbourne. This year’s conference on Age Management focused on the theme of Preventative Medicine, Integrative Medicine, and Balanced Patient Care. Dr. Berger was welcomed as a leading authority on Anti-Aging and Aesthetic Medicine, and his presentations provided valuable wisdom to the medical community attending the conference on a diverse and expansive body of information. In addition, Allergan, the makers of Botox, sponsored Dr. Berger’s workshop called “Juvederm and the Perfect Lip.” Below we have provided the abstracts for Dr. Berger’s presentations.

Facial Sculpting – Beyond Traditional Thinking

The traditional use of neurotoxins and aesthetic medicine has been primarily focused on addressing individual and compartmentalized concerns related to dynamic muscle contractions such as crown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines.  Advanced usage of neurotoxins takes a more holistic approach to facial appearance; looking at the face as a whole to achieve a more global aesthetic improvement. This can be achieved either as a standalone treatment or in conjunction with other aesthetic modalities such as volumising fillers, collagen stimulators, resurfacing and skin tightening lasers.  When used in this fashion a more natural appearing desirable aesthetic outcome can be achieved on a consistent basis.
This presentation will review the use of botulinum toxin as a facial sculpting tool and how it can be used in conjunction with other modalities to achieve natural global rejuvenation.

Juvéderm and the Perfect Lip

The lip is the most important aesthetic feature of the lower face.  Optimum aesthetic appearance requires a lip that is aesthetically balanced to the rest of the face and that has ideal volume, shape and proportionality.  Hyaluronic acid fillers are ideal for achieving the perfect lip correction on a consistent basis.  This presentation will review the use of Juvéderm and Juvéderm Ultra Plus and Hyaluronic injectables for the achievement of the perfect lip augmentation.

The Clinical Aesthetic Application of Anti-ageing Medicine

Beauty is indeed beyond skin deep!  Underlying internal processes significantly influence the development and profession of individual aesthetic decline as well as the duration of benefit from cosmetic surgical and medical interventions.  Optimal cosmetic appearance is very positively influenced by more optimal lifestyles and more youthful hormonal homeostasis.  Cosmetic surgeons will benefit from recognizing specific aesthetic physical signs of hormonal decline, deficiency and disequilibrium.  Once they are recognized they can be corrected in conjunction with cosmetic medical and surgical procedures, in order to achieve superior and longer lasting outcomes.
This presentation will review the more common clinical physical signs of aesthetic decline that are associated with specific hormonal deficiencies and how relate these findings to specific corrective treatments.
Learn how to recognize specific aesthetic physical signs of hormonal decline, deficiency and disequilibrium that can be corrected in conjunction with cosmetic medical and surgical procedures, in order to achieve superior and longer lasting outcomes.

Setting up Complete Anti-ageing Practice 

The complete anti-ageing practice should focus on both the inside and outside to provide comprehensive anti-ageing care, addressing how people feel and look.  Optimum outcomes are achieved by providing patients with state of the art operations, while addressing both anti-ageing and cosmetic needs.  Practices organized and equipped to address these needs will thrive.
This presentation will summarize the components of setting up a comprehensive anti-ageing and cosmetic medical practice and will discuss the key factors that lead to success.  The evolution of anti-ageing and cosmetic medicine naturally leads to combining them in a comprehensive way to create the anti-ageing and cosmetic medicine practice of today and the future.

The Risks of Mid-Section Fat (Besides the Muffintop)

Let’s be honest. Most of us would love to lose an extra inch or two around our midsections. How nice it would be to fit into those jeans from college without having to suck in, or show off a slim, sexy body at the beach. But there may be an even more compelling reason to get rid of that stubborn belly fat once and for all. Research is now showing that fat specifically around the midsection or waist is a major risk factor for Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease, Hypertension, Stroke, some forms of cancer, and even Dementia. We all know that obesity can dramatically increases risk factors for these diseases and more, but excess belly fat may also be a warning sign for mildly overweight people, or even people of an otherwise healthy physique and appropriate weight.

Studies have shown that excess midsection fat is strongly associated with greater resistance to insulin.  In insulin resistant people, muscle, fat and liver cells do not use the insulin effectively, so the pancreas tries to compensate by producing more insulin. If the pancreas cannot keep up with the body’s need for insulin, excess levels of glucose will build up, leading to Diabetes. Insulin resistant people also have excessively high levels of insulin in their bloodstream, which leads to inflammation. Inflammation itself has recently gained attention as a direct cause of a staggering number of diseases and health conditions.

The obvious contributor to excess stomach fat is poor lifestyle choices. A diet consisting of high fat, high sugar, processed and otherwise nutritionally lacking food, combined with a lack of exercise, and excessive drinking will all help you pack on those pounds.

Research is supporting the idea that greater life stress may be the other major contributor to excess stomach fat. In particular, chronic stress that is associated with hopelessness, helplessness, or a feeling of defeat is associated with excess production of the stress hormone cortisol. When you have chronically high cortisol levels, the body craves carbohydrates and fats, and the extra calories tend to head right for the midsection. A recent study has also show that lean women in particular may be more prone to develop stomach fat in response to stress.

Another major factor for retaining midsection fat is change in hormonal balance, due to aging or as a result of other conditions. For women, changes in estrogen levels have a particularly strong impact on retaining stomach fat. As estrogen levels change with age, fat goes to the abdominals instead of to the hips and thighs, where it was previously needed for reproductive support.

Rejuvalife is here to help support the total health and wellbeing of our patients, and assist them in acheiving their health, weight loss and aesthetic goals. We offer comprehensive fitness and nutrition programs to promote overall healthy lifestyle, as well as medically supervised weight loss programs. Rejuvalife is on the cutting edge of non-surgical advanced liposuction procedures, to remove excess body fat in the abdominals and other problem areas directly. We also offer Hormone Replacement Therapy to return your hormonal levels to their optimal concentration and fight the effects of aging.

Dr. Andre Berger featured on CBS News

As people live longer and healthier lives, more and more of us are searching for ways to look as young as we feel. As we age, the fat and collagen beneath the skin begins to diminish, resulting in wrinkles and sagging skin. This can be further exacerbated by sun damage, heredity, disease, trauma, and scarring.

Today’s natural, advanced injectable fillers provide a simple, safe, non-surgical option to correct those unwelcome lines, folds and wrinkles so that you can restore those timeless, youthful elements and look as young and beautiful as you feel.

Also know as  the Vampire Facelift, Sephyl^™ and Dracula therapy, this non surgical age defying injectable wrinkle treatment uses your own blood to stimulate collagen production and cell migration that results in fresh, healthy, younger looking skin.

For more information about Vampire Therapy or Rejuvalife Vitality Institute, please visit us online at www.rejuvalife.md

Click here to read more about this CBS special report.

The Beauty Benefits of Green Tea?

Green Tea

Green tea is now the preferred drink of supermodels, but is it really any better for you than a good, old-fashioned cuppa?

Clinical evidence suggests that green tea is packed with health and beauty benefits that you can enjoy whether drinking it or applying directly to your skin. Even the leaves can be used as a gentle exfoliant, guaranteed to give your skin a healthy glow.

Recent research shows that green tea extract is naturally rich in antioxidants, which help protect the body from free radicals – naturally occurring particles in the body associated with accelerated ageing and an increased risk of major diseases. Exposure to pollution, smoking and excess sunlight increases the number of free radicals in the blood, but the potent antioxidants found in green tea add strong weight to the belief that green tea not only promotes good health but also makes you look younger.

• Beauty Benefits
• Soothing Spritzer
• Mighty Mouth
• Refreshing Face Mask
• Lose Weight

Beauty benefits
Traditionally, many types of make-up, lotions, creams and beauty preparations have used chemical antioxidants, or vitamins A, C and E as preservatives for their products. Now, with research indicating that green tea has even more antioxidant properties than these powerful vitamins, there is a surge in products capitalizing on its natural benefits.

You don’t need to rush to the chemist to stock up on goodies. Concentrated green tea extract is simple to make at home and is a flexible addition to both your daily beauty routine and your medicine cabinet.

Soothing spritzer
Simply steep 100g of green tea in half a litre of still mineral water at room temperature for at least one hour. Strain the liquor and it’s ready to use! It’s better to make small quantities and use it fresh but surplus liquid can be poured into clean, sterilized bottles and refrigerated.

The liquid can be used as a spritzer, to freshen up the face, or cotton pads soaked in it can be particularly soothing for tired or strained eyes. It has antiseptic properties, so can be used to treat minor cuts and rashes, and is surprisingly effective when applied to spots and blemishes. It can even be used as a treatment for sunburn – soak a cloth in the liquid and leave on the skin until the area begins to cool

Is Coffee Good For Your Health?

Coffee is healthy for you

In today’s world, everyone wants to live healthier and to do that you have to eliminate many things from your diet. Coffee is a part of the morning and drinking it makes it easier to start your day, even if you drink decaffeinated. Whether your preference is with sugar, milk, or sweetner, decaf or regular people wonder if coffee really is healthy enough to keep drinking?

The answer is yes, coffee is healthy for consumers to drink and here are some reasons why. Coffee didn’t always rank high on the scales for healthy drinking but today things have changed and researchers have taken a second look at the most popular drink in the world.

Coffee has a reputation for making people hyper and unable to sleep at night, boosting energy levels, and causing irregular heart beat and it does do all of these things.

What benefits does coffee give us? It has been known to decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. One research even stated that the coffee with caffeine had lowered the chances of developing Parkinson’s disease. In Japan, the studies had shown that drinking several cups of coffee would actually help lower the risk of liver diseases and conditions that could lead to liver cancer.

Coffee is also becoming a popular diuretic among athletics and it also conquers fatigue and decreases the chances of becoming dehydrated.

Along with the positives there are always some negatives as well. Coffee is no exception to the rule. You still can’t ignore the fact that caffeine is not good for you. It is considered a stimulant, although mild in strength it can cause several complications. It is known to have an effect on the central nervous system and over time it may cause even more damage.

Coffee is not considered a drug by the FDA and as long as you like it and you don’t suffer any side effects then they see no reason for continuing the usage. But if you start experiencing some symptoms you may want to adjust the amount of caffeinated coffee that you consume.

You can choose from many types of coffee; instant, fresh roast, coffee beans, and more. It’s not just a cup of hot coffee anymore, it is a part of the morning routine, a way to prepare for your day, a way to warm your soul, and a way to unwind after a long hard day.



Vitamin D and your Immune System

We all know that we need Vitamin D and that we can get it from the sun, as well as from fatty dish, fish liver oils and eggs, as well as in Vitamin D supplement form. Even so, nearly half the world’s population has low levels of vitamin D. What you might now know is why we need vitamin D. What, exactly, does vitamin D do?

Danish researchers have discovered that we need vitamin D to activate our immune system’s killer cells. These killer cells, known as T cells, become inactive if they don’t have enough vitamin D. If they are inactive, they can’t fight incoming germs and bacteria. Scientists have told us that vitamin D is important for calcium absorption. They have also made a connection between the levels of vitamin D and diseases like MS and cancer. But this is the first time a connection between vitamin D and immune function has been made.

“What we didn’t realize is how crucial vitamin D is for actually activating the immune system — which we know now,” Geisler wrote in the study in the journal, Nature Immunology. Geisler and his research team said the findings offered much needed information about the immune system and would be of particular use when developing new vaccines. “This is important not only in fighting disease but also in dealing with anti-immune reactions of the body and the rejection of transplanted organs,” they wrote. Geisler said there were no definitive studies on the optimal daily vitamin D dose but experts recommend 25 to 50 micrograms.

If you have concerns about supplementation and aren’t sure about your Vitamin D levels, our practice has a simple blood test to check for your Vitamin D levels as well as other important biomarkers. Call us and we’ll tell you about it.

Body-Jet: Not Your Everyday Liposuction

Imagine a liposuction method that’s kinder on your body and one of the most potent methods to yield ready-to-inject fat for fat grafting into your hands, face, breasts, into wrinkles and acne scar depressions. It’s here and we know you want to know about it.

As many of my readers know, liposuction was originally created back in 1974 by Dr. Giogio Fischer, an Italian gynecologist. Over the years it’s become more refined, to eliminate excessive bleeding, pain and rippling of the skin after the procedure. The tumescent technique ultimately enabled patients to benefit from liposuction under local anesthesia without the fear of undesirable skin depressions or excessive bleeding. I warrant that the Body-Jet is tumescent squared. Better than anything I’ve seen so far.

This is why I think Body-Jet is the best liposuction method available today

First, in traditional liposuction, the anesthesia is combined with the saline and infused into the body at the beginning of the procedure. In Body-Jet, the cannula distributes a continuous spray of Lidocaine (liquid anesthesia) into the area, which makes it much more comfortable for the patient and eliminates much of the bruising and bleeding of the procedure. This makes for a faster recovery and, hence, less time away from business and social activities. Patients both look and feel better, sooner.

Secondly, in traditional tumescent or laser liposuction, the fat cells are physically forced apart. In Body-Jet, the fat cells are sprayed with the fluid so that they essentially float out, preserving them in a way that makes it easy to use those fat cells for immediate injection into another part of the body. They literally are sent into a special container so that they require less processing to inject. I can rapidly remove fat from one part of you and inject it into another part of you where you need it—such as into wrinkles, into the backs of your hands, into scars, into the breast tissue, just about anywhere. And the quality of the fat is better, too! Therefore, it lasts longer—about 80% of the fat is retained compared with only about 50% of the fat retained from fat cells that are put through the centrifuge.

Third, traditional liposuction is more traumatic to the surrounding tissues and blood supplies. Body-Jet is gentler and safer. The final appearance of the skin is much better in Body-Jet as well, with much less risk of dimpling or uneven contours.

Check out our website for more info about Body-Jet and watch my video for more info on this amazing new technology!

Could Green Tea & LED lights replace Botox??

German scientists claim that a combination of LED lights plus green tea extract cream will result in “less pronounced wrinkle levels, shorter wrinkle valleys, and juvenile complexion.” I don’t know about you, but having a more “juvenile complexion” sounds mighty good to me!

It’s been known for over 40 years that light therapy will heal wounds and I’m sure you’re familiar with light therapy for skin rejuvenation in the form of IPL (intensed pulsed light) treatments. However, high-intensity LED’s such as those in computers and auto tail lights, have been shown to reduce skin wrinkles if applied every day over several months. However, there’s a nasty side-effect with the high-intensity LEDs—they can generate byproducts that damage the cells. Again, science to the rescue—apparently when the potent antioxidant, epigallocatechin gallate, found in green tea, is placed on the skin in a cream form, it negates the side-effects of the LEDs.

Furthermore, the combination of LEDs and green tea cream showed excellent results in only 10% of the time it took for the LED therapy alone to reduce wrinkles! Therefore, it’s both rapid and painless!

We’ll be following this fascinating discovery over time, and fill you in on the updates as we’re made aware of them! In the meantime, the liquid facelift is an excellent treatment while waiting for the LEDs+Green Tea to appear as an alternative.

Excess Body Fat = Thousands of Cancer Cases Annually

A shocking new study was published last week by researchers with the American Institute for Cancer Research,  that states more than 100,000 cases of cancer are caused annually by excess body-fat and obesity. The researchers studied seven cancers with known links to obesity along with actual case counts that were likely obesity-related.

From

The report says that 49 percent of endometrial cancers are caused by excess body fat. That number is followed by 35 percent of esophageal cancer cases; 28 percent of pancreatic cancer cases; 24 percent of kidney cancer cases; 21 percent of gallbladder cancer cases; 17 percent of breast cancer cases; and 9 percent of colorectal cancer cases.

“This is the first time that we’ve put real, quantifiable case numbers on obesity-related cancers,” said Glen Weldon, the American Institute for Cancer Research educational director. In addition, he said, it’s not just causing cancer that’s an issue.

“Obesity not only raises the risk for getting cancer,” Weldon said. “It also has a negative effect on survival and can make treatment more difficult.” (Link to full story)

The sheer magnitude of this is a bit overwhelming, and calling attention to the problem is certainly necessary. In addition to cancer, we know obesity-related health problems abound, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, strokes and various other maladies. As I’ve explained before, increased body fat can lead to increased cellular inflammation, which is linked to DNA mutation and diseased cell growth, as is seen in cancers and many other diseases.

Unfortunately, the study doesn’t propose any solution. While some would suggest simply losing the weight, or not gaining it at all, I can’t help but add “keeping your soup clean” – i.e. not just counting calories, but eating a nutritionally dense and healthy diet and adopting an active lifestyle are paramount to good health.

Thanks for reading,

Andre Berger, M.D.

Related recent posts from the archives:

• Obesity Shrinks Your Brain & Shortens Your Life
• Is Your Soup Clean? Questions & Answers about Diagnostic Testing
• This is Your Brain on Junk Food
• Food Choices Supersede Genetics