Complete Body Scan and Skin Analysis
Success of a cosmetic treatment depends as much on a full analysis of the basic body and skin type of the patient as it does on the subsequent treatment itself. Our bodies are all very similar yet all are very unique. At The Touch we understand this better than anyone else and we screen you fully and then come up with a treatment that would best suit your body and skin type.
Measuring Body Fat Is Important for Determining Treatment
Weight alone is not a clear indicator of good health because it does not distinguish between pounds that come from body fat and those that come from lean body mass or muscle. Carrying too much fat is a condition called obesity, and puts a person at risk for many serious medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes and even certain forms of cancer. In fact, obesity contributes to at least half the chronic diseases in our society.
Overweight means an excess of total body weight based on population averages for heights and body frame sizes. Athletes and very muscular people may be overweight, but that does not mean they are over fat. Obesity means an excess of body fat regardless of weight. These measurements allow us to determine how much body shaping or slimming can be achieved, what levels of heat and intensity are required for the patient to be most effective and how long should a treatment continue.
Appearances Can Be Deceiving
Men A, B and C are exactly the same height. A and B have the same weight, and C weighs considerably more. For his height C appears to be fat. But after analyzing body fat levels, B and C have acceptable percentages while A has above the recommended range and is at a higher health risk.
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis or BIA is considered one of the most reliable and accessible methods of screening body fat. In conventional BIA, a person is weighed, then height, age, gender and weight or other physical characteristics such as body type, physical activity level, ethnicity, etc. are entered in a computer. While the person is lying down, electrodes are attached to various parts of the body and a small electric signal is circulated. Simply explained, BIA measures the impedance or resistance to the signal as it travels through the water that is found in muscle and fat.The more muscle a person has, the more water their body can hold. The greater the amount of water in a person’s body, the easier it is for the current to pass through it. The more fat, the more resistance to the current. BIA is safe and it does not hurt. In fact, the signal used in body fat monitors cannot be felt at all either by an adult or child.
A Message for Women
Woman have more body fat than men–about five percent more. By nature, a woman’s body is developed to protect her and a potential fetus. As a result, women have more enzymes for storing fat and fewer enzymes for burning fat. Additionally, the estrogen women have activates fat storing enzymes and causes them to multiply.
Women experience more changes in hydration levels than men because of their menstrual cycle, and this can affect body fat measuring, particularly using the BIA method. Retaining fluid may also cause weight to fluctuate day-to-day during this period causing additional variation in the body fat percentage.
Female users of BIA products should be aware of their natural monthly body cycles.
To establish a baseline for monitoring body fat, many women find it useful to chart their readings every day for a month. Afterward, monitoring at regular intervals can anticipate monthly fluctuations.Hormonal changes due to pregnancy or menopause may also cause water retention and variations in measuring. Changes in hydration levels can also be due to food, caffeine or alcohol consumption, strenuous exercise, stress or illness, or the taking of prescription drugs.
To successfully monitor progress, women should remember to compare weight and body fat percentage measurements taken under the same conditions over a period of time. Pay attention to fluctuations caused by menstruation. And stay within the Women’s–not the Men’s–Healthy Body Fat Range!
Body fat ranges for standard adults
Skin and Hair Analysis
Next step is to understand the Skin and Hair type by a sophisticated SHA system that provides your doctor with insights into your skin and hair type, their exact nature, texture and properties and thus provide the starting building blocks for your customized treatment.
Fitzpatrick Skin Types
Skin typing is based on the reaction of the skin to sun exposure. It is uniform in the whole body; skin type is not dependent on the body part. However, some parts which have more sun exposure (e.g. face) will have an apparent darker color than hidden areas. The color as well as the skin type, has to be taken into consideration when being treated by your physician.
This diagram shows the 6 skin types according to the Fitzpatrick Skin Types.
Type 1
Red & blonde hair, blue eyes, burns easily, never tans, freckles, very fair skin, MC1R gene risk.
High risk for skin cancer, may scar if slow to heal. Higher potential for vascular (veins) damage.
Type 2
Fair sandy/red hair, green or blue eyes, burns easily, tans with difficulty, some freckles. MC1R gene risk.
High risk for skin cancer, may pigment with trauma and may scar if slow to heal. Higher potential for vascular damage.
Type 3
Brown, fair, sandy hair; green, hazel, blue eyes. Slow to burn, will tan. May have MC1R gene risk.
High risk for all pigmented skin conditions; moderate risk for skin cancer; higher potential for scarring & moderate risk for visible vascular damage.
Type 4
Dark brown hair; green, hazel, brown eyes. Slow to burn–tans easily.
High risk for trauma, heat & chemically caused pigmentation, and moderate risk for all other pigmented skin conditions. High risk for scarring & moderate risk for visible vascular damage.
Type 5
Dark and black hair; brown and dark brown eyes. May never burn.
Very high risk for trauma, heat & chemically caused pigmentation, and lower risk for solar pigmented skin conditions. High risk for scarring (keloid); moderate risk for visible vascular damage.
Type 6
Black hair, dark brown eyes. May never burn.
Very high risk for trauma, heat & chemically caused pigmentation, and lower risk for solar pigmented skin conditions. Very high risk for scarring (keloid); moderate risk for visible vascular damage.