Missee Gietzen

I am not a high maintenance person, but when I saw the ad for half-price for permanent eyeliner, my interest was piqued. I called for more information, stopped in for a quick consultation and the next thing I knew, I was on the schedule.
Missee Gietzen was trained to apply permanent makeup last summer when she traveled to a one-on-one training session with Sally Hayes in California. She learned how to do permanent eyebrows, eyeliner and lips. Gietzen has had all three procedures, which is helpful, so you can see what the end result looks like.

Gietzen explained the procedure and time involved. There are actually two different appointments to be made – the initial application and the touch-up. The touch-up session is scheduled about three weeks from the initial application.
During the first part of the session a topical is applied. Then, your eyes must be closed for 20 minutes, so it’s a nice chance to catch a nap. The whole procedure is finished in under an hour and a half.
Gietzen had described the process as irritating, and that is just what it was! When it got to the point where I didn’t think I could take it anymore, it was over. I felt pain for about two seconds, otherwise, there was just a slightly disturbing ‘thing’ going on with my eyes.
My nose started to run and my eyes watered a lot. Toward the end of the procedure, I felt like I was crying and couldn’t stop, and it was hard to keep my eyes open when instructed to do so. Apparently this doesn’t happen to everyone.
Gietzen also does not do a line above the lashes, or connect the corners – she applies on the lash line, which really enhances the eye. It is very dark at first, for about the first week and a half. “During the healing process a part of it will peel off,” said Geitzen. “Then it will fade, up to 50%. When you come in for your retouch, it resets the color in deeper. You can also put it on a little thicker on the bottom if you like.”

There are several reasons women may choose to have permanent makeup applied. “Some women may have allergies and can’t wear topical makeup,” explained Gietzen. “Older women may not be able to see as well or apply it as easily as they used to.”

When she does eyebrows, Gietzen really looks at a person’s skin tone. “Usually I have them come in with their eyebrow shape drawn on so I can see what they like to wear every day,” she said. “Then I will make my recommendations. I will draw on with white pencil. It is more of a sweeping motion, not a boxy-type eyebrow.”

She is also very careful when doing the lips. “I don’t go bright with lip color, more of a subtle shade, so you can put on bright red on if you want, then wash it off,” she explained.

The lips are done in more of a circular motion, starting with lining the lips, then filling them in with a very natural color. “I was taught to enhance what a person already has, not drastically change it,” said Gietzen. “If someone wants create a special look, they can always use topical makeup. Natural is better.”

The machine Gietzen uses differs from one a tattoo artist would use. “This machine has more of a sweeping motion with the needles,” explained Gietzen. “It doesn’t go quite as deep as a tattoo machine would go. That is why we need to do the retouch in three weeks.”

Permanent makeup lasts from four to seven years. “The darker color you go with, the longer it will last,” said Gietzen.

During the four-day aftercare period, I was instructed to put A&D ointment on before washing my face or taking a shower. I ended up using Vaseline because the ointment irritated my eyes.
The top layer started to peel and flake after four or five days. I noticed most of it was gone within a week and the deep color had faded significantly.

Missee Gietzen works at Glance Spa and Salon, 407 North 4th Street, Bismarck, 751.1893. She is offering $100 off permanent make-up through the month of November. Regular Prices: Eyeliner: $500, Eyebrows: $500, Lips $750. Gift Certificates are available. Geitzen also does hair and pedicures.

Aging is inevitable, but that doesn’t mean you have to look your age. Current medical technology can slow the outward appearance of the aging process and, even better, offer minimally invasive procedures to get the job done with little or no down time.

Miranda Olson, RN, MSN, FNP, at Skin at the Institute of Facial Surgery is working to make individuals aware of the options available to repair damaged skin and stay ahead of the aging process. She wants to get the word out it isn’t always necessary to go under the scalpel to find a younger, fresher look.

“I love educating my patients on skin care and how to treat their skin as they age,” says Olson. “One thing I have noticed is most people don’t realize they can correct many skin conditions they didn’t think they could.”

Olson began working as a nurse at the Institute of Facial Surgery and was aware of the minimally invasive skin care procedures available at the facility, which specializes in maxillofacial and cosmetic surgery under the direction of Dr. John Stanley. But she also knew these procedures weren’t a focus of the facility or well known by its patients at that time.

During graduate school, she completed her thesis on Botox and its uses which piqued her interest in medical skin care. “I noticed there was a definite need for these services at the Institute,” Olson says. After becoming a family nurse practitioner, Olson began offering the minimally invasive procedures full-time at the Institute of Facial Surgery.

“This way we can offer our patients a full spectrum of treatment from the clavicle up,” she notes. “For me, to be able to focus on this and give it a name through Skin at the Institute of Facial Surgery makes everyone aware of all the services we provide.”

The services provided by Olson include medical grade skin care, skin analysis and chemical peels, Botox, dermal fillers, and laser treatment of various skin disorders including acne, rosacea, facial veins, sunspots, malasma, the hyperpigmentation of the skin caused by hormones, and hair removal.

Skin at the Institute of Facial Surgery has a Palomar Starlux 500 laser with platform and intense pulsed light (IPL) technology. “Women are educated and know what they are looking for,” says Olson regarding the type of laser she researched and chose for the facility.

The non-ablative fractional laser has some unique features included in its treatment options and recovery time. “This is the first laser that is FDA approved for the treatment of stretch marks,” notes Olson. “You can also have a treatment over your lunch break and still go back to work.” In addition, she says the laser “does a beautiful job” of treating acne scars.

“With the laser, I can help treat and manage the things people don’t think they can treat,” she says, adding the laser removed her own sunspots. “I thought I would have to live with them the rest of my life.”

The services offered at Skin at the Institute of Facial Surgery are not limited to a certain age or gender. Olson has treated patients with acne as young as 11 years old and has also provided Botox, rosacea and hair removal treatments to men. “Ten percent of all Botox sold in the United States goes to men,” she adds.

The number of treatments required for each patient depends on the particular condition. Dermal fillers and Botox injections are often covered in one visit but conditions treated with the laser can range from four to eight treatments. Consultations are offered Monday through Friday, and the consult fee is applied to the first treatment, says Olson.

She believes it is important to provide patients with a full range of treatment options, including the option of surgery if they are not seeing desired results. “We offer a full scope of options,” Olson notes. “I can do Botox on someone for years and down the road it might not be cutting it. Dr. Stanley can then do, for instance, an eye brow lift and the patient can stay somewhere they are comfortable.”

“We have a symbiotic relationship,” she adds. “Dr. Stanley helps my patients and I help his patients.”

The results she sees in her patients after treatment are the most rewarding aspect of her job, says Olson. “I love it when the patient gets a good outcome and they are happy with the results. It just makes me happy.”

For additional information on the services offered at Skin at the Institute of Facial Surgery or to schedule a consultation with Olson call 701-255-4000.

Shelly Botsford shows off two of her favorite 'sunscreens'

“No matter what age you are, you need to follow four basic skin care steps,” says Shelly Botsford, family nurse practitioner at the UND Center for Family Medicine in Bismarck. “You need a good cleanser that fits your skin type, you also need to exfoliate one to three times a week, moisturize and apply sunscreen every day.”

Botsford stresses the importance of consistent sunscreen use. “You can have a moisturizer and sunscreen all in one, but that should go on your face every morning no matter what you are doing. The number one cause of wrinkles is sun exposure.”

Healthy, smooth skin can certainly be passed from generation to generation, notes Botsford, but everyone has to do their part in keeping their skin healthy. “Genetics do play a role. If your mother and grandmother had beautiful skin, you are at an advantage,” she says. “But the biggest factor is how much sun damage you have done throughout your life.”

Avoiding tanning beds and direct sunlight are big steps in keeping skin healthy. “Use a broad spectrum sunscreen and avoid direct sun on the skin,” says Botsford. It is important to look for a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection, she adds, and one that also contains ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, or some of the newest ingredients on the market, mexoryl or helioplex.

The skin near the eyes is the most sensitive to damage, she says. “The skin around the eyes is most prone to aging. Start young, it’s never too early to start babying that skin around your eyes.”

Collagen, a protein found in the connective tissues of the body, also plays an important role in youthful looking skin; but as women age, collagen breaks down and the skin’s elasticity decreases. Creams such as Retin-A and Retinol can help to promote collagen growth. “Every woman over 35 should be on Retin-A or Retinol to start promoting collagen,” Botsford adds.

Botsford offers tips for every stage of a woman’s life to keep skin looking young and healthy:
• 20s – Focus on protecting the skin from sun damage and follow the four basic steps
of skin care: cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, and protect.
• 30s – Begin using an anti-aging cream and thicker moisturizer. The use of Retin-A or
Retinol can help reduce the presence of fine lines and sun spots.
• 40s – Use a Retin-A or Retinol cream along with a good moisturizer and
anti-aging eye cream on a daily basis. Microdermabrasion treatments may also
help give skin a smoother appearance.
• 50s – Menopause will cause skin to lose its elasticity that is supported by estrogen.
Continue using anti-aging creams and remain well hydrated. Consider pulsed light
therapy if there is an increase in brown spots or skin discoloration.
• 60s and beyond – Increase the thickness of moisturizing creams and stay well hydrated.
Collagen will continue to decline, so a proper skin care regimen will become even
more important.

Proper skin care is not just for women, notes Botsford. There are ways to get every member of the family involved in keeping their skin healthy. “For men, put a pump soap in the shower,” she says, adding bar soaps can be harsh on skin. “Also put a pump moisturizer by their sink.” For children, focus on reducing sun exposure by considering products like long-sleeved swimming attire and UV resistant clothing along with sunscreen.

Botsford says she sees patients at every stage of skin care and offers the SkinCeutical line of skin care products to her patients. “The reason I brought in this skin care line was because of the sunscreens that contained titanium dioxide and zinc oxide.” She also offers patients other treatment options including Botox and Dermafill injections, microdermabrasions and Pulsed Light Therapy. “Pulsed Light Therapy provides treatment for acne and acne scars, sunspots, brown and uneven coloration, Rosacia or redness, red blood vessels and dark facial hair.”

But ultimately, Botsford says, skin care starts with the basics. “It’s basically cleansing and mosturizing. It’s getting skin clean and getting a good moisturizer on that has a sunscreen in it.”

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Skin Care Tips for Everyone
• Regularly cleanse and moisturize your skin
• Apply a sunscreen of SPF 30 or greater at least a half-hour before going outside
• Wear protective clothing when outside, including long-sleeves and a wide-brim hat
• Don’t smoke – it is one of the top contributors to premature aging of the skin
• Drink water and stay well hydrated
• Eat a balanced diet, including fruit and vegetables rich in antioxidants