Our Philosophy

What we believe

We believe that YOU are amazing! You have innate worth that never changes no matter what you look like or accomplish. You may or may not believe that about yourself, but it’s true. Your value is greater than you can even imagine. You are a Porsche, but maybe you don’t always believe that. Sometimes you may feel like you are a beat up old truck. It’s important that you see yourself and your value as it really is. You are a Porsche – always! Even when you don’t feel like it, you deserve to love yourself.

Mindset Shift – You are a Porsche!

Our approach and philosophy starts with how you see yourself. This is important for many reasons. Before you start your skin transformation journey you really need to believe that you are amazing inside and out. Once you truly believe that about yourself, then a lot of things start to shift. The way you see yourself changes. The way you think about yourself changes. The words you say about yourself change. And the way you treat yourself changes. You start to take care of yourself the way you would take care of a Porsche (rather than a beat-up old truck). It’s a powerful mindset shift that has dramatic real-life consequences.

Helping YOU feel like YOU

Once you see yourself as the amazing person you are, then we can have a fruitful conversation about your skin and your outward appearance. Our goal is always to help YOU feel like YOU so that you can fulfill whatever you feel called to do – with confidence! We want to help bring out the best version of you, including your skin. Your face and your skin are amazing. They were created with intention. It’s completely accurate to say that your face is a work of art, created by the best sculptor and artist ever!

Aging too rapidly

The problem our skin encounters here in Utah is similar to that of other great works of art. We see rapid aging and deterioration due to many different factors. The main factor is the sun. UV light emitted by the sun is very intense here in Utah, due to a combination of latitude and altitude. We also have so many beautiful outdoor days, and a robust outdoor culture. Add to that the fact that most of us have genetics that are poorly designed to deal with all this UV exposure. Most of us have ancestors that came from Northern Europe (British Isles and Scandinavia). We like to joke that our ancestors had 10 days of sunlight, and we have 210 days of sunlight (not really a joke). So that’s why you look in the mirror in your 40s or 50s and start to see someone that doesn’t look like you. You are aging more quickly than you should. And this affects every layer of the skin, from the superficial epidermis down to the deep fat pads and bony structures. Everything that makes you look and feel like you are affected by this process.

You are a work of art

The Sistine Chapel was built in the 1500s. The frescoes on the ceiling were painted by Michelangelo over 500 years ago! Through the years there have been millions of people, oil lamps, candles, fires, and other forms of pollution that have affected those beautiful paintings. These chronic exposures have led to slow and steady darkening and deterioration. In 1980 the Vatican commissioned a dramatic restoration project. And it truly was dramatic. It lasted 14 years and the final product is astounding. The entire ceiling was lightened so significantly that it made us question what we know about Michelangelo. One art historian said, “Every book on Michelangelo will have to be rewritten.” He used more brightness and color than we ever imagined. His original intent was made more clear to us through this amazing restoration process.

Your facial skin is just like the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel. Our goal is to restore your skin and facial features back to the original intent of the artist/creator. None of the art restoration experts (nor the general public) would want to augment, enhance or try to improve upon the beautiful work done by Michelangelo. We would never dream of that. Similarly, we don’t want to augment or change any of your facial features. We want you to look and feel like you! That’s why we call ourselves facial restoration artists. We want results that are subtle, and natural, and help you to look and feel like YOU.

Our Approach

Skin transformation does best as an ongoing project. It’s not a one-and-done approach. It’s a long-term relationship. Less like a surgeon and more like a personal trainer. This is critical because you will need to change some personal habits. You may even need to change some of your beliefs about your skin and yourself. At the very least, you will need some new teaching and education about your skin. If you compare an average facelift patient with an average face restoration patient the differences are surprising. At first, the facelift patient will have a more dramatic result. But over time that result will wane because they often haven’t established new routines and behaviors. The face restoration patient, by contrast, will start out slower with subtle and natural results. They will see some results within the first month or two and keep going. If they stick with the program, then 5 years later they will look younger than when they first started. If you compare both of these patients after 10 years the winner is absolutely clear – it’s the facial restoration patient. We take all the time you need to make sure you understand this process, the feelings, and the philosophy behind our approach.

Restoration artists need specific tools

Just like the restoration artists of the Sistine Chapel, we use specific tools to accomplish skin restoration. There are a variety of different tools that can be used, and it’s important to be able to use the right tool at the right time. Maybe you’ve heard the term “When you’re holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail.” We like to make sure we don’t overuse any one tool. Your skin needs a global approach that sees the big picture. This means we need to understand the entire face, all the layers of the skin, and how things will progress over time. Most of the tools we use for cosmetic restoration fall into three categories: Topical products, Injections, and Lasers/Devices.

Topical Products

We believe in using STRONG topical products. This can make some of the biggest difference over time. We will coach you to use the best products for the best results. And we will guide you on how to use these products most effectively. And they will be tailored to YOU.
Sunscreen – get this right or nothing else matters. We are passionate about sun protection and are so excited to show you some of our favorite options. By the way, did you know that Dr. Cope wrote a book about sun protection?
The Retinol Revolution – Dr. Cope is passionate about retinol. It’s the hardest ingredient to get right, and the most important one! Retinol requires coaching and we would LOVE to be your retinol coaches.
Product Consult – there are so many other topical products to discuss and they need to be tailored to you and your skin type. We offer a complimentary consult with Saige, our master esthetician. She will create a plan for you and teach you everything you need to know in order to succeed.

Injections (Botox and Fillers)

Neurotoxins (Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau, Daxxify)

You may have had one or more of these injections in the past. If so, then we’ll pick up right where you left off. If not, then we can spend a lot of time teaching you about what they are and how they work. Our philosophy is simple: Never overdo it, just soften the expression lines (you can still animate). Sometimes it takes us 1-2 sessions to really figure out your dynamic expressions and facial musculature. Then we document in your chart so that it comes out with the perfect result for you every time.
Masseter injections for TMJ pain. This is something that has become more and more popular. If you have teeth grinding, TMJ pain, and headaches then you may really benefit from masseter injections with neurotoxin.

Filler Injections (RHA, Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, many more)

Fillers are amazing. They can do so much more than we ever thought possible. From filling areas of volume loss to lifting areas that have started to sag and wrinkle. When you see aging on your face, a big component of that is what is happening in the deep areas of the face, namely the deep fat pads and bony structures. These shrink and shrivel over time. Filler can literally re-inflate and restore these areas of volume loss. When done well, the face looks natural and is simply a better reflection of you.
We don’t do lip filler very often. Most people think that filler injections are only for lip augmentation. We don’t do that. We treat many other areas of the face with filler and it’s a beautiful and restorative process. The only time we do lip filler is when the lips have obvious volume loss and need to be restored.

Lasers and Devices

We are only interested in results. So we have invested in the best lasers in the country. You’ve likely never heard of them since they are brand new on the US market and most dermatologists still don’t even know they exist.

IPL – The LUVO Lucent is objectively the strongest IPL machine on the market. It has the highest peak power and efficiency. It’s great for brown sun spots, and also can do a great job for red spots on the skin. But we need to make sure you don’t have a condition called melasma before we treat you with this (or any) laser device. This is a benefit of having a board-certified dermatologist on our team.

RFMN – LUVO Prolift is a brand-new suction-based RF Microneedling device. It’s designed to cause microthermal trauma in a fractionated pattern to the deeper layers of the dermis. Over time this allows for collagen neogenesis.

LHR – The LUVO Bare 808 is a diode hair removal laser that is the best-in-class and strongest hair removal laser in the country.

Bela Facial – The LUVO Bela is a medical-grade facial device that efficiently cleanses, extracts, removes, infuses, and electroporates. It has more handpieces and functionality than any other facial device and leaves the skin glowing for days.

Benign Removals – We have a variety of tools used to remove benign lesions from the skin. Things like sebaceous hyperplasia, seborrheic keratosis, cherry angiomas, spider telangiectasias, fibrous papules, and more.

Combinations – Our extensive training and background allow us to do unique combinations of laser and device treatments to maximize your time and results.

Medical Dermatology

If you are a cosmetic patient, then we’ll do your medical dermatology for FREE This includes rashes, acne, spot checks, mole removals, lesion removals, and lesion injections. Oftentimes it just helps to get the correct diagnosis and know what you can do about it.

Step One: Customized Consult

Everything we do begins with a consultation. This may seem obvious, but many times it’s not. It doesn’t matter what’s been done or said in the past, what matters is what is happening with your skin right now. Dr. Cope and his team will look at you and really get to know you. We want to get to know you inside and out. Cosmetic concerns are always connected to other things in your life, and understanding these connections is critical to a successful restoration. We will be able to examine your skin and perceive what has happened in the past. Additionally, we will likely be able to tell you things about your skin that you did not know. We can often make recommendations that you did not know were possible.

Step Two: Correction Phase

The correction phase is where the heavy lifting happens. It can last anywhere from two to six months. We can move as quickly as you want to move through this phase. We will likely use most of our tools to make as many corrections as we can make. This is where the restoration really takes place and it’s exciting. We’ve had tears of joy on many occasions. People say things like “There I am!” and “It’s so exciting to see me again.” Dr. Cope especially utilizes filler injections during this phase. We like to say things like “The needle is the new knife” and “The syringe is the new surgery.” We truly believe that you will never need a facelift. But rather with filler injections (complemented by Botox, lasers, and strong topicals) you get a better result that is more natural, lasts longer, and is safer. Then, once you start to see yourself again, our goal shifts to maintaining you!

Step Three: Maintenance Phase (The Julia Roberts Plan)

Julia Roberts is the perfect example of our maintenance phase. She just looks like herself for the last 30 years! She’s in her mid-50s and just looks completely like Julia Roberts has always looked! The maintenance phase is arguably the most important phase. We will do wonderful work together, and we need to hold on to those precious results. Luckily we know just how to do this and will help you with every step of the way. We will help you to shift your understanding and beliefs about sun care and skin care. We will guide you with the right long-term products and see you regularly for some small maintenance procedures. Typically, we will see you quarterly during the maintenance phase. Sometimes another correction project will pop up and we can work on that together. The goal is to keep you happy with your skin and help you maintain high levels of self-confidence. We truly want to help you live your best life with your best and healthiest skin ever. You will start to get compliments about how well you are aging and how great your skin looks!

Free Medical Derm

No matter what step you are on, if you start this journey with us, then we will take care of your medical dermatology for free. Medical skin issues can be very distressing and complicated. With Dr. Cope’s training as a board-certified dermatologist, we want to help you with your medical skin issues. His dermatology training at the University of Utah was very strong in medical dermatology and also something he maintains a passion for. If there is something that will require a more extensive testing or surgical procedure, then we will refer you to the appropriate well-trained expert in the area.

We Are Passionate About Treating the Whole Person

We are passionate about you as a WHOLE person. We realize that your inside well-being is a critical component of who you are. As a service to our patients and community, we have created the Wisdom + Stature Speaker Series. This is an evening event where we gather for inspiration + connection + community. A place where we can grow and become. Where we can create friendships and cheer each other on in our individual growth.

Does this Resonate?

If you’ve made it this far, then our philosophy is likely resonating with you. We’d love to take some time to get to know you and your skin. Let’s make a plan together. Give us a call to set up an appointment.

SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT

Dr. Cope can help you achieve a new level of confidence with aesthetic experience and a laid-back approach. To learn more, contact us through our online form or give us a call.

385-273-1007 SCHEDULE

DR. AUSTIN COPE, MD, MBA

Dr. Austin Cope is a Utah native as well as a highly educated and well-trained cosmetic dermatologist. At Cope Cosmetic Dermatology, our team is here to help you look and feel your best.

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