Testimonials
Client testimonials and successs stories.
Diane Kennedy said:
I wanted to tell you again how much I appreciate the skill and caring you bring to your work. I recently had my third appointment with you for various laser treatments, and am always glad I have made the two hour drive from Hilton Head to have you do my laser work. Although there are many places here which offer the same services, I would much rather drive to you where I am confident I am getting the most appropriate treatments done in the best manner. It is always a pleasure to work with you. You manage to be warm and professional at the same time, and that makes appointments comfortable. The results speak for themselves. You are the best!
Katherine S Cooper, Dentist said:
I was born and raised in Augusta Georgia. I decided to become a dentist, and deal primarily with cosmetic dentistry, when at the age of 9 I fractured my two front teeth doing cartwheels in my driveway (graceful huh?!). When my dentist finally fixed them, almost 4 years later, I was hooked. I wanted to bring that same joy and confidence to other people. I have been practicing dentistry, in my solo private practice, Katherine S Cooper, DMD, PC in Augusta Georgia for 12 years now.
As a teenager I suffered from the occasional outbreak but didn’t have significant problems with acne until about 3 years ago (age 36). It started mild, with a couple of areas a month and got increasingly worse until I was breaking out in new lesions every week and now had the cystic outbreaks as well. I originally tried the ProActiv regimen along with the over the counter benzoyl peroxide creams. I graduated to chemical peels every month and the Biomedic line of products and finally to IPL treatments (5) and Differin Gel. Nothing worked. It would get slightly better and then it would go right back to the way it was.
After discovering the YTF skin forum and hearing about Photodynamic Therapy in particular, I was determined to try to find someone who could do the treatment for me. After hearing all the wonderful things written about Heavenly Skin and Susan Zavell , I decided to go for a consult even though it meant a 2-hour drive one way. Susan was extremely knowledgeable, informative, compassionate and confident that she could help me. We set up my appointments and I was so excited!
My first treatment was really not painful at all. Susan made sure I was comfortable through the entire process. I was very swollen and red for about 4 days but no real pain involved afterward. It felt like a sunburn the night of the treatment and a really tight feeling after for about 3 days. I had a really great peel begin on the 3rd day and that continued for about a week. I was back to normal by day 6 or 7. I noticed a whole lot less breakouts over the next month and NO cystic breakouts at all. I’ve had another two treatments since then and have had the same experience except for a small sun exposure on the 3rd visit that caused some blistering—when Susan says have someone drive you….she MEANS it! Totally my fault but it just meant an extra few days of the red, swollen face. My skin is looking fantastic now and the breakouts that I have had (maybe 3 or 4 over the last three months) have healed so fast that it’s unbelievable. I’ve also noticed that I’m not as oily midday as I used to be.
I would not hesitate to recommend this procedure to anyone suffering from acne. It has meant a world of difference in my skin and my confidence level as well. I also recommend that you be very particular with whom you let administer this treatment. Susan and Dr. Zavell are the absolute best and most knowledgeable in the protocol necessary to get the greatest results!
Heather Eldridge said:
I just wanted to thank you for my experience at your center. In 4 short months you have accomplished what no one else has been able to do in the past 20 years. Laser therapy is truly a miracle of science. Had this treatment been available when I first had a problem with acne, I would have saved years of embarrassment and frustration, not to mention thousands of dollars. The laser treatments I received at your center have changed my life in a way I was afraid would never be possible. I thank you and your staff for the wonderful way you have treated me and my acne. You provide a wonderful service and it is a shame that more people aren't provided with this opportunity due to lack of confidence in it and lack of insurance coverage. Hopefully the future with bring greater recognition for what laser therapy can do. I will certainly recommend laser therapy and especially your center for anyone suffering with acne the way I have.
Carol Ann Berry, Nurse Practioner said:
Susan and staff exceeded my expectations. I had my choice of several other local providers but choose Heavenly Skin because of their reputation- I'm very happy with my outcome!
Mandy Lane
I am so impressed with the Obagi system! It only took two days for my husband to notice an improvement in my skin tone! After four weeks of using Obagi, my skin is becoming revitalized and younger looking.
Janet Morrison
For years I was under the delusion that tanning my face and body would make me more attractive and in my younger years it was "the thing to do". Then it seemed as if I had awakened one morning in my late 30's looking like I was 50. I had dark spots, uneven pigmentation and I was ashamed of my appearance. I had hair growth on my neck and chin that caused ingrown hair follicles to become infected. To say that I was miserable is an understatement. At 42 years old I felt as if my best years had escaped me and the youthful appearance that I once took for granted had slipped away every minute that I had laid in a tanning bed or on the beach.
Then one day something gave me hope and inevitably changed my life. My sister gave me a gift certificate to a laser center run by Susan Zavell. The fact that it was operated by a nurse team made me feel so much more confidant. I was always wary of so called "laser technicians" and after some research realized that many were actually just cosmetologists using lasers and chemical peels with very little actual medical training. After meeting Susan Zavell and seeing her passion for changing lives, I was a believer in the science of skin rejuvenation and had enormous confidence in Heavenly Skin's ability to treat my needs in a medically supervised serene environment.
After several laser treatments and two chemical peels, as well as, two microdermabrasions (I had severe hyper-pigmentation) and using Obagi Nu Derm skin rejuvenation system for 16 weeks, I now see a youthful, beautiful face staring back at me in the mirror. It really is a dream come true! My fiancé can't stop touching my face and he tells me all the time that I have the skin of a 20 year old! I owe so much to Susan Zavell! They're so caring and compassionate, dedicated and focused on the work that they do. Susan, you are an angel and I thank God for you and your passion for your work! I love you! The RN staff, Charlene & Tina (I love you so much!) treated me with a genuine sincerity that I never experienced in any medical atmosphere. I wasn't just a client, I was family.
When you have such insecurity about yourself and carry shame along with that, I can't tell you how much Susan's gentle and caring treatment has changed my life. It goes so much deeper than the "skin", it touches my very soul. I am truly rejuvenated from the inside-out! I sing your praises everywhere I go and where I go. I WEAR ONLY EYE MAKEUP AND LIPSTICK! I have never gone out of the house without a face full of foundation to cover my terrible skin. But now those days are long gone! God bless you and keep up the good work!
Sandra & Levester Reed
My son Levester has been transformed form the outside-in. After 3 laser treatments for acne, the self-confidence and spark has returned. Levester and I were watching TV, saw the Heavenly Skin commercial, and immediately thought "This could be the answer." Yes, it was!! The care we received from Susan and her staff was wonderful. She calmed Levester by explaining the entire treatment process. The results have been fantastic! My 16 year old son has on the outside what he has always possessed on the inside...self-confidence. As a parent, I am graceful to Heavenly Skin for restoring to my son what I could not give him. Thank you for the transformation!
Susan Havecost
I live in Florence and am now doing the skin rejuvenating process which began with laser treatment. The staff and products are outstanding and with only three weeks after the laser treatment and using the Obagi products, I am seeing tremendous progress.
Susan and her staff are very professional and the aesthetics of the office is unique and original. Thank you Susan for having the vision for a very valued and needed service in Florence.
Robin Brown
After having one session of needing done and being unable to feel comfortable going out in public for two weeks, I decided to give Smoothbeam a try. I knew from the beginning that I would have to commit for at least 6 treatment sessions in order to see results, as I was interested in scar reduction but I was drawn to the fact that there was virtually no down time associated with treatment. Overall, I would say that I have seen about a 40-50% improvement in the appearance of the scarring on my right cheek, which is the only area that I have treated by Susan. I suffered from moderate acne for about 7 or 8 years and during that time I had quite a bit of collagen loss from the scarring. The skin of the right cheek and chin appeared lumpy even though my acne has mostly resolved due to age and topical treatment. However, after the 4th treatment, I can say that I can see a positive and encouraging difference, especially in low light where the shadows tend to accentuate scars and generally uneven skin.
I am very excited to continue my Smoothbeam treatments because I believe that the quality of my skin can only improve. I am also happy to continue my relationship with Susan as she is a wonderful and competent nurse esthetician whom I trust to truly take of my skin and its problems.
Helen Frederick Said:
I have been a client at Heavenly Skin Aesthetic & Cosmetic Laser Center since shortly after its opening. I am constantly amazed at the results I have obtained using a variety of their services and products. Susan and the other staff are medically qualified and wonderfully caring professionals. Florence and surrounding areas are very fortunate to have such services, usually reserved to larger metropolitan areas, available to us. Thank you Dr. Zavell, Susan and your wonderful team!
Lindsey D. Billings, BSBA Said:
I have seen dramatic changes in my skin since going to Heavenly Skin. Susan Zavell has performed chemical peels as well as laser treatments on my face and has put me on the Obagi system. To date, I have noticed a dramatic clearing of the acne that once plagued me. The ruddiness in my cheeks is now gone and the skin is smooth and glowing. The dark spots and scars that spotted my face are virtually gone. My overall confidence in my skin has improved greatly as I no longer fear breakouts and do not have to "cover" imperfections.
Each day my skin looks smoother, clearer, and younger. The mineral makeup gives me a flawless appearance and does not make me feel "made-up". Overall, I have been truly thrilled with my skin's progress. As a professional, my appearance is very important as I get in front of new people each day and I would not entrust my skin to anyone other than the skin care and laser specialists at Heavenly Skin.
N. Boone Said:
I have had several procedures at Heavenly Skin, including microdermabrasion and laser treatments. I currently use Obagi Nu-Derm's latest products. I have seen a tremendous improvement in my skin.
J. Norris Said:
Susan and Peter were great. They went out of their way to answer all the questions I had. When you're starting a new treatment you are anxious to see before and after pictures. Susan showed me ones she had taken of her other patients and even of herself. I really appreciated the firsthand knowledge she had of the procedure (she had done it herself) so she meticulously explained the details of the procedure. how it felt, how it worked, what it did, and what I would experience following the procedure.
She was very thorough and honest. Susan and her husband were so caring. The smoothbeam can be fairly uncomfortable and she kept checking to make sure I was okay. She never rushed through it and would stop periodically to let me relax. She really helped me through it. Also, because I had traveled from Richmond to see her she was very accommodating of my schedule. I really just can't say enough good things about her practice. I drove four hours to see her and would do it again.
B. Heidorn Said:
Susan Zavell is the most knowledgeable person I have met so far in terms of laser applications. I have had a lot of experience with laser techs, nurses and cosmetologists and laser work, including ruby, alexandrite, CoolGlide and IPL, including work done in my former dermatologist's office.
Nobody I have met comes close to her professionalism, kindness, dedication to her work and her patients, and her continuing dedication to enhance her knowledge base about perfecting the skin both with topica's, peels, laser work, etc. Susan is responsible and very thorough when evaluating a new patient and uses the latest equipment. She also networks with some of the most experienced laser doctors in the country and having access to their experience base should let any prospective patient know that she works with the best. She is also very well informed about the extreme importance of daily sunscreen use and communicates this to every patient and to her community.
Traveling from Scottsdale, Arizona, which is becoming like Los Angeles in terms of the vast numbers of cosmetic procedures being offered here, I was tremendously impressed with the beauty and ambiance of her clinic, which in my opinion, is world class. I have seen nothing like it here. She and her clinic are worth traveling to from anywhere in the country.
My one visit with Susan was worth the trip!
Kristen Terrell Landsgaard said:
My face is important in my line of work. A former television news anchor, now commercial producer and host, my face is one of my most precious assets. That is why within the past couple of years I had worried about finding makeup that could cover inconsistencies in my skin tone.
During my pregnancy with my son my skin changed. There were dark areas that were not there before. The areas did not go away. They worsened. I enlisted the help of a make-up artist. That did some good but I still was not satisfied. I looked dappled and old.
Under the discoloration, there were definite wrinkles developing around my eyes and lips and on my forehead. I was afraid of being one of those wives who looks years older than her cute young husband. I see that all the time.
A different make-up artist who was on a job with me was applying my make-up and said, "you're a sun worshipper aren't you?" I said, "yes, is it that evident?" Silly me. What did I think all those years of sunbathing my fair skin would do? They left me rough and worn. I could not change that... or so I thought.
That is when my friend Susan Zavell came into the picture. We had not seen each other in years. She took one look at me and told me I needed Obagi Nu Derm. The expense gave me pause. But after consideration and talking it over with my husband we decided to do it (Guess he didn't want an old hag for a wife!).
Now, 20 weeks later I look 10 years younger! I am not kidding! My skin is a lovely smooth tone and it is moist and healthy. There is no discoloration. The lines are barely noticeable. I look in the mirror and see who I used to be and wanted to be and realize that I am that girl! It does me a lot of good when people guess my age in my late 20s when I am actually in my late 30s.
By using Obagi Nu Derm long term I have also committed myself to continuing to slow the aging process. I have made it a part of my daily life. I have learned the fantastic habit protecting my skin by using Obagi's strong sunscreen everyday. But I have learned even more than that.
What I have learned will affect my children and their children. My children will not be allowed to sunbathe as I did. They will wear sunscreen. They will not look aged as I did. But more importantly they will not subject themselves to the dangers of the sun. They will always have antioxidants in their diets, that is, as long as I control what they eat.
Obagi Nu Derm changed my life. It can change yours too.
Julie (Yarborough) Wilhelm Said:
My father was a NASCAR driver for most of my life and so I spent many years on the racetrack in the sun. As a result, I received a lot of damage to my skin. Over the last 2½ years, since starting to come regularly to Heavenly Skin, I have seen my sun damage reversed. Susan Zavell's knowledge has helped me so much with my skin. It has made such a tremendous difference in my life. Thank you to Susan and her staff!
Donna Isgett, Vice President, Clinical Effectiveness, McLeod Health Said
The spider veins behind my knees had become so severe that I would not even wear a skirt with panty hose unless it was well below my knees. Now after only a few treatments - my spider veins are GONE! I am not only wearing shorter skirts and shorts, but I have even packed my swimsuit for Hawaii.
I never dreamed I would have this kind of success so quickly and easily. Thanks for returning my confidence!
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