Aesthetic Skin Care
In a society influenced and often dictated by appearance, aesthetic beauty treatments provide patients with a range of options for enhancing their natural beauty. These include treatments that reduce wrinkles, remove moles and freckles, reduce pore size, treat hyperpigmentation, and permanently remove unwanted hair.
However, it is important to note that estheticians cannot perform any type of invasive cosmetic surgery; these services are left strictly to medical professionals.
Medical Aesthetics
Medical aesthetic treatments offer a way for individuals to improve the appearance of their skin, body, and face. These treatments can be performed by a licensed medical professional like a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. They may also be offered by cosmetic clinics, med spas, or beauty centers.
The growing demand for these procedures has led to the rise of charlatans that provide scientifically unproven aesthetic services and make dubious claims. Such a practice is detrimental to the public because it undermines trust in, and professionalism of, the medical community.
Most clients prefer to have these medical-grade aesthetic treatments performed by doctors who have specialized training and experience. Only a doctor knows how a procedure, product, or equipment will impact the facial anatomy as a whole and can treat the side effects of a treatment.
Non-Surgical Aesthetics
Many people feel younger than they look, but have a hard time reshaping and rejuvenating their appearance without the need for an operation. Fortunately, cosmetic enhancement treatments now provide a wide array of options that can help you reclaim your confidence without going under the knife.
Non-invasive aesthetic techniques are growing in popularity due to the need for safe and affordable methods of enhancing the face and body that don’t require lengthy recovery times. Depending on the procedure and its results, these treatments can be very effective and are even reversible, making them an excellent choice for those who want to enhance their natural beauty with minimal downtime.
In addition to facial wrinkles, nonsurgical cosmetic procedures also address issues like sagging skin, sun damage, and acne scarring. Some of the most popular cosmetic enhancements include neuromodulators, such as Botox and Dysport.
Botox Injections
BOTOX is the most popular wrinkle relaxer, used worldwide in millions of injections every year. This injectable works on dynamic creases of the face that occur when you smile, frown, furrow your brow or squint. The botulinum toxin, type A, prevents the muscles in these areas from contracting, thereby smoothing out the lines and wrinkles caused by these movements.
The neurotoxin in botulinum toxin is made by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. It may be harmful if ingested in large amounts, but healthcare providers use diluted and sterilized forms of this toxin that meet medical control standards.
It blocks nerve signals to muscles and can prevent them from contracting for a short time — the effect usually lasts three to six months before it needs retreatment. It also can be helpful skin care store near me in preventing chronic migraine headaches in adults who have 14 or more headache days per month.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are soft injectable gels that add volume and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles for a refreshed look. Dermal fillers are safe, painless and a non-surgical alternative to facial plastic surgery.
Hyaluronic acid-based fillers are tissue friendly and closely resemble the hyaluronic acid that is found naturally in our skin. This makes them a good choice for lip augmentation, fine line skin care shop and wrinkle correction, nasolabial fold reduction and the correction of small asymmetries to enhance facial balance.
Other dermal fillers include calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiumesse) and polylactic acid (Sculptra). Both are natural ingredients that encourage the body’s own collagen production to soften lines and wrinkles. These products are also biodegradable. They are perfect for those who prefer not to use animal products.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive skin treatment that physically exfoliates the skin. It can improve uneven skin tone, dark spots caused by acne and superficial scarring. The technique is also known as “lunchtime peel,” Parisian peel, and diamond peel. It can be performed on the face, neck or chest.
The procedure involves a handheld device moving over the skin. Tiny crystals remove dead skin cells and are then vacuumed away. A topical anesthetic is typically not needed, although the skin can be slightly pink afterwards.
Many dermatologists and skin care specialists perform this procedure. Be sure to choose a practitioner who has experience and uses a high-quality machine for optimal results. Home kits are available, but they should only be used after consulting with a physician to ensure the safety of the procedure.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels reduce fine lines and dark spots, improve acne, and smooth the skin. They are a versatile treatment in our dermatologist’s arsenal, often used on the face, neck and hands.
They can be light, medium or deep. They help to remove the dead skin cells and speed up the healing process of the new skin beneath.
The most common peels are alpha-hydroxy acid peels (fruit acids, lactic acid) and trichloroacetic acid peels (TCA). Phenol peels are also available but must only be done on very fair skin tones because they can cause permanent color change in darker skin. The procedure is usually completed in an hour and requires no anesthesia. The peel is applied to the face, starting with areas of thicker skin such as the forehead and cheeks and moving down to the nose and chin.
Laser Treatments
Laser skin resurfacing removes fine lines and wrinkles, decreases pore size and improves the appearance of scars (acne, traumatic and surgical). It also enhances skin tone and encourages collagen absorption in the treated area.
Using a handheld device, the doctor moves a laser over the face or neck, infusing it into the upper layers of the skin where it reduces the appearance of lines and creases, softens scarring and smoothes uneven skin tone. It also reduces sun spots, freckles and discoloration.
Nonablative lasers use bursts of energy to penetrate deep into the skin, causing less damage to the surface and requiring more treatments to see results. They include the carbon dioxide laser and the newer erbium YAG laser. They are safe for Fitzpatrick skin types I to VI.
