Skin Smoothing and Tightening Techniques
Chemical Peel - Chemical Peel is a procedure in which chemical agents are applied to the skin. Cosmetic indications for the use of chemical peel include wrinkles caused by aging, sun damage or heredity factors; superficial acne scarring; and irregular pigmentation of the skin, including freckles and age spots. Melasma, a dark pigmentation of the face found primarily on the cheeks in women, can also be improved. Pre-cancerous conditions such as keratoses (thick, rough, reddish growths) also respond well to treatment.
A light burning sensation may occur when the solution is applied, but it quickly diminishes.
Thousands of patients who undergo chemical peels each year are delighted with the results. Most patients view the results as dramatic. Some patients may require additional treatments to achieve the desired results.
Although complications are rare, there are certain inherent risks connected with every surgical procedure which should be thoroughly discussed with the physician before the surgery. Patients can minimize complications by carefully following directions given by the physician.
Microdermabrasion - Today, there are several excellent procedures available to improve facial scarring, one of which is microdermabrasion. This technique, used on both men and women, facial microdermabrasion is a procedure in which skin, scarred from acne, chicken pox or other causes, is lightly "sanded." The abrasive or planning action evens out the skin to give it a smoother, more pleasing contour. Now, it is also used to treat other conditions as well, such as age (liver) spots and wrinkles.
IPL Photorejuvenation - An intense pulsed light treatment for face, neck and/or chest. IPL is the most effective treatment for redness and flushing of the skin and will rejuvenate the look and feel of skin by reducing fine wrinkles, pore size, roughness and fade age spots. An IPL treatment package consists of a series of five to eight treatments, each lasting 30-45 minutes.
Thermage - Thermage is a safe, clinically proven way to tighten and contour skin, with improvements in tone, contour, and texture occurring naturally through the stimulation of your own collagen. Thermage is completely non-invasive-no surgery, no injections. A single treatment tightens your existing collagen and stimulates new collagen growth. Improvements are both immediately visible and continue up to six months. Results can last for years depending on your skin condition and aging process.
Dr. Cheryl Burgess is a Clinical Investigator for Allergan and Medicis. She has conducted studies in the use of RestylaneŽ and PerlaneŽ. Her facility is a National Training Center for BOTOX® Cosmetic.
» BOTOX® Cosmetic Customer Service: 1.800.866.BOTOXMD
BOTOX® - BOTOX Cosmetic has been developed to treat the aging face by relaxing the facial muscles of expression. This procedure has been widely used and is considered a safe, effective way of treating wrinkles. It is used to relax worry and frown lines, "crow's feet, wrinkles around the eyes and mouth."
The procedure works by physiologically relaxes facial muscles beneath the skin that are related to expression lines. The contractions of those muscles result in wrinkles. Botox Cosmetic works by blocking the impulses from the nerve to the facial muscles thereby relaxing them. The result is that the pull of the underlying facial muscles relax causing the skin to flatten. This results in a smooth, relaxed, natural appearance. All attempts are made to avoid the "frozen" look.
When the toxin begins to wear off, the wrinkles begin to reappear; however, they frequently are not as deep as the original ones. It usually takes two or three injections each year to maintain the smooth, youthful appearance that is desired. Clinical studies suggest that, after several rounds of treatment, the patient may require injections less often.
Injectable Reconstructors/ Skin Augmentation/Fillers
Radiesse™ - Radiesse™ is a synthetic injectable filler that reduces wrinkles, creases and scars by augmenting the body's natural collagen supply. Composed of microspheres in a biocompatible gel, Radiesse is made from the same minerals found in our bones, so it carries little risk of allergic reaction. Radiesse can be used on many areas of the body, including the lips, nasolabial folds, peri-oral lines, depressed scars and oral commissures.
Sculptra™/ New Fill®
Injectable Reconstructors
HIV Associated Facial Lipoatrophy - New advances in antiviral therapy have enabled HIV/AIDS patients to live long and productive lives, however, this therapy is not without adverse events. Fat loss and redistribution of fat, commonly seen with facial lipoatrophy, has rapidly become the hallmark for Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART). Recent studies have shown that the majority of patients treated with HAART will develop lipodystrophy within one year from the initiation of treatment.
The psychological and social impact of facial lipoatrophy is quite considerable leading to anxiety and depression in many individuals. As a result, some patients have become non-compliance with anti-retroviral therapy to avoid the inevitable facial wasting. And most unsettling, individuals have reported that they have been forced into disclosing their HIV status due to their anorexic facial appearance.
Polylactic Acid (Sculptra™/ New-Fill®) has emerged as one of the most talked about fillers for the treatment of facial lipoatrophy. New-FillŽ was first approved and popularized in Europe in 1999 for medical treatment of facial lipoatrophy in HIV infected individuals. The United States Food and Drug Administration review panel unanimously agreed for FDA approval in August 2004.
Sculptra™ is manufactured by Dermik Laboratories, a branch of Sanofi Aventis. The European indications include treatment of fine lines and wrinkles, creases, furrows, scars and to increase tissue volume necessary to treat conditions such as facial lipodystrophy. It is commonly injected in areas of the cheeks, lips, chin, temporal regions, buttocks and hands to smooth visible depressions in the skin. There have been reported cases of prolonged enhancement 18 months or longer.
Dr. Burgess, Medical Director of the Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, has been treating HIV associated lipoatrophy since 2001 and has treated countless patients from all over the United States. She finds that patients with severe facial wasting require 3 sessions on the average to obtain 90-100% dermal enhancement. All patients tolerated the procedure well without significant side effects or down time. The most common side effect is bruising which may persist for 7 - 10 days.
Hyaluronic Acids - (Restylane®, Perlane®, Juvederm Ultra®, Juvederm Ultra Plus®)
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that already exists in the human body and is used to provide volume and fullness to the skin. The hyaluronic acid is a crystal-clear gel called NASHA, or Non-Animal Stablized Hyaluronic Acid. NASHA is biodegradable and completely biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid fillers are safe and natural cosmetic dermal fillers that restores fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds.
As you get older, your face loses its shape. Hyaluronic acid fillers simple restores that fullness and provides a smoother contour to the face. The average treatment results last six months or even longer. Patients should avoid taking aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John's Wort, or high doses of Vitamin E supplements for one week prior to treatment. This will help to minimize any bruising or bleeding at the injection site.
Hyaluronic acid fillers have been used safely by dermatologists and plastic surgeons since 1996 worldwide. Because they are non-animal-based and fully biocompatible, allergy testing is not required. This quality virtually eliminates any risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. The most commonly reported side effects were temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects typically resolve within two to three days.
Liquid Facelift
The liquid facelift has become the top choice for addressing deep wrinkles, smile lines, loss of fat in the cheeks and hollowed out eyes in non-invasive cosmetic procedures in terms of achieving maximum results without undergoing surgery. This process may includes the use of BOTOX® and one or more dermal reconstructors based on a case by case basis.
Scar Revision - Anytime the integrity of the skin surface has been cut, scratched, inflamed or injured a scar can form. The severity of the scar depends on many factors such as age, ethnic background, location of the injury, external influences and infection to name a few.
Scar Revision involves the alternation or camouflage of the appearance of a scar. This technique of revising the scar does not permanently remove the existing scar. It only improves the appearance, thus making it less noticeable.
back to top | continue
|
