Skin Treatments
CO2 Laser Facial Skin Rejuvenation, Chemical Peels, and Dermabrasion
In youth, our skin is smooth, soft, and tight without lines or blemishes. Over time, wrinkles, growths, and pigmentation irregularities develop. Hereditary factors, sun exposure, acne, alcohol use, smoking, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, birth control pills, and hormones can adversely affect our appearance.
The best options available to address skin quality are chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing. A chemical peel involves the application of special chemicals to the skin to mediate the response whereas dermabrasion employs the mechanical action of sanding to accomplish this rejuvenation. A third approach, using either a CO2 laser or Erbium laser can produce excellent results and, in general, is superior to the other two procedures.
A laser works by creating a highly energized form of focused light that gently and precisely vaporizes the top layers of skin, removing the telltale signs of aging and other imperfections. It is more precise and results in a more predictable and dramatic outcome than the other techniques. The Ultrapulsed CO2 laser generally yields more extensive and significant results than the Erbium laser but the postoperative time is longer.
Laser resurfacing can be done under general anesthesia or under local anesthesia with sedation. A dressing may be applied to the skin for a total of approximately 5 - 7 days until healing has occurred. This dressing helps to minimize discomfort. Upon its removal the skin will be bright red. At approximately two weeks, makeup can be applied and you can be presentable in public. It may take several months for the redness to fully resolve.
Sun exposure needs to be minimized for several months post procedure. It is recommended that you wear a high SPF sunscreen (SPF - sun protection factor) that also has broad spectrum coverage to ultraviolet (UVA) light. Alpha hydroxy acids and Retin-A can be used to help prolong the results.
The outcome from these skin rejuvenation procedures can be quite dramatic and provide you with a much more youthful appearance. For more information, please contact our practice.
BOTOX® Injections
BOTOX® Injections is a purified protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It acts by preventing the release of a chemical from nerve endings that would normally cause muscle fiber contraction. The end result is muscle relaxation/paralysis. In the face, this leads to the improvement of "dynamic" skin crease lines related to the underlying muscles. After receiving BOTOX® Injections, you can smile, frown and even look surprised without forming deep creases or wrinkles. The result is a smoother, pleasant and more youthful appearance.
BOTOX® Injections is typically used to treat facial creases such as crow's feet, frown lines and forehead creases. It does not work for the "static" wrinkles caused by aging and sun damage. It should not be used during pregnancy, while breast-feeding, or when certain neurological diseases are present.
Treatments involve the precise injection of minute quantities of BOTOX® Injections into the desired areas. Some redness and bruising may develop which can easily be covered with makeup. Most patients can resume normal activities immediately including returning to work.
Response to the injections is usually seen within a few days but it can take 10 - 14 days before the full effect is apparent. If the expected results are not seen by 2 weeks, consideration can be given for a supplemental treatment. The effects may last 3 - 6 months at which time another treatment can be administered. Some studies have shown that with repeated injections, the results may last longer.
What can you expect? In general, there will be a softening or elimination of the underlying muscle's effect on the skin. Creases and wrinkles may disappear or diminish in degree. BOTOX® Injections can allow you to obtain outcomes that in the past would have required surgery and the associated downtime.
Side effects other than bruising are uncommon and depend to some extent on the areas treated. These include headache, nausea, flu syndrome, respiratory infection and temporary eyelid droop.
BOTOX® Injections can also be used to help reduce severe sweating of the palms or underarms. The BOTOX® Injections will temporarily block the nerves that stimulate sweating, leaving your palms or underarms much drier. The results will typically last for about 6 months.
For learn more about O2 Laser Facial Skin Rejuvenation, Chemical Peels, Dermabrasion, and BOTOX® Injections, please contact our Scottsdale or Glendale office.
Injectable Fillers: Restylane®, Hylaform® and CosmoPlast®
The natural progression of aging includes the development of facial wrinkles and skin creases. Injectable agents such as Restylane®, Hylaform® , and CosmoPlast® can provide effective though temporary treatment of these problems. These same agents can also be used for lip enlargement, enhancement of key areas of the face, to treat depressed scars and to address facial contour irregularities. There are a variety of products available today to address these issues with the hyaluronic acids and collagen being among the most popular.
Hyaluronic acid is an important and naturally occurring substance present in large quantities throughout the body. Restylane®, Hylaform®, and Captique® are some of the products based on this substance. They are used in treating facial wrinkles, creases and other contour irregularities with the results lasting around 3 - 9 months. They can also be extremely effective in obtaining lip enlargement and enhancement. You may be presentable almost immediately following the treatments.
Collagen is a very common and plentiful structural protein found throughout the body. CosmoPlast® and CosmoDerm®, which are derived from processed human collagen, can also be effective in the temporary treatment of facial wrinkles, creases, contour irregularities and for lip enlargement. There is usually minimal discomfort associated with the treatments and little post-injection swelling. The results, generally, do not last as long as those obtained with the hyaluronic acids and may average around 3 months. Duration in the lips is usually significantly less.
Fat Injections
Fat can be used as a filler material to help provide fullness, enlarge a structure, correct contour irregularities, and reverse some of the signs of aging. Fat Injections can be used to create fuller lips, level out depressed scars, fill out areas of excess fat removal from a previous liposuction, and address facial aging creases.
This is usually a minor procedure that can be done under local anesthesia with or without sedation depending on the extent of the areas to be addressed. Liposuction is used to remove the fat which is then injected into the area(s) desired.
Not all of the transplanted fat survives. Most patients require a few treatments in order to obtain a more desirable and permanent result though there are still no guarantees.
Scar Revision
Any deep wound of the skin results in a scar. A scar is simply the result of the body's normal healing response to an injury whether it be traumatic (accident) or elective (surgery). Some wounds heal with fine imperceptible scars; others with thick, painful, unattractive ones.
A Scar Revision is the surgery designed to improve the appearance, symptoms or problems created by a less than ideal scar. There are a variety of procedures that can be considered to help bring about this improvement. Most involve excision of the offending site with a closure that can employ one or more of a variety of techniques. The procedure may be able to produce a scar that is less perceptible but it cannot magically erase it without leaving a trace.
Postoperative care is also important in attempting to obtain the best possible scar. Topical agents such as silicone gel sheeting and Mederma can be helpful in this regard. It is also important to protect the site from significant sun exposure for at least several months. Regular application of a high SPF (Sun Protection Factor) broad spectrum sunscreen is recommended
For more information about Injectable fillers such as Restylane®, Hylaform® , and CosmoPlast®, fat injections or scar revision, contact the Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.