Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it’s exposed pretty much constantly to damaging atmospheric conditions – sun, cold, wind, dust, etc. – and nowhere more prominently than your face. Over time, faces become wrinkled, blotches develop, and the skin loses its elasticity. Skin resurfacing can help to restore youthful vigor to your face, and it can be a relatively quick and easy way to turn back the hands of time.
There are a number of conditions that can be repaired using skin resurfacing procedures.
These include:
● scars (i.e. from acne, chicken pox, etc.)
● wrinkles and loose skin
● blotches and brown spots
● sun damage
There are a number of treatments that can be used to treat these conditions, depending on the severity, ranging from chemical peels to laser skin resurfacing treatments and more. To prepare you for your initial consultation, we’ve concentrated on the three main treatment types:
● chemical peels
● dermabrasion
● laser treatments
These are ordered more or less by severity: chemical peels at one end representing a tune-up, and laser treatments representing a much more thorough, deep-acting procedure. They are, however, all classified as non-invasive, and many can be performed without general anesthesia.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel removes the outer layers of damaged skin, revealing soft, wrinkle-free skin underneath. Naturally, this skin will be a bit sensitive after it has been exposed, so a routine of skin care is vital to make sure that it is protected whilst it heals.
The peel can take care of blemishes, fine lines and wrinkles, dry skin, and help to control acne. Dr. Vitenas offers two types of chemical peel, using Alpha or Beta Hydroxy acids or Trichloroacetic acid (in more severe cases.)
The AHA treatments can also be used as a TCA pre-treatment, and both kinds can be used in conjunction with other treatments in order to achieve the desired effect.
Dermabrasion and Microdermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a procedure that aims to remove skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and scarring. Unlike a chemical peel, however, it is a mechanical procedure, using a sanding device to remove the skin layers.
Due to the nature of the treatment, it is performed under anesthesia, and the recovery time is measured in weeks, rather than days, as it might be for a mild chemical peel. However, it is extremely effective and has the advantage that where multiple sessions may be required with a mild chemical peel, usually only one dermabrasion session is necessary.
For an instant effect, microdermabrasion using the Diamond Tome also removes a layer of skin cells, but is much quicker and easier to perform than the dermabrasion treatment. It’s also painless, and leaves the skin slightly pink and sensitive, but doesn’t prevent the patient from returning to work immediately. However, results with microdermabrasion are not as effective as those with dermabrasion.
Laser and Infra-Red Treatments
Working at a deeper level, the Titan skin tightening procedure uses a laser to stimulate new collagen formation to improve both skin tone and elasticity. The direct result is a refreshed look and feel, and after several treatments many skin irregularities can be evened out.
Fractional resurfacing with a laser works in a slightly different way to actively remove cells, leaving your body to naturally tighten the skin by repairing the damage – essentially contracting between the points where the underlying collagen has been removed.
Dr. Vitenas also offers the 3D Rejuvenation, which uses a number of techniques, including peels and lasers to fully restore the skin to a youthful state. Any of the above might be considered a good start, however, and even those who feel that they need only a light retouch are encouraged to examine the possibilities during an initial consultation in our offices.
For more advice on skin resurfacing, as well as all aspects of cosmetic surgery and anti-aging treatments, Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery, based in Houston, Texas, can be reached at (281) 484-0088.