The boom of non-surgical aesthetic procedures began in the 90s with the arrival of glycolic acid peels, hyaluronic acid fillers, the aesthetic use of botulinum toxin and the first laser hair removal and rejuvenation. More than twenty years have passed, and some of them continue to be the most effective treatments for their efficacy and safety. A few of the most effective anti-aging treatments are discussed below.
Botulinum Toxin: Lifting Without Surgery
Its indication: The most satisfactory results are obtained in the treatment of expression wrinkles. The upper third of the face is usually treated: frown, forehead and periocular region. Currently, an isolated area is no longer being corrected, but several are being sought, the aim is to harmonize the face. For this, the lower third is also treated, seeking to relax the depressor muscles of the face (of the mouth, the nasal septum, the chin, and the platysma), and to increase the action of the levator muscles (oval, nose and cheeks), achieving a lifting effect without surgery. It can also be used in masseters to sharpen the face and combat bruxism.
Duration: Although its effect is transient (every 3-6 months), its application is easy and not very traumatic. The proper results provide a natural and relaxed look and not a frozen expression. The problems that can arise are asymmetry and unnatural movement, visible when gesturing or sneezing, for example. But the possible complications are reversible, which makes it a very safe procedure.
Fillers: Repositioning And Non-Inflating
Its indication: They reposition lost volume by remodeling the facial contour, and correct fine wrinkles around the eyes and lips. The filler is applied through intradermal injections to revitalize the collagen, or subdermal, to replenish volume. There are several resorbable fillers: hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxylapatite, polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, or autologous fat extracted from another body area. The most widely used is hyaluronic acid. It is a natural substance present in all living organisms and our body. It can retain large amounts of water; its use is ideal for volume and it lubricates tissues. It is indicated for the treatment of depressions or wrinkles, and to increase the volume of cheekbones, chin or lips. When a filler is incorrectly applied, the result may be an excess of volume, or it may be displaced.
Chemical Peeling: New Skin
Its indication: It removes layers of skin in a more or less deep way, depending on the acid used to promote skin renewal. It can lighten spots, and correct acne and its mild consequences. It works via the elimination of different layers of the epidermis by the application of an irritant or caustic chemical agent. The superficial layers of the skin are replaced by new ones of better quality, with fewer spots and wrinkles, better texture and more luminosity.
According to their depth, they are classified as:
Superficial: These are most often used. They can help improve mild scars caused by acne, and they can also close pores. These types of peels can correct fine wrinkles and provide uniformity to skin tone. They are mainly made with alpha-hydroxy acids (glycolic, lactic, mandelic), beta-hydroxy acids (salicylic acid), retinoic acid, modified phenol, 10-15% trichloroacetic acid. It takes between 4 and six sessions to achieve an optimal result. To treat melasma, there are several formulas for depigmenting masks that combine retinoic acid and depigmenting substances that are generally applied in a single session.
Medium: They are indicated for more advanced solar aging, since they act on fine wrinkles of average depth. These peels can also control spots produced by the sun. They are used as a preceding step or complement to many dermatological treatments in Sterling Heights. Masks of 11% and 16% trichloroacetic acid or 35% to 50% trichloroacetic acid solution are used.
Deep: They can act on superficial, medium and deep wrinkles, eliminate sunspots and keratosis. These also induce retraction of the skin, which helps to improve sagging. The most used is Baker-Gordon’s phenol solution. However, it is much more aggressive and with long recovery time and should only be done by highly trained dermatologists in clinics.
Laser Treatments
Q-Switched laser
Treats sunspots (lentigos) caused by photoaging, which can remit with only one session. It also allows you to remove tattoos (especially black and dark blue), in which case a greater number of sessions are required, and it is recommended to space them between 6 and eight weeks.
Pulsed Dye Laser
For the treatment of vascular lesions (spider, rosacea or couperose), it allows dermatologists to destroy certain blood vessels selectively. Normally two or three sessions are necessary.
Fractional Lasers
They are one of the new technologies that improve the texture of aged skin and correct acne scars by increasing the production of collagen, with a much faster recovery than with other more invasive lasers, allowing the patient to continue with their daily routine. The complete treatment is usually between 4 or 5 sessions.
Intense Pulsed Light
The new IPL devices allow for the correction of both the pigmented lesions and the vascular lesions typical of photoaging, provide luminosity and unify the tone of the skin. Between 3 and five sessions with four weeks interval are recommended, and the results are perceived from the second session.
The best results are achieved by combining the treatments individually, according to the needs of each patient and in the hands of an expert dermatologist. The main objective is to achieve good hydration and skin elasticity. These procedures include:
Mesotherapy with Hyaluronic Acid
These treatments are ideal for face, neck, and neckline, to enhance hydration, especially in mature skin. The non-crosslinked Hyaluronic Acid maintains a dense aqueous web at the dermal level. Three to four sessions of mesotherapy are advised, with a monthly periodicity.
Plasma Rich In Platelets
To rejuvenate the complexion, dermatologists can induce the formation of collagen naturally. Platelet-rich plasma is obtained from the patient’s blood, using a process that includes the centrifugation of a sample, from which said plasma is extracted and applied to the face, neck, and chest with microinjections. Three to four sessions per year are recommended. Unlike laser treatments, it can be done in months of greater sun exposure without side effects, and is a good alternative in the months before the summer.
Get the Best Results When You Visit a Sterling Heights Dermatologist
The dermatologist is the main specialist doctor of the skin, hair and mucous membranes, as well as the one most suitable to provide effective solutions to aged skin. If you fear anti-aging problems, then you must reach out to seek the services of the best dermatologist in Sterling Heights.