Cosmetic Enhancements

by ISL Consulting Co.

As we get older, our face and body begins to show some of the natural signs of aging skin. These features, including wrinkles and loss of firmness, are generally not harmful and are not a result of a serious medical condition. However, many people are unhappy with their changing appearance and want to do something to try and eliminate these signs of aging skin. Following is a brief explanation of many cosmetic enhancement options that are currently available.

Chemical Peels

Also known as dermapeeling, chemical peels are solutions applied to the face by a dermatologist that causes the top layer of skin to peel off. New skin, usually less wrinkled and blemished than the old, forms to replace the old skin. Chemical peels range from light to deep, with different solutions used for each level.

Chemical peels are usually most effective on fine lines and wrinkles, particularly those around the eyes and mouth. They are less effective on features such as sagging jowls or deep lines. Dermatologists will often combine chemical peels along with other sloughing lotions containing alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids. Chemical peels can also be effective on those with sun damage. For those with very damaged skin, chemical peels may be combined with another treatment, such as laser resurfacing.

Recovering from a chemical peel takes several days, with the healing time depending on the depth of the peel. Light peels heal in 3 to 5 days, medium or deep peels in 7 to 14 days.

Injection Treatments

When skin is slightly loose and sagging, or has wrinkles or pits, dermatologists can inject material into the face to give it more structure. The two most common injection treatments are:

• Collagen - This protein is what gives young skin its firmness. Collagen derived from cattle (and sometimes from humans) can be injected into a wrinkle or pit to fill it out. It usually takes several treatments to achieve the desired effect. Collagen's effects are temporary, usually lasting 3 to 12 months. Collagen treatments are usually most effective on frown lines, lines around the nose, and on crow's feet.
  
• Fat - Patients can have fat harvested from areas of the body such as the buttocks, and have it injected into gaunt parts of the face, such as the cheeks, around the nose, into the lips or the chin. Fat injection results last a year or longer in about half of patients. Liposuction
  The opposite of injection treatments, liposuction, is often used to remove small pads of fat from the chin, neck, face and other areas. Older patients may use liposuction in combination with surgery to remove both fat and skin from the jaw line and neck. Doctors usually insist patients lose weight naturally before resorting to liposuction.

Liposuction

Liposuction is usually performed in outpatient clinics. Fat is removed from the specified areas with a vacuum tube inserted through a small incision in the skin. Patients generally heal in 3 to 7 days.

Botox

Botulinum toxin is a powerful substance derived from the same agent that causes botulism food poisoning. When injected into tissues, however, the purified botulinum toxin does not cause botulism. Instead, it paralyzes a small section of the face, reducing the wrinkle lines which form from a patient's characteristic expressions, such as wrinkling the nose or squinting the eyes. Dermatologists often use botox in combination with other facial treatments which improve the surface of the skin, such as chemical peels. The results gained with botox injections last about 3 to 4 months. Side effects are rare but some patients have been known to develop a droopy eyelid.

Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is akin to a tooth polishing, but performed on the face instead of the teeth. Dermatologists use a rotating brush to wear away the surface layer of skin, after which a new layer of skin grows. While the skin is healing (a process that takes about 10 days), the face looks sunburnt and is sore. Afterwards, the appearance of fine lines, acne, and other scars are reduced. Patients who receive dermabrasion must avoid sunlight for at least 3 months after treatment.

Dermabrasion is not right for all patients. Some patients may develop keloid scarring; others may develop light patches in the skin. Your dermatologist will evaluate your skin before deciding upon this treatment. A gentler form of dermabrasion, known as microdermabrasion, is sometimes used for patients with superficial skin problems.

Laser Treatment

Lasers can be used to wear away a layer of skin (similar to chemical peels or dermabrasion), to remove skin growths such as warts, or to reduce scars, birthmarks, moles, and even tattoos and unwanted hair. Lasers are used most often to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, lines and age spots. This process is known as laser skin resurfacing. Laser treatments are most often used to remove crow's feet, acne scars, and the signs of sun damage.

The laser works by applying light carbon dioxide radiation to a very specific area. By varying the intensity of the radiation and the duration of pulses, dermatologists can destroy selected areas of skin. Laser treatments are often superior to chemical peels and dermabrasion since this process has no bleeding, there is a reduced risk of infection and dermatologists can usually achieve very precise results.

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Provided by ISL Consulting Co.