The time and the gravitation cause our skin to get loose, there are more wrinkles, pigment stains and other symptoms of ageing process. Photorejuvenation is an excellent method to gain a considerably younger look.
Photorejuvenation is a collective title for various procedures with similar effects.
The main principle of this method is thermal disturbance of collagen in the skin. The result of thermal disturbance of collagen in the skin is activation of healing process and release of substances, which influence regeneration of skin cells. The cell activity is stimulated and new collagen fibres develop. The skin strenght and elasticity improves.
To other effects of photorejuvenation belongs disappearance of pigment stains and tiny veins, filling of small wrinkles and scars and general improvement of skin quality.
Photorejuvenation is a very gentle treatment, that is why it can be combined with chemical peeling, other laser treatments, application of bulotoxin, skin implants and it is possible to undergo it after operational treatments.
We distinguish two main techniques of photorejuvenation, ablative resurfacing and non-ablative photorejuvenation.
Non-ablative photorejuvenation is a less invasive treatment than ablative resurfacing.
This method uses so called ablative lasers, for ex. Carbon dioxid laser and Erbia laser. These lasers cause gentle evaporation of skin layer, which leads to skin regeneration.
This procedure is used mostly to treat scars after smallpox or acne or to smooth out deeper wrinklesaround eyes and on upper lip.
It is a gentle warming of dermis with low doses of light energy. The source of energy can be either pulse light, pulse pigment laser or diode laser.
This warming causes stimulation of cells which produce collagen fibres. The process encourages new development of collagen, smooths out little wrinkles and the skin stretches out.
The light energy is partly absorbed in dilated facial veins, it causes their sealing and subsequent disappearance after few weeks.
The non-ablative photorejuvenation can cause improvement of facial pigment stains as well.
If you suffer from chappy skin on the face, wrinkles, scars after acne or smallpox or pigment stains, you can be a suitable candidate for photorejuvenation. It is however necessary to have realistic expectations and realize that photorejuvenation does not bring such radical results as treatments of esthetic surgery (ex. face-lift).
During the first consultation, the doctor is going to talk to you about your ideas and expectations. He shall check the condition and elasticity of your skin.
If your wrinkles are too deep and skin too loose, the doctor can recommend a combination of photorejuvenation with an other type of treatment or a more radical procedure, for ex. face lift, to achieve the bestpossible results.
The doctor will provide you with all instructions concerning the skin care before and after the treatment.
The treatment is almost painless, but the doctor can use local anesthesia in a form of a anesthetic ointment.
The treatment is very fast. Immediately after the laser treatment, the skin is slightly red and oozes.During this time, it is necessary to provide your skin with a special care, for ex. application of cold compresses from sterile water and ointments.
The complete healing after laser treatment comes after 7 – 14 days.
It is necessary to protect the treated surfaces against sunshine and use cremes with a high UV screen (40 – 120) for minimum 2 months. No other measures are necessary.
The results of ablative resurfacing are excellent. Your skin can look 5 – 10 years younger.
If you have undergone non-ablative photorejuvenation, you can count on very good results, improvement of the features of skin surface, disappearance of dilated veins and pigment stains. The impact on deep wrinkles is moderate. Best results has the smoothing out of wrinkles around eyes.
To achieve best results of the non-ablative photorejuvenation, it is necessary to undergo approximately four treatments in a period of minimum 6 weeks. The final result can be assessed in ca 3 monthsafter the end of the treatment.
Photorejuvenation has long-term results but does not prevent other ageing of skin, development of new dilated veins or pigment stains. After some time, you may feel the need to undergo photorejuvenation for the second time.
Dermabrasion is a mechanical scraping the top layers of skin using a high-speed rotary wheel. Dermabrasion softens sharp edges of surface irregularities.It is most often used to improve the look of facial skin left scarred by accidents or previous surgery, or to smooth out fine facial wrinkles such as those around the mouth.
It’s also sometimes used to remove the pre-cancerousgrowths called keratoses.
Dermaplaning is commonly used to treat deep acne scars.
Both dermabrasion and dermaplaning can be performed on small areas of skin or on the entire face. They can be used alone, or in conjunction with other procedures such as face-lift, scar removal or revision, or chemical peel.
If you’re planning “surface repairs” on your face, you may also be considering chemical peel, an alternative method of surgically removing the top layer of skin. However, dermabrasion and dermaplaning use surgical instruments to remove the affected skin layers, while chemical peel uses a caustic solution.
Many plastic surgeons perform all three procedures, selecting one or a combination of procedures to suit the individual patient and the problem.Others prefer one technique for all surface repairs.
In general, chemical peel is used more often to treat fine wrinkles, and dermabrasion and dermaplaning for deeper imperfections such as acne scars. A non-chemical approach may also be preferred for individuals with slightly darker skin, especially when treating limited areas of the face, since dermabrasion and dermaplaning are less likely to produce extreme changes and contrasts in skin color.
Microdermabrasion is a quick, non-invasive procedure that helps repair the facial skin, mainly from the unwanted pigmentation from sun and aging wrinkles. It also can correct rough skin texture, whiteheads or black heads, small acne scars and marks.
Your doctor will probably select local anesthesia combined with sedative, which numbs the treating area and make you drowsy.
In exceptional extensive cases your surgeon may prefer to use general anesthesia, in which case you’ll sleep through the procedure.
Dermabrasion takes from a few minutes to 1 hour, depending on procedure extension. You may go through more than 1 session.
Dermabrasion and dermaplaning can be performed fairly quickly. The procedures usually take from a few minutes to an hour and a half, depending on how large an area of skin is involved. It’s not uncommon for the procedure to be performed more than once, or in stages, especially when scarring is deep or a large area of skin is involved.
At this technique tiny crystals are put across the face. Than gentle abrasion removes dead cells only of very top outer skin.
Men and women of all ages, from young people to older adults, can benefit from dermabrasion. Although older people heal more slowly, more important factors are your skin type, coloring, and medical history. For example, black skin, Asian skin, and other dark complexions may become permanently discolored or blotchy after a skin-refinishing treatment.
People who develop allergic rashes or other skin reactions, or who get frequent fever blisters or cold sores, may experience a flare-up. If you have freckles, they may disappear in the treated area.
Most surgeons won’t perform treatment during the active stages of acne because of a greater risk of infection. The same may be true if you’ve had radiation treatments, a bad skin burn, or a previous chemical peel.
Dermabrasion can change your skin look, but neither treatment will remove all scars and flaws. It does not prevent aging. Before you decide to have dermabrasion, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with your surgeon.
In your initial consultation, your surgeon will evaluate extension of affected areas, your skin pigmentation and skin tone. Your surgeon will explain you the factors that could influence the procedure and the results, such as your age, skin condition, and previous procedures.
Be sure to tell your any previous procedures done on your face to eliminate any unexpected skin reaction. Avoid overexposure to the sun before procedure it can inhibit your ability to heal.
While you’re making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery, and to help you out for a day or two if needed.
Right after the procedure, your skin will be quite red and swollen, and eating and talking may be difficult. You’ll probably feel some tingling, burning, or aching; any pain you feel can be controlled with medications prescribed by your surgeon. The swelling will begin to subside in a few days to a week.
If you remember the scrapes you got when you fell down as a child, you’ll have an idea of what to expect from this type of surgery. A scab or crust will form over the treated area as it begins to heal. This will fall off as a new layer of tight, pink skin forms underneath. Your face may itch as new skin starts to grow, and your surgeon may recommend an ointment to make you more comfortable. If ointment is applied immediately after surgery, little or no scab will form.
In any case, you surgeon will give you detailed instructions to care for your skin after surgery. For men, this will include delaying shaving for a while, then using an electric razor at first.
It’s very important that you understand your doctor’s instructions and follow them exactly, to ensure the best possible healing.
If you notice the treated area beginning to get worse instead of better-for example, if it becomes increasingly red, raised, and itchy after it has started to heal-it may be a sign that abnormal scars are beginning to form. Call your surgeon as soon as possible, so that treatment can begin early.
Your new skin will be a bit swollen, sensitive, and bright pink for several weeks. During this time, you can begin gradually resuming your normal activities.
You can expect to be back at work in about two weeks. Your surgeon will probably advise your to avoid any activity that could cause a bump to your face for at least two weeks. More active sports-especially ball sports-should be avoided for four to six weeks. If you swim, stick to indoor pools to avoid sun and wind, and keep your face out of chlorinated water for at least four weeks. It will be at least three to four weeks before you can drink alcohol without experiencing a flush of redness.
Above all, it’s important to protect your skin from the sun until the pigment has completely returned to your skin- as long as six to twelve months.
Refinishing treatments can offer dramatic improvements in the surface of your skin, but it will take some time before you see the final results.
The pinkness of your skin will take about three months to fade. In the meantime, you’ll probably want to wear non-allergenic makeup when you go out. When your new skin is fully repigmented, the color should closely match the surrounding skin, making the procedure virtually undetectable.
Fading of redness: about 3 months.
Return of pigmentation/sun exposure: 6 to 12 months.
Duration of results is permanent, however it will not stop aging of your skin and new wrinkles may appear again.
As we age, our faces begin to show the effects of gravity, sun exposure and years of facial muscle movement, such as smiling, chewing and squinting. The underlying tissues that keep our skin looking youthful and plumped up begin to break down.
Soft-tissue fillers, most commonly injectable collagen or fat,can help fill in these lines and creases, temporarily restoring a smoother, more youthful-looking appearance. When injected beneath the skin, these fillers plump up creased and sunken areas of the face.
They can also add fullness to the lips and cheeks. Injectable fillers may be used alone or in conjunction with a resurfacing procedure, such as a laser treatment, or a recontouring procedure, such as a face-lift.
Injected collagen and fat are primarily used to improve the appearance of the skin’s texture. They can help fill out deep facial wrinkles, creases and furrows, “sunken” cheeks, skin depressions and some types of scars. They can also be used to add a fuller, more sensuous look to the lips.
Injectables are usually not sufficient for severe surface wrinkles on the face, such as multiple vertical “lipstick lines” that sometimes form around the mouth. Instead, your plastic surgeon may suggest a resurfacing technique, such as chemical peel, dermabrasion or laser treatments. Rather than filling in facial lines, resurfacing methods strip away the outer layers of the skin to produce a smoother appearance.
Deep folds in the face or brow caused by overactive muscles or by loose skin may be more effectively treated with cosmetic surgery, such as a face-lift or brow-lift. Injectables are sometimes used in conjunction with facial surgery procedures; however, injectables alone cannot change facial contour the way surgery can.
Collagen is used primarily to fill wrinkles, lines and scars on the face and sometimes the neck, back and chest.
Collagen is a naturally occurring protein that provides support to various parts of the human body: the skin, the joints, the bones and the ligaments. Injectable collagen, patented by the Collagen Corporation under the trade names Zyderm and Zyplast, is derived from purified bovine collagen. The purification process creates a product similar to human collagen. Injectable collagen received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in1981. It is produced in various thicknesses to meet individual patient needs.
In the medical world, the fat-injection procedure is known as autologous fat transplantation or microlipoinjection. It involves extracting fat cells from the patient’s abdomen, thighs, buttocks or elsewhere and reinjecting them beneath the facial skin. Fat is most often used to fill in “sunken” cheeks or laugh lines between the nose and mouth, to correct skin depressions or indentations, to minimize forehead wrinkles and to enhance the lips.
Because the anesthetic agent lidocaine is mixed in with collagen, additional anesthetic is usually not used.
However, if you are especially sensitive to pain, your doctor may use a topical cream anesthetic or a freon spray to numb the injected area.
Or, you may elect to have an injected local anesthetic or sedative drugs.
Both the donor and recipient sites of fat are numbed with local anesthesia. Sedation can be used as well. If you elect to use sedation, be sure to arrange for a ride home after your treatment.
The injectable filling procedures take from 15 min to 1 hour.
Collagen
Treatment with collagen can begin after a skin test determines that you’re not allergic to the subsstance. The collagen is injected using a fine needle inserted at several points along the edge of the treatment site. If a local anesthesia has not been used, you may feel some minor stinging or burning as the injections are administered.
Since part of the substance is salt water that will be absorbed by the body within a few days, your doctor will slightly overfill the area.
You may be asked to hold a hand mirror during the procedure to help your doctor decide when you’ve had enough.
Fat
After both the donor and recipient sites are cleansed and treated with a local anesthesia, the fat is withdrawn using a syringe with a large-bore needle or a cannula (the same instrument used in liposuction) attached to a suction device. The fat is then prepared and injected into the recipient site with a needle. Sometimes an adhesive bandage is applied over the injection site.
As with collagen, “overfilling” is necessary to allow for fat absorption in the weeks following treatment. When fat is used to fill sunken cheeks or to correct areas on the face other than lines, this overcorrection of newly injected fat may temporarily make the face appear abnormally puffed out or swollen.
Injectable fillers procedure can enhance your appearance and your self-confidence, however it will not change your looks Before you decide to have this procedure keep in mind, the short time results of this method.
The best candidates for injectable fillers are men and women who are physically healthy, psychologically stable, and realistic in their expectations.
In your initial consultation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your face – the skin, the muscles and the underlying bone – and discuss your goals for the surgery. Your doctor will help you select a treatment option based on your goals and concerns, your anatomy and your lifestyle.
Your surgeon will ask you about your medical history, drug allergies, and check for conditions that could cause problems, such as active skin infections or non-healed sores from injuries. Collagen injections are generally off limits for pregnant women, individuals who are allergic to beef or bovine products, patients who suffer from autoimmune diseases, and those who are allergic to lidocaine (the anesthetic agent contained in the syringe with the collagen material)..
Collagen
Immediately following treatment, you may notice some minor discomfort, stinging or throbbing in the injected area. Occasionally some bruising or swelling will occur, but it is usually minor. Any redness that appears in the injected site usually disappears within 24 hours.
However, in some individuals, particularly fair-skinned patients, this redness may persist for a week or more. Tiny scabs may also form over the needle-stick areas; these generally heal quickly.
No bandaging is needed and you are free to eat, drink, and wear makeup with sunblock protection shortly thereafter.
There may be some temporary swelling and redness in the treated area which should dissipate within a few days. If these symptoms persist, contact your surgeon.
Fat
If a larger area was treated, you may be advised to curtail your activity for a brief time. However, many patients are able to resume normal activity immediately.
You can expect some swelling, bruising or redness in both the donor and recipient sites. The severity of these symptoms depends upon the size and location of the treated area. You should stay out of the sun until the redness and bruising subsides – usually about 48 hours. In the meantime, you may use makeup with sunblock protection to help conceal your condition.
The swelling and puffiness in the recipient site may last several weeks, especially if a large area was filled.
Results from collagen injections is variable. Injected material is eventually metabolized by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.
In some individuals, the results may last only a few weeks; in others, the results may be maintained indefinitely. Researchers believe that age, genetic background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as the injected body site may all play a role in the injected material’s “staying power.” However, the precise reason for the variation of results among patients has yet to be identified.
If you’ve had short-lived results from fat injections, you shouldn’t necessarily assume that collageninjections will work better for you. And, conversely, if you’ve had disappointing results from collagen, don’t assume that injected fat is the answer.
Although it’s true that some individuals’ bodies are more receptive to one substance than the other, others may find that neither substance produces long-lasting results. Sometimes one substance may work better than the other for a specific problem.
The duration of the fat injections varies significantly from patient to patient. Though some patients have reported results lasting a year or more, the majority of patients find that at least half of the injected fullness disappears within 3-6 months. Therefore, repeated injections may be necessary. Your doctor will advise you on how to maintain your results with repeat treatments.
Most of us have gone through the agony of acne. Never-ending pimples on our face, back, chest or shoulders usually while we were teenagers. Some people never seem to “outgrow” their skin problems and it can affect people well into their 20’s, 30’s and beyond. Acne is a chronic skin disease that can affect everyone, no matter their age, race or skin type. Almost 90 percent of young people between 13 and 25 years old have acne. Answers to acne may be found through professional cosmetic care.
Besides your skin type, gender also plays an important role in whether or not you will have acne. Excessive activity of sebaceous glands is, in many young girls, brought on by an increased influence of male hormones – androgens. Treatment therefore consists of the usage of so-called antiandrogens that block this excessive hormonal production and consquently the production of sebum.
Today, it is quite common for acne to occur in middle-aged women with mature skin. This type of acne is called acne cosmetica and it is caused by “excessive skin care.” This means the skin is constantly being oversupplied with too many different cosmetic products. They are often changed and usually chosen and applied unsuitably, although they are bought in the most luxurious perfumeries.
Acne usually develops on the face which sometimes causes psychological problems, especially in teenagers. Youth can sometimes be cruel, especially considering their still immature interpersonal relationship skills. Teasing can sometimes even lead to psychiatric treatment. Luckily, esthetic medicine, especially dermatology, can offer a solution to severe acne problems. Thanks to private medical centers and clinics that specialize in laser and esthetic dermatology and have invested heavily in their clinic’s equipment, it is possible to successfully fight acne.
On the other hand, it is important to mention that in spite of the newest techniques in the form of special lamps and lasers it is impossible to treat this problem either overnight or even within a week. The client must be cooperative and patient because the treatment can last for months. At the beginning, many young people underestimate their acne symptoms because they believe it is only a cosmetic problem which disappears together with puberty. It is necessary to realize that acne is a skin disease. A specialist’s help should be sought early on, not only when the disease is already intense and the state of the skin neglected.
Acne is caused by the increased creation of sebaceous glands, increased formation of keratin and bacteria that settles in sebaceous glands, where it has optimum conditions to reproduce.
The increased formation of keratin, which forms in the entrance of hair follicles, closes the opening of the associated sebaceous gland and blocks the release of the sebum. Sebum produces here on the skin’s surface and forms a so-called comedo. The bacteria are then multiplied inside the glands, which causes the inflammatory process. It leads to the creation of infected pimples, and eventually nodules and abscesses.
Patients that do not obey their surgeon’s advice, those who are already neurotic from their disease or those who have not yet visited a surgeon, often “treat” their acne with home remedies. They often tend to “empty the pimples” immediately. This behavior causes very severe complications on the skin in the form of pigmentations, red spots and last but not least also smaller or bigger scars.
The scars formed after squeezing pimples always present a big problem. It is not possible to completely remove them (like after injury or surgical procedure) even with the most effective lasers. The state of the scar and skin is just corrected and improved. Although a visible improvement occurs after a specialized procedure, which is quite expensive, the best solution is to avoid scarring your skin. This can be done by treating acne systematically and individually from the beginning.
It isn’t possible to describe the process of the best treatment. The best and most effective treatment is the one that is individually designed for each patient. The surgeon’s first step is to persuade the patient about the suitability of the treatment and to communicate well with them. In addition, the client has to be patient and should not have unrealistic expectations about the treatment.
At first, the surgeon will arrange for the patient an individual treatment plan that in general consists of chemical peels. The goal is to counteract the keratin formation that blocks the openings of sebaceous glands, and works anti-bacterially at the same time. Phototherapy is also used in the treatment – the affected skin is treated with a biostimulation laser or Omnilux device. This unique device produces a special pure light in the spectrum of visible red light with a wavelength of 633nm. The light does not contain UVA and UVB rays.
This light is perfectly absorbed by the bacteria (which are called Propionibacterium acnes) that cause the inflammatory reaction and acne. The bacteria contain a substance, Coproporphyrin, which reacts very intensely to light with a wavelength of 420 to 633nm. It stimulates a bactericidal effect that destroys the bacteria in the sebaceous gland. Special products are applied before the light therapy to ensure the light’s maximum effect. These are so-called photo-sensibilizers that support the intensity of the whole treatment.
Treatment with the Omnilux device has other positive effects, including killing Propionibacterium acnes. The whole healing process is improved and it stimulates the regenerative process of tissues. It causes pH changes in the intercellular cavity and also the stimulation of immunoregulatory processes. Thanks to the effects of Omnilux, the results that occur during the treatment continue even after it has ended. This device is therefore used not just for acne treatment but also for photo rejuvenation procedures.
An individual treatment plan also contains the application of a special cleansing and calming gel laser mask and a treatment with a powerful diode laser or dye laser, which reduces the formation of inflammatory processes with the high energy of its beam. It also removes red spots on the skin and generally lifts the skin because of its effect on collagen and elastin fibers. The process is usually finished with a vacuum microdermabrasion that mainly removes ugly remains left over from already healed acne, it is similar to an erbium laser or CO2 laser that radically solve small post-acne scars in undisciplined patients.
All of these medical approaches are combined and complemented with suitable cosmetic care recommended by the surgeon and the use of drugs, especially antibiotics, vitamins and so on. It is important to attend all periodical visits with a specialized cosmetician, regularly cleanse the skin and use the right cosmetic products.
An experienced surgeon should talk always frankly with the patient; he/she should explain to the patient the whole situation according to their diagnosis and to promise an improvement only to the extent that is possible within the given medical procedure. Unrealistic patient expectations caused by a misunderstanding of the possible results can lead to even greater frustration than from the disease itself. This is especially true of young patients who greatly trust in the treatment. They sometimes think the results will be like a model in a fashion magazine after only 14 days of intensive treatment at a clinic.