Considering a Procedure? Knowing Is Half The Battle
Home > Vsrc-articles > Considering a Procedure? Knowing Is Half The BattleCosmetic dermatology procedures should be approached the same way you would any medical procedure: with lots of how’s, why’s, and what if’s. This is the best way to make smart choices and better ensure that you get the results that you want. Below is a quick reference5 6 on dermatological procedures to get you started:
| Minimally Invasive Procedures | Action |
| Microdermabrasion (Diamond/Power Peel) Medical-Grade Chemical Peels (Glycolic Acid, Retinoic Acid, Jessner’s) |
Lifts layers of dull dead skin, blemishes, and superficial hyperpigmentation. |
| Botox&trade | Relaxes frown lines and wrinkles. Lifts droopy eyebrows, lips, neck and even the area between the chest. |
| Restylane&trade, Fat, Radiesse (Fillers) | Fills in, lifts, projects, re-shapes deeper grooves and lines. Restores fullness at temples, eyebrows, cheeks. Can achieve dramatic reshaping or virtual “face lifts” without surgery. |
| Nonablative (also known as “cold” lasers) Intense Pulse Light (IPL) : Vbeam Perfecta Fraxelated: Fraxel, Pixel, Mosaic |
Skin resurfacing. Removes the signs of photo-aging (red and dark spots, loss of pigment). Smoothens the skin. Minimizes pores, Scars, Actinic Keratoses and Telangiectasia (Spider Veins). |
| Radio Frequency / Infrared (RF/IR): Emax for Refirme Radio Frequency (RF) Devices: Thermage, Fraxel, Pixel |
Skin resurfacing. Removes the signs of photo-aging (red and dark spots, loss of pigment). Smoothens the skin. Minimizes pores, Scars, Actinic Keratoses and Telangiectasia (Spider Veins). |
The Cosmetic Compulsion
We define who we are in the world. In our current atmosphere of “Nip/Tuck” and reality-show cosmetic procedures, this has come to mean something more than “finding yourself”, pursuing your goals, or making a mark on society.
In part because “Getting a little work done” no longer raises eyebrows (in fact, it’s now frequently heard in casual conversation), more women and men are taking control of their images—from how they speak and their clothing to their physical appearance.*
The best thing about dermatology procedures today is their mainstream accessibility.** The worst thing about dermatology procedures of today is…their mainstream accessibility. Physicians of varying degrees of expertise make a good living off of these procedures—the risk is taken on entirely by the customer and because there are so many of them, one unhappy patient may not matter in an order-off-the-menu, assembly-line practice. BOTOX® parties, Filler Fêtes and procedures streamed to millions on video can trivialize clinical procedures, putting them on the same level as mani-pedi’s or massages. But make no mistake: dermatological procedures are serious procedures. They can be life changing—for better (dramatically) or worse (tragically).
Unlike impulse-buys at the checkout counter, dermatology procedures should be chosen with professional guidance and done by extremely well-trained physicians.
An ocular inspection by a qualified dermatologist should always be the first step towards determining the procedure that has the best chances of addressing your concerns. Success is not just a matter of sticking an injectable to obvious lines—often it requires an expert hand to determine quantity of medicine and location (otherwise, you could end up looking older)—or zapping a persistent dark spot (the wrong machine or setting could worsen dark spots or give you a serious burn).
Dermatologists are trained to see the details that bother you but they also look at the face as a whole. According to a study by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center there are 19 sections of the face that lose volume at varying rates. It is this asymmetrical loss of architecture, along with topical signs, that accentuate the appearance of aging. The most effective treatments, therefore, call for careful planning and punctilious care.
One comprehensive approach to advanced skin care is Combination Therapy which uses one or more procedures to significantly boost the effects of another treatment. BOTOX®, for example, produces immediate tightening that on average lasts for 4 months. When reinforced with a laser/light device, it extends this benefit to a year.9 This is further sustained when complemented with a daily skin care regimen that replicates the glow and other positive effects of clinical peels and procedures.
For the best return on your “skinvestment”, turn compulsion into consultation.
* Rosen, Christine. “The Democratization of Beauty”. The New Atlantis. Number 5, Spring 2004. 25 Oct 2010.
** Matthews, Imogen. “Linking Fashion and beauty.” GCIMagazine. Ed. Jeff Falk. 6 Apr 2010. Allured Business Media. 25 Oct 2010.
