How do I know which anti-aging procedure is right for me

With over 7 million non-surgical cosmetic procedures performed in the U.S. during 2011 alone, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), it’s easy to surmise that minimally invasive cosmetic procedures are still very popular.  Due to a variety of factors like convenience and affordability, skin treatments like laser skin resurfacing, chemical peels, specialized anti-aging skin care products, and microdermabrasion are everywhere.

Just as it’s important to do your research before a prospective plastic surgery procedure, it is also important to do your research and receive a proper aesthetic consultation before pursuing a non-surgical skin treatment.  To make the research process a bit easier, Dr. LeRoy has summarized two of the most popular anti-aging skin treatments below:  microdermabrasion and Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing:

Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing

Treatment Description:  After gentle numbing is administered, Dr. LeRoy uses the hand held device to topically emit tiny beams of fractionated laser light (DOT laser) to the skin to create tiny wounds that induce the body’s wound-healing response to produce new, younger-looking skin cells.   Most patients equate the sensation of the treatment to short, snapping bursts of energy.  

Treatment time:  45 minutes – 1 hour

Treatment area: The DOT laser technology used in Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing can be applied to any area of exposed skin on the body; however, most patients pursue the treatment for its ability to eliminate unsightly cosmetic issues on the face and neck.

Expected downtime:  7-14 days for any redness to subside and healthy skin to regenerate

Issues Addressed:  hyperpigmentation, acne scarring, mild to moderate wrinkling, lax facial skin, hypopigmentation, skin tone irregularities, skin texture irregularities

Result visibility:  Immediate skin tightening is often reported by laser resurfacing patients.  Because this treatment works internally to gradually stimulate collagen production, full cosmetic results are typically seen 2-3 months following the procedure.

Microdermabrasion:

Treatment Description:  During microdermabrasion, a mechanized exfoliation wand moves round crystals across cleansed skin to exfoliate dead, dull outer layers of surface skin.

Treatment time:  30 minutes – 1 hour

Expected downtime:  0-1 day for any mild flushing associated with exfoliation to subside.

Treatment area: Face, neck, and décolleté

Issues Addressed:  mild hyperpigmentation, active acne, mild scarring, mild wrinkling, and skin texture irregularities.

Result visibility:  Microdermabrasion will produce noticeably smoother skin after just one treatment.  With repeated treatments, patients will notice a reduction in clogged pores contributing to acne, a reduction in pore size, and overall improvement in skin texture.

Both microdermabrasion and Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing are appropriate for patients who have not undergone facial plastic surgery as well as those who have previously undergone cosmetic enhancement and are looking to rejuvenate their results.  To best determine which non-surgical cosmetic treatment is best for your needs, please contact Dr. LeRoy’s office to set up a consultation.  You can also connect with him on Facebook and Twitter for plastic surgery and skin treatment news.