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skin resurfacing

What do Lasers and Collagen Production have in Common?

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female-checks-neck-in-mirrorI’m sure you’ve heard over the years that collagen loss is one of the biggest culprits behind aging.  As we age, our collagen production lessens, leading to fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss.  But what exactly is collagen, and is there a way to stimulate its production as we age?

How Collagen Loss Affects the Aging Process:

Collagen is the most abundant protein produced by your body, acting as the glue that holds things together.  Besides aging, certain lifestyle habits such as smoking, excess UV exposure, and consuming too much sugar also expedite its loss.  The protein that was once a tightly knit network of fibers becomes an unorganized maze lacking thickness and strength.  This is when we see wrinkles and sagging skin appear.  But what if there was a way to strengthen existing collagen and stimulate new production to improve these signs of aging?

How Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing Encourages Collagen Production:

Lasers have proven to be an excellent treatment for stimulating collagen production.  With my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment, I can repair surface damage and encourage new collagen production in the skin.  This works through a C02 fractionated laser technology called DOT Laser Therapy.

DOT Laser Therapy works by generating tiny beams of laser light.  Those light beams perforate the skin and create microscopic dots on the face.  Your body then works to heal the resurfaced skin, which causes new collagen and cell production.  When the skin is fully healed, you will be left with a smoother complexion, tighter skin, and a reduction in fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and other surface damage.

What Makes Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing Unique?

A few unique features set my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment apart from other laser treatments.  When DOT Laser Therapy penetrates the dermis, it creates thousands of microscopic perforations in a circular shape.  Earlier lasers would create a square shape, leaving the patient with a distinct line of demarcation around the treatment area.  That isn’t the case with DOT laser therapy, and the patient is left with a natural-looking result.

Another great feature of DOT Laser Therapy is that I can adjust settings during the treatment process.  This allows me to customize the treatment for each patient and focus on their specific needs and areas of concern.  As with my other Band Aid procedures, I perform this treatment in-office using gentle numbing.

We can’t stop the aging process, but we can slow it down.  Advancements in technology, especially laser technology, stay in demand among all age groups due to their proven results.  If you are considering laser resurfacing, schedule a consultation with me, Dr. John LeRoy.  I would be happy to discuss my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment in greater detail and address any questions you may have.  For more information about my practice and my line of Band Aid procedures, follow me on Facebook.

Tips for Managing Your Facelift Scars

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facelift scars LeRoyScarring is an inevitable part of any surgery, and this is something that I discuss with every patient in their pre-surgical consultation. Of course, for a facelift or any other plastic surgery, the purpose of the procedure is a cosmetic improvement, so it’s natural that you want to keep your scarring as minimal as possible.

Genetics and other factors outside your control do play a part in your risk of forming noticeable scars. Still, there are plenty of steps you can take both before and after surgery to lower your risk or to manage and minimize your scars. As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts, I help patients with this aspect of their cosmetic surgery journeys every day, so I’m happy to provide tips and insights.

Choose a Skilled and Experienced Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

One of the many factors that influence your scarring is the skill of your surgeon. You want your surgeon to be able to close your incision cleanly and smoothly without excess tension. For this and many other reasons, it’s important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon who has extensive experience in facelifts, and I’m proud to fit these criteria. It helps to review a surgeon’s before and after photos too to see how noticeable (or not) their patients’ scars typically are.

Follow Post-Surgical Instructions Closely

When you have your facelift or Band Aid Mini Facelift surgery, your surgeon will give you clear instructions for your recovery, such as instructions about wound care, activity, sleeping, and so on. All of these instructions are designed to help you heal as smoothly as possible, and many of them will have a direct impact on your scarring. It’s critical to follow all these instructions closely and to contact the surgeon if you have any questions.

Eat Plenty of Protein

Your skin heals wounds (including surgical incisions) using collagen, a protein that your body naturally produces. To produce that collagen, your body needs certain ingredients like amino acids, which largely come from breaking down the protein you eat. You can help your body produce the collagen it needs for a smoother scar by eating a healthy diet overall with plenty of protein.

Make Sun Protection a Priority

As your skin is healing, it will be particularly sensitive to the sun. Sun exposure on an incision that is still healing can lead to pigmentation changes that make your scar more noticeable. To prevent this, be sure to avoid sun exposure to your incision in the first weeks after your surgery.

Keep in mind that scar tissue doesn’t tan. Even in the years after your surgery, it’s best to protect your facial skin with sunscreen every day because if your face tans but your scars don’t, the scars will be more prominent. Sun protection also reduces premature aging, allowing you to enjoy your facelift results for longer.

Consider Scar Reduction Treatments

Scars can continue to improve slowly in the months and years after your surgery, and if you follow the tips above, your facelift scars are likely to be minimal and well-concealed. However, if you find yourself bothered by your facelift scars, there are treatments that may be able to help. The most successful option is typically a laser treatment like my Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing, though treatments like chemical peels may offer improvements as well.

Setting Yourself Up for Better Facelift Results

Minimizing your scarring is one of many ways to make your facelift as successful as possible with results you’ll enjoy for years. The tips above can help you minimize your scarring risks even before your surgery and while you heal. To start your journey toward the facelift results you’ll love, schedule a facelift consultation with me, Dr. John LeRoy, at my Atlanta office. Follow me on Facebook for more plastic surgery insights.

Signs It’s Time for a Facelift Surgery

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Signs It’s Time for a Facelift Surgery

In the world of celebrities, facelifts, mini facelifts, and other cosmetic surgeries are the subjects of gossip and chatter. In the “real world,” though, they are simply personal journeys that people take when they feel that procedures like these will help them restore their physical confidence. How do you know when this is the right choice for you?

As a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facial rejuvenation, I’ve worked with patients who have preferred facial fillers, Botox® or Dysport®, and other non-surgical treatments for years before they decided to have a facelift. Every patient is unique, but these are a few of the top signs that a facelift or mini facelift surgery could be a good choice for you.

You Have Noticeable Sagging Skin

Facelifts are not cure-all procedures for facial aging. They are specifically designed to reduce excess skin and to restore your skin and facial tissue to a more youthful, lifted position. This means that a facelift will only be helpful for you if you have sagging skin to address. If you’re in the earlier stages of aging and are only bothered by fine lines and wrinkles, you may be a better candidate for facial filler injections, Botox® or Dysport®, Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing, or other non-surgical options.

You’re Prepared for a Little Downtime

Facelift surgery may be cosmetic, but it is still a surgery, so it will require some recovery time. Different types of facelifts will require different amounts of downtime, so I discuss this with each patient during a pre-surgery consultation.

For example, a traditional facelift can require two to three weeks or sometimes even longer to heal before you can go back to work. My minimally invasive, in-office Band Aid Mini Facelift, on the other hand, usually heals enough for you to return to work and other daily activities in about a week. Each patient is unique, though, so we will discuss your specific needs and expectations during your consultation.

You Want to Look Like You, Only Younger

It’s important to note that when a facelift is performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, it should not change the structure of your face or your facial features. You will look like yourself, but a younger version of yourself. A good gauge is to look at pictures of yourself from about ten years ago. Of course, this will vary based on your specific procedure, but if you are looking for changes to your facial structure, you might be a better fit for another surgery like rhinoplasty.

Your Facial Proportions Have Changed

Sagging skin is one of the best-known ways that our faces age, but it isn’t the only way. The underlying tissue in your face will change as the years go by too. For example, fat pockets tend to shift from our cheeks downward or toward the jowl area, creating facial hollows. A facelift surgery or Band Aid Mini Facelift repositions and contours this underlying tissue in addition to giving your skin a more youthful firmness.

What to Do if You’re Considering Facelift Surgery

If the signs above apply to you and you’re considering a facelift, the first step is to choose a plastic surgeon you can trust. Specifically, find a double board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in facelifts so that you are in the hands of a true expert. To start your journey, schedule a facelift consultation with me, Dr. John LeRoy in Atlanta.

Band Aid Laser Resurfacing Specials Extended Through December

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Because so many patients have received the benefits of Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing and are raving about their results, we’ve decided to extend our specials on the procedure through the month of December. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune your cosmetic surgery results or prepare your skin for the new year, Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing is the perfect treatment to help you reach your cosmetic goals. Call to schedule your appointment for $1000 off your customized DOT Laser Therapy treatment!

Signs of aging often hit us when we least expect them. We’ll catch a glimpse of our complexions in a mirror at a holiday party and realize that we don’t look like we’re 20 anymore. While there is nothing wrong with looking your age, we understand that you want to look the best you can at any age and feel confident in your own skin.

Dr. John LeRoy‘s Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing works to help eliminate signs of aging like hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and damaged-looking skin. For those who may not be ready for surgical anti-aging procedures, Band Aid Laser treatment using DOT Laser Therapy gives patients tighter, younger-looking skin with minimal downtime. Individuals who have undergone facial rejuvenation surgery like a facelift or blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) can also benefit from the rejuvenating effects of Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing as a finishing touch to help revive skin and further refine your cosmetic surgery results.

The DOT Laser works by releasing tiny pillars of laser light energy that perforate the skin to stimulate collagen production and induce the body’s natural healing processes. Like Dr. LeRoy’s other Band Aid procedures, Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing can be performed in-office with gentle numbing for minimal downtime and optimal patient results.

Make certain to mark your calendar to take advantage of our extended special of $1000 off your Band Aid Laser Skin Resurfacing treatment. This great deal only lasts until December 31st, so contact us to make your appointment today.