With all the cosmetic treatments available, it can be really overwhelming to decide what is best for you. The good news is, you don’t have to! It’s my job to determine which treatments are best based on your individual concerns and goals.
That being said, I do think it’s helpful for patients to have a general understanding of the treatments available and what they can address. Here I break down some of the most common treatments you’ll find at a dermatology or cosmetic practice.
Neurotoxin Injections
Botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle to relax muscle movement. It is used to treat and prevent dynamic wrinkles most commonly in the glabella (commonly known as the 11’s), forehead lines, and crow’s feet. We can also use it to treat jaw clenching, pebble-y chin, gummy smiles, improve the neck appearance, or create a subtle brow lift. It also can be used to treat excessive sweating in different locations.
Dermal filler Injections
Injectable fillers are used to restore facial volume or bone loss, plump and hydrate the lips, soften facial wrinkles/folds/transitions, and enhance facial contours. There are a variety of different types of fillers available on the market to address these different concerns.
PRP Injections
Platelet-rich plasma is derived from your own blood and can be used for a variety of medical and cosmetic concerns. The platelet-rich plasma contains a concentrated amount of growth factors and platelets. It is commonly used to treat hair thinning on the scalp in both men and women. It is also injected into the skin to address volume loss, fine lines, and collagen stimulation. PRP is often utilized topically with other treatments, including micro-needling or laser treatments, to enhance results, improve healing, and reduce downtime.
Lasers
Lasers use different wavelengths and energies to treat various medical and cosmetics skin concerns. There are many different types of lasers available on the market, so the type or brand can vary from office to office. In general, lasers can treat many concerns, including skin aging, sun damage, scarring (including surgical scars), redness/rosacea, acne, hyperpigmentation, stretch marks, skin elasticity and texture, hair removal, and tattoos. There is a lot to go into with the different laser treatments, so I can do a more detailed post on this if people are interested in learning more!
Broadband light/ Intense Pulsed Light
BBL or IPL uses short pulses of high-intensity light to improve overall skin tone. It is commonly used to reduce signs of sun damage, as it specifically targets reds and browns in the skin, resulting in a clear, even complexion.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are highly concentrated solutions that contain different acids, enzymes, or other chemicals that are applied topically to the skin. Chemical peels work at different depths (superficial, medium, and deep) to treat different concerns. They are commonly used to treat acne, skin texture, dullness, melasma, hyperpigmentation, or sun damage.
Microneedling
Tiny needles cause controlled micro-injuries into the skin to stimulate your body’s natural healing process. This treatment is commonly used to stimulate collagen and treat acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, melasma, fine lines, stretch marks, skin texture/tone, and pore size.
Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency uses electric current or thermal injury to cause a controlled injury in the skin, that results in your body’s natural healing process kicking in. Radiofrequency is often used to improve skin texture and elasticity, tighten and firm the skin, and stimulate collagen.
Body Contouring
Within the body contouring/sculpting realm, there are different treatments and mechanisms available to address stubborn fat or reshape different areas. Some popular non-surgical devices include CoolSculpting, Emsculpt, Radiofrequency (truSculpt), or Kybella injections.
As you can see, no cosmetic treatment is a cure-all or a one & done type of procedure. Choosing to explore or start aesthetic treatments is really more of a journey versus a one-time event. I recommend a series of treatments and a combined multifaceted approach to achieve the best results for my patients. The first step is always an initial consultation where we can thoroughly discuss your goals, evaluate your skin, and develop an individualized treatment plan specific to your needs.
