the most effective and most recent scientific advancements in professional skin-care treatment. These are medical procedures that many people use to augment the personal skin-care regimen that they carry out at home. These treatment options are usually more expensive than any cream or beauty product sold commercially. But they can also produce a greater and therefore more noticeable improvement of your skin. They can remove wrinkles and other skin problems much more quickly and effectively.
If you wish to try more potent anti-aging treatments that produce more drastic results, consider any of the following procedures:
Carbon dioxide laser resurfacing – This is an invasive procedure that uses powerful CO2 laser beams to burn off the skin surface and penetrate underneath to remove old, damaged collagen stores. The procedure also stimulates the formation of new collagen. Dermatologists estimate that it is four to five times more effective than using retinoids in encouraging collagen growth. The downside is that after the procedure, you will have to stay indoors for about two weeks until your face recovers from the heavy bruising. During this healing period, you also have to carefully guard against skin scarring and infection. Even after your face has healed, it may stay red for up to six months. The procedure often costs from $3,000 to $8,000.
Fractional or ablated CO2 laser skin resurfacing – This is a less invasive variationvariation of traditional CO2 laser skin resurfacing. It doesn’t burn as much of the skin’s surface area, and it entails a shorter and safer recovery period. The patient can often get back to his normal routine after four to seven days, minus the facial wrinkles and fine lines, and with a noticeably more radiant complexion. The effect can last for up to ten years. The procedure costs around $5,000.
Wrinkle injections – These use substances such as cross-linked hyaluronic acid to fill wrinkles and therefore eliminate their appearance. Aptly called “fillers,” these substances have a volumizing effect that can be applied anywhere on the face where they are most needed to produce a sculpted, youthful look. The injections are convenient and quickly finished. Their effect can last up to a year or longer. One type of fillers (called Artifill) claims to have a permanent effect, but there is risk for allergies and granulomas. Fillers typically cost around $500 to $1000 per injection.
Botox injections – These use botulism toxin, a bacterial poison, which paralyzes small facial muscles, resulting in smooth, wrinkle-free skin. The effect can last up to six months, after which a repeat procedure is recommended. Skin specialists say that for repeat customers, the results last longer. Botox and Dysport injections are FDA-approved, and each cost around $400.
Microdermabrasion – This is a more traditional treatment that uses small, fine particles to remove dead cells from the top layer of the skin and stimulate the growth of new skin. The skin heals quickly; no recovery period is needed. Multiple procedures that are a few weeks apart are usually needed for best results. A variation of this technique employs a very hard diamond-tipped wand to slough off the dead skin cells. The procedures costs around $100 to $200.
Chemical peels – These also remove the outermost skin layer to reveal new, fresh-looking skin underneath. There is an option to have superficial, medium or deep peels. Deeper peels can cause reddening reddening and peeling lasting up to a few weeks. Peels are also great for removing acne scars, age spots, discoloration, and small wrinkles. The effect of a superficial peel can last up to a month, while that of a deep chemical peel can last for a few years. One session costs around $600.
Cosmetic surgery – Facelifts are a common form of cosmetic surgery for people wishing to drastically improve their appearance. They are usually done on the face, neck, forehead and eyelids. The effect is a tighter appearance that eliminates eliminates the sagging or looseness typical in older skin. The average cost of a facelift is $7,000, and the effect is more or less permanent. Happy customers say they look around ten years younger after the procedure.
