Your largest organ
It’s the first thing you see when you look at yourself in the mirror or at any other person. As your largest organ, its strength and durability are often overlooked during youth until undue sun damage and chemical treatment of creams begins to expose signs of aging. Frown lines, nasolabial folds from the nose to the side of the lips, and crow’s feet at the sides of the eyes reveal this age-related damage which is not desirable to many people. A path of treatment to address various improvements of the skin are medical procedures such as lasers coupled with a personalized skin care routine consisting of specialized cosmeceutical products. Though it takes time, your investment into the revitalization, hydration, and rejuvenation of your skin is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your body. Take it from Dr. Timek: “Skin care is not a race; it’s a marathon.”
Alot of new products
Many cosmetic companies regularly produce a plethora of new products to choose from. The approach to skin care has become trial and error based; people purchase serums, exfoliants, lotions, color correctors, sunscreens, and many other products of specific brands which never really seem to work together. Advanced Plastic Surgery’s aesthetician Lisa states, “I am a realist when I say that I have never found a line that does everything perfectly.” In order to attain an effective, highly individualized treatment plan, the assessment of a professional is recommended. One’s natural oily or natural dry skin can even make a difference in treatment. “Our goal is to prepare your skin for all at-home products and send you out the door with additional products that will make sure your skin stays radiant and youthful.”- Lisa.
Where should I start?
The first step in allowing product penetration is heavy exfoliation to remove the dry, dead skin from the outermost dermal layer. At APS, this is done most often with Diamond Tip Microdermabrasion, a tool which mechanically exfoliates the skin and vacuums any excess. Chemical toners and masks are also used to ensure a clean surface for further products. For heavier exfoliation, a chemical peel of salicylic acid is recommended. To restore the lower layers of skin after exfoliation, a growth-stimulating path of action is needed. One such path is Microneedling with Radiofrequency along with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP), two components of the Advanced Synergy Facial. These therapies work together to administer controlled trauma and encourage the skin to recover on its own. The heat from radiofrequency activates collagen and elastin production, and the patient’s native blood plasma further encourages the natural process of restoration. The result is skin with capabilities to rebuild itself from the inside out and fill in wrinkles, scars, and undesirable lines on the face.
Satisfying effects
Though the procedures may seem excessive, they are crucial in laying a solid foundation inside the skin that will allow effective topical product absorption at home. For a daily routine, products with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, and a retinol are necessary, for each one of them functions differently. Hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring acid in the skin, retains water and makes the skin appear full and plump. Antioxidants prevent creation of wrinkles while retinols induce rapid skin turnover, encouraging skin renewal. These essential products will elongate the effects of the large-scale procedures that drastically change and challenge the skin. Keep in mind- immediate effects will not always be visible. Persistence and continued application will produce satisfactory and long-lasting results!