Injectables such as Botox, Dysport and Xeomin use the botulinum toxin to relax wrinkles and frown lines. These treatments have a fast recovery time and produce temporary results.
RF microneedling creates microscopic channels in the outer layer of skin to promote healing. This facial treatment is a popular choice among celebrities as it helps improve skin tone, texture and smooth fine lines.
1. Dermal Fillers
Whether you’re looking for a quick fix or are ready to commit to more permanent changes, dermal fillers are a fantastic option. These cosmetic facial injections are designed to reduce wrinkles, add volume to lips and cheeks, soften acne scars, and more.
They work by restoring hyaluronic acid levels in the skin to make it look younger and healthier. They also help to stimulate your body’s production of collagen, which helps to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
The treatment involves an injection of a hyaluronic acid-based gel to plump the skin and provide a more youthful glow. The microspheres in the dermal filler remain in place, providing structural support for smoother, firmer skin. This type of filler was originally developed to treat severe wasting in patients suffering from HIV infection, but it has become widely used to address facial aging.
Injections are delivered in a doctor’s office, and some people choose to visit a medical spa (sometimes called a medispa) for cosmetic treatments. The skin is cleaned and then numbed with a topical anesthetic to make the procedure more comfortable. Then, the injector uses a small needle to deposit the filler into targeted areas.
These fillers are not permanent, and they will eventually degrade. However, they can be repeated as needed to achieve your desired results. It’s definitely necessary to get follow-up injections if you’d like to keep your current look.
They can be used on any area of the face, but they are especially effective in reducing fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, mouth, and nose. They can also be used to create facial proportion, symmetry, and balance. It’s important to find a skilled and experienced medical professional for your filler injections so that you don’t end up with a “done” look.
2. Microneedling
The reason that microneedling sounds so weird (and maybe even dangerous) is because it involves pricking your skin with tiny needles, which makes your body’s natural wound-healing response go into overdrive. This, in turn, boosts collagen and elastin production, which helps fight fine lines and wrinkles, shrink pores, and reduce the appearance of dark spots, stretch marks, and uneven skin texture.
The procedure works by using a tool, often called a dermapen or derma roller, that has tiny needles on it. “When you use the roller on your face, you make little pinpricks,” explains Miami-based medical aesthetician Amy Peterson, founder of the popular Skincare by Amy medspa. “You can buy these at-home tools but it’s best to have professional treatments done by an esthetician.”
As you’re gliding the needles over your skin, they stimulate your skin cells to make more collagen. Collagen is key to a youthful complexion because it plumps your skin and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. The process also eliminates hyperpigmentation, including sun spots and other discolorations, by encouraging old skin cells to turn over.
A 2018 systematic review found that microneedling is safe for most people, although you should avoid the DIY version if you have active acne, sensitive skin, rosacea, or cold sores. You should also consult a medical professional about the treatment if you have blood-clotting conditions, take blood thinners, or have certain skin conditions like keloidal scarring (which are raised, hardened scars).
If you want to try your hand at microneedling with a derma roller, Mattioli recommends starting slow—once or twice per week for the first month—and then working up to three to five times a week. And, of course, always clean the roller before and after each use. If you’d rather go the professional route, search Glowday for a qualified beauty pro near you!
3. Microchanneling
Microchanneling is an effective, non-invasive method of addressing skin concerns such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles, minimizing acne scarring and stretch marks, improving uneven skin tone, texture and pigmentation, tightening loose skin, and revitalizing dull and depleted skin. The combination of creating microchannels to promote collagen synthesis and then using these channels to deeply infuse skin products produces an overall effect of accelerated renewal. The best results are achieved with premium serums and skin care, so it’s important to educate your clients on the importance of following a consistent skin care routine.
During the procedure, precision micro-needles are tapped into the skin, which creates many microscopic channels. The resulting “injury” stimulates the body’s natural healing process by triggering the production of epidermal growth factors, peptides and stem cells. This new skin tissue is then smoothed over the old, damaged tissue resulting in a noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles as well as stretch marks and hyperpigmentation.
The resulting skin is soft, supple and has the beautiful glow associated with healthy and rejuvenated skin. Microchanneling also stimulates your body’s production of natural collagen, so results are long-lasting and require minimal maintenance.
This treatment can be used alone or combined with other modalities such as chemical peels or laser treatments. It is a great option for all skin types, including those with sensitive skin. Unlike microneedling, where the device is covered in tiny needles that are dragged over the skin, microchanneling uses a vertical stamping technique that is gentle and less traumatizing for the skin.
4. Laser Skin Resurfacing
Age, sun exposure, and a loss of skin elasticity can all take their toll on your complexion. If you are unhappy with blemishes, discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles, or uneven skin tone and texture, laser resurfacing can restore your complexion and leave your face looking younger and healthier.
The laser beam used in resurfacing removes the outer layer of your skin, called the epidermis, while heating the underlying dermal tissue to stimulate collagen production. This helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scarring, and enlarged pores. It also works well on a variety of other skin issues, including uneven pigmentation, rosacea, and the effects of sun damage.
A series of treatments will give your complexion a more even tone and texture, and the results will last for several years. If your skin concerns are extensive, you may require multiple resurfacing sessions.
If you are planning to get laser resurfacing, be sure to discuss your options with a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist who has substantial experience using resurfacing lasers. This will improve your chances of avoiding complications and help your skin heal after treatment. You should also avoid unprotected sun exposure for two months before your procedure.
Applying ointment and using cold compresses to soothe the area after your procedure will speed healing and help decrease redness. After your skin is healed, be sure to wear a daily broad-spectrum (screens both ultraviolet B and ultraviolet A) sunscreen to prevent future damage.
5. Eyelid Surgery
The delicate skin around the eyes can show signs of aging much earlier than other areas. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, can reduce drooping upper lids and puffy bags beneath the eyes to restore a more youthful look, while also improving vision that may have been affected by excess upper eyelid skin drooping over the eyes. It is often performed in combination with a face lift or brow lift to maximize the rejuvenating results.
During the procedure, your surgeon can hide an incision within the natural crease of the eyelid or along the lower lash line. Through this, he or she can remove excess skin, tighten muscles and fat tissue, and soften fine lines with C02 or erbium lasers. The doctor can use the same technique to reduce a hanging lower eyelid, a condition called ectropion.
After your eyelid surgery, you can expect short-term swelling, bruising and itching. Using cold compresses, applying ointment and following the doctor’s instructions can help manage these symptoms. You may need to refrain from strenuous activities, like rubbing or scratching the eyes.
After recovery, you can expect the results of your eyelid surgery to be visible after about one to two months. Friends and family will likely notice that you look more refreshed and energetic. You can maintain the results of eyelid surgery by continuing to practice healthy habits and using sunscreen to protect your delicate facial skin. You can also enhance your results by combining them with other non-invasive beauty treatments, such as microneedling and dermal fillers. Ask your doctor about these options during a consultation.