Let’s face it, beauty and the appearance of youthfulness are directly connected to the condition of our skin. In an Australian study published in the journal of Evolution and Human Behavior, age spots, blotchiness and discoloration were all shown to add 10-12 years to a woman’s age as perceived by others. The study used three-dimensional imaging and morphing software to remove wrinkles and furrows from photographs of the women in the study, leaving skin tone as the only variable. By doing this, researchers were then able to determine how skin condition directly affected how healthy, attractive and young others perceived the women to be.
In the study, the models with the most even skin tone received significantly higher ratings in terms of attractiveness and health and were also deemed to be younger in age. It may not be fair, but the evenness of our skin, whether you’re 17 or 70, gives away visual indications about your health and in effect your reproductive capability, thus a glowing, soft complexion is deemed more desirable.
But none of this was news to you, right? From watching TV and flipping through magazines, you’re likely more than aware of the value our society places on a flawless and unblemished face. Don’t feel bad though, nobody really looks like that without the help of Photoshop. So, we know that a radiant, glowing complexion can take years off our perceived age, but how do we get that flawless complexion?
If you choose to seek professional treatment from a medical spa or plastic surgeon, which will get you the best results in the shortest amount of time, you have a number of different options to choose from. There are now a myriad of treatment options, both surgical and nonsurgical, that can improve the texture of your skin and help you achieve a smoother more radiant complexion.
IPL Photofacial
IPL Photofacial is one of the most effective treatments for addressing blotchy, uneven skin tone and achieving a brighter and clearer complexion. Photofacials work by delivering pulses of high intensity broadband light to the deeper part of the skin (dermis). This Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is absorbed by the darker pigmentation (freckles, sun spots, broken capillaries, redness) safely destroying the melanin. The body absorbs and flushes out the destroyed tissue and the treated areas become more even in tone. There is no downtime after an IPL Photofacial, and a series of 3 – 5 treatments is typically recommended for optimal results.
Dermal Fillers
Deep wrinkles, pock marks or acne scars can be treated with dermal fillers. Fillers are a great alternative to surgery, and are especially helpful in combatting early signs of aging like volume loss. Specifically, Juvederm is a fantastic filler for areas like the nasolabial folds (that run from each side of the nose to the corners of the mouth) and the lips. It’s very soft, producing a great yet natural-looking result. Belotero Balance is an excellent choice for the tear troughs (under the eyes). This product is thinner, softer, and more malleable than some of the other hyaluronic acid fillers, making it more ideal for superficial injection into the delicate under eye area. VOLUMA® has proven to be highly effective in restoring age-induced volume loss in the cheeks. Radiesse is another versatile filler that is great for treatment of the nasolabial folds, smile lines, oral commissures, and more. Fillers do wear off over time and require reinjection to maintain the desired look, but are an affordable and highly effective alternative to more invasive surgery.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Lasers are another great tool in the arsenal for fighting the signs of aging skin. There are various laser treatments available on the market. In general, laser resurfacing treatments fall under one of two categories: ablative or non-ablative. Ablative lasers such as CO2 and Erbium are more invasive, but do produce great results. These procedures can yield dramatic results by eliminating layers of skin that are responsible for wrinkles, roughness and blotchy, uneven tone. A new layer of fresh, undamaged skin is then formed, rejuvenating and tightening the facial skin. Non-ablative lasers like FaceTite™ are less invasive, and work by heating up the targeted tissue, without actually destroying it. This process stimulates collagen production and contraction of the skin, working to fill in unwanted skin imperfections such as fine lines or wrinkles, while tightening lax skin.
Chemical Peels
A Chemical Peel is a process that minimizes the effects of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkling over the forehead, around the eyelids and cheeks, and around the mouth. It can also be very effective for superficial acne and skin problems associated with chicken pox and uneven pigmentation. This treatment is often used in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures like a facelift. A chemical peel uses a chemical solution to improve and smooth the facial skin, removing outer layers of damaged skin. After the new skin heals, the complexion appears lighter, more even in color, tighter, smoother, and overall younger looking.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a more aggressive approach to skin resurfacing, but is great for addressing scars and wrinkles, and can vastly improve the texture and tone of your complexion. This method involves the mechanical scraping of the top layers of skin using a high-speed rotary wheel. The procedure essentially polishes the skin, softening the sharp edges of the irregularities, making them much less noticeable. This technique can be very effective for eliminating blotchy pigmentation and scaly skin.
Contact Personique for a Free Consultation
There are a variety of options out there to help you achieve your desired look, and there is no one right procedure for every patient. Only through a personal consultation with a specialist can you make an informed decision about which treatment is best for you. To schedule a consultation with Personique, call (512) 459-6800, or fill out our online form and someone will be in touch with you shortly.