The Best Skin Care Procedures For Smooth, Beautiful Skin
We all want to put our best face forward at all times, and these common, but practical skin procedures can help you accomplish that – no Instagram filters needed! These procedures are not as invasive as plastic surgery, but can still provide optimal results that will astonish you, and your friends and family alike! Investing a small amount of time, and significantly less money than any surgery, can still provide the results you desire with little to no “down time.”
Here is a list of the most common procedures, how they are performed, and whom they are best suited to. In fact, many of these procedures can boost your self-esteem, especially after an incident, illness, or a lifetime of self-criticism. Your plastic surgeon may also have recommendations for you, based on your skin type in particular. Not all treatments are equal, and researching your optimal fit is vital to uncovering the skin you were born with! Everyone has different goals and needs, so be sure to discuss all of your options for the best procedure for you.
Chemical Peel
Chemical peels are one of the most popular skin care procedures. A range of light, medium and deep chemical peels are available to improve skin texture by “peeling away” the top layer of skin to reveal the unblemished skin underneath. If you have wrinkled, sun-damaged, acne-scarred, discolored, or uneven skin, a chemical peel will help to rejuvenate your appearance and reveal a smoother, healthier-looking complexion in a matter of minutes.
Dermabrasion / Microdermabrasion
Dermabrasion is an intensive skincare procedure to help alleviate deep scars, pockmarks, and acne scars, but is typically only safe those with fair skin. In this procedure, a special instrument is used to “sand” down the skin, removing the outer layers to correct skin irregularities. A consultation may be required to discuss your goals and the risks and benefits of the procedure.
Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive skin resurfacing procedure to help correct dull skin, brown spots, age spots, and light acne scars. Although at-home Microdermabrasion treatments are increasing in popularity, they do not provide the results a licensed professional can provide to smooth out your skin. The procedure involves using “micro” exfoliating crystals that are sprayed on the skin and left on to penetrate and exfoliate the top layer of skin. Pinkness may occur for up to 24 hours after the procedure, and is best for those seeking a more aggressive exfoliant and can rest for a day.
IPL / Photorejuvenation
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), also called Photorejuvenation or a Photofacial, is typically a 30-minute procedure that can help reverse the effects of sun damage, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and skin blotchiness. The procedure is low on the discomfort scale with no “down time”, and uses intense pulses of light to penetrate the skin. These pulses cause controlled wounds that will heal itself by creating new cells to improve texture and reduce fine lines. LED (light-emitting diode) Photo Facials are also available, but are a more gentle alternative to the IPL procedure.
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser Skin Resurfacing is one of the more intensive skincare procedures available for those that desire more radical skincare results. Resurfacing works by removing the skin precisely, layer-by-layer, so that new skin cells may form. The results provide a more youthful, balanced skin tone, and are especially helpful for those with aging or blemished skin. A partial treatment lasts 30-45 minutes, while a full-face treatment can take up to 2 hours. You can expect full healing to take anywhere from 10 to 20 days, and you may experience itching, burning, and peeling on the affected area.
Nonsurgical Skin Tightening
Nonsurgical Skin Tightening is an increasingly popular skincare procedure that is an alternative to the traditional facelift performed by a plastic surgeon. There are 3 procedures that can be used to help correct moderately loose skin on the face, neck, and arms, depending on your individual needs.
Radiofrequency can be used to penetrate deep into the skin, heating the treated areas, and therefore cause stimulation of collagen production to plump the areas. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) is used to heat the dermis (deep layer of the skin) with infrared light, and may require multiple passes over the treatment areas. Ultrasounds can also tighten the skin by emitting small thermal bursts to stimulate the support layers without disrupting the skin’s surface. All of these options typically require multiple treatments.
Overall, each of these procedures will help you achieve the skin you’re looking for, but seeking a professional plastic surgeon or dermatologist to provide a consultation, and perform the procedure is detrimental for the best results. For more information on these procedures and more, visit The Plastic Surgeon.
This was such a great, informative guide to these procedures. I appreciated that a lot!