Do you long for smoother, clearer, younger looking skin? Fortunately for you, the fountain of youth really does exist – to a degree – right in the offices of your local plastic surgeon. Modern skin rejuvenation procedures can produce remarkable results, taking years off your appearance without the need for costly plastic surgery or long recovery times.
There are a number of options available for skin rejuvenation, also called skin resurfacing. They fall into several groups:
Superficial Peels – Superficial peels include those using glycolic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid. Such peels work by removing the very outer layer of the skin, allowing the newer, fresher cells to come to the surface. Some may experience redness and tingling during and immediately after the peel, but there is generally no down time associated with these types of peels.
Medium/Deep Chemical Peels – Jessner solution and TCA, or Trychloroacetic acid, are considered medium chemical peels, while a Phenol acid peel is considered the strongest. The results for these peels are more dramatic and longer lasting, but there is more down time. Phenol peels can take seven to 10 days for recovery, with swelling, redness and pain. Skin remains sensitive for awhile, and sunscreen is an absolute must.
Traditional and Fractional Laser Therapy – Laser resurfacing uses intense light to treat wrinkles, sun damage and other signs of aging. The two main types are CO2 and erbium. CO2 produces the most dramatic results, but also requires the longest healing times. Erbium tends to be more gentle and have a quicker recovery time. All forms of laser skin resurfacing produce a certain amount of redness and swelling. Healing can take a number of months, but the results can last for years. Laser therapy can be much more costly compared to other procedures, sometimes costing thousands of dollars.
Dermabrasion – With dermabrasion, the cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist uses a small rotating brush to remove the damaged outer layers of the skin. Swelling and bleeding can occur, and recovery can take weeks to several months. Lasers have largely replaced dermabrasion as a skin resurfacing technique, but dermabrasion is still used to treat targeted areas such as acne scars or small lines and wrinkles around the mouth.