If you are looking for skin rejuvenation in Indianapolis (or the Indianapolis metropolitan area), look no further than Beeson Cosmetic Surgery. Below you will find information on the purpose, technique, recovery time and recovery instructions related to skin rejuvenation.
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Table of Contents
- Aging Process
- Aging Skin Changes
- Skin Rejuvenation: Light Treatments
- Skin Rejuvenation: Medium Treatments
- Skin Rejuvenation: Deep Treatments
Links to Specific “Light” Peels
- Chemical Peels
- Alpha-hydroxy Acid Peels [glycolic acid]
- Renova® Retin-A®
- Topical Vitamin C [ascorbic acid]
- Serial Chemical Peels
- Medium Chemical Peels
Links to Specific Deep Rejuvenation Techniques
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Summary
Skin rejuvenation procedures improve the overall appearance of the skin by achieving a refreshed skin appearance and restoring elasticity. While they do not have the same effect as surgery, they can often prolong the time until a facelift is needed. To clarify, surgery takes away “sags and bags,” while skin rejuvenation takes away “wrinkles.” Today there are a wide variety of techniques available that allow us to tailor a skin rejuvenation program specifically designed for you – one to match your skin type, lifestyle, and desires. In customizing a skin rejuvenation program to meet an individual’s needs, many factors must be considered. Among these are type of skin, general health, and lifestyle. Each type of skin rejuvenation technique varies with the length of recovery time necessary and the frequency with which they need to be repeated.
Aging Process
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In order to understand how skin rejuvenation techniques work, it is essential to understand the aging process. As we age, a number of things happen. Our skin loses moisture and elasticity. Fat redistributes itself, muscles and skin become more lax, and bones actually start to resorb. Wrinkles [rhytids] are the first signs of this aging process. Skin folds or “bags” are the more advanced signs, which actually require removal of the excess skin.
Aging Skin Changes
During the aging process, the top layer of the skin [stratum corneum], which is a layer of dead skin cells, builds up and thickens. When this happens, our skin can develop a sallow look and small “expression lines” can develop. In addition, there is a gradual breakdown of the collagen and elastic fibers in the deeper layers of the skin. Sun exposure or “photoaging” can dramatically increase the breakdown of elastic tissues and lead to increased skin wrinkling.
Skin Rejuvenation: Light Treatments
Skin rejuvenation can be divided into different categories-light, medium, and deep treatments.
Light treatments involved lotions and cream. These are frequently applied on a daily basis and have the advantage of no “down time” for convalescence. One can apply these lotions and continue her normal daily and social actives without any interruption. The objective of this “first level” of skin rejuvenation is to provide a more “refreshed” appearance to the skin and also, over time, remove some of the more superficial skin contour and aging changes such as minor pigmentation, scaling, and very fine wrinkling.
One is able to accelerate or “jump start” the results of their skin rejuvenation program by using serial skin rejuvenation chemical peels. This involves performing light TCA peels to the face every one to two weeks. We find that six to eight “serial peels” performed at one to two week intervals results in affects similar to those obtained by using Retin-A for a year. In our experience , approximately 50% of individuals are able to obtain affects similar to those of a light medium depth chemical peel, but without the 7-10 day “down time”. These peels help to remove some of the pigmentation changes that medically we call mild “dischromia”. It can also be very effective in cases of more severe acne. While no two individuals heal or respond the same and while individual results may very, most patients find that they can accelerate their skin rejuvenation significantly with serial TCA peels.
As part of an overall skin rejuvenation program we frequently perform a light TCA peel at three to four month intervals to essentially act as a very deep “facial” and to further accentuate the results of the application of the daily rejuvenation lotions and creams that we have prescribed.
Skin Rejuvenation: Medium Treatments
Medium peels are use to remove mild to moderate skin textural and pigmentation changes. They may also be helpful in reducing minor acne scars and to stimulate increased collagen formation in the upper dermal layers. The advantage of medium depth chemical peels is that they have minimal chance of changing our overall skin pigmentation.
Medium depth chemical peels usually require mild sedation and are performed on outpatient basis. Patients are able to return home immediately following the procedure and experience very little if any discomfort. However one needs to refrain from wearing makeup for one week and daily apply a moist dressing (Vaseline) to the peeled areas for one week. At the end of the week the skin has rejuvenated and usually has a pleasing red glow. Most individuals are able to apply make up and resume a normal work and social schedule at that time. Medium peels are use to treat degenerative skin, mild acne, and moderate aging and environmental changes to the skin. The results last two to five years for most individuals.
Skin Rejuvenation: Deep Treatments
Deep treatments involved the use of carbon dioxide laser’s and phenol based chemoexfoliation. These procedures provide optimal skin rejuvenation possible. They remove the top layer of the skin and stimulate increased collagen formation in the deeper layers of the skin over the following nine to 12 months. Frequently patients see not only a refreshening of the skin by regeneration of a new “top layer” of the skin, but also find approximately a 20% tightening effect to the skin over 9 to 12 months. Again, results will vary from individual to individual and no one can guaranty results. However most patients find that carbon dioxide laser or deep phenol chemical peels provide dramatic results in illuminating facial wrinkling, pigmentation changes, and improving skin elasticity. However, these treatments can be associated with some pigmentation changes. Phenol based chemical peels are used to “lighten” areas of increased pigmentation such as and patients with melasma ( the so called “mask of pregnancy”). Patients who undergo a phenol based chemical peel need to accept the fact that their skin may become lightened to the extent that they need to use make up and cover treated areas. Despite this the phenol peel is very popular because it provides most dramatic reduction in facial wrinkling and the most improvement in skin elasticity of any of the facial rejuvenation procedures.
Carbon dioxide laser surface as well as phenol chemical peels require minor sedation. Procedures are done on an outpatient basis, and patients are able to return home immediately following the procedure. Similar to the medium peel, there is very little if any discomfort associated with either of these procedures. As with the medium chemical peel, a moist dressing technique is used following treatment. Vaseline is applied to all treated areas four to six times a day for seven days. While these procedures can be repeated, we find that most individuals respond very favorably to a single carbon dioxide laser resurfacing or phenol based chemical peel treatment. These procedures are indicated for severe acne scarring, patients with recurrent skin cancers, deep facial wrinkling such as “smokers lines” and more advanced pigmentation and skin textural changes.
Links to Specific “Light” Peels
“Light” rejuvenation techniques are actually refreshing to the skin. They remove fine wrinkles and improve skin texture and tone. These techniques usually consist of a combination of various creams and lotions, which can be used daily. The creams and lotions remove the dead cell layer of the skin [stratum corneum] and cleanse the pores. They may also stimulate epidermal resurfacing and induce collagen formation in the very superficial layers of the dermis. The advantages are that they can be used daily and there is no convalescent period. The disadvantages are that they only refresh the skin and remove the very fine wrinkles. They will not remove the deep wrinkles.
Below you will find links to pages that break down specific “light” peels.
- Chemical Peels
- Alpha-hydroxy Acid Peels [glycolic acid]
- Renova® Retin-A®
- Topical Vitamin C [ascorbic acid]
- Serial Chemical Peels
- Medium Chemical Peels
Links to Specific Deep Rejuvenation Techniques
Below you will find links to pages that break down specific deep rejuvenation techniques.
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Ebooks
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Schedule a Consultation
If you are looking for skin rejuvenation in Indianapolis (or Indianapolis metropolitan area), you can schedule a consultation by calling 317-846-0846, or by filling out the form below.
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