There are a variety of procedures and treatments that are commonly used for facial rejuvenation. These procedures are designed to lessen the appearance of facial lines, wrinkles and creases, producing a smoother more youthful skin. The procedures described below can often be used in combination to achieve the desired result. Photo galleries, in addition to 3D animation of these procedure can be found at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons website.
Restylane â is a new, natural, cosmetic filler, recently approved by the FDA, containing non-animal hyaluronic acid gel. Since there are no animal proteins, there is a low risk of allergic reactions and no pre-treatment skin testing is required.
Treatment is performed by injecting minute amounts of Restylane into the skin folds and wrinkles. A topical anesthetic can be used to minimize discomfort The procedure is short, lasting about fifteen minutes and the results are immediate. Prior to treatment patients should avoid taking aspirin, St. Johns Wort and high dose Vitamin E to minimize bleeding and bruising at the injection site.
The improvement following Restylane injections usually lasts six to twelve months, approximately twice as long as Collagen. The most common side effects are temporary redness and swelling at the injection site. These effects typically resolve in two to three days.
Collagen (Zyderm® 1 & 2, and Zyplast ®) is an injectable form of implant manufactured by Collagen Aesthetics, Inc. This collagen is derived from the connective tissue found in cowhides. Collagen is injected just under the skin in the area of facial lines and creases. The material "fills in" the area under the epidermis to minimize the external appearance of these facial lines.
A newer product line, Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast is also available. This newer material is derived from human collagen. No skin testing is required and treatment can be given on the first office visit. Treatment with Zyderm or Zyplast requires prior skin testing.
The areas that can be treated by collagen injections include the glabella (bridge of the nose between the eyebrows), forehead, lips, naso-labial folds (junction between the upper lips and cheeks) and corners of the mouth. This material can also be used to correct depressions from prior injuries.
Following a routine skin test to be certain that the individual is not allergic to the material, treatments are begun. The usual time required for injection ranges from fifteen to forty-five minutes depending upon the amount required. No sedation is needed. All patients are able to resume activities immediately following the injections.
With time, some of the collagen will be reabsorbed by the body. This will result in a reappearance of the original facial lines and creases. The time for this reabsorption to occur ranges from three to six months. The injections can then be repeated if one wishes to maintain the original level of correction.
BOTOX® Cosmetic (Botulinum Toxin Type A) is an injection which diminishes the action of facial muscles. These facial muscles are responsible for producing creases and lines when they contract. By stopping the action of these muscles, facial lines and furrows are diminished. The most common sites for treatment are the frown lines at the top of the nose (glabellar lines), crows feet at the corner of the eyes, and forehead lines.
The injection is given during a short office procedure, usually lasting less than fifteen minutes. Patients can resume normal activities immediately after treatment. In most cases, the effects of the injection will be apparent in two to seven days. After a period of three to six months, the Botox effect gradually wears off and the facial creases will begin to reappear. At that time, patients can repeat the procedure if desired.
In addition, Botox treatments can be combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures, such as collagen injection and microdermabrasion to improve overall facial appearance.
Microdermabrasion is a new technique for facial rejuvenation. With this technique, a fine spray of aluminum oxide crystals is used to gently remove superficial dead skin, layer by layer, until fresh new skin cells appear. The procedure can reduce fine lines and wrinkles, decrease pore size, remove age spots, lessen acne scarring and improve blemishes. In general, microdermabrasion produces fresher, smoother, more youthful-looking skin.
Unlike laser and chemical peels, microdermabrasion is a gentle, progressive process. A series of treatments, usually four to six, spaced one to two weeks apart is usually performed. There is no discomfort and no anesthesia is required. The microdermabrasion takes fifteen minutes to one hour to do, depending upon the area to be treated. The advantage of this procedure is that there is no "down time". Patients are able to resume all activities immediately after treatment. There is no abnormal skin peeling or oozing produced with this technique, compared to chemical peels and lasers. All skin types and pigmentations can be treated.
After the initial correction has been achieved, results can be maintained with follow-up treatments every one to two months, in addition to a home skin care regimen.
There are a variety of chemical agents that can cause coagulation and a sloughing of the top layer of skin. Once this top layer of skin is removed, the remaining skin will have a smoother fresher appearance, with diminution of fine lines. Depending upon the depth of the peel, pigmented "age spots" can also be removed with chemical peels.
There are a variety of peels used in the office including TriCholrAcetic Acid (TCA) and glycolic acid. These chemical peels are applied to the skin in a procedure that usually takes fifteen to thirty minutes. Top skin layers will then begin to separate from the deeper skin layer. This process usually begins immediately. This skin peeling will then continue over a period of several days to a week.
Depending upon the strength of the peel, the full recovery time will vary from several days to weeks. Once the skin has completely separated, a cover makeup and a sunscreen can be applied. The degree of correction of facial lines will depend upon the depth of the original lines and strength of the peel. Most patients continue using a hydroxy-acid moisturizer at home to prolong the effects of the office peel.
Some patients notice that with time, the facial wrinkles will begin to reappear. A deeper peel will give longer lasting results. For other patients, a lighter peel is chosen, with touch-up peels done every one to three months.
HOME | DR. BROMLEY | LOCATION | SERVICES | FAQS | DISCLAIMER | CONTACT