Taking care of the skin you are in is sage advice that allows you to always look your best. The skin can be indicative of health and is often part of the first impression we make on people. It’s no wonder then that good skin can give a confidence boost and a skin issue can cause self-consciousness.
There are the normal (and widely used) methods of improving the condition of your skin; face products, lifestyle choices, and limiting exposure to damage inducing causes. A step further than that is skincare procedures for when the at home methods just aren’t working.
In 2018, the most popular skin care procedures are the procedures that are shifting away from the recovery intensive surgical options towards the “on the go” minimally invasive and little to no downtime of non-surgical procedures. There is also a more whole-body emphasis, with skin care procedures being done on the whole body, especially the highly visible legs and arms rather than just the face.
Topping the list for non-surgical procedures are laser skin rejuvenation, micro-Botox, microdermabrasion, micro-needling, intense pulsed light (IPL), and laser resurfacing. These treatments treat the skin at various levels to improve the appearance and remove imperfections from the outer layer while improving skin condition and stimulating the production of collagen.
What is interesting about this shift in popular skin care procedures is that they are not immediate results type of procedures. While there may be some noticeable difference after the first treatment, the results come after a series of treatments. The draw of little to no recovery and non-invasiveness is stronger than the desire for the (almost) immediate gratification that comes from a surgical procedure.
Micro-Botox
Micro-Botox isn’t a new concept, Botox has been around for years and this is just a scaled down version. Rather than targeting large areas as was common in the past, the micro version focuses on smaller areas that will still show great results. For example, instead of injecting the entire forehead, areas that will show the most improvement will be injected with almost the same results to the casual observer. Remember, almost nobody notices quite as much as we do when it comes to our skin and appearance.
Micro needling
Micro-needling involves tiny needles used to superficially pierce the skin. This stimulates the natural responses of the body and skin, promoting production of collagen and improving the appearance of the skin. Fine lines and minor skin imperfections can be treated with this easily, the results are best seen after multiple treatments and maintenance schedule may be needed to keep the results.
Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is an exfoliating method used to remove the surface layers of the skin for appearance improvement. Depending on the strength of the treatment, the layers that are removed will differ. Obviously, the more exfoliative the treatment, the more layers will be removed. This procedure may require more recovery due to skin sensitivity and the slight healing needed for the newly exposed skin layers but is still a mild recovery procedure.
IPL Therapy
IPL involves the use of light therapy to treat skin conditions. It is especially useful in treating bacterial acne or other bacterial issues that haven’t responded to other forms of treatment. The use of different wavelengths, colors, and time will all be determined depending on the issues being addressed.
Laser resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is the use of a medical laser to create a younger looking appearance. It is used mostly on the face, neck, and chest to remove wrinkles, discolorations, acne scars, hair, and other general age-related conditions. By removing the outer layers, the undamaged inner layers are revealed. The laser treatment can be tailored to specific needs, with different depths achieved in each target area- allowing for maximum results with minimum recovery needed.
Laser skin rejuvenation
Laser skin rejuvenation is another form of laser use to improve skin appearance. By combining different light technologies, it achieves this by promoting a response from inside the body- at a cellular level- while also correcting minor external imperfections. This approach allows for long lasting results that have no downtime and can be done in a timely manner. This method is also highly customizable depending on skin condition, desired results, and timeline.
Arguably the most popular skin rejuvenation technique is the ‘bespoke’ method; where different methods are used together to enhance results and a unique treatment is created specific to the needs of the patient.
It is always best to get a consultation by a qualified practitioner to decide on the correct treatment for you. If skin woes have got you down and at home products aren’t working, there are plenty of options out there for better looking skin.