How do you know which nonsurgical facial rejuvenation treatment can really provide the results you’re looking for? At our Vancouver med spa, we begin with a thorough Advanced Skin Analysis. During that comprehensive assessment of your skin, we work together to determine which treatments are best suited for your concerns.
Patients wanting to improve on the signs of aging benefit from anti-aging injectables, such as fillers and BOTOX, while those looking to treat acne scars, sun damage, or discoloration may be good candidates for laser skin rejuvenation.
Men and women who come to us for help are often unsure about which treatment to choose or whether they should opt for surgical intervention instead. So what’s the benefit to each?
What can dermal fillers help with?
Injectable dermal fillers restore volume to facial lines, wrinkles, and areas of deflation, creating a smoother, more youthful appearance. That’s right, our faces slowly deflate as each tissue layer becomes thinner with age. Lose a substantial amount of weight, and areas of your face will deflate and sink even more. Fillers formulated for specific areas of the face, such as the lips and cheeks, can produce great results.
However, just because a new product comes on the market, that doesn’t mean it will work better than a tried-and-true filler that I’ve used for years. I have high standards for the fillers I use: They need to have proven, consistent results that are long-lasting. What many patients overlook is that how the treatment is done is much more important than the brand of the filler used. You can see my patients’ results in their before-and-after photos.
Does BOTOX make you look younger?
Most people have heard of the rejuvenating effects of BOTOX and know that it’s used to reduce “worry lines” between the eyes and forehead wrinkles. Its ability to diminish wrinkles and fine lines is well documented in several studies, including this study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology. What may be surprising is the product’s versatility.
In addition to forehead wrinkles, BOTOX minimizes neck bands and crow’s feet around the eyes. It works by temporarily disabling tiny muscles responsible for wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions such as frowning or squinting — known as “dynamic wrinkles.” BOTOX is also approved for treating hyperhidrosis (i.e., excessive underarm sweating), and it is great for those who just want to have less underarm sweating. Competing products such as Xeomin and Dysport achieve similar outcomes.
What does laser skin rejuvenation do?
The main advantage to laser skin rejuvenation is that it’s able to improve both the skin’s surface (wrinkles, skin tone, and texture) and that it works synergistically with fillers and BOTOX. The skin ages independently from the effects of the thinning of the underlying muscles and tissue layers. The skin needs to be refreshed if we want to optimize each patient’s beauty. Learn when to know whether laser skin rejuvenation is right for you in our related blog post.
Gentler Laser Skin Resurfacing
We usually recommend non-ablative laser skin resurfacing using our Palomar Icon™ fractional laser to improve the skin’s texture and reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The “non-ablative” term means that the skin surface does not have a wound at the end of the procedure, which means recovery is very fast—literally no downtime. The non-ablative laser is a gentler procedure. It usually requires 3 to 5 treatments performed a month apart to get the desired results.
Choosing the Right Procedure for You
As I mentioned earlier, there are limits to the improvements that nonsurgical aesthetic treatments can make, and there are times when surgical intervention such as a facelift or eyelid surgery is needed to meet a patient’s cosmetic goals. I have the unique opportunity to educate patients about all of the options, and together we can agree on a customized solution.
If you’re ready to explore your facial rejuvenation options, use our online form to request a consultation or call us at (604) 888-9378 to schedule an appointment. Women and men interested in treatments like BOTOX come to our Langley, BC, practice from Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Abbotsford, Surrey, and beyond.
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