Home | Procedures | Skin Rejuvenation
Skin Rejuvenation: Protection, Peels, Botox® and Fillers
To read more, please click on a topic below:
Skin Peels | Obagi | Botox® | Cosmetic Fillers
Skin Peels
Protection: The main culprit of aging skin is sun exposure. The following simple steps will help prevent or decrease the risk.
- Sunscreen with SPF 36 or greater, applied more frequently than they say on the bottle
- Use it often, and have it available in your car.
- Use a hat that protects the ears as well as the face
- Use long shirts that protect the arms from the sun, especially Microfiber, CoolMax® or other sweat wicking fibers that block the sun
- Avoid tanning booths and the sun between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Skin Rejuvenation
Restylane restores volume and fullness to the skin to correct moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds). After your treatment, you might have some swelling and redness. This will normally last less than seven days. Although rare, red or swollen small bumps may occur. If you have had facial cold sores before , an injection can cause another outbreak. In rare circumstances, the doctor may inject into a blood vessel, which can damage the skin. To avoid bruising and bleeding, you should not use Restylane if you have recently used drugs that thin your blood or prevent clotting. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or under 18, you shouldn’t use Restylane.
Restylane should not be used by people with previous bad allergies, particularly to certain microorganisms known as gram positive bacteria, or by people with previous bad allergies to drugs that have required in-hospital treatment. Restylane should not be injected anywhere except the skin or just under skin.
The use of Restylane at the site of skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infection should be postponed until healing is complete. Use of Restylane in these instances could delay healing or make your skin problems worse.
Restylane is available only through a licensed practitioner. Complete product and safety information is available at www.RestylaneUSA.com.
Obagi® Skin System including Blue Peel
Unlike traditional skin care products that only treat problems on the surface of your skin, the Obagi® Skin Health Restoration System works at the cellular level. Under the guidance of Dr. Robinson, the Obagi® Skin Health Restoration System helps to correct surface discoloration to stimulate cell renewal to bring back the glow and softness of healthy, younger-looking skin and to stimulate elastic tissue to reduce wrinkles.
Dr. Robinson has been trained in the use of the Obagi® System and has been exceptionally happy with the results for the last five years. Please go to the Obagi® Web site—they have done a terrific job of presenting their system. After visiting their site, we will be happy to arrange a consultation for you to get the personalized program necessary for your own skin restoration.
Official Obagi® Website
To read more, please click on a topic below:
Aging, sun exposure, heredity and lifestyle factors including nutrition, alcohol consumption and smoking all may contribute to facial wrinkling. Pigmentary changes of the skin, such as blotchiness or brown spots, may also occur with age or as a result of birth control pills, pregnancy or genetic factors. Prior acne may have made the surface of your skin uneven. These problems, as well as certain other skin conditions, may be improved by peels.
Am I a good candidate for a Skin Peel?
You may be a good candidate for skin peel if you have one or more of the following conditions:
- Wrinkled or sun-damaged facial skin
- Fine wrinkling of your upper eyelids
- Brown spots or blotchy skin coloring
- Certain precancerous skin growths
- Acne or chicken pox scars
Patients may have their skin peeled at almost any age. You may have certain characteristics that make you a better candidate for one technique rather than another, or your Dr. Robinson may have a preference based on his personal experience with the different methods.
The amount of time you should allow for recovery also may be an important factor in selecting a particular method or determining the extent of treatment. Peeling can be performed to varying depths. A more superficial treatment will require less healing time, but you may need to have the procedure repeated to achieve the same results as a deeper treatment. If you are having aesthetic (cosmetic) surgery, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery, you may be able to have a deeper skin peel procedure performed at the same time.
Your Personal Consultation
During the consultation, you will be asked to look in a mirror and point out the specific areas of your face that you would like to see improved. This will help us to understand your expectations and determine whether they realistically can be achieved.
How will “Dr. Chili” evaluate me for skin resurfacing?
He or his Obagi ® trained staff will carefully examine and record your skin characteristics to determine which resurfacing technique, or combination of treatments, will provide you with the best results. Your skin type, the severity of any sun damage, the extent of uneven pigmentation and the depth of skin imperfections will be evaluated. Fine lines, coarse wrinkling or deep acne scarring each may require a different approach to treatment.
How will “Dr. Chili” evaluate me?
You should come to the consultation prepared to discuss your medial history, including previous surgeries, past and present medical conditions, current medications, including diet pills, vitamin E, and dietary supplements, especially ginseng, ginkgo, and garlic. These all can affect your surgery, even to the point of stopping your heart. Also important is smoking history, drug abuse, and heart and lung disease. It is important you provide complete information. High blood pressure, thyroid problems or diabetes are among the medical conditions that may increase the risks. Family histories of blood clots, trouble with anesthesia, and heart disease should also be revealed.
Be sure to tell Dr. Robinson if you have ever had x-ray treatments of your facial skin such as those used in the treatment of acne or if you have had a prior chemical peeling procedure. Current or past use of Accutane™, as well as Retin-A™ and other topical skin preparations, must be reported. For your safety, it is important that you provide complete information.
Skin Peel Techniques
Chemical peels, dermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing all achieve results in basically the same way. Layers of your skin are removed and, as the healing process progresses, a new, healthier-looking skin emerges. What differentiates the various resurfacing methods is the way in which the skin's layers are removed and how deep the treatment penetrates and which cells are stimulated. Chemical peels involve the application of a caustic solution, dermabrasion utilizes a high-speed rotary wheel, and laser resurfacing uses a laser beam. Different treatments have vastly different results, down time, aftercare, longevity of the results, and complications.
How is a chemical peel performed?
A chemical peel solution may be applied to your entire face or just to certain regions, such as the crow's feet area around your eyes or the vertical wrinkles around your mouth. Dr. Robinson will decide what concentration and how long to leave the solution on your face by carefully observing any changes in the appearance of your skin. With certain types of chemical peels, the solution may be "neutralized" after an appropriate amount of time has elapsed.
What are the different types of chemical peels?
The different types of chemical peels vary according to their specific ingredients and their strength. The depth of their peeling action may also be determined by factors such as how long they remain on the skin and whether they are applied lightly or rubbed more vigorously onto the skin.
Generally, the most superficial peels are those using alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as glycolic acid. Sometimes just a single treatment with an AHA peel will give your skin a fresher, healthier appearance and a radiant glow. Repeated treatments can help to further improve the texture of your skin. AHA peels can reduce the effects of aging and sun damage, including fine wrinkling and brown spots. “Dr. Chili” will recommend a maintenance program using AHA products that you can apply at home on a regular basis.
An AHA peel is performed in your plastic surgeon's office. No anesthesia or sedation is needed, and you willfeel a tingling or mild stinging sensation when the solution is applied to your face. Immediately after the procedure, you generally will be able to wear makeup, and you can drive yourself home or back to work.
A trichloracetic acid (TCA) peel is often used for the treatment of wrinkles, pigmentary changes and skin blemishes. Many patients can benefit from having TCA applied not only on the face but also on the neck and other parts of the body that have been exposed to the sun. For spot peeling of limited areas such as around the mouth or eyes, TCA formulas are often preferred because they have less bleaching effect than solutions containing phenol, another popular peeling agent. For the same reason, some surgeons have found TCA to be effective in treating darker-skinned patients.
Milder TCA peels can be repeated frequently in order to achieve cumulative effects, or TCA can be used to achieve a medium or even a deep peel, depending on the acid concentration and manner of application.
A phenol peel is sometimes recommended for treating particularly rough and sun-damaged facial skin. Phenol is effective in reducing the appearance of wrinkles ranging from fine lines to deeper creases. It can correct pigmentary problems including blotchiness or age-related brown spots and may be used in the treatment of precancerous skin conditions.
Phenol is particularly useful for minimizing the vertical lines that often form around the mouth as a result of aging. The disadvantage of phenol for spot peeling of limited areas is that it often has a significant bleaching effect. After your skin has been treated with phenol, you may need to wear makeup in order for the treated portions of your skin to more closely match the skin color of the surrounding areas. Unlike TCA peels, phenol cannot be used on your neck or other parts of your body.
Certain variations in the phenol peel formula, creating a "buffered" or milder solution, may allow for greater flexibility in its use.
How is dermabrasion performed?
Dermabrasion uses a small, rapidly spinning wheel with a roughened surface similar to fine-grained sandpaper to abrade the skin, removing its upper layers. This resurfacing procedure sometimes is selected for the treatment of facial scars such as those caused by acne and often is performed on the cheeks or the entire face.
Dermabrasion, like the deeper chemical peels, is very effective in reducing the appearance of vertical wrinkles around the mouth that often cause lipstick "bleed." It can be used on a small area of skin and on patients with somewhat darker complexions. The treated area usually will blend with the surrounding skin so that there is little, if any, noticeable difference in the pigmentation.
How should I prepare for skin resurfacing?
Prior to a deeper chemical peel or dermabrasion, Dr. Robinson may place you on a pre-treatment program during which you will apply special creams, lotions or gels to your skin for a few weeks or longer. You may also be given certain oral medications that you should begin taking prior to your treatment. He will provide you with additional instructions.
Your skin treatment may be performed in “Dr. Chili’s” office or a free-standing ambulatory facility. You must arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure and probably assist you for a day or so depending upon the type and depth of the peel.
What will happen immediately before and after the treatment?
Medications will be administered for your comfort prior to the treatment. Frequently, local anesthesia alone or combined with IV sedation is used for patients undergoing skin resurfacing procedures. Sometimes, general anesthesia may be desired.
When the treatment is completed, your peeled skin may be covered with silicone jelly or other protective ointment. In some cases, dressings, tape or a bandage may be applied.
How will I look and feel initially?
Deeper chemical peels and dermabrasion will produce redness and swelling to varying degrees. Depending on the post treatment regimen selected by Dr. Robinson, a scab may or may not form over the treated area. You will be advised about cleansing your skin, as well as if and when you should apply any ointments. In the case of men who have undergone resurfacing procedures, shaving must be delayed for a while. It is essential that you follow your Dr. Robinson’s instructions and avoid doing anything that might interrupt the healing process.
About seven to 10 days after your skin resurfacing procedure, a new skin will have begun to form. After the initial redness subsides, your skin may be pink for several weeks to months. Camouflage makeup usually can be used within a couple of weeks, but your plastic surgeon will advise you.
When can I resume my normal activities?
Generally, you should be able to return to work within a week or two after the cleaning and skin healing are completed.
I understand that every medical procedure has risks, but how can I learn more so that I can make an informed decision?
The subject of risks and potential complications of skin resurfacing is best discussed on a personal basis between you and Dr. Robinson or his Obagi® trained staff.
Every year, about 200,000 patients undergo successful skin peel procedures, experience no major problems and are pleased with the results. Anyone considering treatment, however, should be aware of both the benefits and risks.
Skin resurfacing procedures are safe when performed by or directed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. The various resurfacing techniques discussed here have similar types of risks, although there are some differences. For example, infection or abnormal healing are infrequent but may occur with any of the treatments. If you are prone to skin disorders including allergic reactions or herpes, skin resurfacing can cause eruptions of these conditions. Even an AHA peel, which is the most superficial of the resurfacing techniques, may occasionally produce temporary minor skin irritation. Tiny whiteheads may develop on the skin following some procedures. These usually disappear with use of a mildly abrasive cleanser, but occasionally may require removal in Dr. Robinson’s office.
Some individuals have a tendency to form raised or thickened scars, and this is unpredictable. Medications are available to treat such complications, but in rare cases some degree of scarring may be permanent. While the bleaching effect of a phenol peel is to be expected, other types of peels, dermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing sometimes may produce unanticipated color changes or skin blotchiness.
Following all resurfacing treatments, it is important that you avoid direct or indirect exposure to the sun until all the redness or pinkness of your skin has subsided. Even after that, it is advisable for you to protect your skin by regular use of a sun blocker and, whenever possible, a wide-brimmed hat. This is particularly important if you have had a peel which eliminates your skin's ability to tan. If the area around your eyes has been treated, you should wear good quality sunglasses when outdoors. After some types of skin resurfacing treatments, you may need to be careful about exposing your skin to chlorinated water for several months.
You can minimize certain risks and help to maintain the results of your skin resurfacing treatment by following the instructions of”Dr. Chili’.
Results of Skin Resurfacing
Your skin will be smoother, but discolored so makeup might be necessary at first[LNM2] <#_msocom_2> . While color can be covered, wrinkles cannot, so this represents a significant improvement. If you do not wear makeup, then this might be a more difficult time for you.
Because of the persistence of skin pinkness following many types of resurfacing procedures, it may take months before you can fully appreciate your new look. Most patients feel that the results are definitely worth waiting for and, in the case of deeper treatments, the benefits are relatively long-lasting. Superficial resurfacing procedures, such as light chemical peels, will need to be repeated to maintain their benefits.
Your skin will, of course, continue to age. Also, the type of wrinkles caused by movement of your facial muscles will eventually reappear. Some wrinkles may recur sooner than others, depending on their location as well as the type and extent of your resurfacing treatment. Despite this, you can expect that improvements in skin quality and texture achieved by resurfacing will make your complexion appear younger and fresher for many years to come.
Maintaining a Relationship with Your Plastic Surgeon
Please remember that your relationship with us does not end when you leave the operating room. In most cases of skin care, on going use of maintenance products are necessary if you wish to continue with the good results that you have achieved.
Click here for more information
about chemical peels
Botox®
You laugh. You frown. You concentrate. And over time, those expressions leave their mark upon your face. Until today there wasn't a lot you could do about it. Today there's Botox® Cosmetic, a simple, nonsurgical procedure that can reduce even the toughest wrinkles between your brows within days.
Botox® Cosmetic is a unique aesthetic treatment indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines associated with corrugator and/or procerus muscle activity in adults. The most common side effects are bruising, stinging, headache, temporary eyelid droop, and recurrence.
Botox® Cosmetic is contraindicated in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation.
Patients with rare neuromuscular disorders may be at increased risk of clinically significant systemic effects, including severe dysphagia and respiratory compromise from typical doses of Botox® Cosmetic.
Botox® Cosmetic is minimally invasive and no recuperation time is required.
Click here for more information about Botox®
Return to the top ^
|
