HEALTH & BEAUTY :: JUNE/JULY 2007
Undo Sun Damage for a Younger Looking You
Have you ever noticed that some people look young and vibrant even though they may have a bit of droop to their face while other people look old and tired even though they have little or no sagging of their skin? People’s appearance can be dramatically affected by their skin quality. Sun-damaged, wrinkled skin can add years to your appearance while a smooth, even complexion can give a much more youthful appearance to a mature face.
The first step in improving skin quality is a combination of superficial peels and a good at home skin care program.
Many people who spend significant sums of money on department store products could purchase products from a physician supervised skin program that are much more effective but cost about the same or less than those purchased in a department store. These product lines are comprehensive and customized to each individual’s skin type.
At home care can be jump started with a series of peels or microdermabrasions. Microdermabrasion is a non-invasive and safe approach to correcting minor imperfections. Microdermabrasion treatments will help minimize fine lines, smooth the skin, unclog pores, promote cell regeneration, balance skin tone and help sun damage spots. Age Intervention Facial is an accelerated facial peel that incorporates the combination of glycolic acid and proteolytic enzymes to safely resurface the skin. This facial helps with fine lines and smoothes virtually any complexion. The new Innovative Facial is a luxurious and intensive clinical treatment designed to rapidly and safely resurface the skin. It is a precise combination of two professional treatment masques: the INTENSIVE RESURFACING MASQUE – a potent clinically formulated masque, and the REJUVENATING MASQUE - a cool, soothing, intensely hydrating masque. Both active and cooling, it has an aroma of warm cinnamon and brisk cool peppermint. These are just a few of the many peel options available. A good home care routine along with regular skin treatments keeps your skin looking its youngest.
If superficial peels and skin care are not producing the desired results, the next step to consider would be FotoFacial or Fraxel laser treatments.
FotoFacials are light based treatments wherein the Pulsed Light is filtered to a certain wavelength which targets specific pigment in the skin. This is effective in treating brown spots and red facial veins. Red veins often begin to disappear immediately after treatment. Brown spots usually intensify after treatment and then flake off a week or so after treatment. Makeup can be applied immediately after a treatment. A series of 3 -5 treatments is usually recommended to achieve optimal results. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), or FotoFacials, cannot be used on darker skin types.
The Fraxel Laser offers improvement in skin texture, fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars and brown pigment which may not respond to IPL. The innovative Fraxel Laser is specially designed to alter only fractional volumes of the selected tissue. The Fraxel targets aging and sun-damaged skin by targeting portions of specific damaged tissue and creating tiny microscopic wounds within the specified area. This triggers the body’s natural wound healing process and speeds up the development of new collagen fibers and healthy new tissue. Most patients should plan to have a series of 5 treatments at approximately 2 week intervals to achieve desired results. Fraxel Laser Treatment offers the benefits of speedy healing and minimal downtime. Side effects are minimal and typically involve swelling and redness. Mild swelling should subside within a day or so, and redness usually fades over several days. Patients can apply make-up immediately after treatment and return to routine activities. Improvement is both immediate and progressive, with maximum improvement noted at about 3 months after your final treatment. The second generation Fraxel does not require the use of any messy blue dye. It also allows for more intensive treatments with less recovery.
As you’re enjoying outdoor activities this summer, remember to protect your skin by frequently reapplying sun block, especially to the delicate skin of your face, neck and hands. And for the damage that’s already done, turn back the clock with a combination of physician supervised skin care and lasers treatments that can give you a youthful, glowing appearance.
Testimonial:
“Dr. deLeeuw, Thank you soooo much. I am very happy with the outcome of my surgery. Just wanted to tell you your staff was wonderful. They made my fear go away and gave me advice that really made me excited, rather than scared! I honestly have never been treated so good by nurses before! So thanks again to all of you!” ~ A.B., Camden County, NJ
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery of Delaware, PA is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, DE. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact them at 800.444.6936.
Dr. deLeeuw is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery, has more than twenty years of experience and exclusively performs cosmetic procedures in our fully accredited, on site surgical facility. Dr. deLeeuw is also on staff at both St. Francis and Christiana Care hospitals.
Dr. deLeeuw has retained active membership in the following medical associations: American Medical Association, Delaware Academy of Medicine, Medical Society of Delaware, New Castle County Medical Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Lipoplasty Society of North America, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
