There’s no escaping the aging process. You can give yourself the best chance at staving off the tell-tale signs by eating well, exercising and taking great care of your skin, but eventually, we all see imperfections we’re not happy with. With so many innovative solutions to address almost every area of concern, you don’t have to live with your aging appearance. Call the caring and expert staff at InVogue Rejuvenation & Body Sculpting Center in El Paso, TX to talk about a solution that can address multiple skin and complexion concerns—microdermabrasion.
What Causes Signs of Aging?
We know the passage of time ages us, but what actually causes outward signs like fine lines and wrinkles or uneven skin tone and texture? The answer is a reduction in the production of collagen. Collagen is the most abundant protein in our bodies and acts as the building block of a youthful appearance. It keeps our facial structure strong and the skin around it full of life and shape.
Collagen works with elastin and hyaluronic acid. Elastin is responsible for our skin bouncing back to where we want it to be, and hyaluronic acid helps our skin attract and keep moisture, giving it a dewy and supple look and feel. As the production of these powerhouses declines, our faces begin to lose their tautness, even tone, and smooth surface.
Collagen production is at its peak when we turn 18. It’s thought we lose 1% per year after that. Years of sun exposure or smoking can further deplete our bodies of collagen. The only way to regain our youthful glow and shape is to kick start the collagen production process. Luckily, there’s a great solution for reducing the appearance of a lot of our aging skin concerns—medical microdermabrasion.
What Is Medical Microdermabrasion?
Medical microdermabrasion uses microcrystals to exfoliate your skin and remove the top layer of dead, damaged and dull skin cells. Medical microdermabrasion has a biological impact on your skin cells—it kick-starts the healing process. When your body is faced with something it perceives as an injury, even if it doesn’t hurt, it produces more collagen to repair and regenerate those cells.
As the new cells are formed and appear as new layers of skin, they are rejuvenated, and without the imperfections of the damaged layers of skin. The collagen fills in those fine lines and wrinkles and can help dramatically improve the appearance of acne scarring or “pockmarks”. Acne scars are caused when a cyst forms in the deeper layers of skin. When the cyst goes away, it leaves a gap between the top and lower layers of the skin, resulting in a concave scar or “pit”. The excess collagen fills in those scars and can leave you with a smoother skin surface.
Sun damage and age spots hang out on the top layers of skin, so when those are exfoliated away, newer, glowing skin is revealed without many of the tell-tale imperfections that come with aging.
What to Expect
Because microdermabrasion is non-invasive, there is no preparation and no downtime associated with the treatment. Many clients go back to their normal daily routines immediately after a session. During the treatment, a handpiece is used to direct a precise stream of fine crystals to the skin while simultaneously providing a mild suction to pull the dead skin cells and impurities away.
Microscopic abrasions caused by the process leave your skin in a much better position to absorb high-quality skincare products. Your skincare expert may recommend a specific topical treatment or take-home product to maximize your results. Follow whatever aftercare instructions your provider gives to you because they’re meant to extend the life of your results and help keep your skin glowing.
This treatment is non-invasive and does not use heat, so it’s appropriate and safe for any skin color or type. The crystals are non-allergenic so even sensitive skin types can safely use this treatment.
Results
Most clients see immediate results with a more vibrant and glowing complexion because those dead skin cells have been removed. Collagen production only makes the results improve during the weeks after treatment. Over time a more radiant and younger-looking glow will take over your face.
Some clients attain the results they’re looking for in just one session, while others may opt for up to four sessions spaced one month apart to achieve their optimal results. Each patient is different, and results may vary.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
If you’re bothered by outward signs of aging and visible skin imperfections, you’re probably a good candidate. Only your skincare provider can make the ultimate determination of your candidacy. A thorough consultation where a skin examination is performed along with an honest conversation about your concerns and expected results will help direct you both to the right course of treatment for you.
Microdermabrasion can help transform your complexion in ways you may not have thought possible from a non-invasive treatment. Talk to your skincare expert about this treatment if you have concerns about:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne scars
- Large pores
- Uneven skin tone and texture
- Sun damage
- Age spots
- Rosacea
- Hyperpigmentation
If you decide on this treatment for some of your concerns but want to explore other options for others, your provider will have a menu of solutions. Together, you can decide what the right course of action is for you and the results you desire.
Anti-Aging Injectables
There’s a reason injectables are so popular: they can address many concerns, and with some solutions, like dermal fillers, the results are immediate.
Dermal Fillers
If one of your primary concerns is moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds or loss of volume in your face, a dermal filler may be for you. There are many fillers available, and each one is designed to serve a specific purpose. Some may be designed to stay close to the site of injection while others are made to disperse. One of the most popular dermal fillers of all time is Juvederm.
Juvederm is an FDA approved filler and a synthetic form of hyaluronic acid. We mentioned earlier that hyaluronic acid helps to nourish and keep our skin hydrated and supple. When the skin is hydrated, it has more volume. Juvederm is a go-to for filling in marionette lines, smile lines, and nasolabial folds. It can also add natural volume to thinning lips and fill in lip lines.
Juvederm is a popular line of dermal fillers, each able to address different issues you may have. There are many more effective fillers on the market. There are dermal fillers to address:
- Loss of volume in the cheek area
- Bunny lines
- Chin lines
- Tear troughs
- Scars
- Small depressions
- Nose asymmetry
BOTOX
If you look in the mirror and think your appearance doesn’t match the way you feel, or that your lines are causing you to look angry, sad or tired, BOTOX could be a good solution. BOTOX is an FDA approved neuromodulator which works on dynamic wrinkles at their source—movement. Throughout our lives, we make the same facial expressions repeatedly, and our skin ends up as the map of these movements.
This treatment blocks the nerve signals from reaching the muscles responsible for these repeated movements. When the activity of these targeted muscles is reduced or temporarily halted, the muscles relax. A relaxed muscle allows the skin on top to smooth out, softening or eliminating wrinkles. A series of targeted injections is all it takes, and about a week later you’ll see results.
BOTOX can even activate other muscles, creating a brow lifting effect. Results last between 3-4 months, but with regular maintenance sessions, they can be almost seamless. Your expression will now match how you feel!
Kybella
Another injectable treatment unlike any other is Kybella. If you’re one of the millions of people unhappy with the look of submental fat or “double chin,” this could be a non-surgical solution. Kybella is made of synthetic deoxycholic acid—a naturally occurring substance used by the body to break down and absorb dietary fats.
If you’ve tried diet and exercise and still find you can’t eliminate your double chin, talk to your provider about Kybella. Submental fat is notorious for being exercise resistant. Once injected, Kybella attaches to the fat cells and dissolves them. Once the fat cells are dissolved, they are metabolized by the body and expelled.
The great part about Kybella treatment is that once the fat cells are gone, they’re gone for good. Some patients will get the results they want after just a few sessions while others may opt for up to six. Each session will be scheduled no less than a month apart so your provider can see the progression of your results and tailor your next session accordingly.
Other Anti-Aging Treatments
If you’d like to address other areas of concern, like skin imperfections and overall complexion issues, a comprehensive practice will have several options for you to choose from.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are applied to the top layer of skin and cause that layer to peel away. Once the dead, damaged, and dull layers are sloughed away, it reveals a brighter more even complexion. Peels increase blood circulation to your face, promoting better cell production and regeneration.
Chemical peels are a safe and effective solution for:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Sun damage
- Acne and acne scars
- Uneven skin tone and texture
- Dark spots
DermaFrac and LED Skin Rejuvenation
An innovative way to address the unwelcome signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture, and years of sun damage, is DermaFrac with LED skin rejuvenation. DermaFrac is an advanced microneedling system that simultaneously delivers high-grade and treatment-specific serums.
We mentioned before that your skin’s ability to absorb skincare products is increased after microneedling, so doing it simultaneously ensures maximum benefit. This treatment is paired with LED therapy, adding to an overall invigorating result not achieved by one individual treatment.
While some patients only require one treatment session to achieve their aesthetic goals, others may want multiple sessions to maximize their results. Only you and your provider can determine the right course of treatment for you. Discuss your expectations, and your provider will manage those expectations with the right treatment plan.
Call for a Consultation
If you want to change your appearance to match how young you feel on the inside or just want a fresher, brighter complexion, make sure you choose the right team of experts. Look for a team that wants to treat you as a whole person and not just an aesthetic symptom.
Call InVogue Rejuvenation & Body Sculpting Center in El Paso, TX today and connect with people who are passionate about treating their clients and patients like family. Your whole health will be addressed, and you will feel heard and cared for. A new, healthier and more confident you is just a call away.
