Cosmetic procedures are designed to help restore or enhance a person's appearance and boost self-confidence.
Certain cosmetic procedures may have a positive effect on a person's skin. These procedures may help a person look younger by reducing the signs of aging. Depending on their needs, there are two types of procedures—ablative and non-ablative.
Ablative Procedures
Ablative procedures are designed to remove the top layers of skin. Wounding the epidermis induces the healing process, creating skin that is more even and smooth. Ablative procedures often require significant downtime in the post-treatment recovery period as the reticular dermis is injured. Ultimately, the top layer of skin (epidermis) is resurfaced to improve skin texture, color and thickness.There are several types of ablative procedures, such as lasers, chemical peels, and dermabrasion. Ablative lasers include CO2, Erbium: Yag Lasers, and Nd: Yag Lasers. Ablative chemical peels include Phenol, Baker-Gordon, TCA 35% or higher, and combinations of these chemical peels.
Non-ablative Procedures
Non-ablative procedures are designed to gently smooth and repair lines, wrinkles, and other skin concerns without removing the epidermal layer of the skin. The epidermis is left intact and injury only occurs in the upper papillary dermis. Compared to ablative procedures, non-ablative procedures have minimal downtime in the post-treatment recovery phase.There are several types of non-ablative procedures, such as chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and IPL and fractionated laser treatments. Although these procedures are designed to work in different ways, they achieve similar results by stimulating the healing process to help create new, healthier-looking skin.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels help diminish imperfections by targeting the skin's top layers. A chemical solution is applied to the skin and left in place for a few minutes until the upper layers of the skin are dissolved. The body's natural healing process is then triggered, which helps to create fresh, healthy skin. Chemical skin peels treat sun damage, skin discoloration, and fine lines and wrinkles. The most superficial peels are those using alpha hydroxy acids (AHA). A stronger option is a trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peel.Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion helps give skin an overall fresh, healthy-looking glow by stimulating the production of skin and collagen. Tiny crystals are applied to the surface of the skin using a handheld device. It acts as a "polishing" process for the face. Microdermabrasion treats skin texture, fine lines, age spots, and acne scars.Laser Skin Rejuvenation
For this procedure, a laser is used to dissolve the molecular bonds of damaged skin layer by layer, helping to create a smoother, more uniform skin appearance. Laser skin rejuvenation treats wrinkles, sun spots, age spots, blotchiness, scars, acne scars, veins, and blood vessels. There are several types of lasers, including carbon dioxide (CO2), Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), and Fractionated Laser Treatment (FLT).
