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Does your skin have fine lines, age spots, acne scars, or other issues that you’d like to clear up? Cosmetic facial treatments can help improve the look and feel of your skin. Since each cosmetic facial treatment is designed to work out a specific problem spot, here’s a quick look at the top seven most popular cosmetic facial treatments and what they can help you with.

1. Botox

Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly those that cause muscles to contract. The most common use for these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that underlie and cause wrinkles, such as:

• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Crow’s feet
• Forehead furrows

During your treatment, you doctor will inject small amounts of Botox into the facial muscles (just enough to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles) using a very thin needle. You doctor will target specific muscles so the surrounding skin isn’t affected. The number of injection sites varies depending on the severity of your wrinkles, but treatment generally takes about 15 minutes and doesn’t require any recovery time. Results from Botox injections usually last several months.

2. Chemical Peel

A chemical peel is a treatment that uses a chemical solution, which is applied to the skin in order to make it blister and eventually peel off. The new skin is usually smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin. Chemical peels can help:

• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging
• Improve the appearance of mild scars
• Treat certain types of acne
• Reduce age spots, freckles, and dark patches
• Improve the overall look and feel of skin

Chemical peels range from mild to deep. The best type for you will depend on the severity of your skin problems. Mild peels use alpha-hydroxy acids, while medium peels use trichloroacetic acid; both of which will reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Deeper peels use phenol, which treats deeper scars and wrinkles, and can produce a much more dramatic and long-lasting effect than mild or medium peels.

3. Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin, precisely removing skin layer by layer, while also heating up deeper layers. This treatment can help reduce wrinkles and skin irregularities, such as blemishes or acne scars. Results from this treatment can last for years.

4. Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion is an exfoliating treatment that uses a rotating instrument to remove the outer layers of skin, exposing new layers of skin that appear younger and smoother. Dermabrasion can help treat:

• Acne scars
• Age spots
• Fine wrinkles
• Precancerous skin patches
• Redness and thick skin on the nose (rhinophyma)
• Scars from surgery or injury
• Sun damage
• Tattoos
• Uneven skin tone

5. Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a mild form of dermabrasion that uses the application of tiny rough grains to buff away the surface layer of skin. The healing process brings with it newer skin cells that look and feel smoother. Microdermabrasion can help:

• Remove sun damage
• Remove blemishes
• Remove age spots
• Reduce the appearance of minor lines or scars
• Clean out clogged pores
• Even out discolored skin

This treatment usually takes about 30 minutes and requires no recovery time. However, most people need several treatments before they see improvement. The results of this treatment depend on the severity of the skin damage and the number of treatments.

6. Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a naturally-derived or synthetic material that is directly injected into the skin in order to plump the area to the point where the wrinkle, depression, or fold is gone.

There are two primary groups of dermal fillers: synthetic and natural.

Synthetic fillers—are considered semi-permanent because they don’t really dissipate.

Naturally-derived fillers—are immediate but will only last for three to 18 months because the filler eventually breaks down, taking the results with it. Once the filler starts to dissipate, you’ll need to go back and get more filler injections to maintain results.

7. Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal beams a highly concentrated light into the hair follicles. Pigments in the follicles absorb the light, which destroys the hair. Laser hair removal can be done on the face, leg, arm, underarm, bikini line, and other areas. Some of the benefits of laser hair removal include:

• Precision
• Speed
• Predictability

This treatment works best on light skin with dark hair because darker hair absorbs more light, and lighter skin lets more of the light into the hair follicle. Hair loss is typically permanent after three to eight sessions.

Book a Facial Treatment Consultation

No matter what you think might be the best treatment option for you, be sure to consult with Dr. Binder before booking your desired treatment.