skin rejuvenation - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about skin rejuvenation or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
Philadelphia and Mainline Center of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Skin Rejuvenation
Turn phone to see more information
Treatments:
Skin Rejuvenation - Defined
Many stories of our lives leave their marks on our skin: stress lines, scars and even lines of laughter. So, the decision of skin rejuvenation treatment must be extremely personal and tailored to achieve your goals. Skin rejuvenation offers several avenues to restore freshness and vitality of youth.
Skin Rejuvenation - Active FX - before and after
Skin Maintenance and Chemical Peels
- Skin Maintenance and Chemical Peels
-
Some of us are simply interested in a refreshed look. This can be easily achieved by daily use of sunscreens and topical retinoids at night (if tolerated).
Occasionally, we need to promote turnover of skin cells by targeting the top layer of skin using the time-tested method of peeling. Gentle chemical peels made of glycolic acid or more potent TCA peels can improve appearance by removing some superficial skin to erase dullness. Another method of exfoliation, microdermabrasion uses ultra-fine aluminum oxide crystals to selectively remove dead layers of skin. This process simultaneously stimulates production of elastin and collagen to effectively promote development of a firmer, more youthful looking skin.
As we progress through life, we might want 'to turn back time' and look 10 years younger. Fortunately, treatment options for this dramatic rejuvenation are manifold and can be tailored to one's goals, age, lifestyle and even ability to tolerate downtime.
A treatment plan may incorporate several different modalities: skin resurfacing techniques; laser removal of pigmented spots; laser skin tightening; strategic use of synthetic fillers, volumizers and Botox injections.
-
- Skin Resurfacing for Dramatic Results
-
Skin resurfacing devices, like the paragon carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, effectively deliver dramatic results. They use controlled damage to trigger the skin's healing response, a process that eventually leads to skin remodeling and improvement in various signs of aging. Laser resurfacing offers a precise, effective and long-lasting approach to skin rejuvenation. Since this technique directs short and concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin, laser skin resurfacing removes skin very precisely. Specially designed pulsed CO2 lasers can vaporize skin layer-by-layer while causing minimal damage to untargeted skin tissue. While fractional resurfacing with Fraxel uses a very narrow column of light to heat layers of the skin to stimulate collagen production, the cool light of erbium laser treatments facilitate removal of uneven pigmentation and superficial roughness from aging and sun-damaged skin. Plasma resurfacing is a relatively new technology that delivers plasma, a high energy ionized gas, through the epidermis into the deeper layers of the skin where collagen production is stimulated. Indeed, CO2 lasers, erbium lasers and plasma devices can deliver dramatic results in a fractional, ablative or non-ablative manner with downtime inversely correlated to the number of treatments needed.
-
- Skin Tightening
-
Skin tightening will further enhance the effects of skin resurfacing and are built in with CO2 laser treatments. When length of healing is a concern, radiofrequency can be used to tighten the skin, albeit the results may not be as reliable or long lasting.
-
- Skin Luminosity - Brown, Sun, and Age Spots Treatment
-
Luminosity of the skin has been shown to directly correlate with a youthful appearance. Most rejuvenation plans therefore incorporate removal of brown/age/sun spots. If downtime with CO2 or erbium laser resurfacing are unacceptable, treatments including a range of laser or non-laser intense pulsed light sources (IPL) may be chosen. Many skin problems of adulthood, such as fine lines, blotchiness, age spots (liver spots, dark spots), surface roughness, wrinkles, and dull, lifeless skin, can be attributed to sun exposure. The unique ability of specific lasers and IPL to specifically target pigment in the skin results in safe, effective and rapid treatment of unsightly skin lesions that have brown pigmentation.
-
- Wrinkle Treatment - Fillers - Botox - Restylane - Elevesse- Radiesse - and others
-
Stubborn wrinkles and fine lines often require more help than is available at the cosmetics counter. Modern technology has provided an array of fillers and volumizers that can be used over the entire face to strategically and effectively correct static lines and volume loss. In recent years, several new skin fillers have received approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating facial wrinkles and are safe and effective options for combating aging skin. Wrinkles are thought to result from the loss of three crucial skin components: collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid through external and internal ageing. Cosmetic injectables offer a variety of safe, non-invasive ways to subtly optimize one's appearance. Injection procedures with synthetic fillers have revolutionized aesthetic medicine and made cosmetic enhancements safe, easy and affordable. Of particular interest, the synthetic fillers (e.g. Restylane/Juvederm, Elevesse, Radiesse, Artefill and Sculptra) represent a new generation of alternatives to animal-based collagens. These newer products are more versatile in their weights and densities, biocompatible and longer lasting. Injectable fillers can be used to round out wrinkles, lines, and scars, or even to subtly give the face a more desirable shape.
In certain cases, treatment plans might also take advantage of removers of dynamic lines, like Botox, and fillers for volume restoration. Botox cosmetic acts as a safe, reliable medication, which blocks the actions of certain nerves. For wrinkles this means relaxing the muscles that crease the skin or pull the skin down.
-
- Skin Rejuvenation - Summary
-
Clearly, skin rejuvenation can be effectively customized to individual treatment plans by combination of different modalities ranging from laser, light and other energy-based treatments to injectable fillers, volumizers, chemical peels and other non-ablative methods. The result is a smoother, clearer and healthier and more radiant skin.
A personalized treatment plan of pertinent modalities to skin rejuvenation is a veritable route to maintain youthful vitality throughout life.
-
Hands rejuvenation with fillers before and after
| IPL Treatment Price List | ||
|---|---|---|
| Face | $400 | |
| Neck | $300 | |
| Chest | $500 | |
| Shoulders and Arms | $500 | |
| Forearms | $400 | |
| Hands | $300 | |
| Legs | $500 | |
Do you offer Filorga or similar products that’s deliver vitamins and/or hyaluronic acid to mesoderm?
We do not. It is very difficult to deliver large molecules into the skin or subcutaneous areas without injecting them.
I have bags and dark circles under my eyes. I also can see the signs of aging in my face as lines are deepening and areas of my face are beginning to sag. My neck is also showing signs of aging where it is beginning to sag and has crepe lines. A friend told me that Thermage would help with all of these aging symptoms. In your opinion, what is the best treatment without involving surgery?
There are many different ways to tighten skin and correct volume loss on the face or in the eye area, non-surgically or surgically. A comprehensive consultation allow you to learn about the options that fit your skin and your downtime. It is not possible without in-person examination to know what treatment fits you best. Our office does not operate Thermage because of its unpredictable results. It works in less than 50% of those who are treated. If you are lucky, you belong to the responders – there is just no way of predicting it.
Hello, I would like to find out about Infini for the Neck and declotee – I am 52 yo woman and a serious side sleeper and I notice increasing and ugly lines on my chest area that will not go away – I have tried every lotion, vitamin c, oils, declotee pads etc. I also am starting to have sagging skin on my neck and I want to see if there is something I can do to make these areas more youthful. Read about Infini and would like to find out more about the proven results and the length of time the results last. Is there a long down time with this? Also cost per treatment – Thanks much!
It appears from your description that you are a candidate for fractionated radiofrequency (Infini) treatment. Most people will need 2-4 treatments 6 or more weeks apart for desired skin tightening, collagen and elastin production. The results are expected to last about 7 years. Downtime with treatment of the neck and chest include up to 14 days of swelling and redness and as as well transient hyperpigmentation. The cost per treatment is currently $750 for the neck and $800 for the chest. Fee reduction applies for both treatments performed on the same day. Please set up an appointment for Infini consultation to learn about the procedure in detail.
Hello, I would like a quote on C02 laser resurfacing of my face & neck. Thank you. Jacquie
Lax skin on face and neck can be treated by a single fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing session or by about 3 high intensity fractionated radiofrequency (Infini) treatments. Both deliver predictable results when skin is lax but they differ in downtime. CO2 laser resurfacing goes along with about 4-7 days of possible crusting and oozing and gradually decreasing redness over a 3 months period.High intensity fractionated radiofrequency affords speedy healing over a weekend with redness and swelling lasting for 1-2 days. The CO2 laser stimulates collagen production whereas radiofrequency turns up elastin, a process that is completed by 6 months. Both elastin and collagen are building blocks for the layer of our skin that gives it fullness and tightness. The fee for fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing of face and neck is currently $4500 while Infini is $1200 per treatment.
Do you perform microneedling procedures? If so what is the average cost and how effective is this compared to laser resurfacing for stimulating new collagen?
Microneedling may have the ability to stimulate collagen to remodel photoaged skin as well as scars. It is not as effective as CO2 laser or Picosure laser treatment. We do offer these laser treatments in our office but not microneedling, which is easily done at home. A numbe of beauty salons/spas pair it with the application of peptides or antioxidants.
Do you offer Gluthione injections at your locations?
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant with many emerging uses for various diseases or disease prevention. Its current role in dermatology is limited to cosmetics (anti-aging and skin fading). There are side effects with glutathione injections that do no outweigh the skin benefits and therefore we do not provide gluathione injections. Glutathione is available in a pill by at least 2 reputable companies and serious side effects have been reported with the recommend does of the oral formulation.
What did you use in the treatment above?
CO2 laser resurfacing with Active FX.