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Dermabrasion:
Mechanical sanding of the skin.
Depending on doctor's preference, dermabrasion is used almost interchangeably with chemical peel and Erbium YAG laser treatments.
Dermabrasion is frequently recommended for the treatment of scarring, sun-damaged skin, and lines around the mouth. Doctors
may administer IV sedation for a full-face procedure but may stick to local anesthesia if the area is limited. The doctor
planes the skin with a rotating metal tool that has a slightly roughened surface in order to reveal a new layer of skin. It
can be used anywhere on the face except the eyelids, where the tissue is too thin.
A crust will form during the early healing process and needs to be continually removed with moist packs. If this isn't done,
as with any procedure that breaks the skin, there is some risk of infection and scarring. To assure even skin tone, doctors
may prefer to treat the entire face at once, particularly for darker complexions.
Costs - $1,000-$2,000
Microdermabrasion:
Also called the power peel, this is a gentle, painless sandblasting of the outer layer of the skin.
Fine crystal grains are blown through a delicate hand piece to remove dead and damaged skin cells. The treatment will stimulate
the collagen beneath the surface of the skin and minimize pores, fine lines, scars, and age spots. Collagen, which holds cells
together, is an important component of skin. As we age, the body tends to produce less collagen, which leads to the formation
of wrinkles. Stimulating collagen production can arrest, and perhaps even reverse, this process.
While results will be seen immediately, to be really effective, microdermabrasion needs to be performed weekly over a period
of two to three months, followed by monthly maintenance treatments.
Can be a quick 20-minute lunchtime treatment, but temporary redness may result.
Cost - Around $100-$250 per session.
Laser Treatment:
The Erbium YAG laser (for moderate wrinkles like crow's feet) and carbon dioxide laser (penetrates deeper to treat deeper
wrinkles) are used to remove undesired tissue.
Since laser treatment is a relatively new procedure, long-term effects are not known.
These high-tech tools focus laser energy on undesired tissue and vaporize it. Because of the laser beam's precision, the doctor
can--in one session--make several passes over areas that require extra attention without harm to adjacent skin. The milder
Erbium YAG works well on fine lines and mild sun damage; healing usually takes about two to three weeks. Deeper wrinkles respond
to carbon dioxide laser treatment, but this is a more serious treatment with a longer recovery period of about two months.
Alert doctor to history of fever blisters, which can be aggravated by laser treatment. There's a possibility of scarring and
hypopigmentation. There is some risk of altered color after carbon dioxide treatment. For better blending of skin tones, doctor
may suggest a combination of peels and laser.
Costs - $2,000-$6,000
Filler Injection:
Fillers can be used to fill in wrinkles, acne scars, and other skin depressions.
Some fillers widely used are: Zyderm or Zyplast, which is derived from cow collagen; autologen, which is extracted from remnants
of your own skin removed from prior procedures; Alloderm (or Dermalogen), human skin taken from a cadaver that has less rejection
problems than others; and Isologen, a collagen growth from a tiny sample of your skin.
Alternatively, synthetic substances such as Gore-Tex and SoftForm can be threaded under the skin to elevate the wrinkle from
below. This procedure is permanent.
As people age, the body tends to produce less collagen, which leads to the formation of wrinkles. Filler material is injected
to fill in areas such as fine lines in the forehead and around the mouth, and to plump up lips. Because patients get immediate
results with relatively little discomfort, this treatment is rapidly gaining popularity.
Improvement is temporary and the procedure has to be repeated every few months. Since a small percentage of people are allergic
to cow collagen, a simple skin test is recommended prior to the injection. Injections of synthetic substances may leave bulges
under the skin.
Costs - $350-$2,500
Botox Injection:
A diluted dose of botulism--a paralysis-inducing poison.
Botox is injected into the muscles that create fine lines, such as the expression lines around the eyes or the mouth. The
muscles succumb to paralysis and the lines disappear. This is another short-term fix that requires "booster" injections approximately
every three months.
After getting injections, patients can't lie down for a few hours, because botox will drain away from the treated areas. There
is some risk of temporary muscle sag. If injected in the wrong part of the forehead, it will make eyebrows droop.
Muscles that have been repeatedly immobilized by botox may become less active, a phenomenon that doctors refer to as "retraining."
Patients who experience this change need fewer treatments over time.
Costs - $500-$750
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