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A lot of patients considering cosmetic surgery can be concerned about the sometimes pulled, unnatural look that results from facelifts.
Now, a growing trend among dermatologists is to combine minimally invasive procedures to tone, tighten and plump aging skin, creating a more natural, younger look with less risk and recovery time than a traditional surgical facelift.
Speakers at the American Academy of Dermatology discussed the benefits of some of the latest minimally invasive cosmetic procedures and how dermatologists determine what combination will work best for each individual patient. "With new understanding about the skin's aging process -- and in particular what actually makes a person look old -- dermatologists are now able to combine several minimally invasive procedures to give a final result that approaches and in some cases surpasses that of traditional facelift surgery," said Dr Kaminer, the assistant professor of dermatology at Yale University.
Advances in soft tissue augmentation offer patients natural-looking and durable treatment options for wrinkles, which are among the most telltale signs of aging. For patients looking for a permanent correction, autologous fat transplantation uses the patients' own fat cells to fill in wrinkles without the risk of allergic reactions that can occur from manmade injectables. The two-step, same-day process, begins with a small liposuction procedure in which fat cells are taken from the patient's abdomen, buttocks, outer thighs or hips and processed for implantation. Then, the harvested fat tissue is precisely injected under the skin, using local anesthesia, with very fine instruments to contour affected areas. Results are noticeable within 24 to 48 hours following the procedure.
Another non-invasive procedure to tighten sagging skin is known as monopolar radiofrequency skin tightening. This novel approach tightens the skin using intense heat delivered deep into the dermis layer of the skin to produce collagen remodeling and tightening. Discomfort is minimized with the use of oral pain medications, as well as the application of protective skin cooling delivered before, during and after the application of heat. Unlike its invasive counterparts, monopolar radiofrequency skin tightening effectively tightens skin without injuring the epidermis, the top layer of the skin, resulting in virtually no downtime for the patient.
Two of the newer minimally invasive skin resurfacing procedures, fractional resurfacing and superficial ablative resurfacing, are proving successful in using lasers to gently smooth out uneven pigmentation, wrinkles and irregular texture.
Fractional resurfacing employs a unique mechanism of action that repairs a fraction of skin at a time. A dermatologist uses the laser to gently resurface the epidermis and, at the same time, reaches deep into the dermis to safely promote new collagen formation. The untreated healthy skin remains intact and actually aids in the repair process, promoting rapid healing with only a day or two of downtime.
Superficial ablative resurfacing treats fine lines and wrinkles, as well as uneven pigmentation, with an erbium laser that removes skin as thin as a few microns at a time (which is a fraction of the width of a human hair). This new technique significantly improves the efficacy of skin resurfacing, while eliminating many of the risks inherent with older devices. Most patients notice a softening of fine facial lines and wrinkles, including those around the eyes and lips, after as few as two treatments. As is the case with fractional resurfacing, superficial ablative resurfacing requires only a few days of downtime following the procedure.
Since the success of most minimally invasive procedures is highly dependent on the skill level of the physician, the American Academy of Dermatology urges patients to do their homework before undergoing any cosmetic procedure and discuss their expectations with their dermatologist, or clinician.
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