The summer sun is a distant memory, but the damage to your skin is not. Winter is a perfect time to freshen and rejuvenate your face. There are many treatment choices to reverse the effects of sun exposure. Give yourself the gift of beautiful skin this winter and find out which treatment plan is best for you.
Gregory Branham, MD, and John Chi, MD, are Washington University facial plastic surgeons who specialize in cosmetic surgery, skin cancer surgery, laser resurfacing, chemical peels, dermabrasion and cosmetic Botox ®.
Dr. Branham says, “Even with the use of sunscreens, it is hard to avoid UV exposure during the summer months. The heat and elements take their toll on the skin and can leave it with a dry, dull finish —not to mention fine lines, wrinkles and splotchy pigmentation. Skin texture and pigment problems are underestimated when it comes to adding years to your appearance, and both can be reversed quite easily.”
Resurfacing the skin is usually done best by a physician-directed laser treatment or chemical peel, which strips away the superficial skin layers. In a matter of a few days, the skin is smoother with more even tones.
According to Dr. Chi, “Depending on the treatment, the down time can range from several days to a week. A full face fractionated laser treatment or a medium depth peel offer the best results when it comes to making an impact on the fine lines and age spots. The results of a laser treatment, even at one week after the procedure, can be very dramatic.”
Keep in mind that facials, microdermabrasion or light peels should be a part of routine skin care. However, they do little to impact wrinkles and dyschromias (splotchy pigmentation or age spots).
Dr. Branham adds, “Of course, if you have more advanced aging changes, a surgical procedure such as a facelift, browlift or eyelid tuck (blepharoplasty) might be in order. To maximize results, these procedures can be done in conjunction with the skin resurfacing.”
For more information on treatment options for your skin rejuvenation needs, please call 314-996-3880.
Washington University Facial Plastic Surgery Center
1020 N. Mason Road, Suite 205
Creve Coeur, MO, 63141