New high tech Anti- aging Treatments

You will want to try!

I wanted to let you know about the new anti-aging and skin tightening treatments you can do during your lunchtime break!  My gal pals are always talking about what we can do to age gracefully without doing anything major. I am all about doing what you can to take care of my skin. It’s too bad I didn’t have that same attitude when I was in my teens and 20’s! 

Many things cause our skin to age. Some things we cannot do anything about; others we can influence. Gravity sucks y’all!

With time, we all get visible lines on our face. It is natural for our face to lose some of its youthful fullness. We notice our skin becoming thinner and drier. Our genes largely control when these changes occur. It’s a total bummer when you look in the mirror and want to see that familiar 30 something face only to discover a new line or flaw. Wrinkles are only signs of a life well lived but I even want to keep them at bay as long as possible. 

With that said, we can do to slow down the aging process our skin goes through. It’s about aging gracefully… anti-aging. Right? I was invited to try two of these new anti-aging high tech treatments that I want to share with you. There is no down time for these procedures. 

We all can eat better, stay out of the sun, wear sunscreen, take necessary vitamins, use non toxic skincare products and fish oils etc. But what if we want a little more pro-active help to rejuvenate our skin during a lunch break? Sounds good huh?

Here are the three treatments that do just that.

The New Technology in skincare

The new technology in anti-aging and skin tighteners use radio frequency (RF), ultrasound energy or infrared light to tighten the skin below the surface. Skin tighteners are good for firming up minimally loose skin.

For the fortunate few who just need a minor bit of tweaking, a skin-tightening treatment can help. “To non-surgically treat loose skin, we can use a combination of methods like a prescription-strength retinol cream, to produce collagen, followed by lasers that help build collagen,” says New York dermatologist Jody Levine, MD.

Even yet there are literally hundreds of “brand name” laser treatments, they all fall under the umbrella of three major categories: RF- radiofrequency, and radio frequency microneedling and ultrasound,

Teri Scott with RediscoverdU, a popular medi-spa is someone I respect. She is a registered nurse and specializes in advanced skin revision. Teri personally invited me to try two new happening skin care treatments. I am sharing my experience with you here.

What is Microneedling

Microneedling is a minimally invasive skincare treatment. It involves tiny short needles that penetrate the skin and create micro holes in the skin. It sounds worse than it is. The theory is that this procedure stimulates “wound healing,” or the body’s natural reaction to produce collagen. 

Microneedling has been around for centuries, mostly in the form of acupuncture. This recent version of needing didn’t really take off until 2002 and has since been taking the beauty world by storm.

I have my own microneedling roller at home although, I am not very good about using it. Basically, it’s a roller with very short needles you roll over your skin. It doesn’t hurt but the idea behind it is that after roll, it allows skincare products to penetrate into your dermis. The at-home rollers are used to help create a way for topic products to penetrate better. 

The nice part about microneedling is that it is 100% natural. The process causes trauma to the skin and your body naturally works hard to builds collagen to repair the skin. This treatment boosts collagen, promotes healthy circulation, and helps to tighten and lift skin. Plus, microneedling is ideal for treating those dreaded acne scars, hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and even stretch marks. Whoa, count me in!

If you have heard of the delightful benefits of collagen induction therapy, and want to kick-it-up-a-notch this is the tool for you!
What does that do?
It FORCES your skin to WAKE UP those fibroblasts and screams
“MAKE MORE COLLAGEN!”…..
Who doesn’t need more of that?!

RF- Radio Frequency Microneedling

RF Microneedling is needling on steroids. 

So what’s so great about it?

Teri tells me that the RF micro-needling adds the component of radiofrequency energy to the traditional micro-needling procedure. The RF energy is delivered via small needles into the dermis. In addition to the benefits seen with the micro-injury provided by the traditional microneedles, RF micro-needling also delivers RF energy deep into the dermis further enhancing skin tightening and scar reduction. Sounds technical huh?

So what makes RF microneedling so special?  Well, it’s is a process of creating controlled trauma using tiny needles to penetrate the dermal layer of skin where collagen formation is imperative.  This small trauma is nearly invisible to the eye, but encourages cells within the skin to create a repair sequence “filling in” the tissues.  The Genius RF machine  generates a burst of thermal energy that truly “forces” (rather than simply encouraging) the fibroblasts to get to the work of repairing damage.   

Benefits of RF Microneedling

• Naturally repairs & rejuvenates skin
• Combines two powerful skin treatments
• Non-surgical alternative to a facelift (rhytidectomy)
• FDA cleared  as safe & effective
• Scientifically proven
• Results are both immediate & progressive
• Stimulates collagen production & tissue remodeling
• Safe for all skin types
• Gentler, less invasive skin ablation
• Less downtime

My Experience With RF Microneedling

How would I describe the treatment experience?  My face was cleansed and topical anesthesia is applied for about an hour. It feels strange to have your entire face numb!

I have to admit, the treatment was not a walk in the park. When Teri, did each pass (three total) I held a mini fan to keep my face cool and distract me from the click of the needling device. Ouch! 

The crazy thing is that the face doesn’t bleed during the procedure. After Teri was finished with the Genius device, my face was pink and blotchy. The next day, my face looked like I had a sunburned but it wasn’t crazy red.

After a few weeks, I can tell the texture of my skin is improved and my summer sun spots are reduced.

Lase MD- Fractional Non Ablative Laser

LaseMD is a Fracional NonAblative Laser is the second new hot skin tightening treatment.  This laser uses energy to create micro-channels in the skin through which it works its effects. These micro-channels stimulate the body’s natural way to manufacture of collagen and elastin, which helps to enhance the overall health and quality of the skin at a cellular level.  LaseMD skin resurfacing treatments can be used to improve a wide variety of common skin concerns and imperfections, including treating active acne and acne scarring, sun damage and melasma, fine lines, uneven skin tone and texture, and even tightening skin! Yes, Yes and Yes!

Once the laser technology is applied to the skin, it starts to repair the skin cells and other qualities of the skin from the inside out. This laser reaches deep into the skin through micro-wounds that are made with the laser. Please note that the “wounds” heal within the next few days.

Over time, the skin will start to appear heathier, smoother, clearer, and more radiant than it did before. Keep in mind that to enjoy from the full benefit of the product, it is necessary to use it on a regular basis and as directed

The Benefits of LASE MD

• There’s zero downtime after a treatment. You may look mildly flushed for a few hours. 
• The treatment has minimal pain, so you can skip the numbing cream.
• Unlike many other lasers, Laser Genesis can help treat rosacea by targeting the broken capillaries responsible for flushing and redness.   
• It has a relatively high patient-satisfaction rating—89 percent of RealSelf members say it’s “Worth It.” Many say it’s been life-changing for their rosacea or acne and treats redness and pigmentation. 
• It’s considered very low-risk. “Laser Genesis is one of the safest procedures out there,” says Thousand Oaks, California, plastic surgeon Dr. Kouros Azar
  
• Any skin tone can handle this treatment—even those that are prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 

untrasound skin tightening

Some skin tightening treatments use focused ultrasound energy, which heats skin at specific depths and locations to induce collagen production and help skin become firmer. Treatments are delivered via a handheld device, which transmits the ultrasound waves through the skin’s surface. Ultrasound technology has been used in medicine for many decades, and ultrasound skin tightening has an excellent safety profile.

What is the difference between Ultrasound Skin Tightening and other popular treatments such as Radiofrequency?

It is difficult to compare the treatments since they work very differently. However, ultrasound technology targets deeper layers of the skin to tighten skin and provide a lifting effect. Lasers and other treatments do help produce collagen but at a more superficial level.

Ultrasound skin tightening is usually performed by a dermatologist or physician. They use a handheld applicator to pass over the areas that are receiving treatment. The time required for each session may vary by actual treatment and patient. On average, a treatment for a single area takes between 15-30 minutes, while the neck and lower face takes between 30-45 and the entire face takes around 1 hour. Most patients see a different in 2-3 months.

The reason this type of skin tightening treatment is not a popular is because it is very expensive! I haven’t tried this procedure myself but the reviews for this service is good.

Benefits of Ultrasound Therapy

1. By tightening loose skin, the procedure will slow down the impact that the aging process has on your skin so that you can keep your youthful appearance longer.
2. No downtime. Although the skin may appear red or flushed immediately after Ultherapy, patients can get back to their usual schedule immediately without activity restrictions.
3. One of the best benefits of Ultherapy is that it can be customized to meet your specific needs. For instance, the ultrasound equipment used to perform the procedure can be adjusted to alter how far down the energy is directed. The duration of the procedure can be altered as well.
4. Non invasive

Let me know if you have tried any of these new high-tech skin treatments. I would love to hear your thoughts. 

Best,