There is a treatment paradigm entitled the 5 R’s of Facial Rejuvenation which further breaks treatment options into specific categories and patients find this helpful in analyzing treatment options. The 5 R’s correspond to Relax, Remodel, Recolor, Refill, Refine.
There is one final R, Retain, which includes measures to better care for your skin to help maintain the wonderful results achieved with the facial rejuvenation procedures.
Relax refers to the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic to treat wrinkles caused by facial expressions such as in the area between the eyes caused by frowning or wrinkles in the crow’s feet region caused by smiling. These lines are called ‘dynamic wrinkles’ because they are caused by muscle movement and initially only seen with movement. Unfortunately over time, due to overuse of the muscles and changes in the skin from sun exposure and aging, these lines become ‘static wrinkles’, and seen also at rest.
Remodel refers to the use of lasers and Intense Pulsed Light devices (IPL) to treat fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, irregular texture and laxity in the skin. Lasers and IPLs can reverse sun damage and improve the skin’s tone, texture and clarity.
Lasers use one wavelength of light whereas Intense Pulsed Light systems (IPLs) use a broad spectrum of wavelengths. Wavelengths of a device determine its suitability for a specific application or skin type. A laser specialist should have MANY devices to choose from so that a treatment plan can be tailored to your needs, not to the technology that the practitioner happens to have.
Recolor refers to the use of technologies to improve the color and complexion of the skin. Lasers and IPL devices can remove unwanted brown spots, broken capillaries facial redness, giving a more youthful appearance to the skin.
Refill refers to use of dermal fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Perlane and Sculptra to replace lost volume in the face in such as in the lips, nasolabial folds and cheeks. Historically, creases in the skin were treated with a face lift. Because these changes are caused by volume loss, replacing volume is a better and much less invasive way to reverse these signs of aging. For this reason, dermal fillers have exploded in popularity. A well respected Aesthetic Physician should be comfortable utilizing each of these fillers, as each product has its own specific niche and ideal indication.
Refine refers to the use of procedures like Sapphire photoabrasion, Microdermabrasion and Dermaplaning to revitalize the outermost layer of the skin, improving the quality of the skin and its appearance. We generally use these procedures to complement the more robust treatments we provide as well as to help maintain the results.
Carefully chosen skin care products also provide further enhancement of the color and texture of the skin. These need to be chosen specifically for your specific skin type and needs. Our aestheticians and physicians will help guide you to make the right decisions here as well.
