Skincare Regimen After Laser Skin Resurfacing

Has acne, aging, or too much time in the sun left your skin looking less-than stellar? Laser skin resurfacing may be the answer for fixing your imperfections and reversing the hands of time. However, your skin won't reap the benefits for long if not properly cared for after, making post-treatment care of the utmost importance for guaranteeing successful results for years to come.

Laser Skin Resurfacing | What is It and Who is It For?

Bad skincare habits can leave your face plagued with blotches and discoloring, wrinkles, fine lines, scars, and wrinkles. However, such ailments are no longer permanent with the help of laser skin resurfacing. Using a laser, your plastic surgeon will create microscopic wounds in the layers of the skin that are experiencing imperfections. This can be limited to small areas, such as the forehead, mouth, or skin near the eyes, or the treatment can be applied to the entire face. New, healthy cells form during the healing process, promoting tighter, more youthful skin.

Patients seeking minimal corrections to localized areas will typically be given a local anesthetic before undergoing the procedure, which can last from half hour to 45 minutes. Those who opt for a full-face treatment may require general anesthesia for the two-hour process. Both treatments are considered outpatient procedures, meaning you will not be required to remain in the clinic overnight. Once the procedure is complete, your doctor will bandage the treated area and you can go home. It will be your responsibility to remove the bandages 24 hours later and apply a soothing ointment to the freshly-wounded skin in order to prevent painful scabbing (and, therein, scarring).

Immediate Post-Treatment Skincare

Swelling, redness, itching, and stinging sensations are not uncommon after the treatment and can last up to three days. However, many report zero irritations after undergoing treatment. Regardless of whether you experience any of these side effects, it's important to take extra care of your skin following a laser treatment. Cosmetics- particularly foundations and concealers- should be avoided for the first few days after the procedure, as the fresh wounds and newly forming skin needs 'time to breathe'. Using make-up can interfere with the healing process, but this does not mean that you want to leave the skin completely bare. As your surgeon will tell you, it's extremely important to keep the treated areas moisturized by applying a moisturizing product heavily and multiple times throughout the day. This promotes the healing process, as well as preventing painful scabs from forming. Products containing glycolic acid or retinol are to be avoided, as they have irritating properties. Based on your particular skin, your surgeon can make recommendations for specific products. Around a week after the laser resurfacing procedure, the skin will naturally dry out and begin to peel.

Complete healing typically takes around three weeks. Once the peeling has stopped, it's acceptable to begin wearing oil-free cosmetics again. Redness may be present for up to three months after the procedure as the new skin forms, but other symptoms should be reported to your doctor. You may notice that your new skin feels lighter and more sensitive, and catering to these is crucial for reaping the benefits of the treatment. Applying sunscreen should no longer be considered a beach-day option: you should apply it multiple times a day, every day. Use precaution when selecting a sunscreen, opting only for those specifically formulated for the face. Search for products with a high zinc oxide content (upwards of seven percent, at least). After undergoing laser treatment, the skin is extremely sensitive to light, so regulating your exposure is certainly necessary. Limit time outside, avoid tanning beds and exposure to other UV light, and protect your face with a hat.

However, adopting a responsible skincare regimen is crucial for lasting results. The same bad skin habits that created imperfections before will do so to your new skin if you do not change them, so paying extra attention to your routine ensures the maintenance and upkeep of your vibrant appearance.

Long-lasting Maintenance and Upkeep

Laser skin resurfacing is an effective option for reversing the signs of aging and eliminating imperfections, but making the same mistakes again will only land you the same position, regardless of the perceived strength of your new, healthy skin. Protecting the skin from the sun is the most important element for keeping it healthy, and this is especially true for the naturally more sensitive face. Don't give up on the serious moisturizing once the peeling has stopped and the skin returns to 'normal', either. Lines and wrinkles appear in large part due to dehydration, so regularly applying a deep moisturizer is the first line of defense against it. Decreased collagen production also plays a huge role in wuthering elasticity and suppleness. Making a few simple lifestyle changes can combat this, as well as making your healthier in general. Try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night, eat a clean, balanced diet, drink lots of water, exercise regularly, and amp up for your vitamin C levels. These tiny tweaks can (and do) make a world of difference for your face.

Additionally, using non abrasive cleansers, exfoliants, and other products will strengthen the chances of the procedure working a complete overall of the face after only one treatment. Your unique skin type, along with dietary, exercise, and lifestyle habits all play large roles, so discussing product options with your surgeon is the perfect place to start.

Knowing how to best treat your unique skin characteristics requires the expertise of professionals. The renowned team of Marcelo Ghersi, Jason Altman and John Oeltjen at the Plastic Surgery Institute of Miami has years of experience fulfilling patients needs and seeking to guarantee them with the best results possible. To learn more about the surgeons and start your journey to healthier, more vibrant skin, click here.

Types of Facial Scars | How to Treat Them

The skin is the largest organ in the body and one of the most seamless. Any injury, trauma, or burn can leave an ugly disfigurement behind. A small scar might not be a big deal especially if no one can see it. However, if it is on the face, everyone can see, and that is why most people try to conceal it. People are constantly looking for ways to improve if not to completely conceal such scars. Although a scar is unlikely to disappear totally, there are numerous methods that can help a person reduce its appearance and size.

As the skin undergoes the recovery process from an injury that could be caused by an accident, acne, surgery, or burn, there is always the risk of scarring if multiple layers are involved. Once this happens, the victim will be left with the blemish for life, although it can be made less visible or surgically relocated. Some common scars include:

Keloid Scars

These are usually brought about by an aggressive healing process. They go beyond the initial injury. If left for long, a keloid scar may prevent movement. Its treatments include surgical removal, silicone sheets that are used to flatten it, or steroid injections. If the keloid scar is small, it can be treated by cryotherapy, which involves freezing it with liquid nitrogen. To avoid the formation of keloid scars, patients can use pressure treatment or silicone gel pads after injuries. These scars are common with dark-colored people.

Hypertrophic Scars

These look similar to keloids and are usually red and elevated. The only difference between them and keloids is that they rarely go beyond the original injuries. They can be treated with steroid injections, which help in reducing their swelling or by using silicone sheets to make them flat.

Contracture Scars

In case your skin suffers a burn, it will end up getting a contracture scar. Such scars tighten the skin, making movement difficult. Another problem with these kinds of scars is that sometimes they go deep and affect the nerves and muscles.

Acne Scars

Anyone who has suffered from severe acne has scars to show for it. There are numerous acne scar types that range from deep pits to those that look like waves. The treatment options depend on what type of a scar a patient has.

Who is Eligible for Surgical Scar Treatment?

What patients seek when going for surgical scar treatments is to hide the blemishes, minimize their prominence, or relocate them to other less visible spots. The surgeon is usually ready to discuss important factors with the patient during the first visit. These include:

• The skin type and color

• Personal healing rates

• Their ethnic background

• Age

Every scar responds uniquely to different plastic surgery techniques. If you are looking forward to having a facial scar revision, understand that there is no sure way of eradicating cicatrices.

Also, time the surgery appropriately. Some surgeons will advise you not to go for a revision if the injury has been present for up to a year. This is because that period is enough to allow the body to heal fully.

If you decide to go for scar treatment, there are different things to expect, including the following:

• Your scar will be examined by the surgeon to decide the ideal treatment. 

• He will also discuss with you what to expect from the scar revision surgery.

There will be an agreement between you and the surgeon that details how you will proceed to have a successful operation. Once both of you have agreed to go ahead with the revision surgery, you will be informed about:

• Anesthesia

• Available supportive surgery options

• The surgical facility

• Costs

Since scars are very individualistic and every patient has a personal attitude towards them. Sometimes, multiple procedures are required to make a maximum improvement. The surgeon might be forced to use different techniques.

Understanding Scar Revision Procedure

It is important to remember that each patient has their own needs when it comes to this kind of surgery. However, there are some things that every patient must understand.

• If you have a contracture scar, surgery will involve the complete removal of the tissue.

• A skin flap with healthy and unscarred skin is usually lifted and moved by the surgeon to create a new incision line.

• If it is not possible to use a flap, the surgeon has to use a skin graft. This involves using skin tissue from one area and attaching it to another. The patient has to give the scar enough time to allow blood vessels and soft tissues to establish after the surgery.

Z-plasty is a method that surgeons use to move the scar from a single spot to another. This is usually done by transforming them into a natural skin crease or fold thus, making it less visible. Although this method rarely makes the scar invisible, it makes it less prominent.

Laser resurfacing and dermabrasion methods involve the surgeon making otherwise rough and elevated scars less noticeable by getting rid of some part of the upper skin layers. This is done by laser light or abrading tools. Although the scar will still be there, it will be smoother and thus, less visible.

Hypertrophic and keloid scars are initially treated using steroid injections to make them smaller. If the patient doesn’t find this satisfactory, they can get them removed surgically with the incisions getting closed using fine stitches. The results are less visible scars.

Excision - in case you have small deep scars as a result of chicken pox or acne, the best way to treat them is through excision. In this method, the surgeon treats the scar by excising it entirely and stitching the defects the same way moles are removed. The procedure creates a short, linear scar that can be concealed easily. The scar is also less prominent.

In case the scar impairs function, surgery can help address the problem. However, if the scars are as a result of recent surgery, you will be advised to wait for at least 24 months before going for their treatment. Over time, many scars will slowly go away and become less visible.

Dr. Philip Schoenfeld is the founder of Renu Artful Medicine, a facility that deals with facial plastic surgery including scar revision in Washington DC. Using various transformational products, he always strives to meet each patient’s needs. Patients are happy to get comprehensive aesthetic services from his team of professionals who are all certified.

How is Short Scar Facelift Performed?

A short scar facelift is a procedure that helps someone to correct the sagging skin around the lower face and jowls, though some people want to manage the skin along the neck as well. More commonly, you may know it as an S-lift or even a ponytail facelift, but they all involve the same methods. It gets the name “ponytail” facelift from the idea that you would want to be able to pull back your hair without seeing all the sagging skin and scarring during activities.

Most people choose this type of face lift to make themselves look years younger. Over time, the natural elasticity, tightness, and collagen production of the skin wanes, which is what forms prominent wrinkles. While there are some creams that help with the condition of the skin, the best way to eliminate this excess of fat and skin on the neck and jawline is through a face lift, like the short scar procedure.

Althea Bare Essentials | New Skin Care Line

This gossip is out and it can't wait any longer... Althea Korea has recently come up with a new 3-step skin care line called Bare Essentials. After coming up with the successful launch of Althea Petal Velvet Powder, its first-ever mattifying, translucent and lightweight loose powder that offers the skin a silky smooth finish, the premier online beauty shopping destination for K-Beauty is continuously adhering to the call of the beauty enthusiasts around the world by introducing innovative products made with the latest beauty technology.

Althea | Bare Essentials

Honestly, I have been using Korean makeup for sometime now but I have never even dare try to adapt to the infamous 10-step Korean skin care routine because I just don't have the T-I-M-E. As a hands-on mom, I am lucky to have a little time for myself to apply makeup on 😜

This news about simplifying the steps and procedures is a welcome treat for homemakers that still want to look and feel beautiful like me. Imagine yourself getting the benefits of a Korean skin care into three (3) quick and easy steps because of these new beauty hybrid products namely- Contour Cleanser, Primer Water and Fixer Cream, now wouldn't that make your life really amazing!

Burt's Bees PH | Be a True Force of Nature

I am an avid user of Burt's Bees ever since I discovered the brand in one of my travels out of the country. Since becoming a mom, my love for the brand is now happily shared with my daughter who uses the Burt's Bees Baby line. So, when I received an invitation from them to an intimate gathering in celebration of International Women's month, I couldn't say no.

Burt's Bees Concept Store | Estancia Mall Capitol Commons 

The event was held last March 23, 2018 at Burt's Bees Concept Store located at the second level, Estancia Mall. I was one of the first attendees so I was able to have my picture taken with some of the best selling products from the brand.