HOW TO AVOID PREMATURE APPEARANCE OF WRINKLES? WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TREAT THE ONES THAT HAVE ALREADY APPEARED?

Doctor Iliana Benzaquen, head of the Barrancas Medical Center Dermatology Department will tell you everything you need to know to have a young and smooth skin.

CHEMICAL PEEL:
These techniques are an advanced in skin aging treatment. They aim to improve skin´s health and aesthetics. “Chemical Peel is an accelerated exfoliating process that uses an irritating substance to destroy the epidermis and/or part of the dermis” Peels can be used to treat skin´s photo-aging (wrinkles), superficial scars, hyperpigmentation, actinic keratosis (pre tumours injuries that start appearing after age 50) Superficial or middle peels are used generally because patients can go back to their normal time immediately. Deep peels require a 1 to 2 week recovery at home.

Different types of peels:

1- Very Superficial:

The exfoliation removes only the stratum corneum, the most superficial layer of the skin.

2- Superficial or Micro-Peel:

How is it done?
Using Retinoic acid and/or AHAS. The treatment is performed in two steps: one is done by the dermatologist at the office and the other one by the patient at home. The patient needs to apply both the acid and the AHAS simultaneously for 3 to 4 months according to the dermatologist instructions. This allows tissues to change and to increase the amount of collagen and elastic fibres. “When the dermatologist realises that the patient’s skin has been exposed to many products, this treatment will have to be evaluated to avoid an allergic reaction”

The ideal patient: young people that have mix skin that presents few wrinkles.

Treatment Duration: the program lasts between 2, 4 and 8 months, depending on the type of skin and the age of the patient.

3-Middle:

There is a destruction of the papillary dermis, the second most superficial layer of the skin. A longest recovery is needed.

4- Deep:

How does it work? How is it performed? The technique is similar to other peels, because there is an acid applied to the skin. In this case we use a different acid, phenol or trichloracetic. This peel can also be done using lasers.

Recovery: 1 or 2 weeks, at home.

5- Surgical peel:

A more aggressive resurfacing of the skin.

6- CO2 Laser:

How does it work? How is it performed? This peel evaporates tissue water. Dehydration.

The patient: patient’s skin presents wrinkles or acne scars. Since this treatment is one of the most effective and newest, the patient needs to be informed by the dermatologist.

7- Micro-Peel Cryosurgery or Soft Peel:

How does it work? How is it performed? It is a very superficial peel that micro-exfoliates the epidermis. It is performed using liquid nitrogen and causes cell dehydration and freezing, depending on how it is applied. This treatment is not invasive if it is done with sprays or Q-tips; it is deep if the physician uses tips.

An Aesthetic View:

The steps for the treatment are:

a) Preparing and cleaning the skin.
b) An AHAS based peel is applied.
c) An antiseptic cream is applied.
d) Liquid nitrogen is applied using a spray. This step depends on the patient’s type of skin.
e) Decongestant masks.

A Therapeutic View:

It is used as a single method of treatment when the patient has actinic keratosis or brown spots. In those cases, nitrogen is applied 2 or 3 times. After that the patient rests wearing an anti-inflammatory mask.

Treatment Duration: 24 to 48 hours after the treatment crusts will fall and new skin will start showing. Final results appear after 2 months. The procedure is performed once a week and it is combined with other medication that the patients need to apply at home.

8- Crystal Resurfacing:

It is a modern method used in the most important aesthetic centers in the world. It was created to provide uninvasive treatments. The equipment was designed to provide a treatment that needs no anesthesia and causes no pain.

How does it work? The treatment gently polishes the skin. This causes an exfoliation, resulting in a soft smooth skin, which feels and looks nice. Results appear after each session.

9- Messotherapy:

It is a simple nonaggressive painless technique that allows a combination of medications that were carefully selected by the physician after analysing the patient’s needs.

Most used techniques: Manual. These techniques are based in a triad of hand- syringe- needle. The mechanic equipments, known as pistols, are plastic injectors that regulate the depth of the needle’s penetration.

The diluted medicines used, change according to the pharmaceutical action of each one of them, taking into account their individual action and avoiding combinations.

Some of the most frequent dermatological pathologies treated with are: facial aging, alopecia, cellulite, flaccidity, stretch marks, scar hypertrophy.

Applied to the body area, usually affected by cellulite, flaccidity and stretch marks, messotherapy is the chosen method, combined with medical equipment to stimulate lymph drain and blood flow.

How does it work? How is it performed? It is a very well known technique that implies the injection of a micro-dosage of medication. During the procedure, a syringe with one or many micro-needles is used. Each needle contains a specific drug, according to the patient’s disease.

10- Implant Materials:

How does it work? How is it performed? Today there are between 20 and 30 products that can be implanted. The choice will depend on the physician’s criteria and the patient’s needs. After the procedure, there is a short period of time in which a small inflammation appears and then the patient will go back to a normal image.

The patient: patients that present deep or soft wrinkles, wrinkles that surround eyelids, forehead, or lips, wrinkled neck or hands and are ton willing to undergo lifting.

Treatment duration: depends on the patient’s needs and on the material chosen.

11- Autogenic Fat Graft:

How does it work? How is it performed? Since an autogenic implant is used, this technique is the one that has fewer complications. Using a syringe, fat is obtained from the patient’s buttocks, abdomen or legs. That fat is then injected around the mouth, in the nasolabial folds, neck and hands.

The patient: patients that present very strong wrinkles and deep scars. This treatment is normally combined with post surgical dermo aesthetic treatments. It can also be used to improve advanced cellulite aspect.

Treatment duration: the first few days, skin will present an edema. Results will be seen after 10 to 20 days.

PLASTIC SURGERY:

Lifting

How does it work? How is it performed? It is a surgical procedure that readjusts tussue´s position on the face, eyelids, forehead and neck. It also improves time´s deterioration. Lifting can be combined with other surgical techniques such as rhinoplasty or chin surgery.

Treatment duration: during a 10 year average the patient will enjoy a new image, depending on the type of skin and the cares the skin receives.

Autofiller

The most advanced treatment science has to offer: your own collagen.

It is a skin processing system that allows dermis transformation into an injectable substance, without losing its structural elements, eliminating completely epidemic cells.