September 2017

Let’s Talk about Fractionated CO2 Laser Treatment

Fractionated Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser Treatment

Fractionated Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Laser Treatment Cincinnati, OH Aesthetic rejuvenation has become a popular topic of discussion across the globe. It can feel as though new techniques and products aimed at preserving youthfulness are developed at lightning speed. We agree! From our perspective, though, we can see how continual innovation is beneficial for our patients. We are proud to offer treatments such as fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing because we know that cosmetic surgery is not for everyone.

You may not be ready for surgical facial rejuvenation. Perhaps you never will be. Laser treatments can be an alternative that enables you to manage facial aging with the utmost grace. The use of lasers is not new, but questions still surround this technology. Do laser treatments hurt? Will they burn the skin? How much redness and peeling must be endured? These are all questions that could prevent you from getting personal care that could change how you feel about your appearance. So let’s talk.

What is fractionated laser resurfacing?

There are some different fractional laser devices on the market today. Ours emits beams of carbon dioxide, but not in a steady stream; in thousands of tiny pinpoints of energy. The pixelation of light allows deeper penetration without increased risk. When energy passes through the epidermis, it removes dead and damaged cells that have accumulated on the surface. An additional benefit from treatment is that collagen is heated and, as a result, tightened.

Fractionated laser resurfacing is suitable for all areas of the face and neck, including the delicate skin around the eyes that tends to become thin and crepey with age. Patients from midlife to age 70 and beyond can obtain noticeably tighter, smoother skin when they choose this method of rejuvenation.

The Road to Better Skin

Laser skin resurfacing has improved significantly with the development of the fractional technique. Patients can still expect to need some time to recover. It isn’t that there is a period of discomfort, necessarily, but that the skin will be changing quite a bit over the course of several days.

Initially, there may be a sensation of having a sunburn across the treatment area. This immediate side effect diminishes over a few hours. If heat feels uncomfortable, it can be soothed with cold compresses or ice packs.

Every person heals in their own time, but we see recovery times of about 6 days for facial treatment, up to 10 days for the neck, and up to 14 days for chest treatment. During this time, it is important to closely follow post-treatment care instructions.

Aging skin doesn’t have to be unmanageable. We can help you. Call our Cincinnati office to learn more about our cosmetic services.

Facelifts: More than Meets the Eye

Facelift

Facelift Cincinnati, OH Men and women around the world routinely consult with trusted cosmetic surgeons to lift brows, erase worry lines, unpack under eye bags, and more. You would think that, with the long history of facelifts behind us, there would be little question about what’s possible with this procedure. In fact, the opposite has happened.

It isn’t that patients wonder whether or not a facelift will make them look younger. More often than not, the apprehension that some people feel stems from worry about looking “done.” You may know what we’re talking about. We’ve all seen images of high-profile people who have decided to turn back the hands of time. They don’t look younger. They barely look like themselves. The problem with poorly-planned facelifts is that they can look obvious. But that is not the objective.

A facelift is performed with the intent of repositioning tissue that has fallen from its youthful glory. Eyebrows may droop below the upper orbital rim, the bony structure of the eye. Eyelids become loose and heavy. Cheeks flatten, and jowls develop. A facelift can address each of these concerns or all of them. But it’s not that simple. Facelift surgery has changed to such an extent that you could meet someone who’s had one and never know it. Here’s why:

Every facelift surgery is unique. This is how it should be, right? To have a facelift today doesn’t mean the same thing it did just a few decades ago. Today, we may lift only the upper face to open up the eyes and smooth worry and frown lines. A mini facelift may address only midline structures like the cheeks and temples. Each patient has specific needs, and our job is to meet them.
It’s not all about the lift. Youthful facial features are not overly tight; they are smooth and curvaceous. The cheeks are high and rounded; lips are plump, the jawline sharp. Tightening alone cannot restore such an appearance. To do so, surgeons now frequently combine facelift surgery with volume replacement. This may be accomplished with fat from the patient’s own body, or with soft tissue fillers. Ultimately, volume restoration changes the entire outcome of facial plastic surgery.
The lift is more conservative. Because volume needs to be present for the face to look younger, the degree of tissue lifting and “tucking” that takes place during the facelift procedure is typically much less dramatic than it used to be.

Discover your best option for facial rejuvenation in a consultation with a friendly, experienced Cincinnati cosmetic surgeon. Call 513.985.0850.

What is fractionated laser resurfacing?

The Road to Better Skin

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