Dermatology is a field of medicine dedicated to the treatment of the skin. Cosmetic dermatologists complete procedures designed to improve patients’ skin using medicine and medical procedures. Although some dermatological procedures are surgical in nature, the most popular practices are non-invasive and non-surgical.
Here is a guide to some of the most popular non-surgical dermatological treatments available in the United States today.
Botox Injections
Botox injections are one of the most commonly requested cosmetic procedures in the world. They can be completed by a trained dermatologist and do not require any kind of surgical intervention. A med spa that hires dermatologists will usually offer Botox treatments to their clients.
Botox injections work by relaxing the muscles just under the skin, which then causes the face of the client to smoothen slightly – reducing the appearance of wrinkles and laugh lines. Millions of Americans receive Botox treatment every single year, making them a highly popular procedure – and given the visible results that appear quickly, it’s no surprise many people seek out this treatment.
However, though the results are great, the effects of Botox are not permanent; the chemical is absorbed slowly by the body and dissipates away – a process that begins as soon as it is injected. This is why many people go for top-up Botox injections when the effects of the procedure start to fade away.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a process that uses small electrically charged wires or needles to destroy hair follicles semi-permanently. The loose hairs are then removed using tweezers. This is an extremely fiddly procedure that needs to be completed by a dermatologist that is also a qualified electrolysis technician.
Electrolysis has much the same impact on areas of unwanted hair growth as laser hair removal and costs around the same amount of money. Dr. Charles E Michel invented the procedure, which he suggested could be used to remove ingrown eyelashes safely and permanently.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is used to semi-permanently remove body and facial hair by targeting follicles with highly focused beams of light. This treatment can be completed anywhere on the body except for the areas around the eyes.
Historically, laser hair removal was pioneered in the 1960s. Theodore H Maiman invented the modern laser in 1960: projecting a small beam of concentrated light through a ruby onto his laboratory wall. Soon afterward, people began experimenting with the dermatological use of his invention. Today, modern laser hair removal is extremely efficient at destroying follicles, but several sessions are still needed to ensure the full removal of all hair in the desired area.
Chemical Peels
A chemical peel is a procedure designed to improve the vitality of the skin. During the process, a solution is applied to the skin, which loosens dead cells and provokes the growth of new cells – theoretically improving the youthful look of the patient’s skin.
Most dermatologists only recommend short and medium-term chemical peels. Long-term ‘deep’ chemical peels have the potential to damage skin permanently – leaving visible marks. Deep chemical peels usually require a local anesthetic to be completed and can lead to swelling for several weeks after the procedure is completed. Several sessions of ‘shallow’ peeling are preferable.
What’s more, most cosmetic dermatologists offer chemical peels for a very reasonable price. It cannot – of course – remove the overall appearance of aging.
