As the name entails, rapid skin care aims to give you rapid results using medical grade skin care. Given the complexity of rapid skin care, it is important to seek the help of a professional. Your board-certified plastic surgeon will use advanced techniques to literally remove the outer layer of skin through one of three methods. The three methods include dermabrasion, chemical abrasion, or laser assisted abrasion. Regardless of the method chosen, rapid skincare through skin resurfacing relies on injuring and removing the outer layer of the skin so your new skin can regenerate. When done properly injuring the skin, simply put, is the process of removing the old layer of skin and making way for the new.
What is Dermabrasion?
Dermabrasion is a facial treatment that involves sanding off the outer dead layers of skin. Dermabrasion helps to refinish outer skin layers through a method of controlled surgical scraping. These treatments soften sharp edges of surface irregularities, giving the skin a smoother appearance. Dermabrasion is often used to improve the look of facial skin left scarred by accidents or previous surgery or to smooth out fine facial wrinkles. It is sometimes used to remove precancerous growths, as well, like keratosis.
What is Chemical Abrasion?
Facial treatments such as chemical abrasion more commonly referred to as chemical peels, remove the outer layer of skin through the use of chemicals. Chemical peels are the preferred skin resurfacing method for patients with fine to moderate wrinkles. Chemical peels require that your plastic surgeon have more control, more expertise, and, obviously, a little more finesse. Chemical peels have multiple benefits including repairing uneven skin tone, rejuvenating the skin, repairing fine to moderate deep lines, reducing hyperpigmentation, and helping to eliminate acne scars and sunspots. Chemical peels can also treat sun damage, and you can use these along with other, lighter, fruit acid peels. You should not ever attempt a chemical peel without the guidance of a professional, and this is especially true for those “at home” kits you can find on the Internet. In the wrong hands of someone lacking experience, permanent skin damage can occur including lifelong scarring.
What is Laser Abrasion?
Facial treatments such as laser skin resurfacing and wrinkle reduction provide a more consistent, uniform correction of deeper wrinkles than the other methods. There are new lasers that actually can penetrate your skin in specific areas that are commonly known as fractional type lasers that leave the intervening skin unaffected. The fractional laser allows you to treat 20 to 30 percent of the skin at a time and makes this technique ideal for spot treatment. The fractional laser can also treat wrinkles directly by going deeper into the skin. Recovery time for the fractional laser is a little less than a full laser, which is five to seven days versus the full laser is about seven to 10 days. Erbium lasers, however, in our experience, are much more precise than their predecessors, and have fewer problems with hyperpigmentation, if done by an experienced laser expert.
Great skin starts with great skin care and the knowledge of how the skin works. When considering rapid skincare, it important to make sure that you go to a professional. A partnership with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon who is an expert in the field of rapid skin care through the use dermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser resurfacing is an asset to have in fighting off the natural aging process. For your safety, I cannot stress the importance of discussing your skincare goals with a board-certified plastic surgeon who understands the aging process and can determine whether proper skincare, noninvasive procedures, or invasive surgical procedures will be required to achieve your desired results.
Dr. Rod J. Rohrich is an internationally known, highly respected and skilled plastic and cosmetic surgeon from Dallas, Texas. He is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and has led most of the key professional organizations in plastic surgery in the USA. He has received numerous honors and awards in plastic and cosmetic surgery, both nationally and internationally. In addition to his extensive surgical expertise and talent as a gifted surgeon, he is the Founding Chair and Distinguished Teaching Professor of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He has authored hundreds of innovative academic publications in the field and he also serves as the Editor in Chief of the leading plastic and reconstructive surgery journal, the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Rohrich has also performed philanthropic work as a civic leader of organizations such as the March of Dimes, American Cancer Society and Save the Children and has established the Rod J. Rohrich, M.D. Foundation, which supports medical students in his native North Dakota. He is also a founding member and President of AiRS, the Alliance in Reconstructive Surgery, which serves to support education and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer survivors, regardless of financial status. Dr. Rohrich has repeatedly been featured as one of the best plastic surgeons in the country by US News and World Report, Harper’s Bazaar, Good Housekeeping and Texas Monthly as well as being quoted in notable publications such as the New York Times and Boston Globe. He has appeared on many television shows including Oprah, the View and Good Morning America and is currently working to provide a reliable source of public-centered information in the fields of plastic and cosmetic surgery as well as other areas of medicine.