We are excited to announce that The Appearance Center now offers Sylfirm X, a minimally-invasive radiofrequency (RF) treatment that is safe and effective on all skin types.
What is Sylfirm X?
Sylfirm X improves both skin texture (fine lines, scarring) and skin tone (brown spots and redness).
It is the first and only FDA approved RF microneedling device featuring dual wave settings. One setting increases collagen production treating skin wrinkles or acne scarring. Another setting evens out redness and dark spots associated with sun damage.
Amazingly, it does all this with minimal pain and downtime. Downtime typically involves 1 day of redness.
Sylfirm X is effective in treating a variety of skin issues, including:
Fine lines
Wrinkles
Skin laxity
Acne scars and other types of scarring
Stretch marks
Hyperpigmentation
Enlarged pores
Mild to moderate sagging skin
Skin redness
Vascular issues like rosacea
How it Works
Sylfirm X uses microneedles and radiofrequency technology to transmit thermal energy deep into the skin. This system administers an accurate amount of energy at a specific depth during the treatment. Unlike other devices, Sylfirm X reacts ONLY to abnormal blood vessels and tissue to selectively treat increased pigmentation and vascular lesions. It is the only RF microneedling device approved for hard-to-treat conditions like rosacea and melasma.
Who is a Good Candidate?
Sylfirm X is safe on all skin types, including darker skin tones. The best candidates are healthy patients with mild to moderate skin laxity, fine lines, stretch marks, acne scars, and/or pigmentation concerns.
How Long Do Results Last?
You can see significant improvement with three sessions. Because it is a collagen producing treatment, the results do not “wear off” after any amount of time.
Obvious results are normally seen after just one treatment. However, to help achieve the maximum benefit, a three-treatment series is suggested, with each treatment four to six weeks apart.
As we age, our temple areas lose fat, leading to a “hollow” look with a decrease in natural volume. Injectables such as hyaluronic acid dermal fillers or Sculptra can help fill in these areas and restore volume to the temple and brow area.
Injectables in the temple provide immediate results with little to no recovery time. It is a relatively quick, in-office treatment and does not require anesthesia. A topical or injectable anesthetic may be used to reduce pain from the injection.
Injectables are temporary but typically last 1-2 years in the temples before needing to be redone. These procedures are largely considered safe when administered by a skilled injector.
Dermal fillers we offer include Voluma, Restylane Contour, and Restylane Lyft. We also offer Sculptra, which is a biostimulatory injectable that stimulates collagen production. Each product has its own benefits. Consulting with a provider allows us to select the best product based on your goals and anatomy.
The jawline can be a crucial part of facial aesthetics. A strong jawline in men is often associated with attractiveness and confidence. For women, a jawline can represent youth and beauty. We offer two approaches to refining the jawline: liposuction and injectables.
LIPOSUCTION
Liposuction of the jawline is a procedure where a skilled surgeon removes excess fat to improve the jaw’s contour. It can be done on its own or combined with other facial procedures. The results of this procedure are considered permanent for most patients.
INJECTABLES
Allergan (the maker of BOTOX and JUVEDERM) has created a product specifically for the jawline. This long-lasting filler, called VOLUX, is FDA-approved and is the first and only HA filler specifically designed for jawline definition.
VOLUX is a slightly more cohesive and thicker formula than JUVEDERM VOLUMA. Both of these fillers build volume and create a lift beneath the skin, but while VOLUMA is FDA-approved for the chin and cheeks, VOLUX is FDA-approved to treat the jawline.
The procedure only takes a few minutes, and any swelling is dramatically improved within 48 hours. Results last between 12 and 18 months.
Are you noticing excess or loose skin around your eyes? When it comes to lifting and tightening the skin in this area, we have two approaches, one surgical and one done with a laser. Often our recommendation for optimal results is to combine the two.
SURGICAL APPROACH: BLEPHAROPLASTY
Blepharoplasty is intended to enhance the upper and/or lower lids, to create a more refreshed, youthful look. For the upper lid, the procedure involves making an incision in the natural crease of the eyelid, and then removing and reshaping the skin, muscle, and fat that deflate and droop with age and sun exposure.
Blepharoplasty can also be performed on the lower eyelid. As people age, the tissue that holds the fat in place can loosen and the fat can protrude, giving the appearance of bags under the eyes. These bags can be repositioned and reshaped.
THE MAGIC OF CO2 LASER RESURFACING
CO2 laser resurfacing is an excellent way to tighten skin and reduce discoloration of the skin around the eyes.
This laser tightens minor excess skin on the eyelids, reduces of signs of aging in the eye area, and the completely renews the skin. And with the CO2 laser we can tailor treatment according to the nature and extent of photodamage, wrinkling, skin type and individual requirements for recovery time.
When considering a fractional CO2 laser for the eyes, remember that the effects can take up to 8-12 weeks to see, so plan accordingly!
This procedure can be done on its own or in conjunction with eyelid surgery.
Neurotoxins—like Botox and Dysport—are a nonsurgical form of wrinkle treatment that have minimal discomfort and quick recovery rates.
Most of us know that these injections can improve forehead lines, crows feet, and the vertical lines between the eyebrows. But did you know that these injections can also benefit the lower face, including the chin and overall face shape?
This graphic shows both cosmetic and therapeutic uses for neurotoxins:
● GUMMY SMILE: Some people’s upper lip elevates too far above their upper teeth when they smile, exposing a large portion of their gums. Botox can lower the upper lip to reduce the visibility of the gums.
● LIP FLIP: A lip flip is a popular procedure that makes your lips look fuller without increasing the volume of your lips.
● CHIN DIMPLING: Sometimes the chin can appear dimpled or bumpy. Neurotoxins can relax the muscles in the chin area to smooth out its appearance.
● DOWTURNED SMILE: Injecting neurotoxins can weaken the muscles that pull down the mouth causing a downwards looking smile, or scowl.
● MASSETER PAIN RELIEF: Neurotoxins can be used to provide relief from the painful and uncomfortable symptoms of Bruxism. This condition causes involuntary teeth clenching, jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage. Neurotoxin injections can reduce or eliminate these symptoms by relaxing the overactive masseter muscles. Additionally, when the masseter muscle is injected it can slim the overall look of the lower face.
Our team of expert injectors has extensive experience with facial injectables.
Do you wish your lips could be plumper or more balanced? Thanks to dermal fillers, this wish is easily granted. We offer products specifically formulated to enhance and augment the lips to your desired size and shape, or to correct asymmetry.
Juvederm: For Silkier, Smoother, Natural-Looking Lips
Juvederm products utilize hyaluronic acid to create instant volume in the exact way that your lips need it most. Juvederm Vollure is specially formulated with a balance of gel firmness and low cohesivity, which subtly adds volume. This means that it is firm enough to hold its shape, but malleable enough to move, making the results noticeable yet natural. It lasts up to 18 months.
Juvederm Ultra adds fullness to the lips, while Juvederm Volbella adds subtle volume and even softens the appearance of vertical lip lines. Both of these products last between six and 12 months.
You only need around 30 minutes for your dermal filler lip treatment.
A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the space between the nose and the top of the lip. This increases the amount of pink lip tissue that’s visible, which makes the lips look fuller and more pronounced. It can also increase how much your upper center teeth show when your lips are resting. It leaves a small scar at the base of the nostrils, but it is usually undetectable after a few weeks.
It’s a good option for people who want to add height instead of volume to their lips. Younger people who haven’t achieved the look they want from fillers, or if they find that fillers make their lips look unnaturally plump or duck-like, may prefer a lip lift.
And a lip lift is a good option for reducing the space between the lips and the nose. With age, this space can increase and can make the upper lip look thinner.
We are offering a new product that is the first of its kind. SkinVive is often referred to as a “skin booster” rather than a filler since its job isn’t to rebuild volume like other fillers, but rather to hydrate your skin and give you a glowy look.SkinVive, developed by Juvederm and approved by the FDA in May, is now available to our patients. This new treatment can add long-term hydration to the skin and smoothness of the cheeks. These injections also stimulate collagen production, helping to correct lines and wrinkles while improving skin elasticity. Following treatment, skin quality is vastly improved with patients reporting skin that feels and appears more radiant and refreshed.
SkinVive is a minimally invasive treatment with little to no downtime. It works synergistically with other cosmetic treatments like Botox, lasers, and dermal fillers. SkinVive can easily be added to your Botox treatment and it takes only about 10-15 minutes.
How is SkinVive Unique?
Unlike traditional dermal fillers that replace lost volume or define facial features, SkinVive’s tiny microdroplets are injected near the skin’s surface, enhancing skin hydration and smoothness.
What are the Benefits of SkinVive?
What Facial Areas can be Treated with SkinVive?
SkinVive is currently FDA approved to improve skin smoothness of the cheeks.
How Does SkinVive Work?
Aging leads to a loss of collagen, elastin, and hydration, resulting in lines and wrinkles. SkinVive’s hyaluronic acid replenishes hydration and combats aging effects, leaving the skin plump and hydrated.
How Long Does SkinVive Last?
Most patients experience improved skin hydration and smoothness for up to six months. Individual results may vary based on skincare routines, genetics, and other treatments.
Is SkinVive Right for Me?
During your consultation, your provider will assess your aesthetic goals. If you suffer from dry skin, fine lines, or loss of elasticity, SkinVive could be an excellent choice.
DID YOU KNOW?
We are also a Center for Skin Cancer. The Appearance Center is under the same roof and the same leadership as the Skin Cancer and Reconstructive Surgery Center. Our Appearance Center physicians also treat skin cancer patients, performing complex cancer reconstructions, and addressing post-cancer cosmetic issues.
We want ALL of our patients to know about an exciting new technology to help with the diagnosis of melanoma. We are excited to provide Nevisense, a novel tool for detection of melanoma. This FDA-approved, non-invasive, and highly accurate device allows for early detection of potential melanomas without the need for skin biopsies.
Nevisense: A Groundbreaking Approach to Early Detection
Nevisense is a cutting-edge technology designed to address the limitations of traditional melanoma detection methods. Developed by SciBase, a Swedish medical technology company, Nevisense employs Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) to non-invasively analyze the electrical properties of skin lesions. This innovative approach allows for a more accurate and objective assessment of melanoma risk.
How Nevisense Works
Nevisense works by measuring the electrical impedance of the skin at different frequencies. The device sends a painless, low-frequency electrical signal into the skin, and the resulting impedance data is analyzed by an AI algorithm. The impedance patterns produces by melanomas are different from those of benign moles.
Key Advantages of Nevisense
Schedule a skin check at the SCARS Center to see if you are a candidate for this groundbreaking diagnostic tool.
Whether you’re looking to reduce wrinkles, minimize scars, or improve overall skin texture, CO2 laser treatment could be the answer.
What Does Fractional CO2 Laser Do?
Fractional CO2 laser is a cosmetic procedure that improves skin texture, tone, and overall appearance. The laser ablates the top layer of skin removing sun damage as well as creates microscopic channels in the skin, known as microthermal zones. These processes stimulate the body’s natural healing response, which promotes collagen production and triggers the replacement of damaged skin with new, healthier tissue.
Key Benefits of Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Fractional CO2 laser is a versatile treatment suitable for patients of various ages and skin concerns. Ideal candidates include those looking to improve fine lines/wrinkles, scarring, and/or dark spots. It is safest for patients with lighter skin tones (Fitzpatrick I-III).
The Procedure
A fractional CO2 laser procedure can be performed in the clinic or operating room. Here’s what you can expect during the treatment:
The laser treatment is customized based on skin, treatment areas, and goals. The laser can also be performed in the OR setting and combined with additional facial rejuvenation procedures such as eyelid surgery or facelift surgery.
Recovery Process
Please contact the Appearance Center to consult with a qualified practitioner.
Not only are we wrapping up the summer, but September is Skin Care Awareness Month. We of course remind you to remain vigilant about sunscreen, but we also want to help you to start taking even better care of your skin with some of our in-office procedures.
Here are our three favorite ways to improve skin texture and appearance, from least to most invasive:
PEEL
Indications: Pigmentation, active acne, sun-damaged skin, fine lines and wrinkles.
How it works: Chemicals penetrate layers of the skin and promote rapid cell turnover and collagen synthesis. It also clears dead skin cells and oils. This helps create brighter, more even, and smoother skin. Select ingredients also work to reduce dark spots or treat active acne lesions. Best results are achieved with a series of peels.
Recovery: You will likely have significant peeling, especially 3-4 days after the peel. Most peeling resolves by about a week.
Cost: Varies by area, $
MICRONEEDLING
Indications: Acne scarring, surgical scars, loss of collagen from aging.
How it works: Small needles puncture the superficial layers of the skin, inducing collagen and elastin production. This results in brighter, tighter, and younger looking skin. A growth factor serum is simultaneously infused into the skin punctures, enhancing collagen production.
Recovery: For the first week you will experience redness. Avoid sun exposure for one week after treatment.
Cost: Varies by area, $
FRACTIONAL CO2 LASER
Indications: Sun-damaged skin, fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, lighter skin tones.
How it works: Fractional CO2 laser creates micro punctures in the skin while also delivering thermal energy. This removes damaged tissue and stimulates tissue shrinkage while inducing collagen production. Collagen remodeling continues for 3-6 months. Best for lighter skin types not prone to dark spots.
Recovery: This will depend on how aggressive your treatment is. You could have redness for up to a month during healing. Depending on your healing, you may be able to wear makeup after 1 week.
Cost: Varies by area, $$ – $$$