In my earlier post on Acne scars, I briefly discussed types of chemical peels. The question is what brand of peels are reliable? First of all DON”T ever let a dermatologist/Medical Aesthetician put an unbranded mixture on your face. They are STRONG chemicals and should only be from a reliable company. Here’s a list of brands that should also be available internationally:
1. Obagi . This company rose to fame with their signature ‘Blue Peel’. They have a variety of peels
2. Le Roche Posay: This company was recently acquired by Loreal and is available internationally.
3. Biomedic: Owned by Le Roche Posay, therefore now a part of Loreal. I’ve heard great things about ’BiocMedic Micropeel’ especially for acne prone skin. (The peel has Salicylic acid which fights acne and removes scars).
4. Skin Medica: This company is owned by world renowned dermatologist, Dr Richard Fitzpatrick. Their most famous peels are the ‘Illuminating Peel’ and the ‘Vitalize Peel’. I am not sure if this is available internationally.I got the Vitalize done two days ago. Read my progress here.
5. Procyte: Owned by the parent company Photomedex which also manufactures lasers for aesthetic use.
6. Skinceuticals: This company has a large variety of professional use products such as Peels.
A reader asked me to recommend a procedure for acne scars. Many of us suffer from acne during our terrible teens and are left with reminder of that in the form of scars. Acne scars can be of different types and in layman terms can be the ‘bumpy’ or ’sunken’/'depressed’ scars. (To see a more detailed classification please go here. The type of treatment that will work on you depends on what type of scar it is, how deep it is and how your skin will react to the treatment.
Bumpy scars are much easier to deal with then depressed scars. The basic idea behind treating these types of scars is to remove scar tissue cells and accelerate the growth of new tissue. With the dead scar cells sloughing off, new skin cells are revealed. For depressed scars, new skin needs to be regenerated in the depressed areas while the surrounding areas need to be ex foliated. Following options exist:
1. Topical Creams: Creams containing Retin-A, Alpha Hydroxy Acids or Beta Hydroxy Acids can help. These will need to be used consistently for a number of months for there to be a noticeable difference. Please wear a sunscreen while using these creams. Skin may begin to peel during treatment( don’t pick on it).
2. Chemical Peels: Light , Medium to Deep peels can be used to treat scars. Consult with your doctor to determine what type of peel you will require. Light peels such as 20-30% Glycolic acids work well over a number of consecutive treatments and have no downtime. Medium Peels such as TCA or 75% Glycolic Acid will also work great and require less treatments, but……..Please continue reading my post here
Alot of us( including me) suffer from different forms and intensity of hyper pigmentation. In recent years, I have started developing alot of sun spots on my face. So what options are there for people like me who have sun spots/ freckles and other forms of hyper pigmentation:
Creams: Creams with Kojic Acid or Licorice help ligthen dark spots but need to be used regulary for a few months before any real change can be seen. Retinoids (Vitamin A based creams) are also shown to be effective but make the skin very sensitive and also cause some skin peeling. Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) based creams are known to be somewhat effective but because of the low percentage of AHAs in the cream, these need to be used on a regular basis. One new ‘breakthrough’ discovery is using Manganese Peptides for safe and effective skin lightening. I personally haven’t used this and can’t comment, but per my dermatologist, this is no better than kojic/licorice/retinoids.
So what cream to buy?????? If you want to go the cream route, then, Hydroquinone is THE best solution for the treatment of hyperpigmentation. With regular use, it is very effective in ligthening up the skin and clearing up the patchy areas. HOWEVER, Hydroquinone gets obsorbed by the human body and after a point it will stop working. So after 3 months of regular use, take a 3 months break and you’ll see great results. ( As a side note, some countries have banned Hydroquinone as it is believed to be a Carcinogen, but there is no Scientific evidence to support this belief).
Before and After of Patient who used Hydroquinone for 3 months.
Laser
This is a very effective way of getting rid of hyper pigmentation as the laser targets Melanin in the skin, causing it to break up. Freckles/sunspots become form scabs and drop off the skin. Unfortunately for us desi folks, this method can end up harming our skin. As our entire skin is naturally dark, not only will our sunspots/ freckles absorb the laser’s energy, but so will our entire face which may cause burning and may actually cause further darkening of the skin. I personally know some people who got this treatment done only to get MORE freckles on their face as well as BURNS!!!. For tan/olive/dark skins, the laser needs to be on a precise setting. ONLY go for this option, if the dermatologist/ plastic surgeon/ medical esthetician has ample experience with dark skin. My dermatologist refused to perform this treatment as she said it is unsafe for Asian skin.
Chemical Peel
A chemical peel is typically received at a dermatologists office and is a concentrated form of either Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) or Beta Hydroxy Acid (BHA). Depending on the concentration of the acid( 20%,35%, 50%, 55% or 745%), it is left on the patient’s skin for 2-5 minutes. During the treatment you will feel the acid stinging your face and it can be mildly uncomfortable. The acid acts as a stimulus to accelerate the skins renewal process. Typically your skin will ‘peel’ for a week after the treament (and you will look weird). But once the peeling is complete, your skin’s texture will dramatically improve. Depending on the severity of the hyper pigmentation, you might need 2-5 sessions of peels to remove all signs of skin darkening. Again PICK an experienced doctor to perform this treatment on you coz a novice will probably burn your skin.
Before and After of a Patient who received a TCA peel
Liposuction is fast gaining popularity in Pakistan, with Lahori Aunties flocking around Clinics to get their thin days of glory back. So what the heck is liposuction? Essentially it’s a procedure in which you body fat is succtioned out through a cannula. There are several techniques for performing liposuction some of which are no longer considered safe (Dry Technique), and some are recognized as world-wide standards of care (Tumescent Technique). Every few months someone invents a “better” technique be it smart lipo, vaser lipo blah blah blah, but they are all based out on the Tumescent technique. More information can be read about the technique here. So what do you do if you want to get liposuction?
1. Firstly, it is NOT a way to lose weight!!! Lipo is for people who have localised fat issues. So for example, if you have a slamming body except for that stupid pouch of fat on your stomach, you are probably a good candidate for liposuction
2. DONOT fall for fancy named techniques. Make google your best friend and research the name of the technique.Post an inqury on www.realself.com, this website has US based plastic surgeons registered on it and they will answer your questions.
3. DONOT fall for clinics that advertise too much and make it all seem like a walk in the park. I ‘ve seen such ridiculus ads saying stuff like “PAINLESS” “PERMANENT” etc etc. Be smart
4. It’s always best to get first hand references on a clinic. If you like your friend’s liposuction job, it’s a good idea to check out the doctor.
5. RESULTS RESULTS RESULTS: The biggest challenge in liposuction is getting the fat evenly out of the patient’s body. Failure to do so can result in bumpy skin that looks unnatural and sometimes gives a burnt effect.When examining photo galleries of potential doctor, watch out for that!!!!!! Case in point Tara Reid’s Stomach
6. If you have too much fat in the area, you probably are NOT a good candidate for liposuction. Reason is that once the fat is removed, your skin might not be able to shrink back and will sag. Case in Point, Tara Reid’s stomach
Old is Gold.. quite literally!!! This new procedure has recently started gaining popularity in the west. People are considering it instead of the traditional facelift, as its lighter on the wallet and looks more natural. Here’s what the daily mail had to say about it:
” Using just needle and thread, a finely woven 24-carat mesh framework is sewn under the surface of the skin where it remains.It is not a procedure for the faint-hearted. The patient remains awake as four yards of gold thread are inserted, the only painkiller being dozens of local anaesthetic injections applied to the face.The gold stimulates increased production of collagen around the threads in response to the presence of a foreign substance.” Since Gold is a non reactive metal, there is no harm to the skin and it is slowly broken down by the body.
This lady was one of the first ten people in Britain to receive this procedure. I personally like the results, she definitly looks refreshed and plumped, without any weird side effects of a traditional facelift such as overly tight skin or altered features. Read more about it here
Much has been said about facial fillers in my posts. So what are they and what do they do?
One of the earliest signs of aging is loss of facial fat and wrinkling. Facial or injectable fillers are a good alternative to surgical procedures and help fill in facial lines and add volume to the skin. Injectable fillers are used to: Fill in creases and wrinkles, plump up lips, improve recessed scars (caused by acne etc) and plump up skin
There are different types of fillers including the following:
Botox: Botox combats wrinkles that are created when nerve cells within the muscles beneath the skin release a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical triggers a muscle contraction that creates wrinkles. The Botox product, medically known as Botulinum Toxin Type A, is an injectable compound that disrupts the release of acetylcholine, which essentially paralyzes the muscle and stops the contraction…. Read more here
Collagan: Collagen is the main protein found in connective tissue. It supports the skin, bone, cartilage and blood vessels. Collagen composes up to 80 percent of the skin. Its role is to maintain the skin’s integrity…Read more here
Hyauronic Acid: A natural complex sugar that bolsters skin elasticity, providing a smooth and supple appearance. It is biocompatible, supplementing the body’s natural hyaluronic acid, which age has depleted. It is sold as Juvederm and Restylane.
The above patient received Restylane fillers in her face and lips.
Hydroxylapatite: It is a biocompatible treatment and lasts two years or more. It can also be used to fill certain scars. It is sold as Radiesse. Read about Raduesse here
Fat Fillers: The filler consists of fat taken from one part of your body and moved into the area of your body to be treated. It is used to treat stubborn lines and plump up lips. Read more about it here
Thinking of getting a nose job, but not comfortable with the procedure?? Well you may be a candidate for a non surgical nose job. The patient below, received a “nose job” in 15 minutes without being sedated or going under the knife.
For a non surgical nose job, the surgeon injects a filler into the nose. This type of procedure is ideal for those with a ‘hump’ or crooked nose. Learn more about the procedure below
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