While some learn to love those tiny brown spots on the tip of the nose, cheeks and shoulders, others look for anything to fade freckled skin. Thankfully, you can lighten unwanted freckles and spots instead of just covering them up with makeup. And, obtaining brighter, smoother, spot-free skin may be easier than you think. At the office of Dr. Mark Bishara we want to educate our patients about proper skin care and help them improve the health and appearance of their skin.
Protect and Prevent
With a medical name like ephelides, it’s no surprise that freckles get a bad rap. While “simple freckles,” the tiny brown spots on your skin you have had since birth, are harmless, lentigines, or “sunburn freckles,” need to be taken more seriously. Usually larger in size, more red in color and with an irregular border, these spots are sure signs of sun damage. No matter how old you were when you first noticed your freckles, sun exposure can only make them darker and greater in number. The easiest way to prevent freckles from forming is by using sunscreen. “I recommend applying sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30,” says New York and Miami dermatologist Fredric S. Brandt, MD. “No product will effectively lighten skin without the use of sunscreen on a daily basis.”
On the Bright Side
Over-the-counter brighteners can help to even out freckles and spots for more evenly toned skin. The SkinCeuticals line of skin care products offers 3 different product categories to: Prevent, Protect and Correct. Many of their products help to reduce the appearance of spots, leaving the skin looking luminous and glowing. For more information on the SkinCeuticals products and to find out the right skin care regimen for your skin type and skin condition please visit their website at www.SkinCeuticals.com. Our office offers the SkinCeuticals skin care line and can also help you choose the right product for you.
Zap Away
For serious long-term freckle fading, laser resurfacing lightens and retexturizes. Unlike chemical peels and microdermabrasion, which just exfoliate, pigment-specific lasers, like the Alma laser systems, specifically destroy pigment in the epidermis and dermis to eliminate discoloration with minimal side effects. Fractional resurfacing lasers poke tiny holes into the skin to deliver a dose of controlled heat to the deeper layers, eliminating freckles from the inside out. Not a laser, but similar in terms of results, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) uses broadband light to diminish freckles. Not all lasers are alike, so it’s important to diagnose your skin accurately prior to treatment.
Please visit our website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com or call us at (817) 473-2120 for more information.
We lose a teaspoon of collagen from our faces every year after age 30
There are only a few proven ways to significantly increase collagen in the face to tighten the skin. These methods include laser resurfacing of the face, use of a retinol cream, collagen injections, and hyaluronic acid injections (Juvederm).
Juvéderm® Ultra Plus XC
Juvederm is designed to replenish what natural aging takes away, for a fresher, rejuvenated look. Replenish what’s been lost over time: sun exposure, hormonal changes and aging can all have an impact on your skin’s appearance. Over time, your skin begins to lose hyaluronic acid and collagen, resulting in fine lines, wrinkles and a loss of fullness and elasticity. We can now reverse these signs of aging by correcting the wrinkles and folds and adding volume to sunken skin. Juvéderm is a soft, injectable gel filler that your doctor uses to help replenish and refresh your appearance. It uses hyaluronic acid (a naturally occurring sugar found in your body), which combines with the water in your skin to instantly restore lost volume and reduce lines and wrinkles. Hyaluronic injections have also been shown to stimulate collagen production. Not only that, Juvéderm works to enhance and define lips, cheeks and jaw line.
Juvéderm® Voluma™
JUVÉDERM VOLUMA, the newest facial filler available in the Juvederm family of hyaluronic acid fillers. The first of its kind, JUVÉDERM VOLUMA is a hyaluronic acid facial filler specifically made to restore age-related volume loss in the mid-face (the cheeks, cheekbones and around the chin). JUVÉDERM VOLUMA uses hyaluronic acid, a sugar that occurs naturally in your skin, to instantly restore lost facial volume in the cheeks and contour the chin. JUVÉDERM VOLUMA also combines with collagen and elastin to improve skin structure and elasticity, and create a smooth natural look. The results are instant, natural looking and can last up to 18 months.1 Plus there’s no downtime – most people resume normal activities immediately.
This information is brought to you courtesy of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Mansfield and Southlake, TX
Cosmetic Procedures- Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Today’s lasers can diminish many signs of aging — from early wrinkles and age spots to deep lines and spider veins. A laser procedure often can be performed in less than an hour and may require little or no downtime.
Also Called
Numerous lasers and light devices are used to rejuvenate the skin. These devices are generally grouped into the following categories:
- Non-ablative laser rejuvenation – No downtime. Best for early signs of aging.
- Intense pulsed light (IPL) – Not a laser, this light therapy penetrates deeper into the skin than a non-ablative laser. IPL does not injure the surface of the skin, so there is usually no downtime. IPL can improve skin texture and color as well as reduce pore size.
- Photodynamic therapy (PDT) – This is a two-step procedure. First, a solution that makes the skin more sensitive to light is applied and left on for 30 minutes or longer. Then light from the laser or other source is beamed onto the treated area. Downtime is minimal. PDT decreases redness, reduces age spots and freckles, and improves the overall texture and appearance of the skin.
- Fractional laser rejuvenation – Offers deeper rejuvenation. Recovery time is short. Best for diminishing signs of aging such as age spots, wrinkles, and skin discoloration.
- Ablative laser resurfacing – Heats the skin to cause a visible wound, which means some downtime for recovery. Effective for deeper wrinkles and diminishing aging caused by years of unprotected sun exposure. A type of laser called a fractional ablative laser causes no visible wounds. Fractional ablative laser resurfacing requires less downtime than ablative laser resurfacing.
Signs of Aging Treated
Lasers and other light-based devices are used to treat these concerns:
- Age (sun) spots
- Dark circles under the eye
- Dry, dull skin
- Fine lines
- Freckles
- Hand rejuvenation (age spots, loose skin, and lines)
- Melasma
- Redness and flushing
- Scars
- Seborrheic keratoses (flat only)
- Skin texture (treats roughness)
- Skin tone (treats mottled complexion and skin discoloration)
- Spider veins
- Stretch marks
- Tattoos (removal)
- Unwanted hair
- Varicose veins
- Wrinkles
When Do You See Results from Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Improvement is gradual. It may take several months to see the full effects. When a laser that does not require downtime is used, a series of treatments may be necessary to see the desired results. The number of treatments varies from person to person; however, between 3 and 6 treatments is the norm.
Effectiveness
Research shows that laser rejuvenation can dramatically reduce fine lines around the eyes and mouth and on the cheeks. With 1 treatment, age spots can be diminished by 50% and may be completely eliminated with follow-up treatments. Laser skin resurfacing can significantly reduce deep lines, effectively remove some shallow scars, and tighten the skin.
While lasers may sound like magic wands, they are not. It is important to have realistic expectations. Laser skin rejuvenation can be effective, but does not work for everyone.
Some skin tightening is possible, but lasers cannot produce the same degree of lifting seen after a surgical facelift or eyelid lift. Wrinkles caused by constant muscle movement such as frown lines can be hard to treat with lasers alone. Another procedure such as botulinum rejuvenation may be used along with a laser to obtain the desired results.
How Long Results Last
It is possible to permanently remove some signs of aging such as a spider vein, age spot, or scar. However, laser skin rejuvenation cannot stop the skin from continuing to age. Crow’s feet may re-appear and new age spots can develop. Because sun exposure accelerates signs of aging, protecting the skin from sun exposure will lengthen the amount of time that the results last. Protecting the skin from the sun also can prevent some signs of aging from re-appearing such as blotchy skin and dark patches.
The office of Dr. Mark Bishara and The Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa offers many laser skin rejuvenation procedures. If you are considering a laser or other light-based treatments to rejuvenate your skin please contact our office and speak with one of our aestheticians to find out more information. Please call (817) 473-2120 or visit our Website at www.MarkBisharaMD.com.
Your skin spends all day every day protecting your body from the elements. Over the years, the toll of being the first line of defense against the sun, wind, toxins, UV rays, and cigarette smoke, not to mention stress and poor nutrition, begins to show. The skin loses the smoothness and resilience it once had, and fine lines appear near the eyes, the mouth, the forehead, and across the cheeks. While facelift surgery is the optimal treatment for deep creases and jowls, skin rejuvenation procedures at our offices in Mansfield and Southlake corrects sun-damaged skin, unevenly pigmented skin, and age spots.
Dr. Mark Bishara’s Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med Spa offers a variety of laser treatments for correction of skin tone and texture, acne, fine lines and wrinkles, spider veins, unwanted hair, and tattoo removal.
Skin Resurfacing
One of the most popular anti-aging procedures that improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars and various other texture concerns. Minimal downtime is expected.
Skin resurfacing can be used to treat:
- Wrinkles
- Sun damage
- Crow’s feet
- Brown spots
- Blotchiness
- Precancerous growths
- Acne
- Chicken pox scars
- Superficial facial scars
ClearLift- Non-Ablative Fractional Skin Remodeling
A great alternative to skin resurfacing. Offers significant improvement to fine lines, wrinkles, and scarring without downtime or discomfort.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is ideal for patients with dark hair and light skin, although nearly anyone with unwanted facial or body hair can benefit from this procedure. This procedure can be performed on the lip, chin, neck, back, arms, legs, bikini area and more.
After laser hair removal, patients may experience redness, puffiness and sunburn sensations for the first few days. You may return to work and other regular activities as soon as you feel comfortable. Three to seven days after treatment, patients may notice what appears to be a re-growth of hair, but is actually a shedding of the treated hair, which will fall out and not grow back.
Since hairs grow at different times, multiple treatments will be needed for all patients at intervals of four to six weeks. Virtually pain-free, safely and visibly reduces unwanted hair over a series of 6-9 treaments.
- Lip
- Face
- Arms (Full)
- Arms (Upper or Lower)
- Legs (Full)
- Legs (Upper or Lower)
- Chest
- Chest and Abdomen
- Chin
- Underarms
- Brazilian Bikini
- Bikini
- Neck
- Face and Neck
- Back
- Buttocks
Dr. Bishara and the Paragon Plastic Surgery & Med spa offer many more laser treatments for the face and body as well as injectables, such as Botox, Xeomin, Juvederm Ultra Plus XC and the NEW Juvederm Voluma. Please visit our website for more information at www.MarkBisharaMD.com or call our office at (817) 473-2120.
Start the Winter Off as You…. Only Better!
OR
BUY 1 LASER HAIR REMOVAL SESSION and get the 2nd SESSION for FREE
OR
BUY $100 or more of BOTOX, get a MICRODERMABRASION TREATMENT for FREE
(Value of $85)
Offers Expires December 31, 2013
Clear Lift Skin Remodeling – No downtime- $388
Clear Lift Offer Expires January 31, 2014
Please call our office to schedule an appointment at (817) 473-2120 or email at [email protected]
Just a reminder…..our new office in Mansfield is opening VERY soon! The new office address will be 1101 Matlock Rd. We will be in our new Mansfield location by the end of the month. Please call our office at (817) 473-2120.
Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Mark A. Bishara, M.D., serving Fort Worth, Arlington, and the surrounding area.
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