Anti aging solutions

Today’s anti-aging treatments encompass a wide spectrum of treatments ranging from basic skin care creams to major surgeries. Choosing the correct one at the right time, by the correct specialist in your life is critical for successful outcome for both your appearances and the cost of the treatment.

Basic, but scientific skin care and photoprotection forms the cornerstone of treatments, and will assist in reducing you needing further rejuvenating treatments.

Creams and topical treatments should always be instilled early in the antiaging solutions- antioxidants, Vitamin A, C and E, alpha hydroxy acids, all have scientific evidence of reversing signs of aging.

For moderate signs of aging, such as wrinkles around the eyes, forehead and frown lines, a non-invasive or minimally invasive procedure such as BTX, Fractional Photo rejuvenation, chemical peels of fillers can yield great results.

For moderate to severe cases of aging, more invasive procedures such as ablative laser, high strength TCA peels, and surgery are needed to give results. These procedures have the ability to yield marked improvements, but require substantial downtime and carry a small risk of adverse effects.

Depending on the extent of intrinsic aging and photodamage, it is best to start with a less invasive solution and work upwards.

Forehead

• BTX anti wrinkle treatments
• Fractionated Photorejuveantion Laser
• Fractionated laser
• TCA chemical peels

Eyes

• BTX anti wrinkle treatments
• TCA chemical peels
• Fractionated Photorejuveantion Laser
• Fractionated laser
• Microlaser peel

Cheeks

• Fractionated Photorejuveantion Laser
• Fractionated laser
• TCA chemical peels
• Fillers
• BBL/IPL
• Microlaser peel

Lower face

• Fillers
• BTX anti wrinkle treatments

Neck

• Fractionated Photorejuveantion Laser
• BBL
• Vascular laser

Hands

• Fractionated Photorejuveantion Laser
• TCA chemical peels
• More on hand rejuvenation

Décolletage

• Fractionated Photorejuveantion Laser
• BBL
• TCA chemical peels

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Both intrinsic and extrinsic aging (due to UV radiation), leads to a loss in dermal collagen and elastin. These structures form the scaffolding (support) of skin, and give youthful skin both tone and volume.  Treatments such as fillers, higher strength chemical peels, Fractionated lasers, and Fractionated Photo-rejuvenation aim to stimulate or replace loss collagen and elastin. This in turn restores loss volume, and improves skin tone.

Skin texture is often compromised with the natural passing of time... age. Spots and rough areas start to appear in the late 20s and early 30 s.  Procedures such as BBL, chemical peels, Fractionated laser, and Fractionated Photorejuvenation can correct uneven pigmentation and refresh your skin.

A logical approach take prior to consideration of treatment is to ask ‘ How old is my skin?”  More information on assessing skin age.

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Cosmeceutical skin cream choices are infinite - many claim to improve skin tone, skin texture, reduce wrinkles and the appearance of age spots. A dermatologist can customise a prescription cream that is far more effective and more cost effective than over the counter creams and are actually tailored to what you need. We consider each patient’s skin condition and skin type, and titrate the dose and application individually.

At a glance

• Tretinoin is made from Vitamin A, and can help reduce the fine wrinkles, and treat age spots.
• Tretinoin works by stimulating the production of collagen, and also changes the thickness of the epidermis.
• Tretinoin also can reduce melanin production and hence reduce pigmentation.
• AHA or alpha hydroxy acids can improve skin texture, and in higher concentrations improve skin tone
• AHA can be combined with tretinoin for improved effects
• Vitamin C acts as a free radical scavenger and an antioxidant and can be compounded in various creams containing vitamin A and AHAs
• Prescription creams are often a fraction of the cost of equivalent over the counter creams, however are more potent
• All prescriptions are best customised according to the patient’s skin type and condition
• Sunscreen selection is important in antiaging regimes. We recommend La Roche Posay sunscreens on a daily basis

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Chemical peels can slow down and sometimes even reverse the aging process. Gentle ‘lunch time’ peels such as Glycolic acid peels can reverse mild aging skin, deeper peels such as TCA peels can address more severe aging.

At a glance

• Chemical peels can be used to treat pigmentation, wrinkles and sun-damaged skin.
• The type of chemical peel and the concentration of peeling agent will determine the depth of peeling.
• Deeper peels will result in greater clinical improvements in the skin, however are associated with greater downtime and side effects.
• Glycolic acid (AHA/ fruit acid peels), salicylic acid, and TCA are the most frequently used peeling agents.
• Patients are carefully assessed by a specialist dermatologist to ensure that the correct concentration and peeling agent is used for the condition.

More information on chemical peels

More information on TCA peels

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Fractionated/ Fraxel laser therapy has revolutionised the way we treat pigmentation, melasma, wrinkling and photoaging. Fractionation of the skin provides patients with minimal downtime and risks, but maximizes the results.

At a glance

• Fractionation can also be applied to rejuvenation and is also used to treat photoaging, melasma, frecklesand wrinkles
• Fraxel/ Fractionated laser can also be combined with BBL/ IPL  for superior results– a treatment known as Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation.
• Fractionated laser treats only a fraction of the skin enabling rapid healing and minimal side effects.
• Healing time can be as quick as 36-48 hours.

More information on Fractional laser.

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The use of BTX injections can dramatically reduce dynamic wrinkles around the frown lines (wrinkles between the eyebrows), crow’s feet(wrinkles around the eyes) and smokers lines (wrinkles around the mouth). This treatment is highly effective with an outstanding safety record spanning 20 years.

At a glance

• BTX is a natural purified protein that relaxes wrinkle causing muscles
• BTX injections take 10-15 minutes to perform
• BTX takes 7-14 days to have maximal effect
• BTX lasts on average 3-4 months
• A good Botox injector will give you a natural, more youthful look and avoid the frozen look often seen

More information on BTX wrinkle relaxants.

Fillers function to restore lost collagen and elastin. Collagen and elastin function to give the skin volume, and as we age, there is a natural loss of skin tone and volume. Skin then becomes more saggy, hollowed, and wrinkled. Dermal fillers help to restore skin to it former youthful appearance.

At a glance

• Fillers restore loss volume, and can improve skin tone
• Dermal fillers can also reduce wrinkles, and restore lip volume
• Fillers are classified as non permanent fillers or permanent fillers
• Restylane, Juvederm and Radiesse are classed as non permanent fillers
• Depending on the brand of filler and the location, dermal fillers last between 5 months to 2 years
• For wrinkle reduction, fillers are best combined with BOTOX

More information on Fillers.

Microdermabrasion can be used to improve skin texture by exfoliation of the upper layers of the skin, it does not stimulate collagen production. Although still used, microdermabrasion has been replaced with more effective treatments such as chemical peeling and microlaser peels.

• Microdermabrasion was a treatment developed in the 1970s
• Since the event of chemical peels and microlaser peels, microdermabrasion is seldom recommended
• Chemical peels are more cost effective than microdermabrasion and take quicker to perform

Trusting a physician to undertake anti aging treatments can be daunting for many patients as there are many so called experts in the field and misinformation is common. Procedural dermatologist are best equipped with expertise and the latest technology to give optimal results to our patients. As we are Specialist in our field, a referral from a GP will enable you to claim a percentage of the consultation and in some cases a rebate for procedures.

Call Westside Dermatology directly on (07) 3871 3437 to make an appointment, or to discuss issues regarding the referral process.

Enquire about anti aging solutions

moreDr Davin S. Lim

Dr Davin S. Lim, Consultant Specialist Dermatologist

Patients are faced with a bewildering number of options from an equally numbered range of ‘skin experts’. Patients need to understand how treatments work in order to gain knowledge to help slow down the aging process. In Queensland, lifestyle choices and the associated UV photodamage contributes to at least 50% of the aging process.

Decreasing sundamage that is already there, and being versed on Photoprotection can give great results that are long lasting.

I often use a combination of treatments including BTX for wrinkles, and fractionated laser resurfacing to stimulate collagen production. These two basic treatments address winkling, increase volume and improve skin texture.

What’s more, downtime for the patient is kept to a minimum.