Top 10 Aesthetic Medicine Technologies: Heroes of Our Time

Each year, the American Society of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), one of the most respected professional societies, releases statistics on the demand for services. In 2016, the most popular areas of non-surgical beauty include injectable and laser technologies: Botulinum toxin therapy, hyaluronic acid injections, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, photorejuvenation, microdermabrasion, etc.In our article we will discuss the most popular methods of "aesthetic medicine".

Cosmetic injection technology

Injections are popular mainly because they allow you to get the results you want without surgical intervention. Injection types vary according to the depth of injection: from the superficial layers of the skin to the deeper muscle layers. The duration of the effects also varies: from weeks to years.Let’s describe the main injection techniques used in the aesthetic field today.

Botulinum toxin therapy

This is an introduction to medicines made from botulinum toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. It works by blocking the transmission of nerve signals to the muscles, causing them to relax. Initially, Botulinum toxin therapy was used to treat spasm-related conditions, such as tics, and later began to be used to smooth wrinkles.Indications for the use of botulinum toxin in cosmetics are facial wrinkles - changes in and around the eyes, forehead, corners of the mouth, nasolabial folds, and changes in the oval shape of the face. Botulinum toxin can smooth moderately deep wrinkles and reverse some age-related changes.This procedure is not performed if the patient has an inflammatory skin disease, a bleeding disorder, or is already receiving antibiotics and anticoagulants. Contraindications also include renal or hepatic failure, individual intolerance to botulinum toxin medications, and facial muscle paralysis. Pregnant and breastfeeding women do not receive the injection. Doctors use caution with patients who are prone to swelling, eyelid herniation, and cerebrovascular accidents.Preparation for surgery does not require strict restrictions: it is recommended to avoid physical activity and not drink alcohol. Injections using a fine needle usually cause no discomfort. During the procedure, the doctor can give up to 25 injections to one area of the face. This takes 10-15 minutes. Effects can be evaluated after 2 weeks. Wrinkles are smoothed due to muscle relaxation, but with professional injections, facial expressions and facial expressions are preserved.The effects of Botox treatment are reversible and can last for 3 to 6 months. Thereafter, facial muscle mobility was fully restored.

Notes1 unit of action is equivalent to 3 × 107 botulinum toxin molecules. The dosage (number of action units) is determined by the beautician. On average, we are talking about the following figures:

• Forehead area - 20–30 units;
• Chin - up to 10 units;
• Area around the eyes - 24 units;
• Nose and bridge - 10 units.

Contour plastic

During the procedure, the doctor uses special fillers (fillers) to correct wrinkles, facial contours, and its various areas. Modern cosmetic injections are performed using fillers, which make it possible to achieve so-called 3D modeling effects while preserving all facial features.

Notes
Most modern fillers are based on hyaluronic acid. It is part of the intercellular substance and plays an important role in maintaining the water balance of tissues and their recovery when damaged. Injections of hyaluronic acid not only help moisturize the tissue, but also stimulate the body's own production of framework proteins - collagen and elastin.

Indications for contour plastic surgery include wrinkles, folds, and unclear oval faces. Contraindications: Cancer, diabetes, connective tissue diseases, skin diseases, coagulation disorders, pregnancy and lactation, individual intolerance.Contouring surgery requires no special preparation. Many medications contain anesthetics, or your doctor may administer local anesthesia. After contouring, you may experience swelling, bruising, and hardness in the area injected, which should resolve on its own within a few days.The effects of contouring can last up to two years.

bioaugmentation

Hyaluronic acid has been used in bioaugmentation, a special procedure that results in the formation of an "internal framework" in the face. If a patient's skin has lost its tone and looks loose and dull, and if there are signs of fine lines and sagging, then the doctor will inject medication along the "sagging lines" to maintain skin tone from within. In this case, doctors can predict exactly how wrinkles will form and prevent their occurrence by introducing hyaluronic acid preparations.

biological regeneration

Injections can also moisturize and saturate specific areas of skin with nutrients. In this case, we are talking about a biological regeneration procedure. With its help, you can improve the skin condition of your hands, shoulders, neck and face.Injections are contraindicated if the patient has an inflammatory skin disease or is allergic to the components of the drug. Pregnancy, lactation, and exacerbation of physical illness are also barriers to biological regeneration and bioaugmentation.No special preparation is required before injecting hyaluronic acid. The slight redness of the skin after bioregeneration will disappear within a few hours. Results last up to 12 months. Biological regeneration is usually performed every 1-2 months.

vector boost

To tighten the skin in certain areas (e. g. cheekbones, chin), doctors use a vector lift. It is similar to bioaugmentation, except that the drug is injected along several parallel lines in the direction of the desired lift.For vector lifting, a preparation of hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite is used. Choose the latter if you need to lift an area prone to swelling. The drug is absorbed longer than hyaluronic acid - up to 3 years.

plasma boost

The essence of the technology is to inject the patient's own plasma containing platelets into the patient. Plasma contains many biologically active components that can stimulate cell growth and participate in metabolism. And very importantly, the plasma itself is not a foreign body to the human body. This means it won't be rejected and won't cause allergic reactions.Plasma lifting improves skin microcirculation, normalizes water balance, and enhances local immunity. This procedure is performed to restore skin health if the patient begins to develop fine lines (the first sign of aging) (for example, after a sunburn). Plasma lifting can also enhance the results of other cosmetic procedures.Plasmalift surgery also has many contraindications, although they are rare:

• Oncological diseases, hepatitis, blood diseases;
• pregnancy and lactation;
• Infectious and inflammatory skin diseases;
• Exacerbation of chronic diseases, acute infections.

To perform a plasma lift, 20-40 ml of blood is withdrawn from the patient's veins. Next, it is centrifuged in a special mode to obtain a plasma component with a high platelet content. The doctor then injects the resulting portion intradermally in the form of micropapules throughout the treatment area. A standard treatment course consists of 4 treatments, spaced 7-14 days apart, with results lasting up to two years. However, it is recommended to repeat the course once a year.

mesotherapy

The drug is injected directly into the skin via microinjection to improve its properties. Mesotherapy is used to extra nourish and moisturize the skin and prevent aging. It is also used to combat stretch marks and stimulate hair growth and vitality. For injections, you can use not only single drugs, but also mesotherapy mixtures with complex effects. For superficial delivery, bioregeneration and plasma lifting are also considered mesotherapy options.For the treatment of large areas, doctors use special equipment - syringes. The need for anesthesia depends on the individual sensitivity of the patient.Injection techniques appeal primarily to patients who fear surgery. But it's worth considering that individual reactions to drugs are always possible and can be difficult to predict in advance. In addition, injections carry risks of hematoma formation, skin color changes, and fibrosis (the formation of a seal at the injection site). All of these risks must be discussed with your doctor in advance.

According to statistics. . .
. . . Women in the age group of 35 to 64 account for approximately 60% of all those seeking help from beauticians.

Application of laser technology in aesthetic medicine

The essence of laser exposure can be understood by deciphering the abbreviation LASER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation - "Light Amplification using Stimulated Emission of Radiation". That is, a laser is a device that "concentrates" electromagnetic radiation into a very powerful, directional beam. Thanks to this, the laser beam can be precisely aimed and pulsed.The application of laser in the field of beauty can be realized in many fields.

laser skin rejuvenation

The technology is based on heating the skin with light beams. The effect is short-term, meaning it won't cause serious damage. However, in response, it is enough to cause inflammation. As a result, the skin is stimulated to produce collagen, a structural protein that gives elasticity and tone. Through this effect, wrinkles are "pushed" outward.Indications for laser rejuvenation include fine lines, visible vascular network, enlarged pores, soft tissue sagging, compromised facial contours, scarring on the skin, post-acne, double chin, and hyperpigmentation. This procedure is contraindicated if the patient has inflammation and tumors, psoriasis, or skin diseases in the treated area. Laser rejuvenation is not suitable during pregnancy or if the patient has tanned skin. Patients with diabetes, hypertension, angina, blood diseases, etc. need to pay special attention to this surgery.Deep laser rejuvenation requires no special preparation and can be performed without anesthesia. For long-lasting results, you will need 3-4 surgeries every other month.

lattice photothermolysis

Wrinkles, age spots, enlarged pores, skin scars, crow’s feet, stretch marks, small blood vessel defects – all of these problems can be addressed if you undergo fractional photothermal therapy.This is also a laser technology used in aesthetic medicine, but the beam here has its own characteristics. It is divided into several micro-strands (fragments), each no thicker than a human hair. All of this affects microscopic areas of the skin, resulting in a "mesh" treatment - areas affected by the laser beam alternate with unaffected areas. In the treated area, collagen and elastin are destroyed, while in the remaining intact cells, the process of restoring the "loss" is initiated. This renews the skin, increases its elasticity, tone and improves appearance.Fractional photothermal therapy can even be performed on sensitive areas of the face, such as the eyelids. Contraindications are pregnancy, cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases or acute phase dermatoses. Recovery after fractional photothermal therapy is rapid, literally within a week, and the basal layer of the epidermis returns to normal within the first day. In order to make the effect more obvious, doctors recommend participating in 3-4 courses of treatment every other month.If sensitivity increases, the patient will undergo surgery using an anesthetic gel, but in most cases this can be avoided.

SMAS improvement

The abbreviation SMAS - Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System - stands for "subcutaneous musculoaponeurotic layer". It is made up of muscles and ligaments. Lifting this layer allows you to achieve good results. That is, by tightening the skin, we can combat superficial wrinkles, and by acting on SMAS, we can smooth deeper wrinkles.SMAS lifting is performed using an ultrasonic machine. By heating the deep layers of skin and muscles, ultrasound causes them to contract and activates the production of structural proteins. The acceleration of metabolic processes improves appearance.Many times, the SMAS lift is recommended for patients who for whatever reason do not want to undergo a surgical lift. The second category of patients who are candidates for an SMAS lift are those who have undergone a surgical lift and are seeking prolonged results.During the procedure, the esthetician uses ultrasound to "see" the deeper layers and assess the condition of the muscles and fascia. Therefore, the therapeutic effects of energy ultrasound are directed by the physician to the desired depth of muscle, fascia, and ligaments.SMAS lifting requires no special preparation. The procedure is somewhat painful; you can take painkillers to make it comfortable. The results are partially visible after surgery, and the lifting effects can be fully evaluated after three months.Cosmetic injection technology and laser cosmetic technology make it possible to solve many problems that would have required surgery just a few years ago. Prolonging youth is not only a dream for women, now both young people and men who rarely visited beauty clinics in the past are turning to the services of beauticians. Of course, the opportunity to address many problems without surgical intervention makes aesthetic medicine increasingly attractive and in demand.

How to choose a beauty clinic

Probably every visitor to a beauty center will say that one of the key points in choosing "your" clinic and "your" doctor is the individual approach, implemented (or not) by a specialist. The beautician will tell you the nuances of combining a personal and objective approach:"Working in the field of cosmetology, we cannot act solely on the basis of our own preferences and considerations. We must take into account the patient's expectations, his emotions, including his doubts and fears. Here, the experience of the expert plays a decisive role. For example, the beauticians employed at Gradient Clinic are highly educated, specialized in the field of aesthetic medicine, and trained in modern techniques. This allows us to take a broader view of the problem.We cannot fail to mention the importance of modern equipment. Manufacturers are working hard to improve the equipment, and clinics and, of course, patients themselves are paying attention. "Aesthetic medicine and cosmetology can correct many cosmetic imperfections such as wrinkles, scars, acne, thus improving appearance and prolonging youthfulness.Expression wrinkles that show age can be eliminated with cosmetic procedures such as intradermal facial contouring.Modern medical techniques help solve many cosmetic problems without the need for radical measures.The cost of cosmetic surgery depends on the complexity of the task, the area of correction and the amount of work done.You can ask any questions you have during your initial consultation with your esthetician.