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Though we can only wish that Ponce de León found a real Fountain of Youth, the fact remains that we all eventually succumb to the natural process of aging. We gain not only more wisdom but something else: dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles. It’s common to assume that celebrities — like Cher, Jennifer Lopez, and Elizabeth Hurley — who’ve gracefully cheated aging underwent numerous upscale beauty treatments that we can't access. But with a little research, you’d certainly discover that various rejuvenation treatments exist to help tighten skin and maintain its youthful glow. In fact, you may be surprised to learn how many skin aestheticians operate right in your city! That said, read on for the top 5 skin rejuvenation treatments that give us hope for retaining everlasting youth.
1. Botox
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Botox injections remain one of the most popular anti-aging cosmetic treatments thanks to pop culture. Usually costs around $350 to $500 per area treated, Botox involves injecting small amounts of the botulinum toxin into precise regions of the skin that relax muscles enough to help prevent them from moving. For over 20 years, Botox has produced great results that suppress or maintain the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Despite the several misconceptions associated with the treatment, Botox remains a trustworthy procedure that rejuvenates skin and helps people feel confident about the way they look. If the idea of Botox still sounds intimidating, try out “Baby Botox,” which uses lower dose micro-injections that provide subtle, natural results that still allow the facial muscles to remain active without “freezing” them entirely. Certainly, there’s no one way to Botox treatments.
2. Fraxel Lasers
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Growing in popularity over the years are the Fractional Laser treatments. This non-invasive, microscopic laser penetrates the skin — creating tiny columns of thermal destruction within deep layers of skin — to encourage new collagen and elastin development. Essentially, the treatment works from the inside out because the damaged areas peel away to reveal new, healthy skin cells; this fades brown spots and smooths wrinkles and scars. For that reason, Fraxel remains popular in treating hyperpigmentation or sun damage, wrinkles, and acne scarring.
Unlike other aggressive lasers, Fraxel targets only a fraction (fraction, Fraxel — know what I mean?) of the skin at a time because it’s a skin resurfacing treatment. Though the procedure itself causes slight discomfort that’s similar to a stinging sensation (of course, you’ll be numbed beforehand), the recovery time usually spans a week. On average, the results will last about one year though it varies by patient. Depending on your skin condition and where you live, most Fraxel treatments cost around $1,500 to $2,000. While this might seem like a lot of information, perhaps it’ll feel uplifting to know that many patients who go through with the procedure gush over the results. Just think of it like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly and the cocoon is Fraxel.
3. Radiofrequency Micro-needling
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For a treatment that stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, look no further — but keep reading this article, of course — than micro-needling, otherwise known as collagen induction therapy (CIT). The treatment uses extremely thin needles to create microscopic holes in the skin while radiofrequency stimulates deeper layers of the dermis. By slightly damaging the skin, new blood and nutrients rush to the treatment area forcing the skin to regenerate itself and balance chemical levels. A big advantage of this procedure involves its exceptional customization because all skin types can be treated effectively using different amounts and sizes of needles.
Like most cosmetic treatments, micro-needling may feel uncomfortable (an anesthetic cream usually gets applied beforehand) given the pressure and heat involved in the 20- to 30-minute procedure. However, keep in mind the lengthiness of this procedure: Typically, 1 to 4 treatments can provide desired results and each should take place about every 4 to 6 weeks apart to allow for healing and new collagen growth in the affected area. As previously mentioned, the customizability of this technique seems quite incredible — it can effectively treat several skin concerns like scarring, acne scars, stretch marks, and tighten loose and saggy skin
4. Chemical Peels
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There’s nothing that a good facial can’t fix, right? This skin resurfacing procedure involves applying a chemical solution to the face that causes the top layers of the dermis to peel off over the next few days. Though this doesn’t sound as luxurious as a facial, what follows is a new layer of skin that appears more smooth and less wrinkled. If you’re worried about the strength of the acid, keep in mind that chemical peels vary in depth: There’s a light chemical peel, a medium chemical peel, and a deep chemical peel. The stronger the peel, the deeper the treatment penetrates the dermis, and the more noticeable you can expect the results to look.
Treating a number of skin concerns (such as skin discoloration, sun damage, wrinkles or lines, minor blemishes, uneven skin texture, and superficial scars), chemical peels range in cost from $150 to $3,000. The procedure itself may cause a stinging sensation followed by redness and dryness, but the youthful skin that develops should appear in about two weeks.
5. Dermabrasion
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Out with the old and in with new — ergo, dermabrasion. This exfoliating procedure uses a special rotating brush to remove the outer layers of the skin from small regions of the face. The results reveal new, smoother skin that replaces old skin cells. For that reason, dermabrasion typically treats fine lines, sun damage, acne scars, and uneven texture.
Post-procedure, a patient’s skin will appear red or pink in the following weeks while other potential effects include some scabbing and swelling. However, the recovery time is no match for the youthful glow that ensues. Costing around $500 to $4,000, dermabrasion exists as one of the more expensive cosmetic procedures. However, think of the treatment as a less intensive facelift that’s more intensive than a light chemical peel.
