Quick Procedures To Get Your Glow Back

It's getting warmer, and for many of us, that means showing a bit more skin.

If you do, you want as much of that clear, healthy-looking glow as you can get, without resorting to needles or knives.

On The Early Show Saturday, Dr. David Bank, director of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Mt. Kisco, N.Y., outlined the latest procedures designed to do just that. All, he says, don't involve any "downtime," can be done in your dermatologist's office, and should leave your skin looking smoother, tighter, and more radiant. Still, while there's no patient downtime, the results aren't instant.

The procedures Bank went into:

THERMAGE

It's kind of like a laser, but it uses radio waves to heat the collagen, causing tightening, and more collagen to grow. The Food and Drug Administration has also approved thermage for other purposes, primarily lifting and tightening. It's not a substitute for surgery, but it will give a little lift and toning, not only with no downtime, but with no need for anesthesia. You don't see results right away, but you will start to see something after several weeks. The effect peaks after three-to-six months, but the results last from two-to-four years.

There is a feeling of heat during the procedure. He advises patients to arrange for a ride home. Patients are also given a little medication by mouth before the procedure. It doesn't knock them out, but it makes them very happy. They may nap a bit when they get home, but that's just a result of the medication. There's no bruising or redness.

It's been improved since the original procedure. The treatment takes about an hour.

V-BEAM LASER THERAPY

A very delicate laser helps reduce redness or broken blood vessels. Rosacea can be treated with this — it's the gold standard for the face. It's very delicate, very gentle. It seals the blood vessels, then the body slowly disolves & reabsorbs them. At the end of the procedure patients may see some general redness. But there are no breaks in the skin, so there's no scabbing, no need for healing. The improvement shows up over several weeks.

FACIAL TREATMENTS

Jessner/Efudex, Glycolic, or Alpha Hydroxy treatments, and Derma-peel.

This is a category of what we call "lunchtime peels.:

Jessner/efudex is aimed at sun damage, skin cancers, and some pre-cancers. We apply a light peeling solution, then the efudex medicine. There's no discomfort, and the solutions aren't visible.

Glycolic peel and dermabrasion are sometimes done together. The nurse/asthetician does this. When we combine the procedures, the microdermabrasion goes first. It exfoliates off the top layer of skin. Then, the glycolic solution is applied immediately after and penetrates better. They can be done as standalones or together. The total treatment takes 20 - 25 minutes; you may look a little pink afterwards, but you can go right back to work You don't see improvement from these treatments instantly, though.