Cosmetic Surgery for Skin Treatments
While cosmetic surgery can involve major operations, there is
also certain skin treatments that are less invasive and most
useful for removing scarring and certain types of wrinkles not
always caused by age.
Chemical peel is a treatment that uses chemicals to peel the
surface layer of the skin. This is not as horrible as it sounds,
the amount 'peeled' being so minute that it can hardly be seen,
but it certainly improves the skin it has been damaged due to
certain conditions.
Pre-cancerous keratoses is one condition that may improve with
the use of the chemical peel. Irregular skin pigmentation is
another. Wrinkles due to age or heredity or sun damage can be
smoothed out and the skin's tolerance to acne and external
irritations can be increased.
Chemical peel treatments may be purchased over the counter, but
if this course of action is followed, make sure you read the
label carefully and start with the weakest mixture first. There
is no point treating your skin harshly if it's not necessary.
Dermabrasion is similar to chemical peeling in the results, but
fine diamond tipped rotary instruments are used to 'sand' the
skin to a certain depth, much like a carpenter sands his new
furniture smooth with glasspaper. After the skin is healed,
fewer irregularities are found and the surface is much smoother.
A surgeon must perform this procedure. A light sedative and
local anaesthetic are used.
Sometimes dermabrasion in used in conjunction with chemical
peeling in order to treat deeper wrinkles or scarring. Cold
packs are often used before the dermabrasion and very little
discomfort should be felt during the procedure, though the skin
is often swollen and tender afterwards. Some redness may persist
for several months, while small white dots can be a side effect,
but will disappear shortly. Make-up can be used after about a
week. Other side effects of the treatment may be a darkening or
lightening of the skin. The darker areas can be successfully
treated with special creams, while the lighter area is
untreatable, but mostly hardly noticeable.
Laser resurfacing surgery is sometimes used to minimize facial
wrinkles. A special beam of light energy can be used to make
precise surgical incisions or to significantly improve the lines
of the face. It is done under sedation and local anaesthesia and
redness persists for several weeks, but make-up may be used to
camouflage it seven to ten days.