SKIN CARE TREATMENTS

Microdermabrasion

With this treatment, the handpiece gently traces over your skin, delivering sterile micro-crystals that gently exfoliate your skin. Simultaneously, a vacuum whisks away the exfoliated skin and excess crystal, making your face smoother. The treatment takes between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on the body area you want to be treated.

Your skin's rejuvenated, smooth and softened appearance is visible from your first treatment. Typically a series of 4 to 10 treatments, followed by a maintenance program, is required to reach and sustain the desired goal.

Wrinkle Reduction

We have many ways to minimize the appearance of wrinkles, from lotions and creams to lasers and treatments such as Botox® and Restylane®.

Here is a summary of the ways we can help.

Botox®

A Botox® Cosmetic treatment is a simple, non-surgical procedure that smoothes the deep, persistent lines between your brows that developed over time. One ten-minute treatment - a few tiny injections - relaxes the muscles that cause those lines to form and keeps them relaxed up to four months. The results are dramatic and apparent within days. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated the improvement in their brow lines as moderate to better. For many, Botox® Cosmetic virtually "erases" these lines.

BOTOX® COSMETIC

Everybody is talking about Botox® Cosmetic, the highly effective non-surgical procedure that dramatically reduces your most challenging wrinkle within seven days and lasts up to four months.

Unlike surgery, Botox® Cosmetic is fast, simple, and minimally invasive, with no downtime or recovery. Most people return directly to work or regular activity following treatment. Within days, they report looking more natural and relaxed.

Your doctor will determine where to administer several tiny injections to achieve the best results. No anesthesia is required, although they may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream before injecting. The entire procedure takes approximately ten minutes. Discomfort is minimal and brief - most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. It is unlikely you will develop significant side effects, although some people develop slight temporary bruising at the injection site, which can easily be covered by makeup. You may resume regular activity immediately. Within days you'll see a marked improvement which may continue to improve for as long as a week and should last up to four months.

Sculptra®

Sculptra® is injected into the skin for restoration and/or correction of facial fat loss signs. Sculptra® is a synthetic injectable material known as "poly-L-lactic acid." It is biocompatible (a material that does not harm the body) and biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body). It has also been widely used in dissolvable stitches, soft tissue implants, and other types of implants.

Treatment results will differ for each person. In a clinical study, treatment results lasted up to 2 years after the first treatment session in most patients. Touch-up treatments may be needed to maintain the desired effect.

The number of treatment sessions and the amount of Sculptra® needed at each session will differ for each person. Patients with moderate facial fat loss may require three treatment sessions with at least two weeks between sessions. Patients with severe facial fat loss may require 4 to 5 treatment sessions with at least two weeks between sessions.

Sculptra® is injected into the skin for restoration and/or correction of the signs of facial fat loss. Sculptra® is a synthetic injectable material known as "poly-L-lactic acid." It is biocompatible (a material that does not harm the body) and biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body).

Melasma

Millions of women suffer from this skin condition. They feel embarrassed, unattractive, and old. Many use cosmetics to cover their dark, brown spots and do not know that there is a prescription medicine that can fade their melasma!

What exactly is melasma?

Melasma is a natural darkening of the skin caused by excessive production of melanin - the pigment that causes your skin to tan. The sun, which increases melanin production, usually makes your melasma worse. Melasma only occurs on the areas of your skin that are exposed to the sun.

What treatments are available to fade my melasma?

Fortunately, you don't have to live with melasma. Different prescription and over-the-counter products can be used alone or in combination to treat melasma. And there is a triple-combination product that your dermatologist can prescribe to lighten your moderate to severe melasma quickly.

Tri-Luma® Cream is a unique medicine because it combines three effective ingredients into one formula, giving you a single, once-a-day product to put on your face at bedtime.

We offer several very effective ways to help you look your best:

PhotoRejuvenation is a series of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments that improve the appearance of Rosacea, flushing and sun-damaged skin, age spots, skin texture, and photoaging. Treatment also improves the appearance of mild acne scars, reduces large pores, corrects dark circles around the eyes, and reduces fine lines. Additionally, this exhilarating treatment involves little to no ‘downtime.’

For optimal results, a series of five treatments is recommended. Some patients see significant improvement with two to three treatments, while others might require more. Follow-up treatments may be needed once a year to maintain desired results.

Using a complex algorithm, Mixto delivers a precise matrix of Microspots that penetrate the dermis and stimulate new collagen formation. At the same time, immediate shrinkage of damaged tissue is achieved.

What can it do for you? Immediate contraction of collagen fibers reduces wrinkles and loose skin. Removes pigmentation problems and reduces pore size, wrinkles, acne scars, and other textural irregularities. The Mixto technique also makes the healing process much quicker and enables patients to return to their normal lifestyle sooner.

BOTOX® and Restylane® can treat crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, forehead lines, and frown lines -- those pesky, deep wrinkles that form between the brows. They are also beneficial for lifting and smoothing your cheeks and lines around your mouth. Many patients find these treatments are especially effective in reducing the signs of aging and restoring a more youthful appearance.

Before injection, a careful evaluation of the facial anatomy will determine the best needle placement for optimal results. Most treatments use several carefully placed injections to ensure the BOTOX® or Restylane® is spread consistently throughout the treatment area. The needles are fine, and most patients experience little to no discomfort. A mild numbing cream or an ice pack may be applied to the skin before treatment to reduce any discomfort. Once the injections are complete, there may be some minor bruising that can be covered with makeup. Injectable treatments are performed right in the office in about 10 minutes, and there’s no minimal time so that patients can return to most of their regular activities immediately afterward.

Probably yes -- it just depends on the area. Some patients opt to have both BOTOX® and Restylane® injections to treat wrinkles and lines, providing many of the same effects as a facelift but without the pain, risks, prolonged recovery time, and high cost of surgery. Usually, this combination is most beneficial for your lip and mouth area.

Dermal fillers can provide an ideal solution for lines and wrinkles in the lower two-thirds of the face and for restoring volume in the cheeks, lips, and other areas. Dr. Steven E. Hodgkin and his qualified team of MDs, PAs, and nurses at the Skin and Laser Medical Centers offer cosmetic fillers like Restylane®, RHA, and Sculptra®, to help patients in Redlands and Victorville, CA, look more refreshed and more youthful.