COMMON COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY PROCEDURES

The skin is the largest and most visible organ of the body. As skin ages, it becomes thinner and less elastic. Collagen and elastin, the tissues that keep the skin firm, become weaker. These changes lead to fine lines, sagging skin, and other unwanted signs of aging.

The goal of facial rejuvenation is to give the patient a more youthful look by diminishing the signs of aging and the damage caused by years of unprotected sun exposure.

Spider veins are small superficial blood vessels that appear red or blue in the skin. They commonly occur on the legs, but are also found on the face or other areas of the body.

These dilated blood vessels may be short, unconnected lines, each about the size of a large hair, or connected in a "sunburst" pattern. They may look like a spider web or a tree with branches. Spider veins can occur in a small area where they are not very noticeable, or they can cover a large area of skin and be very unattractive.

Chemical peeling is a technique used to improve the appearance of the skin. A chemical solution is applied to the skin which causes it to separate, peel off, and allows new skin to regenerate. The new skin is smoother and less wrinkled than the old skin, and may also be more even in color.

An important advance in skin rejuvenation, laser resurfacing can diminish the signs of aging, treat skin damage, and correct acne scars. Using a wand-like laser hand piece, undesired skin cells and wrinkles are softened or removed.

Also called laser peeling, laser resurfacing is relatively bloodless and offers the dermatologist more control in the depth of penetration of the skin�s surface, allowing increased precision and safety in treating delicate areas, such as around the lips and eyes.