Each year, the American Society of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), one of the most respected professional organizations, releases statistics on demand for services. The most popular areas of non-surgical cosmetics in 2016 included injection and laser techniques: botulinum therapy, hyaluronic acid injections, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, as well as photorejuvenation, microdermabrasion and others.
In our article we will talk about the most popular methods of "beauty medicine".
Injection techniques in cosmetics
Injections are particularly popular because they make it possible to achieve the desired result without surgical intervention. The type of injection varies depending on the depth at which it is performed: from the superficial layers of skin to the deep layers of muscles. The duration of the effect also varies: from several weeks to several years.
Let's characterize the main injection techniques used in cosmetology today.
Botulinum therapy
This involves the introduction of medicines made from botulinum toxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Its action blocks the transmission of nerve signals to the muscles, causing them to relax. Botulinum toxin therapy was initially used to treat seizure-related diseases such as tics, and later also to smooth wrinkles.
Indications for the use of botulinum toxin in cosmetics are facial wrinkles - in the corners of the eyes and around the eyes, on the forehead, in the corners of the mouth, nasolabial folds and changes in the oval of the face. Medium-deep wrinkles are smoothed with the help of botulinum toxin and a number of age-related changes are reversed.
The procedure is not performed if the patient suffers from inflammatory skin diseases or bleeding disorders or has been treated with antibiotics and anticoagulants. Contraindications also include kidney or liver failure, individual intolerance to botulinum toxin drugs and paresis of the facial muscles. Injections are not given to women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Doctors treat patients prone to swelling, eyelid hernias and cerebrovascular accidents with caution.
Preparation for the procedure does not require serious restrictions: it is recommended to avoid physical activity and not drink alcohol. Injections with fine needles usually do not cause any discomfort. The doctor may make up to 25 injections into one area of the face during the procedure. This takes 10-15 minutes. The effect can be assessed after 2 weeks. Muscle relaxation smooths out wrinkles, but when injections are carried out professionally, facial expressions and facial expressions are preserved.
The result of botulinum therapy is reversible, the effect lasts 3 to 6 months. Afterwards, the mobility of the facial muscles is completely restored.
In a note
One active unit corresponds to 3 × 107 molecules of botulinum toxin. The dosage (number of active units) is determined by the beautician. On average we are talking about the following numbers:
- forehead area – 20-30 units;
- Chin - up to 10 units;
- area around the eyes - 24 units;
- Nose and bridge of nose – 10 units.
contour plastic
During the procedure, the doctor corrects wrinkles, the contour of the face and its individual areas using special fillers (fillers). Modern injections in cosmetology are performed using fillers, which make it possible to achieve the so-called 3D modeling effect while maintaining all facial features.
In a note
Most modern fillers are made from hyaluronic acid. It is part of the intercellular substance and plays an important role in maintaining the water balance of tissues and its restoration in the event of damage. Injections with hyaluronic acid not only help moisturize tissue, but also stimulate the body's production of scaffolding proteins - collagen and elastin.
The indications for contourplasty include wrinkles, fine lines and an unclear oval face. Contraindications: cancer, diabetes, connective tissue diseases, skin diseases, blood clotting disorders, pregnancy and breastfeeding, individual intolerances.
No special preparation is required for contour plastic. Some medications, on the other hand, contain an anesthetic, otherwise the doctor may administer a local anesthetic. After contouring, swelling, bruising, and hardening may occur in the injection area, which will resolve on its own within a few days.
The effect of contouring can last up to two years.
Bioreinforcement
Hyaluronic acid finds application in bioreinforcement, a special procedure that leads to the formation of the "inner frame" of the face. If the patient's skin has lost its tone, looks sagging and dull, there are fine wrinkles and signs of ptosis, the doctor injectsMedications along the "sagging lines" that maintain skin tone from within. In this case, the doctor can accurately predict the formation of wrinkles and prevent their formation by administering hyaluronic acid preparations.
Biorevitalization
Injections are also indicated to moisturize and saturate the skin of a specific area with nutrients. In this case we are talking about the biorevitalization procedure. With its help, you can improve the condition of the skin of your hands, décolleté, neck and face.
Injections are contraindicated if the patient suffers from inflammatory skin diseases or allergies to the components of the drug. Pregnancy, breastfeeding and the exacerbation of somatic diseases also represent an obstacle to both biorevitalization and bioreinforcement.
No special preparation is required before administering hyaluronic acid. Slight redness of the skin after biorevitalization disappears within a few hours. The effect lasts up to 12 months. Biorevitalization is usually carried out every 1-2 months.
Vector lifting
To tighten the skin of certain areas (e. g. on the cheekbones, on the chin), doctors use vector lifting. It is similar to bioreinforcement, except that the drug is injected along several parallel lines in the direction of the desired lifting.
For vector lifting, preparations made from hyaluronic acid and calcium hydroxyapatite are used. The choice for the latter is made when lifting of an area prone to swelling is required. The absorption time of this drug is longer than that of hyaluronic acid - up to 3 years.
Plasma lifting
The essence of this technique is to give the patient his own blood plasma, which contains platelets. Plasma contains many biologically active components that stimulate cell growth, are involved in metabolism and, very importantly, that one's own blood plasma is not a foreign substance. This means that it is not rejected and does not cause allergic reactions.
Plasmolifting improves microcirculation in the skin, normalizes water balance and strengthens local immunity. The procedure is performed when the patient begins to develop fine wrinkles, the first signs of aging, to restore skin health (e. g. after a sunburn). Plasmolifting can also enhance the effects of other cosmetic procedures.
Plasmolifting also has a number of contraindications, although few:
- oncological diseases, hepatitis, blood diseases;
- Pregnancy and breast feeding period;
- infectious and inflammatory skin diseases;
- Exacerbations of chronic diseases, acute infections.
For the plasma lifting, 20-40 ml of blood is taken from the patient's vein. It is then centrifuged in a special mode to obtain a plasma fraction with a high platelet content. The doctor then injects the resulting fraction intradermally into micropapules throughout the treatment area. The standard course includes 4 sessions 7-14 days apart and the effects can last up to two years. However, it is recommended to repeat the course once a year.
Mesotherapy
Administration of drugs by microinjection directly into the skin to improve its properties. Mesotherapy is used to additionally nourish and hydrate the skin and prevent skin aging. It is also used to combat stretch marks and stimulate hair growth and vitality. For injections, you can use not only individual drugs, but also mesotherapy cocktails with a complex effect. When applied superficially, biorevitalization and plasma lifting can also be considered as mesotherapy options.
For large areas to be treated, doctors use special devices - injectors. The need for anesthesia depends on the individual sensitivity of the patient.
Injection techniques are particularly attractive for patients who are afraid of surgery. However, it should be borne in mind that there can always be an individual reaction to a medication, which is difficult to predict in advance. In addition, during injections there is a risk of hematoma formation, changes in skin color and fibrosis - the formation of a seal at the injection site. All of these risks must be discussed with your doctor in advance.
As statistics show. . .
. . . Women in the 35 to 64 age group make up about 60% of all those seeking help from beauticians.
Laser technologies in aesthetic medicine
The essence of laser exposure can be understood by decoding the abbreviation LASER – Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. That is, a laser is a device that "concentrates" electromagnetic radiation into a very powerful directed beam. . This allows the laser beam to be used in a targeted, precise and pulsed manner.
The use of lasers in cosmetics is possible in several areas.
Laser rejuvenation
The technique is based on heating the skin with a jet. This effect is short-term, meaning it does not cause serious harm. However, it is enough to trigger inflammation in response. This stimulates the production of collagen in the skin, a structural protein that ensures elasticity and tone. This effect causes wrinkles to be "pushed" outwards.
Indications for laser rejuvenation are fine wrinkles, visible vascular network, enlarged pores, soft tissue ptosis, impaired facial contours, scars on the skin, post-acne, double chin, excessive pigmentation. The procedure is contraindicated if the patient has inflammation and tumors in the treatment area, psoriasis or skin diseases. Laser rejuvenation is not performed during pregnancy or if the patient is heavily tanned. The procedure requires special attention in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, angina pectoris, in patients with blood diseases, etc.
Deep laser rejuvenation does not require any special preparation and is performed without anesthesia. To achieve a lasting effect, you need to carry out 3-4 procedures with an interval of one month.
Fractional photothermolysis
Wrinkles, age spots, enlarged pores, scars on the skin, crow's feet, stretch marks, small vascular defects - all these problems can be solved if you undergo fractional photothermolysis.
This is also a laser technology for aesthetic medicine, but the beam has its own properties. It is divided into several micro-rays (fractions), each of which is no thicker than a human hair. They all affect microscopic areas of the skin, achieving a kind of "mesh" treatment - areas that were affected by the laser beam alternate with areas that were not affected. In the treated areas, collagen and elastin are produceddestroyed and processes to restore "losses" are initiated in the remaining intact cells. This renews the skin, increases its elasticity and tone and improves its appearance.
Fractional photothermolysis is a procedure that can also be performed on sensitive areas of the face such as the eyelids. Contraindications for this are pregnancy, cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases or skin diseases in the acute stage.
Recovery after fractional photothermolysis occurs quickly, literally within a week, and the basal layer of the epidermis returns to normal within the first day. To enhance the effect, doctors recommend attending 3-4 sessions with an interval of one month.
In case of increased sensitivity, the patient undergoes a procedure using anesthetic gel, but in most cases this can be avoided.
SMAS lifting
The English abbreviation SMAS - superficial muscular-aponeurotic system - stands for "subcutaneous muscular-aponeurotic layer". It is formed by muscles and ligaments. By raising this layer, you can achieve good results. That is, by tightening the skin we fightsuperficial wrinkles and by acting on SMAS we smooth deeper wrinkles.
The SMAS lifting is performed using an ultrasound device. By heating the deep layers of skin and muscles, the ultrasound wave causes them to contract and activates the production of structural proteins. The acceleration of metabolic processes leads to an improved appearance.
Very often, the SMAS lift is recommended to patients who, for one reason or another, do not want to undergo a surgical lift. The second category of patients suitable for a SMAS lift are those who have undergone a surgical lift and want to prolong the result.
During the procedure, the beautician "sees" the deep layers using ultrasound and assesses the condition of the muscles and fascia. Accordingly, the therapeutic effect of energy ultrasound is directed by the doctor to the desired muscles, fascia and ligaments at the required depth.
SMAS lifting does not require any special preparation. The procedure is moderately painful, but taking a painkiller makes it comfortable to endure. The effect is partially visible immediately after the procedure and the results of the lifting can be fully assessed after three months.
Injection techniques in cosmetology and laser aesthetic cosmetology make it possible to solve many problems that required surgery just a few years ago. Prolonging youth is not just a dream for women. Nowadays, both young people and men who previously rarely visited cosmetic clinics are turning to the services of beauticians. And the ability to solve many problems without surgical intervention naturally makes aesthetic medicine more and more attractive and in demand.
How to choose a cosmetic clinic
Probably every visitor to beauty centers will say that one of the most important points when choosing "your" clinic and "your" doctor is an individual approach that will be implemented (or not implemented) by a specialist. A beautician will explain to you the nuances of combining personal and objective approaches:
"In cosmetics, we cannot act solely based on our preferences and considerations. We must take into account the patient's expectations, his mood, including his doubts and fears. The experience of specialists plays a crucial role. For example, the Gradient Clinic employs cosmetologists with higher medical education, specialization in the field of aesthetic medicine and training in modern techniques. This makes it possible to look at the problem more comprehensively.
And we can't help but mention the importance of modern equipment. Manufacturers strive to improve devices, and both clinics and patients themselves pay attention to this. "
Aesthetic medicine and cosmetology make it possible to correct many cosmetic defects such as wrinkles, scars and acne, improving appearance and prolonging youth.
Expression wrinkles that appear to age can be eliminated through cosmetic procedures such as intradermal facial contouring.
Modern technologies in medicine help to solve many cosmetic problems without the use of radical measures.
The cost of cosmetic procedures depends on the complexity of the task, the area of correction and the amount of work.
You can ask any questions you have during your first consultation with a beautician.