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Lasers or lifts? What type of facial rejuvenation would you do?
The latest news in improving your skin!
By Jill Dunn
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Get beautiful with Elle Canada's new virtual makeover! Try out some of the latest hairstyles, hair colours, must-have cosmetics and accessories to find the look that suits you best!
Watching reality TV fare such as Extreme Makeover isn't just a guilty pleasure; it's actually revolutionizing the way we plan to care for our skin. Discover some of the latest treatments that promise to repair, refresh and rejuvenate your face.
Intense Pulse Light (IPL) improves the overall texture of the skin while visibly reducing fine lines. Wavelengths of light are directed into the skin's dermis (the lower layer). The light from the laser breaks up melanin deposits from sun damage and minimizes red spots from broken capillaries. It also slightly ‘injures" and subsequently repairs existing collagen, thereby reducing fine lines. To boost these benefits, dermatologists have recently added the use of Levulan, a topical product that aids IPL, to the procedure. "Levulan increases the photosensitivity of the skin, therefore the light is able to target the damaged tissues more effectively. The results are equal to five regular IPL treatments," says Dr. Sheetal Sapra, cosmetic dermatologist with the Institute of Cosmetic & Laser Surgery (www.icls.ca) in Oakville, Ont.
Cost: From $800 to $1,200 a treatment.
Maintenance: Begin with a series of three treatments and then just one a year.
Downtime: Very little -- but avoid the sun for at least 48 hours.
Drawback: Can cause a sunburn type of reaction. Only works on lighter skin colours because darker skin has more melanin and the result would be patchy pigmentation.
ThermaLift (a.k.a. ThermaCool and/or Thermage) uses radio frequency energy to regenerate collagen in the skin's deepest layer. The dermis is heated as a result of this energy, causing it to contract and tighten. A cooling agent is used during the procedure to protect the surface layer of the skin from burning. "Because there is heat in the tissue, collagen rejuvenation is stimulated," says Dr. Joanna Day (www.daymd.com), a Vancouver-based dermatologist specializing in aesthetic dermatology. "The procedure tightens collagen, thereby improving definition of the jowls, jawline, neck, and brow."
Cost: From $1,700 for half a face to $5,500 for a full face
Maintenance: The results should last 18 months to two years
Downtime: Half a day. Results can be seen within a week, but final results can take between two and six months
Drawback: Can be painful because the radio frequency penetrates deeply
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