Healthy-Looking Skin: A Cosmetic Procedure May Be Right For You

MetroHealth Cosmetic Surgery providers are available at health centers located in Beachwood, Brecksville, Cleveland, Lyndhurst, Parma, Middleburg Heights and Westlake. For more information, please call 216-778-4450.

Does having a cosmetic procedure sound a little too celebrity for you? It’s really not as much of a luxury as you may think, especially when all your usual skin products just aren’t giving you the complexion they promise. While prevention remains the best medicine for healthy skin (see tips below), MetroHealth doctors can offer help with cosmetic procedures that have become increasingly safe — and many are non-surgical options.

Many people start with the desire for more healthy-looking skin, especially if you’ve spent a lot of time out in the sun. “Sun damage can cause wrinkles, age spots on the face, and actinic keratosis, which are crusty, scaly spots on the skin,” says Bram Kaufman, MD, a cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon at MetroHealth.

Non-Surgical Options

“There are a number of non-invasive options patients can try if they aren’t ready for surgery,” he says, adding that for any suspicious lesions, a biopsy may be necessary to rule out skin cancer.

Topical creams: For minor sun damage, some melasma (skin discoloration) and a little actinic keratosis (scaly patches), Dr. Kaufman likes to prescribe a topical cream such as a Retin A or a combination of acids, anti-oxidants and proteins which help smooth the skin, reduce the appearance wrinkles and even out skin tone.

Chemical peels: These help to remove layers of skin, improving its appearance. Older layers of skin blister and peel off, exposing newer and younger-looking skin. The result is skin that demonstrates improved elasticity and new collagen that is more organized and of higher quality.

Lasers: Laser treatments also remove layers of skin and promote new collagen formation. Computer software helps doctors pinpoint how deep the treatment goes, with more accuracy than with chemical peels, says Dr. Kaufman.

Intense pulsed light: This gentle treatment, which consists of using multiple light wavelengths, can reduce the appearance of melasma and redness.

Botox injections: Botox injections can help to temporarily reduce wrinkles around the eyes, between the eyebrows and on the forehead.

Fillers: These injections can temporarily help to fill in smile lines running from the nose to around the mouth or can plump up cheeks and lips.

When to Consider Surgery

For deeper wrinkles and sagging, you may want to talk to your doctor about surgery, says Dr. Kaufman. MetroHealth’s board-certified plastic surgeons perform brow lifts, eye lifts, full facelifts and fat grafting to add volume to areas of the face, among other surgical procedures.

MetroHealth Cosmetic Surgery providers are available at health centers located in Beachwood, Brecksville, Cleveland, Lyndhurst, Parma, Middleburg Heights and Westlake.

For more information, please call 216-778-4450.

4 Tips for Maintaining Youthful Skin

Protect yourself from the sun: Sun can damage the skin causing wrinkles, age spots, actinic keratosis, or even skin cancer. Wear sunscreen, a hat and other protective clothing.
Stop smoking: The chemicals in smoke affect the blood vessels in the skin and directly injure the dermal structures. This results in loss of skin elasticity, wrinkles and premature aging.
Maintain a healthy weight: A cycle of weight gain and loss can cause the skin to sag. Weight gain stretches the skin, and at a certain point, it won’t bounce back when you drop extra pounds.
Avoid harsh cleansers: These can dry the skin, making it look more wrinkled. Wash your face with a gentle, nondrying soap or cleanser and moisturize afterward.