Best Minimally Invasive Procedures for the Holiday Season – by Dr. Kelly Burkenstock
With the warmer months coming to an end and the holiday season upon us, this is the optimal time to consider the minimally invasive procedures you’ve been wanting to try! Winter is the absolute best time to turn back the clock and address the sunspots and sun damage accrued from the summer. Winter is an effective period to tackle skin rejuvenation, peels, and facelifts, due to less sun exposure.
Laser skin rejuvenation and hand rejuvenation is an aesthetic treatment that uses a fractional C02 laser to restore the vibrancy and youth of the skin. It can tackle scars, age spots, wrinkles, and uneven skin tone. It offers much less discomfort and a much shorter downtime than similar laser procedures, approximately 7-10 days after the procedure patients will experience a sunburn sensation; therefore, cooler, winter months are a perfect time to allow the skin to heal from the treatment.
The more powerful treatments, BBL (broad band light) and IPL (intense pulse light therapy) is an intensive laser light technology to address aging and damaged skin in the deeper dermal skin layers without damaging the surface or connective tissues. This treatment can be extremely effective in correcting deep damage as well as facial veins, broken capillaries, dark eye under circles, liver spots, and redness. It is an incredible procedure but takes about 7-10 days of downtown that will require minimal sun exposure and proper care to heal. The winter seasons are mostly spent indoors and because treatments make the skin a bit sensitive, the cooling temperatures will be comforting. You will be back in the Spring looking rejuvenated!
Even dermal fillers, PRP non-surgical facelifts, and Botox treatments can benefit from lower sun exposure. These treatments are minimally invasive, but extreme and extended sun exposure can damage newly treated skin. Winter months are mostly spent indoors and the sun is much less intense, making it the best period for down time.
You can also spend the winter months addressing hair loss issues, and come back in the summer showing off a healthier mane. RFN (radio frequency micro-needling laser) is an innovative procedure that combines micro-needling with radio frequency laser energy that can be effective in treating mild hair loss in both men and women. PRP (platelet rich plasma) is commonly used for anti-aging treatments, but can be excellent for stimulating hair growth. PRP is an extract of your own serum that contains 3-4 more platelets, and these growth factors can work to restore the hair growth process by regenerating damaged hair follicles. It is also a treatment that can benefit from the least amount of sun exposure and warm temperatures.
Moreover, in the opposite direction, there are laser treatments to remove hair and tattoos in unwanted areas so you can show off that skin in the summer. There are also effective leg vein therapies to address those red and blue veins in your legs. Sclerotherapy injections without saline, combined with laser treatments, can eliminate spider and varicose leg veins. These treatments will be perfect in the colder months when skin is covered up with clothing. The sensitive skin will also be protected from the harsh rays of the sun.
The winter months will also be a great time to slim down for summer. With a medically supervised program, including an assessment of your personal DNA, an assessment of your hormones, as well as an assessment of your current health, testing for weight loss is exceptionally effective. Take the winter down time to slim down!