Improving Asian Skin

These non-surgical approaches to treating the aging face have become very popular in recent years. BOTOX® Cosmetic and Myobloc™ are injectable medications that reduce or eliminate laugh lines and frown lines by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles for three to six months. Contact us for more information about these injectables.

Obagi® Skin Care Line

We have found that the Obagi® Skin Care Line works well on our Asian patients. Other facial rejuvenation methods such as lasering and chemical peels are less recommended because they can lead to discoloration of Asian skin.

The active ingredients in the Obagi® skin care line are Retin A® and hydroquinone. Retin A® helps to promote the growth of new skin cells and hydroquinone is a bleaching agent that helps correct discoloration in the skin. Patients who use the Obagi® skin care line usually start seeing results within one week and continue seeing improvement for approximately three months. The skin care line can cause some flaking and sensitivity to sunlight, but these minor side effects can be reduced with a moisturizing cream.

Fat and Collagen Injections

Fat and collagen injections can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles caused by sun damage and aging. The injections fill out deep wrinkles and help improve the overall texture of the skin. The drawback to fat and collagen injections is that their positive effects on the skin do not last very long. However, injections can be repeated as necessary.

Restylane®

One alternative to collagen and fat injections is Restylane® treatments. Restylane® is an injectable gel that can help eliminate the appearance of wrinkles around the nose and mouth. It is made from a substance called hyaluronic acid, which is a natural part of human skin. While the positive effects of fat and collagen injections may last only a short time, the effects of Restylane® usually last for about six months. Restylane® treatments can be repeated as necessary.

Removing Spider Veins

Sclerotherapy is the method we use to remove unsightly spider veins. A solution is injected into leg veins to help shrink the size and appearance of enlarged or spider veins. Sometimes more than one treatment is needed.

Microdermabrasion

This treatment can help skin maintain a healthy, youthful glow. During the treatment, tiny crystals are sprayed across the skin to resurface the outer layer, resulting in a smoother texture. The process also improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, helps reduce acne and acne scars, and evens the skin pigment.

Chemical Peel

This treatment can be given in a series to improve fine lines, wrinkles, and pigment imperfections. Usually, the treatment involves glycolic or salicylic acid, though stronger acids can be used for deeper lines and wrinkles.

Laser Resurfacing

For Caucasian patients, laser resurfacing can often improve skin by minimizing the appearance of facial wrinkles. However, for many Asian patients, lasers can cause skin discoloration. Therefore, we are very careful when we do decide to use laser treatment on an Asian patient. The Erbium laser is our preferred choice for lasering because it produces less heat than other lasers used for skin resurfacing, and is therefore less likely to burn surrounding tissue. When using a laser on an Asian patient, we also pay special attention to skin treatment before and after the procedure. Pretreatment with Retin A® and hydroquinone, a bleaching agent, helps to minimize the risk of skin discoloration.

Laser Tattoo and Hair Removal

MedLite™ IV is an advanced laser that is effective for removing tattoos and unwanted hair. It works well on people with medium skin tone, which includes many Asian patients. For a permanent result, more than one treatment may be needed.