Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery
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Skin Care in Augusta, GA

Medical skin care treatments help you achieve glowing skin by providing essential nutrients to skin cells. At Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery, our skilled surgeons include board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Troy Austin and Dr. Manuel Medina, provide advanced medical skin care treatments for residents of Augusta, Evans, Columbia County, and nearby areas in Georgia. We are also happy to provide our services to residents of Aiken and the neighboring communities in South Carolina.

What can I expect from Skin-Surface Treatments?

The face is the most exposed part of the body, vulnerable to the harsh rays of the sun and subject to acne, rashes, allergic reactions, and injuries that may leave permanent scars. Surface-repair treatments can enhance your appearance and give your skin a smoother, fresher look, but they won’t remove deep scars and flaws or prevent aging. These treatments should not be thought of as mini-facelifts. Generally speaking, Retin-A® and glycolic acid treatments offer less dramatic results than surgical approaches like dermaplaning, dermabrasion, or chemical peels.

Before you decide to have a skin rejuvenating treatment of any type, think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with Dr. Austin and Dr. Medina.

How should I plan for my Skin Care Treatment?

Whether you’re planning a surgical or nonsurgical skin treatment, it’s important that you find a doctor such as Dr. Austin and Dr. Medina who has training and experience with a variety of skin management techniques. You’ll want a doctor who can give you the best possible single treatment or treatment combination. After all, these treatments involve your face – the most visible part of your body.

Dr. Austin and Dr. Medina will ask about your medical history and conduct a routine examination. If you’re having a surgical procedure in conjunction with your skin treatment, Dr. Austin and Dr. Medina will explain the process in detail, including the risks and benefits, the recovery period, and the costs. Insurance usually doesn’t cover aesthetic procedures.

Where will my Skin Treatment be performed?

It is unlikely that you’ll have to spend time in the hospital for your skin treatment unless the treatment is performed in conjunction with a facelift or some other more complex procedure. Your initial application of Retin-A® or glycolic acid will probably be performed in the comfort of our office.

What kind of treatments do you offer at Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery?

A number of non-surgical refinishing treatments are available for individuals who want to eliminate or soften imperfections on their facial skin and achieve a clearer, fresher look. These treatments include glycolic acids (sometimes called “fruity acids”), which are natural fruit substances blended into facial preparations and are used to eliminate rough or dried surface skin, and Retin-A®, a vitamin A-enriched cream that changes the cellular metabolism of the skin’s surface to treat fine facial wrinkles and blotches caused by sun damage.

Each of these treatments can be used alone or may be prescribed in conjunction with an aesthetic surgery procedure, such as a facelift or a chemical peel.

Our medical skin care treatments are described below.

Retin-A®

Best candidates
In general, Retin-A® is most effective in older patients who have some fine facial wrinkles, or blotchy pigmented areas caused by sun damage. However, Retin-A® is often prescribed to younger, active individuals who want to combat the aging effects of sun exposure. Patients who are planning to have a chemical peel treatment are often instructed by their doctors to use Retin-A® as a preparation treatment; Retin-A® thins the skin’s outer layer, allowing the acid solution used in a peel treatment to penetrate more deeply and evenly. Retin-A® is not recommended for pregnant women or nursing mothers because its effects on the fetus and nursing infant are still being studied.

Reactions/side-effects
Although no serious medical problems have been associated with Retin-A®, it’s possible that its use could result in temporary skin irritation and redness. If this happens, your doctor may recommend a milder formulation.

As late as 1993, Retin-A® had not received approval for use as an anti-aging treatment from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It has received FDA approval as an acne treatment, and doctors have been safely using it for this purpose for more than two decades. However, the full scope of Retin-A®’s effects and potential benefits continues to be investigated.

Beginning treatment
Your initial application of Retin-A® will include a lesson on how to continue your skincare routine at home. After your face has been washed thoroughly, a small amount of Retin-A®, in either cream or gel form, is rubbed over your face and nose. It’s likely that a very gentle formula will be used at the beginning – especially if you are younger or have a fair complexion. You may be switched to a stronger formula after your skin becomes accustomed to treatment. Only a very small amount of Retin-A® – a pea-sized dab – is needed to cover the entire face. You will be instructed to apply Retin-A® every night before you go to bed. Because Retin-A® is drying to the skin, your doctor may also recommend that you apply a moisturizer once or twice a day. This routine is usually continued for about eight months to a year, after which you’ll be switched to a less-frequent schedule of maintenance, with Retin-A® applications only two or three times per week. At periodic follow-up visits, your doctor may adjust the strength of your prescription or its frequency of use. To maintain the benefits of Retin-A®, its use must be continued for a lifetime.

After treatment
It’s normal to experience some redness, irritation, itching, stinging, or skin dryness once you begin to use Retin-A®. However, you can expect these symptoms to gradually disappear as the skin becomes acclimated to the treatment.

Caring for your new skin
Because Retin-A® thins out the skin’s outer layer, you will need to consistently use a sunblock to protect yourself from ultraviolet light, and you may have to discontinue using certain products or cosmetics on your face. Though the degree of change varies from person to person, with continued use of Retin-A®, you will begin to see subtle improvements in the texture and tone of your skin. Retin-A® users notice a rosy glow during the beginning months of use, followed by the disappearance of fine lines and the shrinking of large pores. After about six months, many Retin-A® users report that wrinkles are barely visible and that age spots have faded.

Glycolic Acid Treatments

Best candidates
Glycolic or “fruity acid” treatments can offer smoother skin to people of all ages. This type of treatment seems to work best on patients who have rough, sun-damaged skin. Glycolic acids are sometimes formulated with bleaching chemicals to correct areas of uneven pigmentation.

Reactions/side-effects
It’s important to remember that side effects may occur even with non-surgical treatments. No serious medical problems have been associated with glycolic acids, but their use may cause temporary skin irritation and redness. Switching to a milder formula may remedy the problem.

Beginning treatment
Your initial application of glycolic acid cream will include a lesson on how to continue your skincare routine at home. The way in which glycolic acid is applied to the face depends upon what form it’s in. Two common forms are cream or facial wash. Both forms contain about 12 percent glycolic acid, which helps slough away dry, sun-damaged skin on the face’s surface. Each also contains a special moisturizer and, if needed, a bleaching agent. In most cases, the acid is applied to the face twice daily, either by smoothing on the cream or using the facial wash. Your doctor may adjust the strength of the acid formulation or the frequency of its use after evaluating your skin’s condition in follow-up visits.

After treatment
It’s normal to experience some redness, irritation, itching, stinging, or skin dryness once you begin to use glycolic acid. However, you can expect these symptoms to gradually disappear as the skin adjusts to the treatment.

Caring for your new skin
Because glycolic acid thins the skin’s outer layer, you will need to consistently use a sunblock to protect yourself from ultraviolet light, and you may have to discontinue using certain products or cosmetics on you face.

Though the degree of change varies from person to person, with continued use of glycolic acid preparations, you will begin to see subtle improvements in the texture and tone of your skin. In most cases, glycolic acid users notice an overall freshness and smoothness. After a while, pigmented blotches fade or disappear as the bleaching effect begins to work. The time necessary for visible results depends on the degree of pigmentation and individual circumstances. Some patients see results in as little as six weeks.

Your New Routine
Most people find that maintaining their new look is easier than expected. Using the cream or facial wash will become a natural part of your morning or evening routine – and the difference you’ll see will be worth the extra effort.

Medical skin care treatments can provide the solution you need to manage your skin and retain a youthful look. At Southeastern Aesthetic Surgery, our skilled surgeons include board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Troy Austin and Dr. Manuel Medina, perform specialized skin care treatments for residents of Evans, Augusta, and North Augusta as well as Columbia County, and nearby communities in Georgia and South Carolina. Contact us today!