Fountain of Youth

Today’s cosmetic enhancements allow patients to soften the signs of aging with a wide range of non-surgical procedures for the face. Dr. James Libecco, a board-certified dermatologist at Akron Skin Center, says there are several options available.

Photorejuvenation skin treatments are safe, effective and a popular way to improve the signs of aging on the face, neck, chest, arms and hands. These treatments provide great results for a variety of benign conditions, including age spots, sun-induced circles, symptoms of rosacea, birthmarks, unsightly veins, acne scarring and other blemishes. Libecco says the procedure is ideal for patients with active lifestyles because it requires no downtime and has a low risk of side effects.

The gentle, non-ablative treatments use a controlled spectrum of light to treat the area to be corrected. “We use back and forth passes across the skin, using anywhere from 3 mm to 12 mm laser pulses,” he says. “Total treatment time can last 10 to 30 minutes, with most conditions requiring one to three treatments.”

Expect skin to be tender with a sunburned appearance. Some conditions, like brown spots, look worse before they look better — often taking up to seven days to see the full effect. Libecco talks to his patients about having realistic expectations.

“Results are often an improvement rather than a total correction of the problem,” he says. “And, results vary based on the age of the patient, heredity, condition of the skin and the size and location of the imperfection we’re correcting.”

Photorejuvenation can also be used in conjunction with Botox, Restylane, Juvederm and Sculptra, which are also growing in popularity as facial skin treatments. Botox is an injectable, wrinkle-smoothing treatment commonly used on crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, smile lines and furrows between the brows, and according to Libecco, is the No. 1 cosmetic treatment for a reason, offering “the most bang for the buck.”

The “wow” factor is evident, and the cost is low. It takes two to five days to see results, which should last three to four months.

For longer-lasting results, fillers like Restylane and Juvederm are used to “fill” wrinkling in the cheeks and chin and for deeper wrinkles around the mouth, nose and lips. These products are often used on patients who have lost a lot of weight and have volume-depleted faces. Depending on the amount of materials used, they can expect results to last up to one year.

“If you’re not looking for an overnight miracle or quick fix, I would advise my patients to use Sculptra, an injectable that offers the longest results on the market today, next to a surgical face lift,” says Libecco.

Sculptra is a newer type of facial injectable, which helps replace lost collagen, a key structural component that keeps skin smooth and youthful-looking. Rather than merely acting as a filler, Sculptra encourages the body to refashion its tissue.

Libecco says on average, three injection sessions are needed over a period of a few months to produce noticeable results that emerge subtly and can last two to three years.

For more information about these cosmetic enhancement procedures or to set-up a consultation, call Dr. Libecco and the Akron Skin Center at 330-836-0201.