What you can do on your own
- Protect your skin from the sun with a broad-spectrum sunscreen and wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet A and B.
- Don’t smoke.
- Use an appropriate skin care regimen.
- Don’t pick or scratch at pimples.
- Know the ABCD’s of moles and the signs of skin cancer.
- Wear support stockings or socks during pregnancy and long plane flights.
Concerns of one’s 20’s and 30’s:
“Teenage” acne may persist or develop for the first time. Wrinkles from facial expression such as frowning or squinting develop. Smoking ages, dulls and wrinkles the skin. Tanning leads to blotchy discoloration, rough texture and wrinkles. Acne scars and large pores can mar an otherwise youthful complexion. Visible facial blood vessels may develop from heredity, sun damage, or rosacea. Moles may change and even become cancerous. The brown “mask of pregnancy” or birth control pills affects many women. Spider veins on the legs can develop even before pregnancy. Varicose veins more commonly appear during pregnancy and may not resolve after childbirth. The appeal of a trendy tattoo may diminish. Excessive sweating can be embarrassing, ruin clothes and disturb one’s everyday life. Localized areas of excess fat can be nearly impossible to exercise away. Too much hair makes for too much hassle. Melanoma can strike: be aware of the ABCD’s of moles: asymmetry, irregular borders and colors, and diameter bigger than a pencil eraser. See a dermatologist if this applies to you, or if growths bleed.
Concerns of one’s 30’s and 40’s:
Wrinkles can get deeper and more numerous. Loss of elasticity leads to sagging, early jowl formation, and a deepening of nasolabial (nose-to-mouth) folds. The problems from earlier sundamage increase, including sallow discoloration, an increase in facial lines, irregular pigmentation, rougher texture, and an increase in the appearance of blood vessels. Rosacea may develop or worsen. The abdomen may sag due to pregnancy and weight loss. Precancerous growths and even skin cancer can develop. Leg veins worsen and some areas may look like a “road map”.
Over 50:
Baby boomers are redefining the decades, and “50 is the new 40.” Maintaining one’s skin & veins may take more work, but at the Maryland Dermatology Laser Skin and Vein Institute we utilize many non-invasive techniques to get results. The signs of advanced aging include significant wrinkling and deep furrowing of the skin, in addition to significant pigmentation and sagging skin. Spots from past sun continue to emerge. Growths from age appear. Annual skin examinations by a dermatologist are strongly recommended because of the increasing risk of skin cancer.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Please note that the results of these treatment options do vary with each patient. Please contact our office to learn about procedures that may be a good fit for you.
BOTOX® Cosmetic Injections for wrinkles
Wrinkles start to appear from frequent facial expressions: a frown, furrowed forehead, or crowsfeet from squinting. These start to etch themselves into the skin over time. Nothing works like regular BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments to help slow down this process by relaxing the muscles that cause these lines. The treatment is fast, takes effect within days and has no recovery time. Maryland LSV Institute is an Authorized National BOTOX Cosmetic Training Center for physicians. Drs. Weiss and Beasley have been chosen by Allergan, the manufacturer of BOTOX Cosmetic, to provide instruction to selected physicians on the proper and most effective way to administer BOTOX Cosmetic. Maryland BOTOX treatments available at our office are convenient and effective.
We are a Maryland Botox Providers: Botox Baltimore
We also have alternatives to BOTOX, Dysport, which works using a similar botulinum toxin and is FDA approved. Learn more about Dysport.
IPL – Intense Pulsed Light
Redness from rosacea, irregular pigmentation, poor skin texture, and sun damage can be treated with IPL. The multiple wavelengths of IPL are absorbed by brown pigment, red blood vessels & the collagen layers. IPL usually has little downtime. It is designed to combat the effects of early aging and sundamage. MDLSV has been working with IPL since 1995.
Non Invasive (Fractional) Lasers to Stimulate Collagen/Fractional Resurfacing
MDLSV Institute offers many lasers to stimulate new collagen to improve scarring, skin texture and wrinkles. Lasers target and heat the collagen in the underneath skin layer while protecting the surface. The goal is to increase new collagen formation. Depending on the severity of the problem and one’s ability to have “downtime,” we can choose from multiple lasers such as the Active FX™, Fraxel™, and Palomar Starlux™ 1540. We have performed many studies on these devices and teach other physicians how to use them. Call for more information for collagen injections Maryland.
Injectable fillers
Fillers are injected to give a “quick fix” for wrinkles and folds. They temporarily restore a smoother appearance, adding volume to sagging areas to help fill lines and re-contour facial features. Fullness and definition can be added to lips, cheeks, chin and other areas. At MDLSV Institute, we only offer FDA-approved, authentic fillers, and have more than 20 years of experience in this field. Hyaluronic acids such as Restylane™, Perlane™, JuvedermUltra™, JuvedermUltraPlus™, Juvederm Voluma, Juvederm Volbella, and Belotero are most popular because of their effectiveness, safety and long duration. For some patients with more severe problems, Radiesse™ or Sculptra™ may be appropriate. Fat transfer is an option for others.
Varicose & Spider Vein Treatments
Varicose and spider veins on the legs can be treated in the office with non-invasive treatments. Sclerotherapy, the injection of a solution that irritates the lining of the vessel causing it to be reabsorbed, is the “gold standard” for treating most veins. Lasers can be used as well. For larger varicose veins, an in-office ultrasound is performed to localize the leaky valve areas so they can be treated. Depending on the extent of the problem, an “endovenous” technique may be necessary to treat underlying vessels. Dr. Robert Weiss helped to develop both the VNUS Closure procedure using radiofrequency, and the CoolTouch endovenous laser procedure. Both treatments are done in the office with local anesthetic. Facial veins can be treated with the CoolTouch CTEV and Varia, the V-Beam Perfecta, and the Cutera XLV. At MDLSV, we have performed many thousands of treatments over more than two decades. We have published textbooks and many articles.More on Varicose and Spider Veins
Chemical Peels
Light chemical peels gently exfoliate the skin with glycolic, Alpha-hydroxy or Beta-hydroxy acids. Removing the superficial layers of the skin helps give the skin a fresher appearance and helps clear pores.
HydraFacial
HydraFacial is a new innovative non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that hydrates skin, minimizes dark spots and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Using vortex exfoliation, HydraFacial applies Activ-4 serum to remove dead skin cells. The next step is the vortex peel, a mixture of glycolic and salicylic acids that deliver the benefits of a peel without the post-peel scaling. Finally, the vortex extraction uses automated vortex suction to painlessly clean out pores with the exclusive Beta-HD serum. HydraFacial is designed for all skin types and is customizable for each individual patient’s needs. The entire treatment takes just 30 minutes and is completely pain free. There is zero downtime and patients can resume normal activities immediately after treatment.
Vascular/Pulsed Dye Laser
These lasers can treat redness caused by rosacea, unwanted veins, sundamage, and scars. The light is specifically absorbed by the targeted blood vessels which are heated and then reabsorbed by the body during the healing process. Patients may experience redness, swelling, and bruising in the treated area for hours to up to a few days. These lasers are also used for the treatment of birthmarks, hemangiomas, port wine stains, warts, and scars.
“Brown Spot” and Tattoo Laser: PicoSure
The PicoSure laser treats areas of brown pigmentation such as “sun spots” and freckles.
Botox Therapeutic Injections for excessive sweating
For excessive sweating of the armpits, forehead, upper lip, palms and soles: these periodic treatments are more effective than prescription medicines or devices. This condition is called hyperhidrosis.
Therapeutic Skin Care Regimen
Today patients can be confused by the thousands of products that claim to help promote skin health. At MDLSV Institute we can guide you to state-of-the-art products that have scientific evidence for their claims. Vitamin A and C derivatives, potent new anti-oxidants, growth factors and exfoliants are available.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal offers a long-term, sometimes permanent*, reduction in hair that greatly relieves the ongoing stress of dealing with excess hair. MDLSV Institute started research in this medical procedure in 1995. Only licensed medical professionals perform this in our office.
*Results may vary for each patient.
New Light Treatments for Acne
MDLSV Institute offers treatments for acne that use light to destroy acne-causing bacteria in the clogged oil glands and help to unclog the oil glands. The Aesthera PPX™ and Aesthera Isolaze™ are almost painless, quick, and effective treatments which clear acne while improving your skin overall. We developed Isolaze™ treatment to combine a gentle vacuum with therapeutic broadband light to help rid your skin of acne causing impurities. The Blue Light is another treatment option that doesn’t use antibiotics while treating acne with light.
Fat transfer
This procedure involves removing your own fat from one area of the body and transferring it to another. Fat transfer is a safe procedure performed to re-contour the face and provide definition to the cheeks and chin. An allergic reaction is not a concern. Fat is removed by liposuction from your abdomen, thighs, or hips . Then, tiny droplets of fat are injected into sunken areas, such as the nasolabial folds, hollows under and around the eyes, cheekbones and jaw lines. The re-injected fat cells will usually last from months to a few years.
Nonsurgical tightening and contouring of the face and body
Thanks to advancements in medical technology, patients can receive body contouring and fat reduction treatments without requiring invasive procedures like liposuction. CoolSculpting is one of several non-invasive fat reduction treatments for tightening the skin and reducing unwanted fat. CoolSculpting uses a special cooling technology to painlessly freeze off fat cells while healthy cells remain intact.
The Palomar StarLux™ System’s LuxIR Fractional™ infrared technology is an alternative approach that coagulates soft tissue to stimulate collagen remodeling and gradually tighten sagging skin. It is usually a series of treatments.
UltraShape Power is the first and only non-invasive treatment to use proprietary pulsed focused ultrasound technology to immediately destroy fat cells and deliver noticeable results in as little as two weeks. UltraShape Power focuses on stubborn fat and cellulite on the abdomen that patients have been unable to get rid of with diet and exercise.
The Vanquish procedure is a revolutionary new device for painless, non-invasive fat reduction. Vanquish uses a Selective RF system that delivers energy into the body to eliminate fat cells. The device never comes in contact with the skin. Instead it is positioned around the patient to deliver energy into areas of stubborn fat.
SculpSure by Cynosure, a novel laser device for non-invasive fat reduction. The first and only FDA-approved non-invasive fat reduction technology that uses a hyperthermic laser, this non-surgical technique is proven to be effective at reducing unwanted fat. SculpSure uses proprietary technology to disrupt and destroy fat cells.
Ultherapy, previously known as Ulthera, is a non-invasive, non-surgical lifting procedure with no downtime designed to restore sagging, lax skin on the face and neck to a firm, youthful state. Ultherapy is FDA approved for non-invasive eyebrow lifting and newly approved for treatment of loose skin on the neck and under the chin, reducing the appearance of drooping or “crepey” neck skin.
Exilis is a skin tightening and body contouring device which uses radiofrequency to penetrate deep into the dermis and stimulate collagen production.
Cellfina, the first truly effective treatment for fat dimples on the buttocks and thighs. By targeting the underlying causes of cellulite, Cellfina can provide significant results that last for a full year in just one session.
More Aggressive Fractional Lasers to Stimulate Collagen
MDLSV Institute has developed many lasers to stimulate regeneration of new collagen. Lasers with slightly more downtime cause more redness but will be able to treat more advanced scarring, rough skin texture, wrinkles and even loose skin.