About Wrinkle Treatments at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta
Wrinkles are creases, folds or ridges that form on the surface of the skin most commonly with age. As we get older, inevitable results of the natural aging process cause noticeable changes to our face and bodies. Skin gets thinner and drier and loses elasticity that was once beneficial for maintaining a youthful appearance.
While wrinkles are a common development from aging and the genetic makeup of your skin’s features and structure, it is not solely reserved for the older generation but also the younger. Factors such as too much sun exposure and lifestyle habits, like smoking or not using protective sunscreen, increase the early development of wrinkles. There may not be a way to stop wrinkles from developing, but there are preventative skin routines that can decrease deeper wrinkle development and an array of treatments for enhancing a wrinkle-free appearance.
Time marches on and never stops, but we can help you catch up with it and always look your best. At Dermatology Associates of Atlanta (DAA), we provide a variety of procedures to force time to take a breather and help you look as young as you feel.
Wrinkle Treatment Options
Cartessa™ Tetra Cool CO2 Laser Treatment
Cartessa™ Tetra Cool CO2 Laser Treatment is a new CO2-based laser treatment that uses advanced CoolPeel® technology to address signs of facial aging like wrinkles as well as skin texture and scarring. The treatment utilizes short pulse laser energy, customized to the specific needs of each patient, to deliver precise, effective skin resurfacing results that last. Cartessa™ Tetra Cool treatments do not cause any thermal damage to the skin and do not require significant downtime for recovery compared to other CO2 laser technologies.
Fraxel® Laser Treatment
Fraxel® Laser Treatment produces thousands of tiny but deep columns in your skin, known as microscopic treatment zones. This treatment eliminates old epidermal pigmented cells and it also penetrates deep into the dermis. Just as important, though, are the areas of skin the Fraxel® laser leaves untouched. For every microscopic zone the laser targets and treats intensively, it leaves the surrounding tissue unaffected and intact. This “fractional” treatment allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area were treated at once, using the body’s natural healing process to create new, healthy tighter tissue to replace skin imperfections.
Botox® Cosmetic
Botox® Cosmetic helps to turn back the hands of time by relaxing the muscles that create wrinkles around our foreheads and eyes. Our eyebrows are one of the most expressive features of our faces. However, Due to the repetitive motions used in everyday expressions, cause furrow lines between the brows, wrinkles along the forehead, and crow’s feet along the outsides of the eyes are likely to develop. Made from a purified form of the botulinum toxin which helps to relax these expression muscles and create a smoother skin around the eyes, a younger visage is just a few minutes away with Botox® Cosmetic.
Dysport® Cosmetic
Dysport® is a botulinum-A treatment for wrinkles and fine lines on the upper third of the face. Dysport® works by relaxing the targeted muscles and smoothing expression lines. Dysport® procedures take only a few minutes and require no downtime to reveal a refreshed, youthful appearance with results typically lasting four to six months.
Chemical Peels
Available at our Skin Medics™ Medical Spa, chemical peels are an effective treatment in refreshing the look of skin with minimal downtime. Using specific combinations of chemical solutions, peels can be customized to help treat your specific skin type. The word “peel” in the treatment title indicates the procedure’s effect on the skin as it causes the dull and damaged outer layers of the treatment area to slough off, revealing new, healthy skin. Chemical peels can help skin conditions ranging from acne and oily skin to dry skin and wrinkles.
Ultherapy® Skin Tightening
Ultherapy® helps to tighten sagging skin that may give away our age. However, Ultherapy® is different because it uses ultrasound technology to first map out the imperfections in underlying tissue to treat those areas with sound waves. The sound waves penetrate the skin without incisions or laser light (which may be damaging to certain skin tones) and stimulate collagen production. Perfect for sagging eyebrows and eyelids as well as sagging neck skin, Ulthera® works on the same tissues addressed in a facelift without the invasiveness and downtime of surgery.
Wrinkles FAQs
Aside from the natural aging process being the leading cause of wrinkles, there are many contributing factors that can speed up the development of wrinkles:
- Genetics – If your parents develop wrinkles at an early stage, the likelihood that you will develop wrinkles at an earlier age is increased in comparison to a person whose parents develop wrinkles at a later stage in their lives.
- Smoking – Whether you habitually smoke or not, smoking has been linked to reducing the blood supply in the skin, therefore accelerating the aging of skin.
- Skin Type – Certain skin types, specifically fairer skin, are more susceptible to higher levels of sun damage from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays that greatly contribute to the early development of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Sun exposure – Overexposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays without the use of protective clothing and sunscreen is the leading cause of early development of wrinkles.
- Facial expressions – Whenever we frown, smile and squint repetitively, folds are created in the face that are able to bounce back when we are young, but as we age, the folds have a harder time bouncing back as the skin loses its elasticity.
Can wrinkles be prevented?
Since there is no fountain of youth, it is inevitable that wrinkles will develop no matter what our efforts because of the natural aging process. However, there are ways to slow down their progression. Protecting your skin from overexposure to the sun by wearing protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and wide-brimmed hats can reduce the amount of ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure. Even if it is cloudy, the skin is still susceptible to harmful rays and sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 should be worn to protect your skin.
For regular skin care maintenance, DAA’s medical spa, Skin Medics™, helps you take a more proactive and relaxing route to a younger look. Licensed medical aestheticians work closely with our physicians to pick the perfect skin care program for your needs. Using a full line of skin care products, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and facials, Skin Medics™ Medical Spa can give you an alternative method to dealing with wrinkles to help give your face a smooth, youthful glow.
Where can wrinkles develop?
Most wrinkles appear on those parts of the body that receive the most sun exposure like the face, specifically around the mouth, nose, eyes and forehead, back of the hands, neck and arms.
