The end of summer is always bittersweet. As we bid farewell to long hours spent soaking up the sun’s rays, now is the ideal time to give your skin some TLC to repair the damage all that exposure inevitably brings. Barrett Plastic Surgery has an array of non-surgical corrective treatments and peels designed to provide natural rejuvenation with minimal downtime. To sweeten the deal, if you purchase one of our Signature Facials in the month of September, you’ll receive a complimentary ZO skincare gift, valued at $150!
The Barrett Signature Facial
is a multi-step treatment that combines a variety of therapies to improve the texture, tone and overall health of your skin. Imperfections like shallow scarring, enlarged pores and early signs of aging will melt away, and you’ll see visible results from the moment you walk out of our office.
The Barrett Signature Facial begins with a ZO Skin Health facial cleanse to eliminate impurities, dirt and oil from the skin and provide a clean palette for the other products to work effectively. The formulation is hypoallergenic and safe for all skin types.
The next step is Microneedling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP). PRP is a substance in the blood that contains a high concentration of growth factors that stimulate skin renewal at the cellular level. We collect the platelets by drawing a small amount of your blood and placing it into a centrifuge to separate them from the rest of the blood cells. The PRP is then applied topically to the face and worked deep into the dermal structure using the microneedling technique. This process stimulates the body to produce additional collagen, the essential protein supporting the dermal structure that diminishes as we age. The result has profound rejuvenating effects.
We follow your Microneedling procedure with non-surgical skin tightening utilizing the Venus Legacy. This device targets the inner dermal layers with radiofrequency energy that constricts tissue and stimulates additional collagen production. The process addresses acne conditions, reduces early signs of aging and reverses mild skin laxity to smooth and tighten skin from the inside out. Venus Legacy treatments can also minimize the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks when used on other areas of the body.
Finally, our LED light treatment with LightStim uses UV-free light wavelengths to improve the health and vitality of the dermis. The procedure is appropriate for all skin types and tones, and addresses active acne, early signs of aging and creates a glowing complexion.
The Barrett Signature Facial is completed in a single session in our med spa. A topical numbing cream is usually applied to ensure your comfort during the microneedling portion of the treatment. Patients that undergo the Barrett Signature will likely experience some mild skin redness and possible tenderness for two to three days, but can resume normal activity immediately and can apply makeup the next day to minimize redness.
After treatment, you’ll want to protect your skin from direct sun exposure for a couple of weeks. Results are usually apparent right away and will continue to improve in the weeks following your procedure. To maintain your healthy glow, you can repeat the treatment every four to six weeks.
Because we customize treatments to address a patient’s individual skin concerns, we offer two other signature facials as well.
The Barrett Standard begins with the Obagi facial cleanse, followed by a Venus Legacy treatment, a Vita-C Sparkle Peel and the LED light treatment with LightStim.
The Vita-C Sparkle Peel reduces the appearance of scars, wrinkles, age spots, freckles and acne by stimulating collagen induction. It contains vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid), glycolic acid (30-percent concentration) and CO2, the combination of which achieves deep penetration into both the epidermis and the dermis layer underneath. This treatment improves the balance of moisture and natural oils in the skin while decreasing the size of the pores.
The Barrett Standard provides noticeable results without any downtime. You will leave our office with a healthy glow that will continue to improve as collagen production increases. Your skin will become smoother and firmer in the following weeks, and you can schedule this treatment every three weeks to maintain a youthful appearance.
To achieve the most dramatic results, our Barrett Premier Facial includes the Obagi facial cleanse, followed by CO2 facial resurfacing, Microneedling and a Venus Legacy treatment.
The CO2 Facial Resurfacing with Deep and Active FX Therapy works with fractionated technology, which creates micro-channels in the deeper dermal layers to stimulate collagen production. This gold standard in laser therapy allows us to customize the depth of treatment to the individual patient’s needs. Active FX is recommended for fine lines, mild skin laxity and other superficial concerns, while Deep FX is powerful enough to address deeper lines and pigmentation issues. Deep FX requires a few more days to recover, but the outcome is more dramatic and longer-lasting.
Chemical Peels
For some patients, a medical-grade chemical peel may be the perfect solution for rejuvenating skin dulled by the harsh conditions of summer. A chemical peel is an aesthetic treatment that enhances and smooths skin that has developed uneven tone and texture while also addressing subtle facial lines. The most common formulations incorporate chemicals such as alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol. These substances are FDA-approved and will help to produce a more vibrant complexion.
Dr. Barrett and his team will recommend the right peel for you based on the results you hope to achieve. We offer light, medium and deep peel options. The deeper the peel, the more dramatic the results; however, deep peels require some downtime after your treatment.
Preparing for Your Facial or Chemical Peel
In order to see optimal results, we require preparing your skin four to six weeks prior to treatment. The first step is to identify your skin’s barrier function.
Your skin’s barrier is the outermost protective layer surrounding your epidermis. Similar to our gut microbiome, your epidermal barrier is comprised of good and bad bacteria. If your bacteria ratio is unbalanced, this is known as barrier dysfunction. The signs of barrier dysfunction include–but are not limited to–dry, sensitized, red or inflamed skin. When barrier dysfunction goes untreated, you may experience acne, rosacea or melasma. While only 15% of the population truly has sensitive skin, the remaining 85% of people can acquire sensitivity due to barrier dysfunction, resulting from sun exposure, environmental stressors, air pollution, diet and lifestyle.
ZO’s “Getting Skin Ready” formula is specifically curated to repair the skin’s barrier function and prepare you for treatment–ensuring proper healing and optimal, long-lasting results.
In addition to using the ZO formula, you’ll also want to do the following: Stop using any retinol or Retin-A products that can make your skin more vulnerable to damage Stay out of the sun for a few days before your treatment Drink plenty of water before your session to ensure your skin is well-hydrated for the treatment Avoid waxing right before laser treatment since this can lead to significant skin irritation
So don’t wait to restore the youthful, glowing complexion upon which the harsh summer sun has taken its toll. Call today for a skincare consultation and to receive this amazing ZO promotion and the opportunity to fall in love with your skin.