“Laser season” is what dermatologists call this time of year, when the sun’s rays weaken and the days grow short—because these conditions, while undeniably blah, actually provide the perfect opportunity to refresh our skin with devices that demand UV avoidance. Sweater weather is also ideal for body sculpting procedures, which typically require multiple sessions and can sometimes take the entire off-season to show results. Of course, all this is especially true during a pandemic, when most of us aren’t traveling beyond the limits of our front door.
Knowing that derms and plastic surgeons like to practice what they preach, we asked them about the energy-based devices they’re treating themselves to right now. From resurfacing lasers to muscle-building machines, consider these procedures winter’s ultimate silver lining.
Microneedling + Ultherapy
“I’m doing microneedling and Ultherapy this winter, to keep my collagen as strong as possible. Microneedling is the single best way to stimulate your body’s own collagen. It also makes my pores look tiny, reduces the appearance of fine lines, and is incredible for evening out the tone of the skin and getting rid of scars. I do Ultherapy about twice a year, to keep my neck tight. It’s a noninvasive ultrasound technology that shrinks and tightens the fibrous layer under the skin. It’s good for anyone with a moderate degree of laxity—but it’s not a replacement for surgery.
“Both treatments are safe for all skin types, and there’s no real downtime with either. With microneedling, I apply numbing cream for an hour before, and my skin is red after, sometimes for a day or two, but I can use concealer right away. With Ultherapy, there’s no numbing—it feels like rubber bands snapping over the skin, and there can be minor swelling and redness after.” —Dr. Lesley Rabach, board-certified facial plastic surgeon in New York City
TruSculpt iD + TruSculpt Flex
“Since the pandemic derailed my exercise routine—and I’ve been unable to go to barre and Pilates classes since March—I’m treating myself with the TruBody system, a one-two punch that includes both TruSculpt iD and the TruSculpt Flex. The iD is a nonsurgical body contouring procedure that uses monopolar radiofrequency energy to destroy subcutaneous fat cells with heat. The applicators are easily placed in multiple areas, wherever they’re most needed. For me, it’s my abdomen, love handles, and arms. My patients have seen a 25% fat reduction, on average, per area over 8 to 12 weeks, so I’m excited to try it. Radiofrequency has also been clinically proven to tighten lax skin—which many people, myself included, need alongside fat reduction. The iD feels like a warm stone massage, lasts only 15 minutes, and involves no downtime.
“For the second phase, I’ll focus on muscle tightening and toning with the Flex, a new device that uses low-energy, pain-free bioelectric current pulses to trigger muscle contractions. There are 16 applicators, so again, I can treat all my problem areas at the same time. The strength of the treatment is customizable, so I can slowly build to a tolerable yet effective level. You can feel the treatment contracting your muscles, but it’s not taxing to the body and there’s no downtime.
“I’ll be starting my first of three treatments this week, with the help of one of my colleagues. Correct and objective placement of the applicators is essential, so seek out a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who thoroughly grasps the anatomy of the fat, skin, and muscles—and how they work together—to help you achieve your best results.” —Dr. Anne Chapas, board-certified dermatologist in New York City
Picosecond laser
“I love using the PicoSure Focus, because I’m still seeing patients daily and with this, there’s no downtime. I’m hoping to even out my skin tone, reduce the appearance of pores and wrinkles, and brighten my under-eyes. The PicoSure has what’s called a focus lens array, which somewhat fractionates the energy, triggering a cascade that leads to collagen and elastin production. I have darker skin, but I’m not worried about developing postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, after this treatment. In fact, the pico actually helps treat PIH. There’s no need to numb, and it takes only about 15 minutes. I plan to get three or four treatments, about a month apart.” —Dr. Nazanin Saedi, board-certified dermatologist in Philadelphia
Fraxel
“I’m looking to clear up hyperpigmentation and sun damage and improve the texture of my skin, so the Fraxel Dual is the perfect device for my fall cleanup. It uses two different wavelengths to target both the superficial and deep layers of the skin. It’s an inclusive laser, doesn’t discriminate, and is safe for Fitzpatrick skin types I through VI. It can be used to target acne scarring, sun damage and surgical scars and for overall resurfacing and rejuvenation. It’s also good for treating areas like the neck and hands, which often see the same signs of aging as the face.” —Dr. Tiffany Libby, board-certified dermatologist in Providence, Rhode Island
Sofwave skin tightening
“I’m looking at something with no downtime—I’m working a ton and am super busy—that can help tighten my lower face and neck. Sofwave is a brand-new device that uses proprietary high-intensity, multiple ultrasound beam technology for noninvasive skin tightening. There are seven high-frequency ultrasound beams that generate new collagen and then contraction of the tissue, tightening it and improving fine lines. The beauty of the device is that it targets the mid-dermis—an important layer for collagen stimulation and skin tightening—and doesn’t go deeper, which could potentially cause volume loss.
“I’ll use a topical numbing cream prior to the procedure. The device’s limited depth—plus direct contact skin cooling—make it less painful than deeper-reaching ultrasound treatments. It can still feel a little bit spicy in some spots, but I find it to be extremely tolerable.” —Dr. Jason Bloom, board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
CO2 laser resurfacing
“I’m going to treat myself with the Lutronic eCO2 Plus fractional CO2 laser this winter, to tackle fine lines, sun damage, dull tone, and loss of elasticity in my skin. I’ve seen great results with it—my patients have been thrilled with the return of the luster and glow of their skin.
“The laser works by creating micro areas of ablation surrounded by normal areas of skin, which helps to reduce healing time and give more dramatic results. It can be used on the face, around the eyes, on the neck, and on the décolletage in people with skin tones from fair to light olive.
“Because the CO2 laser is so strong and effective, treatment can be painful. But with light sedation, you feel nothing and the treatment is very easy. There’s no pain after the treatment either. It takes 7 to 10 days for the skin to fully heal. It’s important to stay out of the sun after, so winter months, especially here in the Northeast, are the perfect time.” —Dr. Jessica Lattman, board-certified oculoplastic surgeon in New York City
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Microneedling RF
“I’m excited to have radiofrequency microneedling done, to sharpen my jawline and tighten the skin on my neck. Neck skin requires special care, since it lacks oil and wrinkles easily. The device I’m using is the Profound RF—it increases collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, for tighter, firmer, more hydrated skin. The handpiece consists of five titanium-coated needles that penetrate the dermis and deliver the energy while protecting the epidermis. It’s a single treatment with minimal downtime and it can be safely used on all skin types.
“My patients have seen smoother neck skin, fewer horizontal lines, softening of the jowls, a sharper profile, and a nice lift that starts at the lower cheekbone—usually three to six months following the treatment. Not only do the texture and integrity of the skin improve, but small areas of unwanted fat can also be reduced, with the help of a subcutaneous handpiece.
“We use a potent topical anesthetic plus deeper-acting injections of lidocaine to ensure that the area is completely numb. After treatment, swelling lasts four to five days, but there’s no lingering discomfort.” —Dr. Corey Hartman, board-certified dermatologist in Homewood, Alabama
Clear + Brilliant
“Because I’m scheduled pretty fully, albeit virtually, right now, I’ll be sticking to a more superficial choice, the Clear + Brilliant—a gentle fractional resurfacing device that creates microthermal wounds in a controlled delivery pattern. From those wounds, new collagen is laid down. I’m pretty good about sun protection, so this will give me exactly what I’m looking for—a bit of overall brightening. After treatment, I’ll be red that day, like I am after a heavy workout, and then I’ll just go light on my skin-care actives for the week.” —Dr. Ranella Hirsch, board-certified dermatologist in Cambridge, Massachusetts
CoolSculpting + Emsculpt
“It may seem crazy for me, a plastic surgeon, to use a noninvasive body contouring procedure, such as CoolSculpting. The thing is, I don’t see it as a substitute for liposuction. For patients with only minimal areas of fat, CoolSculpting can help achieve a more sculpted look. For those, like myself, who’ve already had liposuction, CoolSculpting helps enhance the results. It’s safe for all skin types, takes about 45 minutes per area, and has minimal downtime. The machine feels like it is grabbing your skin and slowly cooling it—it’s not painful. Afterward, I usually experience some temporary numbness and slight swelling, both of which resolve quickly.
“One of the latest additions to my routine is Emsculpt, which uses electromagnetic energy to build muscle and reduce fat, with no pain or downtime. Since I don’t have much time to get to the gym, I can work out my muscles while multitasking on my computer in the office. A series of four to six treatments, over several weeks, leads to visible toning.” —Dr. David Shafer, board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City
