Will a chemical peel and botox give me the results I am looking for? (Photo)

Thank you for your question and sharing your photos. Based on your photographs, you many achieve the best results from an IPL (intense pulsed light) treatment.  A common name for IPL to the face is called a photofacial.  Not all photofacials are the same as different IPL machines vary in their effectiveness.  Please find an experienced physician who is knowledgeable about the Cynosure ICON, one of the most effective devices to treat sun damaged skin.   During your consult, your physician or laser technician will be able to determine whether you are a better candidate for the Max Y vs the Max G hand piece.  This procedure will address and reverse your sun damage and will mildly tighten your skin. Main regards to neuromodulator (Botox, Dysport, or Xeomin), you need to take a picture squinting tightly to see if you are activating any muscles that would cause "crows feet".  Even an before considering a procedure, please make sure you are using an excellent physical sunblock and a retinoid.  Currently, one of the best sunscreens on the market is Skin Medica Total Defense and Repair.  It was released July 1, 2015, and is the only sunscreen that blocks Infrared Light in addition to the normal UVB and UVA.  Best of luck,Suneel Chilukuri, M.D.Houston, TX

Dear wonderful_one:



Thanks for sharing your photos.



The process of aging is the passive inability for your body’s
tissues to repair and regenerate themselves. The act of rejuvenation is to
actively reverse and dynamically assist the repair of your tissues on a daily basis.
When significant laxity exists, surgical skin and soft tissue redraping or
lifting are required.

Facial
Aging develops from the 5 different layers of the skin, fat, muscle and bone.
During
the first 20 years or so of life, the body genetically determines how to mature
and repair a constantly changing “face” including all these layers (as it does
elsewhere in the body). Thereafter it remains robust in repairing itself from
injury but the accumulation of environmental, health and nutritional exposure
will add to the passive inability for the body to care for itself after 30.
This is when physical changes such as skin laxity, irregular pigmentation,
lines and wrinkles and skin diseases occur. We now have many options to
rejuvenate the layer or layers of the face which need care or stimulation to
reverse the aging trend.


1. The
top layer or stratum corneum of the epidermis is the rough, pigmented layer of
the skin; creating most of the depth of the wrinkle.
Exfoliation is best for this using:microdermabrasion,Retin-A (ZO Obagi Skin Health System), which also renews and
regulates improved function of the deeper epidermis,Some lasers and chemical peels.


2. The second layer is the dermis which thins
with aging. The natural collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid (which hydrate
and toughen the skin) are thickened by the use of:fillers (Restylane and Juvederm), orRetinoids (ZO Obagi Skin Health System), which also renews and
regulates improved function of the deeper dermal skin cells.Sculptra properly managed is the latest sensation in stimulating
firming and thickening of the dermis



3.The
next layer or fat also thins or droops with age and maybe:

filled (Restylane and Juvederm), fat grafting or

redraped (threadlift, short-scar, traditional, endoscopic face /
neck / brow lifts / cheek)


4. The
muscle which creases the skin into wrinkles and folds is weakened and rebalanced
with

Botox or similar injectable muscle relaxers like Dysport or
Xeomin.


5. Bone
also undergoes a dynamic process of resorption, thinning and descent. Options
for cosmetic enhancements include:

implantsstructural fillers, particularly like Radiesse (bone mineral)volumizing gel fillers like Juvederm and Restylane


Facelift, necklift and forehead lift are
surgical procedures which include:an incision along the periphery of the tissuesa suspension or re-positioning of the underlying soft tissues,
anda redraping of the skin with removal of skin excess.


Chemical peels and laser tightening are single, “static” attempts
to “jump” the repair system into collagen formation. They should be performed
every 3 months in order to achieve a more dynamic stimulation of the immune
system. You will need good skin management to reverse and repair the sun damage you have experienced. 

My recommendations for you base on this very
limited information are:

1.ZO Therapeutic Skin Health including
Retinoids and Hydroquinones

2.Fillers and Botox

3.Followed by ZO chemical peels and / or
fractionated CO2 or erbium laser and IPL


Everyone
needs one or more layered improvement and in personalized combinations to
achieve their optimal result. You can understand why it takes a talented
individual, preferably a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or ENT Facial Surgeon
with great experience to evaluate your needs and find a plan that works best
for you.
All
surgical, minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures and their combinations
should be discussed following a proper examination with a well versed, Board
Certified Plastic Surgeon who performs all of these options so you will not
receive a biased approach because he limited in his skills.