Now’s the Time to Polish, Tone and Tighten

Summertime, and the livin’ is busy. But it’s the perfect time to pay extra attention to caring for your face. Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgery (CFPS) offers a plethora of minimally- to non-invasive procedures that not only polish your skin but optimize its tone and texture.

“You want to take good care of your skin year-round, but summer is a nice time to have some of these little maintenance procedures done that require little or no downtime,” says Alexander Donath, M.D., FACS.

Consider Microneedling, for example. Also known as collagen induction therapy, Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment, performed by Natalie St. Clair, CFPS nurse practitioner, that rejuvenates the skin, Donath explains. St. Clair uses a fine-needled device called a Mesopen to create tiny punctures in the top layer of the skin, which triggers the body to create new collagen and elastin – two important skin components that create elasticity and firmness, which decline as people age. Results can include improved texture and firmness as well as a reduction in wrinkles, fine lines, scars, pore size and stretch marks.

Microneedling may also be combined with the topical Platelet Rich Plasma treatment (PRP), involving the application of a patient’s own platelets to the microneedled area to maximize healing and collagen growth. The PRP is obtained by drawing a small amount of blood and processing it to concentrate the platelets, Donath explains.

“Microneedling boosts collagen and elastin production, and PRP turbo charges it,” Donath says. Patients can expect mild to moderate redness, minimal swelling and bruising for the first few days after the procedure is performed, and best results are generally achieved with four to six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart. PRP is also used for hair restoration for both men and women, at Dr. Donath’s office.

Also available at CFPS is the Intense Pulse Light (IPL) Photofacial, a procedure that utilizes the power of light energy to improve a patient’s skin tone and texture.  “There’s no downtime and it’s good for fading and eliminating brown spots and getting rid of the redness of rosacea, broken capillaries and acne,” Donath explains. Photofacial treatments – which also revitalize collagen production – are applied in a series of 30-minute appointments spaced a few weeks apart. Besides refreshing one’s face, IPL treatments improve the tone, texture and appearance of one’s neck, chest and hands, often after a single

IPL session, Donath says.

Additionally, licensed CFPS esthetician Jessica Warren, who has extensive training in several procedures including facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels and dermaplanes, now performs HydraFacial – a 30-minute in-office, non-invasive treatment that resolves fine lines and wrinkles, oily/congested skin, dry skin, hyperpigmentation and rosacea. “HydraFacial infuses a patient’s skin with antioxidants while a light peel solution is applied to the skin at the same time,” Donath explains. “I’ve had it done myself and it leaves skin feeling absolutely amazing. You can have it done anytime and, again, there is no downtime.”

And finally, Donath suggests SkinTyte, another safe, light-based procedure that does what you probably can glean from its name – tightens facial tissue – and reduces skin laxity by boosting collagen production. A SkinTyte treatment heats the deep dermal collagen while cooling the epidermis or outer layer of skin, causing contraction of a patient’s collagen, thereby tightening the skin. “People have been very happy with it,” Donath says. “Many notice an immediate improvement in skin tone after a single treatment. It’s a great option for people not ready to have something surgical but who want tightening without downtime.” 

Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgery and LUXE at CFPS (now offering a full range of aesthetic services including hair style, hair color, nails, skin and massage) are located at 7763 Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236. For more information, call 513.891.LIFT (6634) or visit drdonath.com.