Skincare Innovations

Whether you're looking for the latest in-office procedure or the most cutting-edge at-home formula, it's safe to say that the future of skincare is here. No matter what your concern, there's a breakthrough treatment designed to restore your skin to its optimal state with little to no pain or down time. Here's a look at the latest and greatest revolutions in skincare:

In the Office

Many of my patients come in asking for the same thing--the results of a facelift without the surgery. Until recently, I've had to tell them that their expectations are too high. With the development of the Ulthera device as well as new techniques of injection, I now feel confident promising the kind of dramatic transformation previously available only through surgery. Ulthera uses ultrasound energy to tighten skin on the face and neck, delivering instant benefits as well as improved firming effects over the course of four months. If done properly, the one-hour procedure results in little pain and no recuperation time.

Breakthroughs in filler injection technique have also drastically reduced recuperation time, making it easier than ever to turn back time with Restylane, Juvederm, Sculptra or Radiesse. The trick is to use a cannula--a long, blunt-tip instrument without a sharp tip--to inject in delicate areas like under the eye with little to no bruising and minimal pain.

The injectables themselves are also evolving, as evidenced by the introduction of LaViv. This new breakthrough takes filling facial lines and scars to the next level, injecting skin's own fibroblasts (the cells that produce collagen and elastin) to stimulate the natural production of collagen to fill in problem areas. In the procedure, an eraser-sized piece of skin is shipped to the LaViv lab, where your own cells are grown and shipped back to your doctor. These cells are then injected into your skin to promote collagen and elastin production over the next few months. The great thing about this treatment is that the lab can continually grow your cells and retrieve them at will, maintaining a lifetime supply. If you want to go green in your cosmetic treatments, this is the way to go.

Finally, you can take off years from head to toe with CoolSculpting, a breakthrough procedure that offers permanent, painless fat removal without liposuction. When a patient comes in for the treatment, a device is attached to the problem area--stomach, hips, back of thighs, or wherever unwanted fat resides--and gently freezes the fat over the course of an hour, while the patient relaxes or watches a movie. When the device is removed, the patient can go back to her daily routine--the fat is slowly excreted through urine over the course of three months.

At Home

So, how do you take high tech home? From cutting-edge devices to breakthrough ingredients, the latest skincare advances deliver serious results--no appointment necessary. I've been really impressed with the benefits of Palovia, the first FDA-approved at-home fractional laser to treat the lines around the eyes. Like the lasers used in the doctor's office, the device uses tiny beams of light to stimulate new collagen production. Just three minutes of treatment daily for a month eliminates crow's feet, with twice-a-week treatments to keep eyes crow's-feet-free. There's no recuperation time and no pain, making the treatment as easy as it is effective.

Creams, lotions and serums don't sound as high-tech as these devices, but the ingredients in them can certainly rival the efficacy of even the most powerful treatments. Look for ingredients like Protaurine and Maringa seed extracts to eliminate toxins such as free radicals and heavy metals from your skin, enabling skin cells to behave more efficiently and keep you looking younger. As summer comes to an end, snap up products with gentle bleaching ingredients like Arbutin, Soy extract, and Licorice extract to help fade sun spots. You've probably heard buzz about stem cells, but you might not know that these safe, green ingredients help skin behave more youthfully--look for grape seed stem cells in your products.

No matter what your skin concern, the key is to find ingredients that restore skin function. For example, I'm really excited about my new pore thing with Evermat t-zone pore tightener, a breakthrough memory gel developed to gently clear pores, reduce excess oil and restore enlarged pore walls, snapping them back into shape. By making collagen, elastin, melanin and pores function the way they're supposed to, these ingredients promote, youthful, even, flawless skin.

Whether you're ready to commit to in-office procedures or want to get the most out of at-home treatments, there are endless cutting-edge options to reveal a younger, fresher you.

More: