If your goal is to smooth your skin texture and improve fine wrinkles and light brown spots, then peels would help you. Peels are tailored to treat different skin depths from superficial, to moderate, to deep. This is where an individualized program is discussed and made to fit you with alterations made as you proceed through the program. The cost varies from $25.00 to $125.00 dollars depending upon the type of peel and number of locations. Recovery time depends on the depth of your peel and ranges from no downtime to a week or more. In addition to improving texture and reducing fine wrinkles, chemical peels can also improve oily skin and enlarged pores. One of the most publicized procedures in recent years is microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion is not a peel and it removes a thin layer of epidermis by using sand and vacuum pressure. Results are very similar to a superficial peel and so is the recovery time.

COLLAGEN (filler material)

If your goal is to remove those deep wrinkles, filler material such as Collagen or Dermologen is what you need. The material is injected with a tiny needle underneath

the wrinkle, which pushes the indentation forward thereby making it even with the rest of your skin. Goodbye indentation!

Collagen lasts from three to six months, takes 15-40 minutes to inject, and results are immediate. It is helpful for frown lines, crow’s feet, smile lines, vertical lip lines, lip borders, corners of mouth, and some scars. You can apply makeup right away and go to your next meeting, or lunch, or dinner.

The amount of Collagen needed for full correction is different for each person. Your dermatologist will help you determine how much you need. The 

Botox is a purified toxin of bacteria. If you have wrinkles that are caused by muscle movement, botox will relax those muscles so that you are unable to make that wrinkle. Botox lasts from three to six months. Cost depends on how many units are used. It takes 25-40 units for the area between the eyes. It takes 20-30 units for crow’s feet (10-15 per side). Prices can vary from $6.00-$ 12.00 per unit.

NEW PROCEDURES

There are a few new procedures that can improve your skin without causing visible signs of treatment. One procedure heats your collagen and cells called fubroblasts are stimulated to make more collagen. This is called nonablative treatment. Another procedure uses ultrasound and electrical stimulation to cause an increase in your own collagen production. Ultrasound can also be used to drive topical treatments deeper into the skin and make them more effective. Prices are still being determined and depend on the areas treated.