Microdermabrasion therapy is used to gently remove the top layers of your skin for a more radiant and younger look. These outer layers of skin are dead, dull, and dry. The deeper skin layers are moist, alive, and can functionally rejuvenate a brighter appearance when the top layers are removed. Dr. Robert Buchanan has honed his cosmetic treatment services by skillfully offering the positive outcomes of microfine crystal microdermabrasion.

Microfine Crystal Microdermabrasion

This in-office procedure at the Center for Plastic Surgery serving the community of Highlands, NC thoroughly exfoliates the skin.

Crystal microdermabrasion basics:

• Microfine crystals are shot from a small tube onto the targeted skin area
• The tube simultaneously vacuums up dead skin cells
• The result is a high-powered skin renewal

After one treatment, your skin will feel soft, smooth, and look radiant. Avoid sunlight exposure after treatment and use sunscreen for protection of desired results. A series of sessions can improve you’re the texture and tone of your skin.

Crystal Microdermabrasion Aftercare

You can expect very little downtime after microdermabrasion and be able to resume your typical daily lifestyle with some very important cautionary tips.

Be proactive with these aftercare tips to retain and improve your expected results of microdermabrasion therapy:

• Keep your skin hydrated by drinking water and avoid alcohol, aspirin, and ibuprofen
• Don’t smoke
• Use only gentle skin care products recommended by your doctor
• Don’t use topical acne medications until recommended
• Keep skin protected with sunscreen
• Avoid direct sunlight exposure

Good Candidates for Microfine Crystal Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion therapy is a minimally invasive and safe procedure for most skin types and tones.

Many people choose to undergo microdermabrasion to address and correct:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Hyperpigmentation
• Age spots
• Brown spots
• Large pores
• Blackheads
• Acnes
• Acne scars
• Stretch marks
• Overall skin sun damage

Brighten Your Skin with Microdermabrasion

You can polish up your skin tone for a bright and younger look with microdermabrasion. Only seek out an experienced and skilled provider. Contact the Center for Plastic Surgery serving the community of Highlands, NC, by calling 828-526-3783 to schedule your microdermabrasion consultation with Dr. Robert Buchanan.

Microdermabrasion is a popular skin treatment that removes the outer dead cell layer of the skin. If you’ve never had this service but are aware of how it works, your first inclination may be to assume that it hurts to have microdermabrasion performed. Because we know how microdermabrasion works, and also what it can do for the skin, we know this is an idea that must be discussed. We’ll do that here, as well as answer a few other common questions people asks if they decide if microdermabrasion is right for them.

What is Microdermabrasion?

A microdermabrasion treatment is done to remove the dead cells that have stuck abnormally to the skin’s outer layer. These cells can obscure the skin’s natural glow and may even clog pores, creating acne or causing small milia or cysts. The process works by “spraying” the skin with micro-fine crystals. The crystals are delivered through a narrow tube so they can be focused on one small area of the skin at a time. As quickly as the crystals the skin, they and the dead cells knocked loose are vacuumed away. Just one treatment can restore the skin’s radiance. Multiple treatments scheduled about 2-4 weeks apart can substitute for daily exfoliation in some cases. Each treatment may take approximately 30 minutes. Before performing the treatment, the provider cleanses the skin. After the treatment, they cleanse the skin again and may apply sunscreen or a serum.

Do I Need More than One Microdermabrasion Treatment?

It’s possible that you may want more than one treatment. This depends on what you want to achieve. Many people schedule a one-time microdermabrasion treatment as a pampering service or before starting a skin care routine that could cause moderate peeling. Doing so is a treat for the skin! Others do microdermabrasion on a regular basis to reduce the need for exfoliation or to simply help in exfoliation. It is exceptionally helpful if you have multiple small cyst or milia. Remember, though, the effects of microdermabrasion are cumulative. The more consistent you are with treatments at regular intervals, even if that’s every couple of months, the better your skin will age.

Now to that big question. Does Microdermabrasion Hurt? It does not. The applicator tip never touches the skin. There is no pulling or puncturing, just a spray of ultra-fine crystals. Patients describe it as more of a gritty sensation than irritating or painful.

Schedule your microdermabrasion treatment at our Highlands, NC office by calling (828) 526-3783.

Skin aging, including that from the sun (photoaging), is inevitable. However, we do have some degree of control over how the skin changes over time and it is treatable. One of the fastest ways to age healthy, firm, youthful-looking skin is to spend too much time in the sun. Sunlight is made up of a spectrum of different rays. Some of these, the UVA rays, can even penetrate through a thick layer of clouds, penetrate into shade and buildings and cars, and are present all the time. These rays also get absorbed into the skin, causing cellular changes that result in what is called photoaging.

Photoaging is simply aging that is caused by exposure to UV light. This may come from sunlight and also from tanning beds. Signs of photoaging and their cause include:

• Spots and hyperpigmentation. These may look like freckles, flat moles, large spots, or general blotchiness from injury of the melanocyte (the pigment producing cell).
• Fine lines and wrinkles from loss of collagen thinning the support layer of the skin and from loss of elastin. This is increased past 30 years of age since the body normally stops making collagen and elastin about then.
• Telangiectasia or increased red vascularity from the body constantly turning in its healing, which dilates blood vessels near the injury to bring in the immune/healing system. After continually doing this, the vessels just stay.
• Precancerous lesions that look red and rough or scaly from more severe injury of the cells. These are referred to as actinic keratoses.

Photoaging affects any area where the UVA rays can reach, and they can penetrate most clothing. It is, therefore, also commonly seen on the hands, arms, shoulders, legs, back, chest, ears, nose, lips, and other parts of the face.

What to Do About Photoaging

Our best advice for our patients is to try and prevent photoaging by avoiding as much sun exposure as possible. Even on a cloudy day, it is wise to wear broad-spectrum zinc oxide sunscreen on all exposed areas and wear sun protective clothing. Zinc is the only practical sunblock as it need to be reapplied only if you wash or wipe it off. All the others last at most 2 hours, and only an hour if outdoors. You can make normal clothing sun protective by washing them in Rit Sun-Guard. See our Info Sheet.

Once you have photoaging damage, there are several ways to correct it, including:

• Using quality skincare. Basic skin care includes an exfoliant to remove the excess cells caused by sun damage and time. It also includes a good sunblock to prevent further damage. To this, you can add ingredients like antioxidants like Vitamins-C to combat the breakdown of collagen caused by free-radicals. At 30, or if you have wrinkles,you add a retinol or tretinoin (Vitamin-A) and Obagi’s ELASTIderm to stimulate collagen and elastin production. If you have spots, we add hydroquinone. If you need all, the best option is Obagi’s Nu-Derm System.
• Antioxidants are also consumable and are found in citrus fruits and leafy green vegetables.
• Light chemical peels. Regardless of how pricy your skincare products are, they are of little value if there is a layer of dead skin cells blocking their absorption. Chemical peel treatment gently sloughs off this layer of cellular debris to reveal healthier, more uniform skin.
• Microdermabrasion does the same thing as a light chemical peel, it removes the uppermost layer of nonvital skin cells. This procedure works through gentle ablation using microparticles that dislodge cellular debris so it can be suctioned away from the epidermis.
• Microneedling can also help produce collagen and reduce light wrinkling.
• Significant wrinkles can be treated by filler injection using a hyaluronic acid filler that will stimulate collagen production.
• Leveling peels and laser smooth the skin and increase the collagen production. They are useful for severely wrinkled skin.
• Ellipse IPL® treatment is a form of light therapy that breaks up red or brown discoloration in or beneath the skin. It can treat both brown pigmentation and red telangiectasia. IPL, intense pulsed light, is a popular treatment for photodamage due to its effectiveness with little to no downtime.

We can help you address photoaging with a treatment program tailored to your needs. Call our Highlands, NC office at (828) 526-3783 to schedule your consultation.

“Skin care” is a term that we use in two ways. We use it to describe the products that we apply to cleanse and treat the skin, and also to describe the act of caring for the skin. Because the term is interchangeable, there is a risk of blurring the lines between the two. People who wash their face and apply moisturizer or a serum or two often believe that this is sufficient effort to get the results they want. It’s not. Here, we discuss the common mistakes that people make with skin care and what needs to be done instead.

Mistake Number One

The most common mistake that people make in caring for their skin is not knowing exactly what their skin even needs. This is no fault of their own. Manufacturers of mass-produced cleansers, moisturizers, and specialty products are savvy about promoting the benefits of their items without acknowledging the lack of clinical efficacy or even making them seem efficacious when they are not. The only way to get clinical results from products is to use medical-grade products that have been picked out for your unique cosmetic and dermatologic needs by a medical professional.

Mistake Number Two

In addition to choosing products based on the marketing seen on television and in magazines or what your mother or grandmother told you, what many people mistakenly do is use those products routinely for months or years on end. The problem with this approach is that most of what is sold either does not do what the skin needs or actually does more harm than good.If professional treatments are utilized, they are usually chosen without any thought of how they fit one’s total skin care needs.

We Can Help You Correct These Mistakes

We divide ski care into Basic, Basic Plus, and Rejuvenative. Basic is what everyone needs, no matter their age, essentially from birth. It consists of a cleanser, a pH balancer (cleansing disturbs the normal pH, which causes the skin not to function well for a while), and a good practical sun block (we prefer clear zinc oxide). The pH balancer can be a simple acidic toner or an acidic serum, like Vitamin-C or something similar, depending on your other needs. Once a teenager, an alpha hydroxy product to remove thickened outer dead cells is added to Basic Skin Care. Professional treatments like chemical peels and microdermabrasion are inexpensive, convenient, and comfortable and can help remove built-up dirt, oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells.

The body stops continually making new collagen to thicken the dermis, the support layer of the skin, and elastin that provides the skin its elasticity around 30 years of age. Therefore, Basic Plus adds retinol or Retin-A to continue the skin making collagen and Obagi’s ELASTIderm to stimulate elastin somewhere around 30 years of age. Although there are thousands of products available, this is all most people need, unless they have significant damage from the sun or other insults.

With problems, modifying skin care to address the specific problem is all most people will need. However, it takes an expert in skin care and rejuvenation to determine what will work best with the least effort and expense.

At the Center for Plastic Surgery in Highlands, NC, we help patients manage their skin in ways that get results. We use only medical-grade products products that have been proven to achieve results. We also have professional treatments like peels, microdermabrasion, IPL light treatments, and laser resurfacing to provide a full spectrum of care.

Get the help you need to keep your skin resilient through the aging process. Call  (828) 526-3783.

If tighter, smoother facial skin is on your “beauty” wish-list but you are a bit timid about injections or invasive surgical procedures, a Microdermabrasion treatment may be right for you.

Exactly what is Microdermabrasion?
To break it down, micro means very small or tiny; derm has to do with the skin (as in “dermatologist”); to abrade means to wear down or rub away (like sandpaper). Added together, we find Microdermabrasion defined as “a cosmetic procedure in which rough facial skin is removed by the application of a fine abrasive.”

During a Microdermabrasion procedure, the very thin, top layer of your facial skin (the epidermis) is abraded with a high-pressure spray of tiny crystals which are then vacuumed away. The procedure diminishes the appearance of fine line, wrinkles, discoloration, scars and other blemishes. Microdermabrasion removes dead skin, uncovering a smoother, glowing, more youthful surface. The beauty of microdermabrasion is that your body recognizes the damage done to the epidermis, and it quickly works to replace the lost skin cells with new, healthier cells. Microdermabrasion is designed to treat only the epidermis. The tiny crystals do not affect your lower skin layer, the dermis.

What are the benefits of Microdermabrasion?
The benefits of Microdermabrasion are very similar to those of chemical peels. Skin discoloration is removed, as well as many signs of aging, scars and sun damage. Your skin will look and feel smoother and softer. Additionally, your skin-care products will be more effective following Microdermabrasion, as your new skin is more receptive to topical treatments.

We look forward to meeting you and explaining the effects of a Microdermabrasion treatment at the Center for Plastic Surgery. The procedure is done as an outpatient procedure in our office, with literally no down time.

Call today, to schedule an appointment: (828) 526-3783.

Acne, especially adult acne, is common. Adolescents suffer, that is true, but an increasing number of our older patients visit us to discuss their acne flare-ups. Good hygiene, healthy eating and staying hydrated are all important considerations in the fight against acne. But sometimes, even these things don’t seem to help.

If you are dealing with acne, read on to learn its primary causes.

• Bacteria. Your facial skin has thousands of pores that act as traps for acne-loving germs and bacteria. Your hands also carry all sorts of strange and nasty bacteria which are transferred to your face when you touch or pick at your skin. Face-touching may be unconscious and may occur when you are relaxing, at work, or when you are sleeping. In any case, it adds unwanted, unhealthy bacteria to your facial skin, causing your existing acne to become worse and more resistant to treatment.
• Oil. Your skin needs the oil which is produced by your follicles to stay moist, bright and youthful looking. But when too much oil is produced, your risk of acne increases. Hormonal changes bring excessive oil production. That’s why so many adolescents going through puberty suffer from acne. Many adults also deal with hormonal imbalances. Women are especially susceptible during and after menopause.
• Clogged Pores. The purpose of your pores is to move sweat and oil from the gland where it is produced to the skin surface. But your pores can easily become obstructed by dry, dead skin cells, and when that happens, acne can be a result. One of the surest ways to combat this acne trigger is to keep your face clean with a morning and night skin care routine which includes a mild exfoliant. Don’t ever go to bed without removing your pore-clogging make up.

The take-away: Acne can be treated. We offer laser and light procedures, chemical peels, skin care and microdermabrasion, all of which are helpful in addressing acne and it’s scars. We invite you to call to schedule an appointment, today: (828) 526-3783.

Acne, it’s a word that can bring up so much frustration for most people – something we all had to deal with in our teens, and for many of us, still struggle with. For many people, using a simple or even prescription strength cleanser and dream will take care of the problem, and it will clear up in a few weeks. But when you’re dealing with stubborn acne that will not go away, it can be difficult to live with! Not only is acne unsightly, it can be painful or itchy, and even give others a bad first impression of you in your job or life. One of the best treatments that became popular years ago, and is now used regularly is microdermabrasion.

Microdermabrasion uses a tiny wand that dispenses crystals onto your skin, exfoliating it in the process. The pieces are then picked up with the microdermabrasion tiik, taking up dead skin cells and pore-blocking oils with them. This not only gets rid of the cause of the acne, it also takes away the tip layer of skin to reveal new, glossy skin which stimulates the skin renewal process.

This skin renewal process is responsible for giving you the clear skin you’re after. It refreshes the skin, always revealing a new layer, getting rid of pore cloggers naturally. When this process is sped up by microdermabrasion, you’ll notice clearer skin even between treatments.

The procedure however is not always for everyone – just like all procedures. If your acne is inflamed or you have very sensitive skin, microdermabrasion may not be for you. At the Center for Plastic Surgery in North Carolina we will discuss with you whether you’ll benefit from it. If not, we will recommend our other procedures and skin treatments that could help your skin look amazing! Either way, you can trust your skin to us. Our years of experience thanks to Dr Buchanan, paired with our always professional and caring staff will help you feel at ease, and give you beautiful, makeup-free skin!