The skin is comprised of an outer layer of protein structures held together by oil, called lipids. Below this is the growing layer of skin cells, called keratinocytes, that continually replenish the outer layer which is continuously shed. Deeper to this is the dermal layer which contains structural components for strength, rigidity, and elasticity, and also includes blood vessels, nerves, hair roots and glands. Fat lies beneath the dermis which provides curvature, shape and volume. The muscle layer underneath fat allows for movement of adjacent structures. Reducing the appearance of facial aging can be accomplished by treatments directed at the skin surface to improve tone and texture, undersurface to replenish lost volume, and at hyperactive muscles to reduce their action leading to the appearance of sagging, fatigue, sadness or anger. 1. Skin surface treatments CORRECT brown spots, surface irregularities. REPAIR with active serums, Vitamin A, B and C; hyaluronic acid intensifier, and advance glycation end product inhibitors. PROTECT with sunblocks minimum SPF 30 with titanium or zinc dioxide.
Skin barrier repair and maintenance is essential for conditions associated with skin dryness, flaking and inflammation. We generally do not recommend the use of soaps for these conditions as they can be too drying, and are not pH balanced for the skin surface. Gentle cleansers are synthetic detergents known as syndets. These products do not remove the protective moisture layer and are properly pH balanced to the surface of the skin.
Active surface agents to repair sun damage and pollution effects on collagen and elastic tissue degeneration include products containing vitamin A (known as retinol), vitamin B6, and vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes the effect of harmful free radicals in the skin caused by environmental exposure.
Upper dermal application of hyaluronic acid by injection using Skin Boosters TM can also enhance the tone and hydration of the skin.
More aggressive skin surface treatments include facials using gentle peeling agents (jessner’s peels) or more intensive ones (trichloroacetic acid or TCA), as well as procedures using intense pulse light called photo facials.
We can help direct your daily regimen to achieve correction, repair and protection of your skin.
- Volume correction and enhancement
The effect of gravity and time leads to progressive shrinkage of our facial structures, including bones and soft tissues such as fat. Furthermore, there is descent of soft tissues leading to hollowing in upper regions such as tear troughs, and excess volume in lower regions such as jowls and cheek pads. This overall reduction in the structural foundation to our facial features results in the overall appearance of tiredness, sadness and facial aging. Reestablishing volume in appropriate regions of volume loss can help correct tissue descent and enhance facial features.
Recognizing appropriate proportions is critical in aesthetic fillers. Inappropriate placement or excessive volumes can lead to unnatural looking facial features.
Dr. Tan uses hyaluronic acid fillers with varying capacities of infiltration and elevation to achieve volume correction and enhancement in to restore your natural facial features. My aim is to provide you with the best facial version of you, not an artificial one.
- Treatment of hyperactive facial muscles
Dr. Tan has used neuromodulators (eg Botox TM, Dysport TM, Xeomin TM ) in his practice for over 20 years. Initially trained in Vancouver in its use by the dermatologist and ophthalmologist who discovered its value in treating frown lines, he has seen it’s use expanded to other areas and conditions. By weakening hyperactive facial muscles, neuromodulators can reduce the reason for development of facial lines and furrows – examples are forehead, crow’s feet, marionette lines. They can also be helpful for facial contouring in reducing jawline squareness due to enlargement of the clenching muscles (masseters) as well as in eyebrow elevation. It also has multiple other uses, for example, in treatment of excessive sweating and headaches. We are also investigating its use for treatment of the redness of rosacea.