Have you always been plagued by acne? Is your psoriasis making you self-concious? Do you have a rash that just won't go away?

Our dermatologists treat all problems of the skin, hair and nails. In addition to the medical treatment and prevention of skin disease, our physicians also provide cosmetic treatments and out-patient surgery done at our office.

Please contact us for information about medical, surgical and cosmetic treatment options. Learn more about a selection of our cosmetic services below or download our cosmetic services brochure. To learn more about dermatology related medical conditions, please visit our medical library.

Cosmetic Services

Alpha Hydroxy Acid Peels
Alpha hydroxy acid is the term used for several naturally occurring acids found in fruits and other foods. These include lactic acid, derived from sour milk; citric acid, derived from citric fruit such as oranges; and glycolic acid, derived from sugar cane.

Alpha hydroxy acids are helpful in treating a variety of skin ailments. They have proven to be effective in treating dry skin, acne, liver or sun spots, lessening fine facial wrinkles, and improving skin texture. Recent studies have also shown that alpha hydroxy acids can reverse precancerous skin lesions, which are due to long term sun exposure. These acids have been shown to increase skin thickness up to 15% in patients with sun damaged thin skin. This occurs through the stimulation of collagen production, the skins natural support protein. Alpha hydroxy acids also work by loosening and removing dead skin cells.

Many people ask if alpha hydroxy acids are safe. It is important to point out that these acids are in many of the healthiest foods we eat and drink including orange juice. They are thought to be very safe when used correctly.

Alpha hydroxy acids can be used in low concentrations as found in many cosmetics available over the counter, in medium concentrations which are available in doctor's offices, and in high concentrations. When used in high concentrations, they are best applied by a professional at intervals of three to six weeks. This is known as a series of acid peels. The alpha hydroxy acid used most commonly for peels is gylocic acid. Unlike other chemical peels, alpha hydroxy acids are not toxic to the skin.

Purified botulinum toxin (botox) is used to soften facial lines and wrinkles and to treat excessive sweating under the arms or on the palms of the hands. Botulinum toxin works well for forehead lines, crow's feet, and frown lines. Purified botulinum toxin is injected into the muscle in these areas and works by weakening the muscle, which in turn lessens the lines of facial expression. The results last 3–6 months. By combining botulinum toxin with peels, daily alpha hydroxyacid, and tretinoin cream, a patient can look years younger without surgery.

Chemical Peels
Chemical peeling as a technique has been around since Cleopatra used sour milk (lactic acid) for facial rejuvenation. Today, a chemical is applied to the face or other areas, causing the upper levels of the skin to peel away, leaving rejuvenated skin. Chemical peels work best in combination with an appropriate home-care regimen.

The end result often depends on which type of peel is being used—the superficial (fruit acid, AHA), the medium-depth (combination peels) or the deep peel (Baker-Gordon, phenol). Superficial peels can improve some types of blotchy pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, overall skin texture and some sun-related scaling conditions. They need to be performed repetitively as a group to achieve the desired effect. The deeper peels offer greater improvement of photoaged skin, but also have more significant healing times.

Chemical peels cannot improve certain types of acne scars (deep or ice pick scars), change pore size or remove broken blood vessels. They do not significantly improve gravitation-aging changes, which are best addressed by techniques such as face-lift or eyelid surgery.

Juvéderm™ is a smooth consistency gel made of hyaluronic acid—a naturally occurring substance in your skin that helps to add volume and hydration. Approved by the FDA, Juvéderm™ injectable gel is a dermal filler that instantly restores your skin's volume and smooths away facial wrinkles and folds, like your “smile lines” or “parentheses” (nasolabial folds—the creases that run from the bottom of your nose to the corners of your mouth). Juvéderm™ injectable gel is the first FDA-approved hyaluronic acid dermal filler that is proven to be safe and effective for persons of color. The results last up to 12 months.

Chemical Peels with Vitalize Peel®
The Vitalize Peel® is a unique blend of acids designed to help you achieve dramatic improvement in texture and tone, lessening of superficial lines and a healthier, more youthful look and feel with minimal down time. This renewal process has been clinically proven to help pigmentation problems (such as age spots) and acne scarring fade and stimulate collagen production in the cells underneath.

It is gentle enough to use every three weeks for maximum benefits and a glowing, healthy start to your skincare regimen. Resulting from as little as one peel, you will notice a renewed appearance, including:

• Great for treating acne breakouts
• Dramatic improvement in epidermal texture.
• A lessening of age spots, freckles and superficial pigmentation resulting from photo damage.
• Reduction of enlarged pores.

The Vitalize Peel® incorporates retinoic acid, alpha hydroxy acids with resorcinol and other active ingredients to create one of the safest, strongest half-hour chemical peels available. A mild to moderate flaking occurs two to three days after the Vitalize Peel® is performed and can be controlled with moisturizers. It is recommended as a great way to jump-start your healthy skincare routine.

Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning is a procedure where the skin of dead cellular layers and unwanted facial hair on the face is removed with a blade. This treatment results in super smooth skin. A change in the skin texture can be felt right away.

Hair Removal with Starlux IPL
The Palomar StarLux Intense Pulse Light (IPL) machine uses a new technology that removes unwanted hair up to 10 times faster than other lasers. The light system works by emitting pulses of intense lamplight into the hair follicles.  The light is absorbed by the pigment in the follicales and converted to heat.  The heat then loosens the hair and disables the cells responsible for growing new hair. All areas of the body can be treated except around the eyes. An average of three to six treatments are necessary to remove unwanted hair. Read more...

Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup
Known as The Skin Care Makeup, the Jane Iredale line is so safe and benficial to use that it is recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists throughout the world.  These state-of-the-art minerals are available in so many shades that there's one for every complexion no matter what the ethnicity.

Leg Vein Clearance with Starlux IPL
The Palomar StarLux Intense Pulse Light (IPL) machine uses a new technology that comfortably clears a variety of leg vessels—from the smaller red vessels to the larger blue reticular leg veins. The energy of the IPL wavelength is deeply absorbed by both melanin and hemoglobin, the chromophores for hair and veins.

Microdermabrasion (non-particle) with DiamondTome
Microdermabrasion is a gentle resurfacing procedure using a diamond tipped device called the Diamond Tome® which does not use fine particles of sand blown on the skin. The technique involves gentle suction with a diamond tipped wand to exfoliate the skin surface.

This technique has been remarkably effective in removing excess oil, blackheads and bacteria in acne patients by essentially "vacuuming up" dead skin cells, bacteria, blackheads and skin surface oils. Repeated treatments can also improve modest acne or traumatic scarring. Superficial pigmentation problems can also be improved, as can fine lines, wrinkles and irregular skin texture.

Unlike the effects of chemical peels or thermal and ablative lasers, the effects of microdermabrasion are mechanical, like standard dermabrasion, but much less abrasive. In terms of ability to treat acne, pigment and photoaging problems, the beneficial effects from the procedure fit somewhere between superficial glycolic peels and some of the laser procedures. Stretch marks have also been improved by this procedure. Virtually all skin types can be treated. No anesthesia is required since the treatment isn't painful, and unlike medium-depth peels or resurfacing lasers, there is no recovery time.

Photofacials with Starlux IPL
Palomar StarLux Intense Pulse Light (IPL) Photofacials are designed to combat the effects of aging and damaged skin in a soft, gentle way. It can benefit patients with sun damage, sunspots, rosacea and visible veins. The IPL machine works by using a specialized handpiece which filters light from different parts of the spectrum. Each band of the spectrum has a wavelength for different treatments. Treatments stimulate production of collagen and elastin and aid in the reduction of pore size, as well as the removal of pigmentation, age spots, and broken capillaries. Read more...

Restylane is a safe and natural cosmetic dermal filler that restores fullness to the skin and lips and smoothes moderate to severe facial wrinkles and skin folds, such as nasolabial folds (laugh lines) and for scar correction. As you get older, your face loses its shape. Restylane simply restores that fullness and provides a smoother contour to the face.

Restylane is the first and only cosmetic dermal filler made of non-animal-based hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that already exists in the human body and is used to provide volume and fullness to the skin. The hyaluronic acid in Restylane is crystal-clear gel called NASHA, or Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid. NASHA is biodegradable and completely biocompatible with human hyaluronic acid.

Unlike other hyaluronic acid-based products, such as those made from rooster combs, only Restylane is non-animal-based. This quality virtually eliminates any risk of animal-based disease transmission or allergic reaction. Restylane is completely degraded, leaving absolutely no traces of the injected material in the body and can last from 3–8 months.

Radiesse FN is a new injectable product for lip enlargement and filling of folds and lines. The advantage of this product is the potential for a long lasting effect with results lasting in some patients up to two years.

Radiesse FN consists of calcium hydroxylapatite suspended in gel (carboxymethycellulose). Because calcium hydroxylapatite is a normal constituent of bone, it should not elicit a chronic inflammatory or immune response. Additionally, the gel carrier doesn't require allergy testing such as required with other injectable fillers such as some collagens.

Calcium hydroxylapatite has been used in humans for a long time in prosthetic implants in dental, facial, and orthopedic surgery. Animal studies and use of the injectable product in vocal cords and bladder neck areas have shown that the product remains soft without new bone formation when injected into soft tissue. The longest term studies come from Italy and suggest that Radiesse FN shows promise as a new agent for facial contouring with no serious side effects and reasonable efficacy and durability.

Sclerotherpy
Sclerotherapy is a simple procedure to treat spider veins. Veins are injected with a sclerosing solution which causes them to collapse and fade from view. One to three treatments are recommended.

Sculptra® is included in the category of fillers, but is better called a skin volume enhancer. The injected substance is poly L-lactic acid. The material is used to treat sunken hollow cheeks that results from the aging process or as a results of HIV disease. A series of injections over several months is required and the final improvement will take up to six months. The clinical benefit can also last up to two years.

We also offer the following skincare products for sale: EltaMD, La Roche Posay Biomedic, Obagi, SkinCeuticals, Skin Medica, RevaleSkin