Aesthetic Treatments for Dark Spots

by Melanie Remy | May 27, 2022 | Aesthetics

Many people develop dark spots on their skin with age. These spots can appear practically anywhere, including on areas like the face, neck, chest, and hands. If you have dark spots on your skin, the good news is that there are many aesthetic treatments available to help. These treatments can help reduce the appearance of dark spots on your skin and can also help with other age-related skin concerns.

Aesthetic Treatments can Help with Dark Spots

Dark spots on the skin are commonly due to sun exposure, but aesthetic treatments can help reduce the appearance of dark spots.

Aesthetic treatments are non-invasive cosmetic procedures that can help you enhance your appearance. When it comes to dark spots on your skin, there are several skin rejuvenating treatments that may help brighten the area and even out your complexion. Some common treatment options for dark spots include:

• Medical-grade chemical peels
• PRX treatment
• Laser treatments
• Radiofrequency microneedling

Each of these treatment options can help improve the look of dark spots on your skin. These treatments all work a little differently and come with their own pros and cons. Our team can discuss your desired results and offer recommendations on whether and which treatment may work best for you. We may look at many different factors to help you determine which aesthetic treatments are right for you, including your current skin concerns, medical history, and lifestyle.

What Causes Dark Spots on the Skin?

Before we get into the specifics of the aesthetic treatments we offer, first let’s talk about what dark spots are. Dark spots are a form of hyperpigmentation on the skin. They also go by many other names, like age spots, liver spots, and sun spots.

Dark spots are typically harmless (though they can sometimes look like skin cancer), but they do affect many people’s self-esteem. Many feel that hyperpigmentation areas, especially on the face, décolleté, and hands, detract from their appearance or make them look older. Therefore, many people look for aesthetic treatments to help minimize the look of dark spots.

Hyperpigmentation occurs when you have excess melanin deposits in one area of your skin. Melanin is what gives your skin its color and is produced by special skin cells called melanocytes. However, some things can cause the melanocytes to produce more melanin than normal, which can lead to dark spots on your skin.

Two common causes of hyperpigmentation are sun damage and inflammation. Both of these can increase melanin production, which can lead to dark spots. Frequent sun exposure can increase your risk for developing sun spots, especially as we age, as sun damage accumulates over time. Also, inflammation such as from skin injuries can lead to hyperpigmentation as well.

While hyperpigmentation isn’t always preventable, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk for developing dark spots on your skin, such as:

• Avoid sun exposure
• Wear sun-protective clothing
• Use sunscreen with at least SPF 30
• Avoid picking your skin after an injury or blemish, as it can promote further inflammation

Types of Aesthetic Treatments that May Lighten Hyperpigmentation

If you do develop dark spots on your skin, know that there are treatments available. As a women’s health clinic, we offer several medical-grade aesthetic treatments to help you address concerns like hyperpigmentation as well as other issues like wrinkles and fine lines. Some of the treatments we offer that may help with dark spots on your skin include:

Jan Marini Skin Research Chemical Peel Aesthetic Treatments

Chemical peels are a common aesthetic treatment option that can help rejuvenate the skin and address many concerns, including dark spots. The medical-grade chemical peels from Jan Marini Skin Research have been used to treat many types of hyperpigmentation and sun damage.

The Refine peel is good for overall skin rejuvenation and may help with mild hyperpigmentation. For more severe hyperpigmentation, the Transform peel may be the better option, as it is the more aggressive option. These chemical peels help promote skin cell turnover to reduce the appearance of sun damage, hyperpigmentation, photodamage, as well as things like fine lines and scarring.

These two-step peels use mild acids to deeply exfoliate the skin. This helps your skin get rid of dead skin cells and bring newer, fresher skin cells to the surface, which can also help brighten hyperpigmentation areas and even out your complexion. The second step is a leave-on treatment with retinol, anti-aging peptides, and antioxidants, all formulated to help with healing.

Jan Marini chemical peels can be used on the face, décolleté, and hands to reduce dark spots. Typically, treatment involves a series of three peels over a 12-week period. Many start seeing results after just one peel. Talk to our providers about which peels and how many aesthetic treatments you will need for your desired results.

Cynosure Laser Aesthetic Treatments

Cynosure is a type of laser therapy our clinics offer. Lasers are a powerful tool for rejuvenating the skin and treating unwanted dark spots. Cynosure laser treatments are quite effective at reducing the look of dark spots and sun damage.

These aesthetic treatments use laser technology to target hyperpigmented cells in the skin. The laser energy then transforms into heat to destroy the unwanted cells. This helps resurface the outer layers of the skin in the area and also target cells deeper in the skin to reduce the look of dark spots and other concerns like wrinkles and visible veins.

Our team can use Cynosure laser treatments in a variety of areas, including the face, neck, chest, hands, arms, and legs. The number of treatments needed varies for each person. Some people may only need a few, while others may need several. Talk to our providers to see if Cynosure laser aesthetic treatments are right for you and what treatments may look like based on your personal circumstances.

Vivace Radiofrequency Microneedling

Another common option is Vivace RF microneedling. This treatment combines two powerful skin rejuvenation methods: microneedling and radiofrequency treatments. This treatment can help tighten the skin and reduce the look of hyperpigmentation spots.

Vivace radiofrequency microneedling helps with skin resurfacing by creating controlled micro-damages in the skin to promote the healing and skin regeneration process. The microneedles make small channels in your skin while the radiofrequency treatment creates heat energy in the deep layers of your skin to increase collagen production and skin cell turnover.

Like other aesthetic treatments, this treatment option is personalized to you. While typically treatment involves three sessions with four to six weeks in between treatments, you may need more or fewer treatments or different times in between treatments. Our team can discuss the specifics of this treatment option based on your individual situation.

HerKare – Quality Health Care for Women

When you need top quality care, choose our team at HerKare. We are a women’s health clinic offering solutions for health care and aesthetic treatments. Our team is here to help you look and feel your best at every stage of life. Make an appointment today at one of our convenient locations to learn how we can help you improve your health and appearance!

Aesthetic Treatments for Thinning Lips Due to Age

by Melanie Remy | Apr 28, 2022 | Aesthetics

With age comes some changes to our looks, like wrinkles and fine lines. However, what many people don’t talk about is that our lips also begin to thin with age. In fact, thinning lips can often be one of the first signs of aging you see in your face. Luckily, there are many non-surgical, non-invasive aesthetic treatments available to help you plump thinning lips. Let’s talk about age-related lip thinning and how lip fillers can come to the rescue.

Thin Lips? Consider Non-Invasive Aesthetic Treatments to Plump Your Pout

Aesthetic treatments like lip fillers can help you fight age-related lip thinning.

When you look in the mirror, does it look like your lips are thinner than they used to be? Are you tempted to overdraw your lip line to get a little extra volume? Let’s face it – thin lips can make us feel self-conscious, particularly when you used to have voluminous lips when you were younger. Add that to wrinkles on and around your lips and it’s easy to feel like your lips are giving your age away.

Don’t worry, though. Lip fillers are aesthetic injections that can help you increase the volume in your lips to help counteract some of the signs of aging. Lip fillers can help make your lips look plumper and smoother without surgery. Fillers are a natural, semi-permanent option to help you achieve a more youthful appearance.

What Causes Lips to Thin Out With Age?

Before we get into the specifics of lip fillers, let’s first talk about why you might need lip filler aesthetic treatments as you age. The problem is that lips tend to get thinner with each passing year. In fact, our lips reach maximum fullness around age 16 before steadily declining in volume at a rate of about 1% each year after.

The main culprit behind thinning lips is collagen loss. Collagen is a protein that is responsible for making up the main structure underneath the skin. However, we start to produce less with age, which can lead to common signs of aging like wrinkles, hollow areas in the face, and, you guessed it, thin lips.

Over time, you might notice your lips look thinner overall, that your cupid’s bow looks flatter, and that the corners of your mouth look downturned. All of these are usually due to loss of collagen from aging. Other things can also make you lose collagen faster, like UV damage, chronic inflammation, and smoking. Whatever the case, collagen is to blame for thinner lips as we get older.

Lip Filler Aesthetic Treatments

Lip filler aesthetic treatments can help you combat lip thinning that can prematurely age your face. These are a type of dermal filler specifically for the lip area and can help not only increase fullness, but also address fine lines and wrinkles on and around the lips. The two most common types are Juvéderm® and Restylane®.

Juvéderm & Restylane Aesthetic Injections

Juvéderm and Restylane are brand name dermal fillers. These aesthetic treatments use hyaluronic acid injected into problem areas like the lips to increase fullness and fill in wrinkles and lines. Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the skin and is an effective option for increasing volume in the lips, as well as other areas.

Both of these brands have FDA approved options specifically for the lips. For instance, Restylane Silk which can help with fullness and wrinkles, Juvéderm XC which is typically used for lip plumping, and Juvéderm Volbella XC which is primarily for fine lines around the lips.

Differences Between Juvéderm & Restylane

Juvéderm and Restylane fillers both use hyaluronic acid. One of the main differences between the two is how long they last. Restylane typically lasts about ten months while Juvéderm options typically last about one year. Juvéderm also is typically slightly more expensive, but, yet again, it lasts longer. Therefore, the costs may even out for these two options, depending on the specifics of your treatment.

Things to Know About Lip Filler Aesthetic Treatments

There are many things you should know about lip fillers before scheduling an appointment for treatment. Our providers can discuss the pros and cons based on your specific situation to determine if these are a good treatment option for you to help with age-related lip thinning. However, there are a few key things to know about these aesthetic injections.

How Long Do These Aesthetic Treatments Take?

Lip filler treatments are a pretty fast procedure. In fact, many people call these a “lunch break treatment” because they are so quick and you can return to most of your daily activities immediately. Lip fillers typically take just 15-30 minutes to complete, and you can head right back to your day immediately after, with just a few aftercare instructions.

How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?

Lip fillers are a semi-permanent option for improving lip fullness. Fillers generally last between six and twelve months, though individual results vary. As we mentioned earlier, Juvéderm tends to last longer, with an average of one year before needing retreatment, while Restylane typically lasts about 10 months on average. To maintain the same results, you will need more fillers at regular periods.

Is There Any Downtime?

Most people can return to their day-to-day activities right after getting lip fillers, with just a few exceptions. First, we typically recommend avoiding strenuous exercise, alcohol, and makeup or lip products for at least 24 hours after filler injections.

You may experience mild discomfort, swelling, redness, or bruising. However, these typically clear up in just a few days. Serious complications with lip fillers are rare, especially when you choose a qualified professional for your aesthetic injections.

Are These Aesthetic Treatments Reversible?

Another great advantage of hyaluronic acid lip fillers is that they are reversible. First, your body absorbs the hyaluronic acid over time and metabolizes it, which means they only last about a year or so after treatment. However, if you want to reverse results faster, your provider can typically do so with an injection of the enzyme hyaluronidase, which breaks down the filler. This helps many people feel peace of mind in the off chance they don’t like their results.

Who Can Get Lip Filler Aesthetic Treatments?

Just like any other aesthetic treatment, lip fillers aren’t for everyone. Our team can discuss whether we believe these fillers are a good option for you based on your individual circumstances and health history. However, there are a few good things to know. For instance, you may not be a good candidate if you:

• Are under age 21
• Are allergic to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine
• Have an inflammatory skin condition (like rosacea, psoriasis, or eczema)
• Have a bleeding disorder
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding

Talk to our providers for more detailed information on whether you’re a good candidate for lip filler injections.

Helping You Feel and Look Your Best – HerKare

Our team at HerKare is here to help you be the best version of yourself through quality health care and aesthetic treatment options personalized to you. We’re revolutionizing health care for women through our convenient, affordable treatment solutions. Whether you’re struggling with menopause symptoms or are looking for aesthetic treatments to help you age more gracefully, our team is here for you. If you’re considering lip fillers or other non-surgical aesthetics options, contact us today to make an appointment!

Aesthetic Treatments for Double Chin: Kybella Injections

by Melanie Remy | Mar 28, 2022 | Aesthetics

Kybella aesthetic treatments have helped many people regain their confidence by improving the look of their chin and jawline. Kybella is a non-invasive option for reducing fat under the chin often responsible for the appearance of a double chin. Let’s talk about double chins, Kybella, and some things you should know before treatment.

Double Chin? Consider Kybella Aesthetic Treatments

Kybella aesthetic treatments target fat cells under the chin.

If you see a double chin when you look in the mirror, you’re not alone. Surveys from the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery have found that about 73% of people feel bothered by fat underneath their chin.

The technical term for excess fat under the chin that can cause a double chin is submental fullness. Submental fullness is a common issue. Many people associate it with being overweight or obese, but there are many reasons you might notice a double or even triple chin.

One factor is certainly weight gain. As you gain weight, your body stores the extra fat. Sometimes, your body will store it in the neck and chin area, creating the illusion that you have more than one chin.

However, genetics and age can also play a role in whether you have a double chin. Genetics can determine how and where your body stores fat. Age also affects fat storage in your body and can also make the skin under your chin become less elastic, which can make the appearance of submental fat look worse.

The good news is, there are treatment options available for submental fat. If you feel embarrassed or self-conscious about your chin and jawline, Kybella aesthetic treatments may be a good option for you. These are non-surgical aesthetic injections that can actually reduce the amount of fat underneath your chin.

What is Kybella? How is it Different from Other Aesthetic Injectables?

You might be familiar with several different types of aesthetic injectables, such as Botox for wrinkles or fillers to increase volume in your lips and other parts of your face. However, Kybella injections are much different from these treatments.

Kybella is an injectable that targets and destroys fat cells. It is an FDA-approved treatment for reducing fat under the chin to help improve the appearance of your neck, jawline, and chin. Most people get Kybella injections for the dreaded double chin that can stick around even when you maintain a healthy weight.

Kybella Uses Synthetic Deoxycholic Acid for Aesthetic Treatments for Fat Under the Chin

Kybella works by using deoxycholic acid to actually destroy fat cells to reduce their size. Deoxycholic acid is a substance that naturally occurs in our bodies, specifically in the digestive system. This acid helps us break down fats in the food we eat so our body can absorb them.

When you get Kybella aesthetic treatments, our provider injects the deoxycholic acid into specific areas under the chin to target stubborn fat cells. As the Kybella reaches those cells, it destroys them. This makes them lose the fullness that is responsible for the look of the double chin. Once this happens, they are no longer able to accumulate more fat, which means Kybella can be a permanent solution for double chins.

Kybella works gradually using your body’s own processes to destroy and reduce the size of fat cells from the treatment area. Therefore, it produces gradual, natural-looking results. Also, because your body naturally produces deoxycholic acid, there is little risk for allergic reactions.

Kybella Can be an Alternative to Liposuction & Other Surgical Options

Many people choose Kybella to treat fat under the chin instead of going with more invasive options like liposuction. During a liposuction procedure, typically the surgeon puts you to sleep under general anesthesia. Then, they make an incision to insert a tube, called a cannula, into the treatment area to draw the fat cells out using suction. Recovery from liposuction typically takes a few days to two weeks to return to normal activities and the surgeon may recommend wearing a compression garment for a few months after.

Because of the risks of surgery, the downtime needed for recovery, and many other factors, many people choose Kybella as a non-surgical alternative to liposuction to reduce the appearance of fat under the chin. Kybella aesthetic treatments take just 15 to 20 minutes in the office with practically no downtime.

Who is a Good Candidate for Kybella Aesthetic Treatments?

Everyone is different, so you should talk to our providers about whether Kybella is right for you. However, here are some signs you might be a good candidate for Kybella aesthetic treatments:

• You are over 18
• Your double chin persists despite healthy diet and exercise
• You’re at a stable weight
• Your skin is in good condition and has good elasticity

It’s important to remember that Kybella only helps with excess fat under the chin. Therefore, if you have a double chin from loose skin, this treatment likely won’t offer the results you’re looking for.

Also, while Kybella can permanently destroy fat cells so they can no longer accumulate fat, the unaffected fat cells left behind still may. Therefore, we generally recommend being at a healthy, stable weight before beginning Kybella injections.

What to Expect from Kybella for Double Chin

You should talk to our providers about the specifics of Kybella treatment based on your individual circumstances. However, here is some general information about frequently asked questions about Kybella:

How Many Kybella Aesthetic Treatments Do I Need?

Our provider can discuss how many treatments are needed for you specifically. Some people can see results in as little as one treatment. However, you can receive up to six treatments with Kybella, at least one month apart each.

During Kybella treatment, you typically receive between 20 and 30 injections in the treatment area under the chin, though you can receive up to 50 for more severe cases. It generally takes a few weeks or months to see results because it takes time for Kybella to destroy and reduce the size of the fat cells. Therefore, if you don’t notice immediate results after the first treatment, you don’t necessarily need another. Your provider can help you determine when or if you need more Kybella injections.

What Kind of Results Does Kybella Offer?

Since Kybella destroys fat cells, they cannot continue to store and accumulate fat. Therefore, in many cases, the results from Kybella are permanent, meaning it’s expected you won’t need further treatment after your initial treatment with Kybella. Many people are happy with the results from Kybella, which appear gradually as your body gets rid of the targeted fat cells. Most people notice results within 12 weeks.

What is the Recovery Like After Kybella?

Everyone is different, but most people can return to their normal activities immediately after getting Kybella injections. Some people notice side effects like swelling, redness, and discomfort at the treatment site, but these typically resolve within a week or two. Generally, you can manage these side effects at home with things like:

• Cold compresses
• OTC medicines like Tylenol
• Light massage in the treatment area

One of the many reasons people choose Kybella over more invasive options is because of the reduced downtime after treatment.

State-of-the-Art Aesthetic Treatments at HerKare

Our team at HerKare is here to help you live your best life, which means feeling and looking your best. We believe in empowering women to address their health and aesthetic needs. We are a clinic owned and operated by women for women and offer the latest aesthetic treatments to our patients. Make an appointment today to learn more about Kybella treatments from our professionals.

Aesthetic Treatments for Under Eye Bags

by Melanie Remy | Feb 28, 2022 | Aesthetics

Bags under your eyes can make you look permanently tired, no matter how much you slept the night before. This causes many women to feel self-conscious and unhappy about their looks. However, there are aesthetic treatments available that may reduce the appearance of under eye bags.

Aesthetic treatments can help reduce the look of bags under your eyes.

In the past, one of the only ways to minimize the look of bags under the eyes was a surgery known as blepharoplasty. Yet, many people don’t necessarily want to go under the knife to address bags under their eyes. The good news is there are other options to address concerns about your under eye area. Today, there are many non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments that work well for mild to moderate under eye bags. Some aesthetic treatment options for under eye bags include fillers, plasma pen skin resurfacing, and Botox.

What Causes Under Eye Bags?

There may be many reasons you notice bags under your eyes. If bags under your eyes are temporary, then typically lack of sleep, allergies, or fluid retention are to blame. However, many people experience permanent under eye bags. In these cases, there may be other factors causing your under eye bags.

For instance, under eye bags can be genetic. If your parents had permanent bags under their eyes, then there’s a chance you will, too, as they can be hereditary. However, age is one of the most common causes of under eye bags. As we age, our skin starts to sag and lose some of its support from the muscles and other tissues in the face. This can create hollow areas and wrinkles under the lower eyelids. These hollow areas can also increase shadows that make the under eye area look darker.

That’s why many aesthetic treatments for under eye bags focus on plumping to even out hollow areas under the eyes with the rest of the face. Improving fullness under the eyes helps bring the skin slightly forward, making the area look softer, smoother, and brighter.

Dermal Filler Aesthetic Treatments for Under Eye Bags

Fillers are one of the most common aesthetic treatments for under eye bags. Fillers, as their name may suggest, fill in hollow or wrinkled areas in the skin.

There are several types of fillers available that our providers may recommend for your mild to moderate under eye bags. The most common is a hyaluronic acid filler. Another popular under eye filler option is poly L lactic acid, also known as Sculptra injections.

Hyaluronic Acid Fillers for Under the Eyes

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the skin. Dermal fillers, like Restylane and Juvéderm, use hyaluronic acid gel to increase fullness in the skin. These aesthetic treatments are frequently used to help smooth out lines and wrinkles as well as restore lost volume in the face.

As an under eye bag treatment, hyaluronic acid fillers help fill in hollow areas under the lower eyelid that cause bags and wrinkles. Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers allow our providers to control where they add extra volume in the face to specifically target problem areas. Many women love the natural-looking results they see after using hyaluronic acid fillers on the under eye area.

It’s important to keep in mind that you may need a few rounds of under eye fillers to achieve your desired results. Also, your body will naturally absorb the hyaluronic acid over time, meaning the filler wears off typically within nine months to one year. Therefore, you may need maintenance fillers on a regular basis.

Sculptra Fillers for Eye Bags

Another type of filler many people use on under eye bags is poly L lactic acid, more commonly known as Sculptra injections. This filler option is much different from hyaluronic acid, as it uses poly L lactic acid gel to promote collagen and elastin production in the deeper layers of the skin. The poly L lactic acid offers more gradual results, as it uses your body’s natural collagen production to increase volume in problem areas, such as hollow areas under the eyes.

Everyone is a little different, but generally it takes several weeks to see full results from Sculptra aesthetic treatments. However, unlike hyaluronic acid fillers, results from Sculptra injections can last up to two years. Therefore, if you’re looking for a longer-lasting, more natural option to treat under eye bags, Sculptra may be a good option for you.

Many women love Sculptra because it uses your own collagen to improve the look of sagging and wrinkles. However, it’s also important to understand that results do appear progressively, so it’s not a quick solution. Also, often your body may still not produce enough collagen to sufficiently fill in hollow areas under the eyes even after Sculptra fillers, so this may be a better treatment option for mild under eye bags.

Plasma Pen Aesthetic Treatments for Under Eye Bags

Our women’s health clinic also offers advanced skin resurfacing services with plasma pen technology. These aesthetic treatments can help tighten and rejuvenate skin. The plasma pen is gentle enough to use on the eyelids, including for bags under the eyes, yet may offer dramatic results.

Plasma pen treatments use an arc of plasma to send thermal energy into the skin in specific treatment areas. This helps stimulate the fibroblasts, which produce collagen and elastin. Plasma pen treatments also create micro-traumas in the top layers of the skin to encourage skin cell turnover. This can help tighten skin, improve texture, and brighten the area. Results last up to three years.

With plasma pen treatments, there may be some downtime afterwards, unlike with fillers. Plasma pen skin resurfacing creates carbon crusts that look like small dots on the surface of the skin in the treatment area that naturally flake off typically within five to seven days. You may also need several treatments for your under eye bags, as well as additional treatments to help maintain your results.

Can You Use Botox Aesthetic Treatments Under the Eyes?

Many people wonder if Botox injections can help with under eye bags. Botox is made from botulinum toxin A, which helps relax muscles that can cause lines and wrinkles. Typically, Botox is only recommended for reducing dynamic wrinkles, which are wrinkles that appear when you move your face. For instance, it’s a common aesthetic treatment for crows feet that appear when you smile or squint your eyes.

Botox is an incredibly popular type of aesthetic injectable. Some studies have found that Botox can help improve the look of wrinkles and bagginess in the under eye area. Therefore, this treatment option may work well for you.

However, in many cases bags under the eyes aren’t caused by dynamic wrinkles or muscle movements. Therefore, Botox may not be the right treatment option for you, as Botox primarily works by relaxing muscles in the face to help treat and prevent dynamic wrinkles.

Aesthetic Treatments from Our Women’s Health Clinic

Our team at HerKare understands you want to look and feel your best. That’s why we offer a wide range of health and aesthetic services to help you do just that. We offer quality care for everything from treating under eye bags to finding hormone replacement therapy solutions for menopause. We are here to help you address your overall wellness so you can live a happier, healthier, and more empowered life. Get in touch today to make an appointment at one of our convenient women’s health clinic locations.

Aesthetic Treatments: Radiofrequency Microneedling

by Melanie Remy | Jan 28, 2022 | Aesthetics

Fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin are all common as we age. Yet, many people don’t want the downtime, expense, or unnatural results of cosmetic surgery. If you’re looking for non-invasive aesthetic treatments that offer natural results to address these common issues, radiofrequency microneedling may be a good option for you. This treatment uses your body’s natural healing process to improve the appearance of your skin. It’s a quick and simple procedure with practically no downtime to suit your busy lifestyle.

Aesthetic Treatments: What is Radiofrequency Microneedling?

Radiofrequency microneedling aesthetic treatments combine two powerful skin rejuvenating treatments into one.

Radiofrequency microneedling is one of the many aesthetic treatments available for boosting collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein in your body that makes up the structure of your skin. Elastin is a protein responsible for keeping your skin flexible and elastic. This allows it to bounce back to its original position. For example, try pinching the skin on your hand or arm and pulling outward. When you let that skin go, it returns to its position against the bones and muscles. You can thank elastin for that.

Collagen is also necessary for proper healing. When your body detects a wound or injury, it increases collagen production. Collagen helps not only provide structure for your skin, but also helps with blood clotting.

Radiofrequency microneedling, also known as RF microneedling, is an aesthetic treatment that creates controlled micro injuries in the skin. This encourages your body to produce more collagen and elastin. The increased collagen and elastin production can help your skin look tighter, smoother, and more toned over time. RF microneedling combines two methods of increasing collagen and elastin. The radiofrequency waves produce heat that penetrates the deep layers of the skin where collagen and elastin production take place. The tiny needles create small channels in the skin to begin the healing process and kickstart collagen production. These channels can also help products penetrate deeper into the skin for better results.

There have been many studies assessing radiofrequency microneedling for its safety and effectiveness. One study published by the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery assessed several quality studies on RF microneedling aesthetic treatments. The researchers concluded that radiofrequency microneedling can be an effective treatment for many skin concerns.

Vivace Fractional Microneedle RF Aesthetic Treatments

Our team at HerKare uses the Vivace® Fractional Microneedle RF device to provide radiofrequency microneedling aesthetic treatments. This FDA-cleared device uses ultra-thin gold-tipped needles that the provider can adjust to different depths based on your skin, expected results, and the treatment area. The radiofrequency energy pulses through the needles to heat up the deeper layers of the skin. Because there are so many different settings, this device allows the providers at our women’s health clinic to personalize the treatment to you. It is also practically pain-free due to the robotic motor, which quickly and precisely inserts and extracts the microneedles from your skin while evenly distributing RF heat. The Vivace experience works well on most skin types, which is another great benefit of this RF microneedling option.

Who is a Good Candidate for RF Microneedling?

Like any other aesthetic treatment, radiofrequency microneedling isn’t for everyone. Our providers can help you determine if the Vivace aesthetic process might be right for you. In general, you might be a good candidate if you are in good overall health and if you have realistic expectations from the treatment. Our team at our women’s health clinic locations can help you weigh the pros and cons of this aesthetic treatment option based on your individual circumstances.

There are some factors that may mean Vivace fractional microneedle RF treatments are not a good option for you. You may need to avoid RF microneedling if you are currently taking Accutane or have taken the medication in the last six months. Also, if you have an active cold sore outbreak or a skin infection, we recommend waiting until you are fully healed. People with a history of poor wound healing, excessive scarring, or keloid scarring may not be a good candidate for these aesthetic treatments.

What Concerns Does Radiofrequency Microneedling Address?

Radiofrequency microneedling aesthetic treatments offer skin rejuvenation and can help with many skin concerns. This treatment may reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and large pores. It can also help firm and lift the skin. Many people also use RF microneedling to improve the look of scars and stretch marks. This aesthetic treatment is commonly used on the face but can also be used on other areas of the body, such as the neck and hands. It offers natural results because it uses your own natural collagen and elastin production to rejuvenate your skin.

What to Expect from RF Microneedling Aesthetic Treatments

If you’re interested in radiofrequency microneedling aesthetic treatments, it’s important to know what to expect. Our team can walk you through the particulars of the treatment based on your specific circumstances. However, it’s helpful to know some general information about RF microneedling treatments.

Before Treatment

Before the treatment we may recommend you stop taking certain medications (such as vitamin e supplements) or stop using certain skin care products, such as retinol creams. During your consultation, it’s important to tell our providers about all the medications you take, including over the counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Also, we may need to know your normal skin care routine to determine if you need to make any changes in the days leading up to your treatment.

During RF Microneedling Aesthetic Treatments

The treatment itself typically takes just one to one and a half hours in office. The first step is to cleanse the skin and apply a numbing cream. Generally, the numbing cream sits for the first 30 to 45 minutes to allow it to take effect and reduce discomfort during the procedure. Our provider then uses the Vivace Fractional Microneedle RF device in the treatment area. Following the treatment, we may apply products to promote healing and collagen production.

Aftercare

After your treatment, you can typically return to your normal activities immediately, though you should avoid wearing makeup for at least a few hours. You also want to avoid direct sunlight for at least 24 hours, as your skin may be more sensitive. Also, we recommend avoiding vigorous exercise for 24 hours. After 24 hours, you can generally return your normal skin care routine, though you shouldn’t use deep exfoliation products or treatments for at least one week after treatment.

Results

Many people see some immediate smoothing and tightening on the skin after RF microneedling aesthetic treatments. However, the increased collagen production can continue for nearly six months. It can take up to three months from the last treatment to see full results and those results can last a few years. In many cases, you may need more than one treatment with the Vivace Fractional Microneedle RF for optimal results. Many people need three treatments four to six weeks apart, though treatment recommendations vary based on your individual circumstances. To help prolong results, many people need routine touch up treatments

Aesthetic Treatments at Our Women’s Health Clinic

Our team at HerKare understands that feeling your best often means looking your best. Enhancing your appearance with aesthetic treatments can help you feel more confident in your everyday life, which is why we offer aesthetic treatment options at our women’s health clinic. Our goal is to provide you with convenient, affordable treatments that offer natural-looking results. Make an appointment now for a consultation with our providers.