Albuquerque’s Western Dermatology Consultants Predict the Top Spring Treatments for a Summer-Ready Body
Summer is quickly approaching, but it’s not too late to start your prep work for it. Albuquerque’s Western Dermatology Consultants note that the top body-focused dermatological treatments are all non-surgical with little to no downtime. Instead of trying to change your body, simply augment what you already have and boost your confidence with simple yet effective non-invasive procedures.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal has consistently been one of the most popular treatments in the United States year after year. Men and women alike receive the treatment, with men mainly looking to de-fuzz their upper bodies and women wanting smoother limbs.
Some patients are more prone than others to developing ingrown hairs due to follicle-related conditions and/or the nature of their hair, causing pain and discomfort from inflammation and friction. Laser hair removal can provide significant long-term relief from all these concerns in addition to the cosmetic benefits.
With technological advances and increased quality of care, skin of color can also safely and effectively receive treatment. Research the laser that your provider will be using to ensure it is the best possible option for you.
CoolSculpting®
While appropriate eating and exercise habits are essential to maintaining bodily health and function, there are some hard limits on what these measures can achieve in terms of fat reduction, as they only affect the size of fat cells (as opposed to destroying them altogether) and cannot target specific areas of fat.
This is where CoolSculpting® shines. It is not a weight loss treatment, but a precisely targeted approach to fat reduction in which selected areas of the body are subjected to controlled cooling that takes energy away from the fat cells in those areas. Once the energy is taken away, the fat cells crystallize and die on their own, and are flushed away through the body’s natural waste processes.
CoolSculpting® is the most effective treatment option for non-invasive fat reduction for patients who are within a healthy weight range but would like to see particular areas of their body sculpted. Compared to other non-surgical fat reduction treatments on the market, it is currently FDA-cleared to treat the widest range of body parts.
Note that CoolSculpting® has only been cleared for skin tightening in conjunction with fat reduction in the chin area and will not have much effect on cellulite.
Thermage®
Thermage® is an FDA-cleared radiofrequency treatment that can tighten skin and reduce wrinkles on both the face and body. The radiofrequency energy gently heats the skin, stimulating collagen production to leave the treated areas looking tightened and more toned.
The skin tightening effects of Thermage® are particularly well-suited to improve the appearance of crepey, lax skin and cellulite (as it tightens the skin sitting on top of it for a more toned look) on the body. For the face, it can address several age-related concerns, such as fine lines, deflated cheeks, hooded eyelids, flattened eyebrows, and that dreaded “turkey wattle” at the neck.
VelaShape® III
As mentioned above, there are many treatments on the market that can effectively target stubborn fat deposits but cannot address lax skin or cellulite in tandem. The third generation of VelaShape® is an excellent body contouring treatment on its own or in conjunction with one of the treatments above.
Combining multiple modalities has been proven to enhance treatment results even further, and the patented elōs technology used in VelaShape® III blends bi-polar radiofrequency with infrared energy and vacuum suction to heat tissue to adjustable depths (while still being quite comfortable and minimizing swelling).
Sclerotherapy & Laser Vein Treatment
Your patriotism doesn’t have to include showing off red, white, and blue legs whenever you decide to don a pair of shorts. Spider veins can occur due to anything that causes the heart to pump blood with more intensity, such as pregnancy, being overweight or obese, or long periods of inactivity. Sun damage and fluctuating hormones may also exacerbate the problem.
The most tried, tested, and true options for treating veins include lasers and injectable sclerotherapy. Lasers are typically used for the face, while sclerotherapy is commonly used for more prominent veins on the legs.
Laser vein treatment entails the selective application of heat energy to collapse the veins’ walls and allow them to be reabsorbed further into the body for a diminished appearance.
Sclerotherapy, an older but more precise form of vein treatment, is a minimally invasive procedure in which a “sclerosant” medication is injected into the veins using a very thin needle. The sclerosant irritates and scars the injected vein’s wall, closing it off from the rest of the circulatory system and allowing the body to eventually reabsorb it.
The board-certified dermatologists and physician assistants at Western Dermatology Consultants would be happy to advise you further on any of the above treatments. You can contact the practice online or call 505-855-9267 to request a personalized consultation with a member of their team.