Deep Acne Scars – How To Find The Best Dermal Filler To Correct Depressed Acne Scarring
Softening deep acne scars resulting from severe bouts of cystic or nodular lesions requires a well thought out cosmetic corrective plan. And according to reports in Dermatologic Surgery, popularized scar removal options like laser resurfacing may not satisfactorily smooth away deep acne scars. Yet, patients can readily witness scar depth reductions in indented acne scaring using aesthetic therapies such as dermal fillers.
Silicon based dermal fillers
In a 30-year perspective study of using dermal fillers to correct acne scars, doctors Jay Barnett and Channing Barnett deemed medical-grade liquid silicone the only filler substance that permanently and precisely corrects acne scars. During their investigation, the researchers reviewed the lives of five patients with a history of acne scarring. Each patient showed improvements from injections of liquid silicone at the initial treatment session and at 10-, 15-, and 30-year follow-up sessions.
Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers
Even though silicon based dermal fillers work, heavily marketed fillers made of hyaluronic acid also present a potential deep acne scarring corrective. While the results from dermal fillers can prove pleasantly dramatic, in the case of hyaluronic acid, the enhancements may only last six months. Moreover, most Food and Drug Administration approved dermal fillers like Perlane have only been tested on and prescribed for correction of nasal labial folds, not acne scars that can arise on multiple areas of the face.
Calcium-based dermal fillers
In a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, investigators tested a dermal filler composed of calcium hydroxylapatite to treat acne scars. Researchers used the filler to correct both round or saucerized acne scars, and deep acne scars with a sharp triangular shaped called “ice-pick” scars. After administering the dermal filler to ten patients with various types of acne scarring, the investigators found that only saucerized acne scars responded well to the treatment. Scarring improvements lasted up to twelve months in some volunteers.
How to select a dermal filler
While dermal fillers offer dazzling results, they aren’t cheap. And typically, the longer the filler lasts, the more expensive the treatment. Dermal injections can run from $300 to $2000 for treated area so plan to spend smartly. Moreover, a dermal injection is only as aesthetically beautiful as the professional delivering the shot.
When seeking a dermal injection, seek a professional possessing experience with correcting deep acne scars with dermal fillers. Finally, when using a dermal injection, make certain that you have your acne outbreaks under control because dermal injections are contraindicated for facial areas experiencing pain or inflammation, including pimples.
Cool Tattoos – Now and a Few Years and Thousands of Dollars Later
It is increasingly big business for plastic and dermatologic surgeons who deal with the physical and psychological damage as tattoo patients struggle with the scarring and skin discoloration caused in the effort to remove the intricate designs – and the stress caused by repeated job rejections and the critical judgment by others.
In the past, tattoos were the preserve of sailors and servicemen. Now, most recently, with Angelina Jolie and the Beckham couple displaying their inky adornments, tattoos have become a must-have accessory.
Typically there are three reasons for having a tattoo: first fashion, second to demonstrate you are tough enough to withstand the pain of the needles injecting the ink, and third to demonstrate attachment to a person or club. All three rarely last long, and as the time goes by people start searching for a way to get rid of their tattoo. That’s where the sorrow and grief start.
In recent years the advent of surgical and aesthetic lasers has led many cosmetic clinics and medical spas to advertise “instant” laser tattoo removal. Well, the reality is, nothing is instant when it comes to removing the ink, especially bright colors, from under your skin. The lasers break down the dots of ink in the deeper layers of the skin and convert them into particles small enough to be carried off and disposed of by the immune system. But it is a drawn-out, laborious and risky process.
People don’t realize that tattoos often go spongy with age. The ink moves about and disperses, the colors become less vibrant. Even if you liked the design in the first place, you might not like it so much when it makes you look like an old sailor. It may take a dozen laser sessions with excruciating pain and post-op discomfort to reduce the intensity of a complex tattoo. Removing is the word for ads. In fact, it is highly unusual to get complete clearance of the design with lasers, and it involves risk of being left with scars and skin damage that can be much uglier than the tattoo you’re trying to get rid of.
Hypo- or hyperpigmentations and scar formation at the treatment site are quite common. In extreme cases you might be looking at a skin graft with the risk of more scarring, because of having to take skin from somewhere else on your body. Few lasers have been proven to be effective on tattoos. In particular, the pulse duration of the light sources or lasers applied must be carefully selected according to the principles of selective photothermolysis. Long pulse devices cause a lot of pain and tend to leave bur scars. The light intensities of most IPL devices are normally not sufficient to destroy the pigment particles. Instead of destruction, the pigment particles in the skin are heated up and the heat is conducted to the adjacent tissue causing unspecific tissue injury. Lasers and especially intense pulsed light sources with more than 1 millisecond pulses and low light intensities are clearly not suitable to be applied for laser tattoo removal.