Aesthetic Solutions offers a wide array of facial rejuvenation options. Dr. Charles Finn, a board certified facial plastic surgeon, and Dr. Sue Ellen Cox, a board certified dermatologist, are a husband-wife team who combine their specialties to provide numerous options to address your concerns about aging. Dr. Finn and Dr. Cox’s individual specialties complement each other, giving patients specialized skills that are typically not available in one practice. Joint consultations are available for patients who may benefit from the expertise of both physicians. Dr. Finn and Dr. Cox can plan stages of rejuvenation based on the patient’s priorities and needs rather than what an individual plastic surgeon or dermatologist could do alone. Your goals and expectations should be discussed in detail with Dr. Finn and Dr.Cox, or both, to determine the best way to achieve them. EARLY AGING, 20-35 YEARS OLD The signs of early aging may include fine wrinkling, skin discoloration, sun damage, and an increased appearance of facial blood vessels. Treatment Options Chemical Peels Light chemical peels gently remove the superficial layers of the skin utilizing glycolic acid, Alpha hydroxy acid or B hydroxy acid peels. Peels also help maintain clear skin in a regular skin care regimen. Chemical peels may remove the accumulation of dead skin cells and open up the pores, making it easier for medications to penetrate the skin. Patients may experience mild redness for 1 to 2 hours after the peel and may experience mild flaking. Microdermabrasion A Microdermabrasion is a “medical grade” facial performed with a machine that applies small crystals to the face, while simultaneously suctioning away crystals and exfoliated skin. This popular technique can improve the skin’s luster, texture, and color. Microdermabrasion works best for patients who have acne, rough skin texture, and/or irregular pigment. Microdermabrasion is a great maintenance procedure, and combines well with chemical peels. IPL – Intense Pulsed Light The IPL procedure is designed to combat the effects of early aging and damaged skin without causing any harmful outcomes to the skin surface. IPL improves redness due to rosacea, irregular pigmentation, skin texture, and sun damage. Treatments have little downtime and offer many people dramatic improvement. Non Ablative Lasers Several lasers help refresh the skin by stimulating the generation of new collagen. Lasers target and heat the collagen in the underneath skin layer while protecting the surface. The goal is to accelerate new collagen formation. FDA approved lasers can also used to treat active acne and acne scarring and other skin lesions. Vbeam Laser This laser can treat redness caused by rosacea, facial veins, leg veins, periorbital wrinkles, Poikiloderma of Civatte (uneven coloring of the neck), all of which factor into the aging process. The Vbeam laser delivers an intense but gentle burst of yellow light to the skin. The light is specifically absorbed by the targeted blood vessels. These blood vessels are coagulated and then reabsorbed by the body during the healing process. Patients may experience redness, swelling, and purpura (bruising) in the treated area for a few days. It may take several Vbeam treatments for maximum results. The Vbeam laser is also used for the treatment of birthmarks, hemangiomas, port wine stains, warts, and scars. Alexandrite Laser The Alexandrite laser treats areas of brown pigmentation such as “age spots”, “sun spots”, and freckles. Treatment of brown spots may take up to three sessions. The Alexandrite laser has also been successful in the removal of tattoos. Botox® Injections Botox® is a popular procedure that is used to smooth and relax the deep persistent facial lines that develop over time that may give the appearance of a stern, unhappy, or tired look. Botox® is the brand name for a natural, purified protein, Botulinum toxin A. Injecting extremely small doses of Botox® directly into the hyperfunctional muscles causes them to relax, thereby reducing overlying wrinkles. Unlike surgery, Botox® is fast, simple, and minimally invasive treatment, with no down time or recovery. Most people return to work or normal activity immediately following treatment. Within days, they report looking more natural and relaxed. Aesthetic Solutions is an Authorized Botox® Training Center for physicians. Dr. Cox and Dr. Finn have been chosen by Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox®, to provide instruction to selected physicians on the proper and most effective way to administer Botox®. Both physicians lecture on uses of Botox® and have these published articles: Finn JC, Cox SE. Development of the Facial Lines Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire and Initial Results for Outline Toxin Type A-Treated Patients. Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. 2003; 29: 444-449. Finn JC, Cox SE. Social Implications of Hyperfunctional Facial Lines. Dermatologic Surgery, Inc. 2003; 29: 450-455. MODERATE AGING, 35-50 YEARS OLD The signs of moderate aging include sallow discoloration, an increase in facial lines, a loss of facial elasticity, early jowl formation, a deepening of nasolabial folds, irregular pigmentation, and an increase in the appearance of blood vessels. Treatment Options Injectable fillers we offer include Collagen, Cosmoplast/ Cosmoderm, Fat Transfer, and, upon FDA approval, Restylane and Perlane. They temporarily restore a smoother appearance, re-contouring the facial features by adding fullness to the lips and cheeks. Our medical staff can help you decide if this type of treatment is appropriate for your condition and expectations, and which of these fillers may work best for you. Fat Transfer This procedure involves removing your own fat from one area of the body and transferring it to another. Fat transfer is a safe procedure performed to re-contour the face and provide definition to the cheeks and chin. Since fat transfer uses your own fat cells, you will never have an allergic reaction because the fat is taken from your own body! With fat transfer it is possible to have fat liposuctioned from your abdomen, thighs, or hips. Then, tiny droplets of fat are injected into numerous facial areas, such as the lips, nasolabial folds, hollows under and around the eyes, cheekbones and jaw lines. The re-injected fat cells will last from months to years. The procedure is performed with a local anesthetic, takes just about an hour to complete, and patients are up and around immediately afterwards! Mild discomfort is controlled with oral medications and swelling at the treatment site may last a few days. Some patients choose to store some of the harvested fat here to be used for future treatments. Medium-Depth TCA Chemical Peel Medium depth peels help correct pigmentation such as sunspots, age spots, liver spots, freckles and hormone induced blotchiness. Skin that is dull in texture and color may be improved with chemical peeling. Areas of sun damaged skin, precancerous keratoses and scaly patches may improve after chemical peeling. Chemical peels combined with other anti-aging treatments and products will help to rejuvenate your skin improving the color and texture of the skin. This treatment is more aggressive than superficial peels and requires a 5 to 7 day recovery. Minimally Invasive Surgery There are many minimally invasive procedures to correct and improve early facial aging. Dr. Finn is expert in endoscopic browlifts, endoscopic facelifts, necklifts and blepharoplasty to achieve dramatic results with minimal incisions. There has been a revolution in these procedures offering patients a huge variety of new rejuvenation options. ADVANCED AGING, OVER 50 YEARS The signs of advanced aging include significant wrinkling and deep furrowing of the skin, in addition to significant pigmentation and sagging skin. Treatment Options Carbon Dioxide Laser Resurfacing This procedure improves the fine lines and facial wrinkling of the skin that are commonly found at the corners of the eyes, underneath the eyes, and the stubborn lines around the mouth. CO2 laser resurfacing can also lessen acne scars, and rejuvenate sun-damaged skin, improving both skin tone and texture. Using the most advanced laser technology, the CO2 Laser gently treats the damage of sun and time. The laser quickly removes the paper-thin outer layer of skin, the epidermis, with pinpoint accuracy. The skin contracts and tightens as the laser vaporizes the water in the tissue. The laser also tightens and shrinks the collagen in the skin, which is the critical component responsible for keeping the skin firm and youthful. Patients may pinpoint a specific area for treatment such as around their eyes or mouth, or choose the full-face option for the most dramatic results. Like any type of deep peel, the laser removes protective layers of the skin creating a wound similar to severe sunburn, which takes approximately ten to fourteen days to heal. Redness of the skin may persist for weeks to months following surgery. But many find the dramatic results are well worth the recovery time. Surgical Procedures Facelift, browlift, eyelid blepharoplasty, and other surgical procedures are great options for patients who have advanced aging. These procedures help with the lifting of the drooping skin and soft tissues. The results are usually dramatic and patients feel and look years younger. Fat transfer is also a great option for patients whose aging is mostly attributable to a loss of volume. Losing volume can make a person look old and tired. Replacing the volume with one’s own fat can provide the rejuvenation needed without surgical interventions and downtime. Fat transfer is often combined with other procedures for maximal, natural appearing results. New Technology Dr. Finn and Dr. Cox continue to be at the forefront of new techniques for rejuvenation. New technologies are always being developed much faster than we develop new literature to help educate our patients on their options. Dr. Finn and Dr. Cox are happy to take the time to discuss with you the new technology constantly arising. Aesthetic Solutions 5821 Farrington Road Suite 101 Chapel Hill, NC 27517 Tel: 919-403-6200 Fax: 919-403-6242 info@aesthetic-solutions.com