Why technology matters when it comes to cosmetic treatments
Every generation has one technology that represents a paradigm shift for how they live. Before any of us were born, it was electricity. For the older among us, it was television, which shifted everything from consumer behavior to how politicians ran for office. For millennials, it was the internet (hello, AIM!). For many others it was the smartphone, which is now so omnipresent it’s hard to imagine a time when we couldn’t access breaking news at any moment or pull up an up-to-date map from our pocket. That’s the thing about technology, it moves so quickly and is so pervasive that we sometimes can’t recognize how it’s changed everything until we stop to reflect on it.
The same holds true for technology’s impact on skincare. Everything from how accessible high-tech, aesthetic dermatology can be to the evolution of the facial has changed exponentially in the last several years. Here are a few of our favorite high-tech treatments, with a little insight into the tech that makes them effective.
1. Clear + Brilliant
Lasers have long been a part of science fiction books and films (and Britney Spears’ iconic “Toxic” music video). While they’re often used as a weapon in sci-fi, they have been harnessed for good when it comes to aesthetic dermatology! For example, take Clear + Brilliant, which uses fractional laser technology to improve the texture and appearance of the skin. By creating millions of microscopic holes, or “treatment zones,” in your skin, the laser stimulates collagen and replaces damaged skin with healthy, younger-looking tissue. It’s the perfect treatment for most skin types and many skin concerns. In fact, it comes in three variations: Original, Perméa, and Complete (some quick research or a consult can shed light – pun intended – on which is best for your skin).
2. Hydrafacials
Has it been years since you last got a facial? Maybe you were a bit disappointed that all it entailed was someone rubbing serums and lotions into the skin with an intermission for painful, manual extractions. The facial was long overdue for disruption. Enter Hydrafacial. The Hydrafacial uses advanced Vortex-Fusion delivery and cleaning technology to exfoliate, peel, extract, and – of course – hydrate. The Hydrafacial Syndeo is the latest and most advanced technology on the market. The high-tech machine reduces the reliance on a human’s ability to do extractions and cleans out the pores consistently, every time. You can even see all of the gunk that’s removed from your skin (if you want!)—it’s called a “gunkie”.
3. Laser hair removal
More and more people are embracing laser hair removal. Whether it’s to improve self-confidence or simply prevent ingrown hairs, laser hair removal is far more effective than shaving, sugaring or wax, and it’s permanent! Given laser hair removal’s popularity, there are more devices on the market every day – including cheap devices that are at best ineffective and at worst, dangerous. If you’re doing laser hair removal somewhere sensitive or highly visible, consider an aesthetic dermatology practice. Not only are they trained on all areas of the body, they use lasers calibrated at wavelengths that are most optimal for effective hair removal and safe.
4. Thermage
Thermage is a great treatment for addressing crepey skin or even to get ahead of the aging process by “banking up” collagen. It’s also one the most futuristic looking of all the aesthetic dermatology treatments thanks to the “grid” placed on the area that’s being treated (this treatment works well on the face and body!). So how does it work? Thermage uses radiofrequency (RF) technology to essentially heat the skin, stimulating cutaneous collagen. The RF technology is as intense as it is effective, meaning the procedure can be a little bit uncomfortable but the results can last years.
Khalid El Khatib is a Brooklyn-based writer and marketer who tweets too much.
