To discuss the latest in skin care products and treatments, including chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing, laser hair removal, and more, contact Dr. Keith LaFerriere in Missouri today.

Skin Care – Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels, Laser Skin Resurfacing and Hair Removal – Missouri

Is your skin smooth, healthy, and clear? Or does it show signs of too much sun, aging changes, and weathered lines? Perhaps you’d like to recapture that glow of youth but are not sure where to begin. You've probably heard of laser hair removal and skin care treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing, but like many patients at our Missouri office, are not sure which of these treatments is right for your needs and your budget. When you visit Dr. LaFerriere's office, our skin care professionals will guide you through the process of improving the quality of your skin using products customized to your particular needs.

To learn more about microdermabrasion, laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing, and other skin care treatments featured at our Missouri practice, please click on the links below:

• What skin care products will work best for me?
• Our Skin Care Philosophy
• Laser Skin Resurfacing
• Chemical Peels
• Microdermabrasion
• Laser Hair Removal
• IPL Photorejuvenation Treatments

What skin care products will work best for me?

Americans spend millions on skin care products each year, not knowing if the products they purchase will actually give them the results they are looking for. Many of these consumers who spend hundreds, if not thousands of dollars on lotions and creams would be surprised to learn that the skin care industry is not heavily regulated, and some of the products they have purchased over the years are not even tested before they are sold. Adding to the uncertainty of purchasing skin care products straight from a cosmetics counter or department store is the fact that not everyone's skin is the same. What works for your friend may not work for you.

Our Skin Care Philosophy

If you are interested in improving the quality of your skin, our skin care professionals are here to guide you through the process. Trained under the direction of Dr. LaFerriere, our skin care team can help you improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, age spots, hyperpigmentation, acne, rosacea, and spider veins. Our philosophy for skin care is prevention, treatment, and maintenance:

Prevention: We advise our patients to do everything they can to protect their skin from sun exposure, smoking, pollution, and stress that can lead to premature aging.

Treatment: Improve the damage that has already occurred with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and other corrective treatments, including microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing (at our Missouri office, patients will also have access to Restylane®, Radiesse™, collagen, and a variety of dermal fillers designed to fill in superficial, moderate, and deep facial wrinkles).

Maintenance: Maintain your results with a consistent skin care routine, healthy diet, and exercise, and at least eight glasses of water a day.

Why should I see a skin care professional?

Maybe you’ve never ventured into a doctor’s office to talk about your skin but instead tried different over the counter products that didn’t work. Keep in mind that physicians like Dr. LaFerriere have access to skin care products of higher concentrations, which can be more effective than those found at cosmetic counters. The skincare products we recommend are some of the most technologically researched, results-oriented formulations available today. For our patients who have undergone a surgical procedure, these skin care products can also greatly aid in recovery and maintaining the results of facelift surgery, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty), and other facial plastic surgery.

Although it is impossible to stop the aging process, it is possible to delay it with treatments such as microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and laser skin resurfacing. By making a commitment to follow an effective home care regimen in combination with regular in-office treatments at our Missouri office, you can have a smooth, clear complexion that keeps you looking your best.

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Laser Skin Resurfacing

When exposed to everyday damaging elements such as the sun and air pollution, the dead outer layer of the skin (the epidermis) begins to show the kind of deeper facial wrinkles usually associated with aging. For those willing to invest the recovery time for a more complete result, laser skin resurfacing is designed to reverse the more visible effects of aging and eliminate these deep facial wrinkles. Laser skin resurfacing at the Missouri office of Dr. Keith LaFerriere is a highly effective way for patients to make their skin appear smoother, softer, and younger.

Using laser skin resurfacing, Dr. LaFerriere is able to strip away the dead outer layer of the epidermis and stimulate regrowth that allows newer, more youthful skin to appear. To perform the procedure, a carbon dioxide laser, or CO² laser, is used to vaporize precise amounts of skin, layer by layer. The CO² laser affects the collagen fibers of the skin which reduces the amount of deep wrinkles by adding strength and causing a reorganization of collagen bundles.

If you are interested in laser skin resurfacing, you will need to consult with Dr. LaFerriere at his Missouri office prior to the procedure. Laser skin resurfacing is an invasive procedure and not everyone is a candidate. Certain patients, including those with darker skin, may be better suited for a less invasive, non-surgical skin treatment.

Applications of the CO² laser

Laser skin resurfacing with the CO² laser can reduce or eliminate the following:

• Fine, moderate, and deep facial wrinkles
• Acne scars
• Sun and age spots
• Irregular pigmentation

before and after photo

Following Treatment

After a laser skin resurfacing treatment, skin appears deep red and may be swollen. Dr. LaFerriere will give you ointments to protect your skin while you heal and also discuss the ways that you can speed your recovery. It will be important to avoid the sun. Makeup can be applied one to two weeks after treatment. You can be confident that during a laser skin resurfacing session at our Missouri office, every step is taken to ensure that your recovery is as comfortable and convenient as possible.

For a laser skin resurfacing consultation, contact the Missouri facial cosmetic surgery practice of Dr. Keith LaFerriere today.

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Chemical Peels

The cumulative effects of sun exposure, pollutants, and scarring can damage our skin and make us look older. Dr. LaFerriere offers several types of chemical peels to provide his patients with smoother, clearer skin. Chemical peels can also be used to treat melasma, a skin condition characterized by irregularly shaped brown patches commonly found on the face and neck.

The chemical peels available at our Missouri office can restore a more youthful appearance to wrinkled, unevenly pigmented, sun-damaged, and blotchy skin. Chemical peels performed in conjunction with a facelift or other facial plastic surgery can serve to enhance the result of those procedures. However, a chemical peel is not a solution for deep scars or sagging skin. Laser skin resurfacing or skin tightening treatments such as blepharoplasty or facelift are better suited for those cosmetic concerns.

What types of chemical peels are available?

Dr. LaFerriere will recommend one of three types of chemical peels based on the specific level of treatment you need or desire:

Light chemical peels: include glycolic, lactic, and fruit acid peels (AHA) that are used to improve the texture of sun-damaged skin, diminish fine lines, and balance out skin pigmentation. Because these types of chemical peels are the mildest available, they can be repeated at our Missouri office on a regular basis to achieve the desired results with as little down time as possible.

Medium depth chemical peels: use trichloroacetic acids (TCA) to treat surface wrinkles, moderate sun damage, and uneven pigment changes. Medium depth chemical peels require about a week of recovery time before patients can resume the application of makeup. Dr. LaFerriere and the other professionals at our Missouri office provide patients with a complete recovery consultation that outlines how to best take care of skin after treatment.

Deep chemical peels: or phenol peels, go to the deepest level of the skin to treat coarse wrinkles and blotchiness and deep vertical lip lines. Because it can cause permanent lightening of the skin, this type of chemical peel is not recommended for those with dark skin tones. Deep chemical peels are performed under mild sedation by Dr. LaFerriere in his Springfield, Missouri surgical suite. Phenol peels require two weeks of healing. During that time, ointment will need to be continuously applied. Dr. LaFerriere will fully instruct each patient on the best skin care techniques to utilize after the procedure.

For a skin care consultation, or to learn more about the types of chemical peels available at our Missouri office, contact our facial plastic surgery center today.

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Microdermabrasion

A course of regular microdermabrasion sessions can significantly enhance the skin’s appearance. This comprehensive approach to skin care is non-surgical, safe, and effective for all skin types. With the aid of a delicate hand piece, micordermabrasion delivers gentle abrasion with micro-crystals that are then immediately vacuumed from the skin. The result? Softer, smoother, and visibly clearer skin.

Who can benefit from microdermabrasion?

Regardless of the condition of your skin, you will likely notice improvement after a few microdermabrasion sessions performed at our Missouri office. The treatment will remove fine lines and age spots and makes acne scars less obvious. Many of our patients report that their skin feels smoother and younger looking after microdermabrasion treatment.

Recovery

While the ease of treatment is certainly one of the most attractive features of microdermabrasion, the ability to quickly resume normal activities after treatment is what makes it so popular among men and women of all ages. Recovery following microdermabrasion is so minimal that patients can sometimes return to work immediately after their session.

To learn more about microdermabrasion, contact our Springfield, Missouri office today.

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Laser Hair Removal

When thick, dark hair appears in places we would rather it not be, it is possible to remove the hair safely and effectively so that it does not grow back. Laser hair removal sessions performed at our Missouri office have spared many patients from the frequent rigors of waxing, shaving, and other painful and non-permanent hair removal methods.

What type of laser is used?

During laser hair removal sessions, we utilize the LightSheet Diode Laser, a state-of-the-art system specifically designed to quickly remove unwanted hair more comfortably and reliably than other methods. The LightSheet Diode Laser disables numerous hair follicles and eliminates or significantly impedes their regrowth.

Laser Hair Removal Treatment – What to Expect

The length of a laser hair removal session can be a few minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because the laser only disables follicles in the active growth phase, follow-up laser hair removal sessions will be necessary to remove hair that enters the active growth phase in the following weeks.

The laser hair removal treatment will cause a slight tingling sensation. Because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, topical anesthesia is an option provided at our Missouri office. The immediate after-effects of laser hair removal treatment will vary from patient to patient, depending on the extent of the treatment and skin type. Following treatment, we provide patients with the necessary skin care information that may be needed to address any redness or swelling.

We will be happy to tell you more about laser hair removal treatment and what you can expect during your consultation. Contact our Missouri office today to schedule an appointment.

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IPL Photorejuvenation Treatments

Laugh lines, blemishes, age spots, and sun damage can all detract from your appearance, no matter how young, healthy, and vibrant you feel.

IPL (intense pulsed light) photorejuvenation is a new non-invasive process that can treat these types of skin problems without damaging the outer layers of the dermis. This means there is virtually no recovery time - you can even apply makeup and return to work the same day of treatment.

Is IPL photorejuvenation right for me?

IPL can safely and effectively treat the following skin conditions:

• Sun damage
• Rosacea
• Birthmarks
• Melasma
• Broken veins and capillaries
• Benign vascular lesions

Are multiple treatments required?

IPL photorejuvenation provides gradual improvement rather than immediate results. Depending on the extent of correction the patient is seeking, Dr. LaFerriere will recommend anywhere from three to five IPL photorejuvenation treatment sessions, spaced three to four weeks apart. Because the treatments are so brief and require little or no recovery, they are ideal for patients with active, busy lifestyles, especially those who don't have the time to recover from more invasive treatment with laser skin resurfacing or deep chemical peels.

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If you are interested in any of the treatments featured on this page, including IPL photorejuvenation, laser hair removal, chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, or microdermabrasion, call our office in Missouri to schedule an initial appointment with Dr. LaFerriere.