In today’s article, Prof Dr Morthy, the Course Director of International Institute of Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine will discuss the top trends in cosmetic procedures for 2023.
It is never too late to reinvent one`s overall look. Although lifestyle choices play a significant role, non-surgical cosmetic procedures might provide the necessary boost you need to reach all your aesthetic goals.
In recent years, some of the most popular aesthetic procedures have included face lifts, neck lifts, PDO thread lifts, botox, rhinoplasty, laser treatments, etc.
Brow lift
Brows are important features that communicate emotion and are key in our recognition of emotions such as happiness, anger, or surprise. However, the brow is one of the first facial features to show signs of aging. One of the first aging changes is brow descent. The outer tail of the brow drops, compacting the upper eyelid tissues and also giving a slightly sad appearance to the eyes. Luckily, concealing wrinkles, crow’s feet, and frown lines are not only possible but often achievable without having to resort to invasive surgery. In addition, weakening the muscles that pull the brow down and allowing the brow elevators to raise the brow often has an effective brow-lifting result, especially for younger patients in the early stages of brow droop.
Non-surgical brow lift using dermal fillers lifts have emerged as a popular, easy, and above all, safe alternative to traditional surgical brow lifts. Dermal fillers are used to contour, balance, add volume, and proportion the face. The most commonly used dermal fillers are made from cross-linked hyaluronic acid. They are temporary and reversible. By injecting a dermal filler underneath the eyebrow, support can be given to the eyebrow and this elevates the eyebrow up. Doctors can inject 0.5 cc to 1.0 cc in this area. It also helps to soften the bony orbital rim around the eyebrows, leading to a softer and more youthful appearance. By placing fillers on the bony rim, we can augment the brow and reduce any showing of the underlying skull.
Finally, dermal fillers can be used in the middle half of the upper lid/brow to help to reduce the apparent sag of the eyelids. Usually, upper eyelids droop from the outer half first, and this makes the middle half look relatively hollow. By filling the middle half of the brow/eyelid, balances the appearance of the upper eyelid and reduces the apparent drooping of the eyelid. The results, or longevity of the fillers, last for about 10 – 12 months depending on the type of filler used.
PDO thread lift
A PDO thread lift can be considered a revolutionary treatment in the world of aesthetics, but PDO threads themselves have been used safely for decades during surgical stitches. These threads are made up of polydioxanone (PDO) – a colorless, hypoallergenic, biocompatible synthetic polymer that is completely 100% absorbable and has been proven to be extremely safe for usage The polydioxanone threads are generally absorbed into the body within 6 – 8 months. The polydioxanone thread is available in a variety of lengths, shapes, and thicknesses. Their cogs are also placed in different directions such as- multidirectional, bidirectional, or spiral for various uses. There are also threads without cogs that help in just giving volumizing effects and reducing the overall facial lines & folds. They stimulate the fibroblasts for the overall increased production of collagen in the targeted area. Facial regions treated with this method generally include the eyebrows area, the cheeks, the jowls, and the neck. Small threads are inserted into the area of the face being treated. The barbs when inserted form a support structure that lifts the sagging tissue.
There are three main types of PDO threads that are used- mono, cog, and screw threads. Mono threads are smooth without barbs, mainly tighten the skin and provide a small amount of lift. They are usually used along with other thread types or they are anchored to a point on the face or the scalp. Cog threads tend to have barbs that hook onto the skin to provide support and lift the sagging tissues of the skin. Screw threads usually have one or two intertwined barbed threads around the needle to provide good volume restoration for sunken areas of the skin. They help to restore volume and improve the overall skin texture and elasticity by stimulating the production of collagen around the threads and their barbs resulting in the natural rejuvenation of the targeted area.
Dermabrasion
Dermabrasion is a skin-resurfacing Aesthetic procedure that decreases the appearance of fine facial lines and helps reduce acne scars, scars from surgery, age spots, wrinkles, or any other skin issues.
Dermabrasion can be done alone or in combination with other cosmetic A trained and qualified aesthetic practitioner first marks the treatment area for proper execution. A local anesthetic is used to prevent pain or discomfort during the treatment. The procedure begins with a small motorized device that’s moved across the skin with constant, gentle pressure. The device has an abrasive wheel or a brush for the tip removes the outer skin layers. Depending on the expanse of skin that needs to be treated, a dermabrasion cosmetic procedure can take between a few minutes to an hour, once or over multiple visits.
Dermabrasion causes crusting and hence patients need some downtime to recover. There is often a small pinpoint bleeding of the raw wound after the procedure that can be reduced with proper wound care.
Laser treatments
Not all laser and light therapies are safe for all skin tones. Generally speaking, those who fall above type IV on the Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype scale, the go-to measure of skin type for dermatologists, need to be careful when choosing a treatment.
When it comes to refining skin tone and texture, non-ablative picosecond and Q-switched lasers are the way to go for darker complexions and there have been some notable technological advances in the last decade.
Q-Switch Laser is a type of non-ablative laser that gives out laser beams in pulses per nanosecond, around 3-7 nanoseconds in length. When focused on a targeted area of the skin, the beams work to destroy the overproduced pigments into smaller particles. These particles are then absorbed by the body and later released by the immune system as waste.
The most commonly used Q-switch laser is the double-frequency NdYAG laser, which has two wavelengths – a longer wavelength of 1064 nm and a shorter wavelength of 532 nm. It is commonly used to treat various pigmentary disorders and for tattoo removal along with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, and acquired bilateral nevus of Ota-like macules with minimal downtime and no crust formation.
The pico or picosecond laser is a revolutionary laser technology due to its much-shortened pulse duration. Similarly, there are few pico lasers with wavelengths such as Ruby (694 nm), Alexandrite (755nm), and NdYAG at 1064 nm. The speed of the energy-charged light beams emitted by the Picosecond lasers is faster than nanosecond Q-switched lasers by almost 10 times – after the term Picoseconds. A picosecond is a unit of time – which is a trillionth of a second. The pulses of laser light are so quick, they are very effective at shattering unwanted pigmentation into smaller particles.
About IIWAM training
It is prudent that all Aesthetic practitioners undergo proper training in Aesthetic Medicine. The practitioner must balance between benefits & risks of the Aesthetic procedure and steps to mitigate complications if it occurs. At IIWAM, we call it understanding the procedure, the product, and the patient, and our trainers pay utmost attention to teaching the following subjects of various aesthetic treatment procedures under the best American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine Courses in Malaysia.
Apply for the best online aesthetic courses from IIWAM today.
About IIWAM Aesthetic Education
International Institute of Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine (IIWAM) is a private teaching institution that provides International Aesthetic Medical Certification program for Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Aestheticians, and Spa Owners. Prof Dr Morthy is the course director for the Institute, formerly known as Aesthetic Academy Asia (https://www.iiwam.ac/education).
The Institute is based in Malaysia and with academic affiliations from the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, India and Indonesia. With our insignia of “Be Certified, Be Recognized”, we develop knowledgeable, skilled, and confident aesthetic practitioners of international repute. IIWAM training Programs are a combination of Onsite Training, LIVE Online Webinars, and Online Learning. IIWAM Programs are assured by City & Guilds of London and certified by European International University, Paris. IIWAM is also a registered CPD Training provider with CPD Standards Office in the UK and by CPD Malaysian Medical Association.
IIWAM also offers Cosmetic Procedures and Stem Cell treatment at IIWAM Wellness Centre (https://www.iiwam.ac/wellness) that are safe, effective, and affordable.