Thank you Houston for making Dr.Lyos Plastic Surgury & Dermatology Associates one of the busiest clinics for advanced non-invasive beauty treatments in Houston!
Over the last few years, especially after 2016 there has been rapid advancement in advanced non-invasive anti-aging technologies. We have seen a wide array of technologies such as Cool Helium Plasma, Ultrasound, Fraxel C02, and Radio Frequency Assisted Lipo Tightening (RFALTM). Non-surgical, non-invasive aesthetic procedures typically work by causing controlled damage that jumpstarts tightening, skin rejuvenation or fat loss.
If you have nagging flaws you want to fix but are hesitant to go under the knife, there’s no shortage of non-surgical options. Whether it’s fine lines, wrinkles, loose skin, or unwanted pockets of fat, there are always advancements being made in how these concerns are treated. We spoke with Houston, TX-based board certified plastic surgeon Andrew T. Lyos, M.D about some of these new treatments, which promise great results with little or no downtime. Here are a few that you’ll definitely want to ask about.
Cool Helium Plasma Skin Tightening
WHAT IS SUBDERMAL TIGHTENING?
Unlike traditional facelifts which have large incisions and long recovery, Dr. Lyos’s subdermal tightening technique uses tiny incisions made under the chin and by the ears and the lipo is gently threaded under the skin where the energy safely and effectively removes fat while tightening the treated area. The heat actually stimulates your body’s own natural healing ability and starts building new collagen. Dr. Lyos then uses plasma energy to sculpt and tighten loose skin though the jawline and neck creating firmer skin and a more youthful look. An invisible suture is placed within the SMAS facial muscle to help maintain lift and achieve a natural looking result. The entire procedure takes about an hour and then you are back home. With just days of downtime, the Subdermal Tightening procedure allows patients to be back to their normal routines much faster than a traditional facelift. Results are seen immediately and continue to improve as your body continues to heal.
WHAT IS PLASMA ENERGY?
Plasma energy is truly the fourth state of matter. We are familiar with liquids, gases, and solids and now plasma. Plasma energy replaces traditional laser energy such as Co2 laser by being able to deliver a more precise and controlled thermal energy. Just like the higher quality higher definition images of new TVs, plasma energy is able to give a higher quality effect in tightening skin and reducing fine lines while using less energy than a traditional Co2 laser. Plasma is not a laser and is able to reach only a fraction (120 degrees Celsius) of the temperature of traditional Co2 (800 degrees Celsius), while delivering twice the result. The secret lies within the helium molecule that is electrified which thereby creates the plasma energy. Dr. Lyos was the first plastic surgeon to introduce this technology to Houston.
Ultrasound Skin Tightening
Many people don’t realize that ultrasound imaging can be used to lift skin and promote collagen production. One such noninvasive treatment, Ultherapy®, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Practitioners use the ultrasound treatment to target deep tissue layers. They can use the device to focus energy where it is most needed.
Ultherapy uses noninvasive ultrasound energy to lift the eyebrow, neck and under-chin. Recently, the FDA approved the technique for smoothing décolletage (chest area) lines and wrinkles as well.
How does ultrasound therapy work?
The ultrasound skin tightening device reaches 5 mm deep under the skin, penetrating into the second layer of muscles underneath the facial muscles. Lasers don’t even go that deep. Going deep into the skin matters because that’s where your skin makes new collagen. Unlike other laser treatments that simply target the outer layers of skin, ultrasound therapy bypasses the skin’s surface. It delivers the collagen stimulating ultrasound energy to the deepest layers.
The dermis layer of the skin contains most of the skin’s specialized cells and structures. It synthesizes less collagen each year after about age 20. For women, estrogen levels decrease after menopause. This leaves the skin drier, thinner, and not as taut as before.
Once the dermis begins producing the new collagen, sagging facial and neck skin lifts and starts to look younger and tighter.
Fraxel CO2 Skintighning
The fractional CO2 laser is a great laser because it allows for treating pigmentation, wrinkles and general sun damage on the face. The laser also causes vaporization of the skin, which will lead to tightening. I am always cautious when patients come in for a consultation and say they want the fractional CO2 exclusively for sagging skin. Although it does help tighten the skin, it works well in patients who just need a little bit of tightening. Patients who have significant sagging of skin will be very disappointed if they do the CO2 exclusively for that purpose. In addition, deep Nasolabial folds and marionette lines are secondary to bone, muscle and fat loss that have occurred over the years. The fractional co2 laser treat the superficial portion of the skin, it does not address the losses that have occurred. Although I do see quite a bit of improvement in the marionette lines after a fractional co2 treatment, the result for the Nasolabial fold is not as great. I would highly recommend a combination treatment of fractional co2 and fillers.
Radio Frequency Assisted Lipo Tightening (RFALTM)
BodyTite was introduced into the UK in 2009 and is manufactured and distributed by Invasix.
BodyTite provides minimally invasive body tightening and skin contraction through a combination of blood vessel and fatty tissue coagulation, with simultaneous aspiration (sucking out of the fat), and precision heating in the skin layers to target areas of stubborn fat without damaging any of the surrounding tissue.
The treatment carried out by BodyTite is known as radiofrequency assisted liposuction (RFAL). It is also referred to as lipotightening as it has a tightening effect on the overlying skin as the fat is extracted. This form of liposuction is designed to be more minimally invasive and thus result in less downtime for the patient.
BodyTite uses radiofrequency assisted liposuction (known as RFAL), which deploys heat energy into the fatty tissue via an internally inserted liposuction cannula to an electrode placed outside of the skin. The cannula at the bottom goes inside the body and the radiofrequency electrode on the top arm glides around the surface of the skin as the cannula is moved around within the fatty tissue. The cannula is inserted through an incision which is approximately 3mm in size, which makes it more minimally invasive and speeds up recovery times. A local anaesthetic (liquid) will also be infiltrated into the area to avoid pain during the procedure. This focuses heat energy within the fat areas, which helps to break down and liquefy the fat cells only, and the liquefied fat is then removed by aspiration through the handpiece, with no effect on the surrounding tissue. This aims to ensure that the end result is smooth and consistent.
Dr.Lyos is one of Houston’s top plastic surgeons and is happy to see new patients or answer questions. To inquire or set up a consultation, the clinic can be reach at 713-799-0000 or info@lyosmd.com