Many of our patients come to us for all their skincare needs, from fillers, to Botox, to peels, and more. But most patients have quite a few questions about what procedures are right for them, what each procedure involves, and how it all works. Our doctors answer many of these burning questions in their recent Q & A

Dr. Bruno and Dr. Brown discuss Skincare in Washington, DC

Q: I would love to know more about pre-cancerous facial peels. Is it a good thing, a bad thing, when do you do it?
A: Carefully targeted facial peels, in conjunction with a good skincare regimen, can help protect the skin from possible skin cancers. With proper skin preparation such that the cells are turning over and repairing themselves, coupled with sufficient protection, the skin can be stronger and healthier than if you did nothing.

Q: Who should use retinol? Do you use it around your eyes?
A: Retinol and all the retinoids are vitamin A or vitamin A derivatives. They work by helping the skin cells turn over and regenerate. They are essential in any good skincare program and most people should use them. They come in a variety of strengths or forms (0.25% Retinol to 0.1% tretinoin (Retin-A)) and should be chosen based on a patient’s skin evaluation, degree of damage, and desired effect. They are safe around the eyes bearing in mind that this is a very sensitive area, so a lower strength or decreased volume of product is often warranted.

Q: Is there an over the counter product women can reach? Or perhaps is there an ingredient that we should look for?
A: Fortunately, we are able to pack and ship our ZO Skin Health products from the office directly to you! However, if you haven’t been evaluated before and are looking to enter the realm of skincare gently, we recommend searching for Retinol-based products. Although it’s important to keep in mind that over-the-counter products do not have the same strength as what we carry. Additionally, we recommend that you limit the amount spent on OTC products because of this very reason. A good exfoliator, a repair-based product, and a protection product will do until you can get a proper evaluation.

The benefits of fillers, Botox, and other skin rejuvenation treatments

Q: When is it too late to get Botox? What about Microneedling—which is better for deeper wrinkles?
A: It is never too late for Botox treatments to help soften and reduce facial lines and wrinkles. For deeper wrinkles, sometimes other procedures or treatments can help when combined with Botox such as filler to help fill the wrinkle from the bottom up or fat grafting. Microneedling can also assist in softening small and/or superficial lines and wrinkles. Microneedling (and microneedling with PRP) can be performed on most patients, and it is almost never too late to use the techniques for the softening of fine lines and wrinkles. Microneedling does this by stimulating collagen production which in turn helps thicken the skin and give it more fullness, resulting in the reduction of lines.

Q: How do you get rid of brown spots/age spots?
A: Pigmented spots on the skin can arise for a variety of reasons. We recommend a skincare evaluation which can help determine the cause. Most commonly, flat brown or age spots are due to aging and sun exposure. These types of spots can be lightened with topical lightening creams such as hydroquinone, but may also be lightened or removed with IPL treatments (Intense Pulsed Light). Topical creams used daily or IPL done monthly can markedly reduce the discoloration.

Q: I heard not to get lip injections because if you don’t continue with it the wrinkles around your lips will be even worse, is that true?
A: Lip injections are mainly to increase the fullness and replace the volume of the lips to give the patient more “red area” of the lips where lipstick would be placed. Lip fillers can also be used to fill the lines on the upper and lower lip regions that radiate from the lips. Regardless of where fillers are placed in the lips, they tend not to be permanent and slowly resorb over time. Once fully resorbed, your lips will return to about the same as when you started placing fillers, they should not change much in appearance from there.

Choosing the right plastic surgeon or skincare specialist in Washington, DC

Skincare is a vital part of any self-care routine and every person’s skincare needs are different. When you’re working to find the best skincare routine for your skin you’ll want to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon or master skincare specialist. Our team at Bruno | Brown can evaluate your skincare needs, make recommendations, and help you reach your skincare goals using fillers, botox, resurfacing treatments, or just simple skincare products.

To schedule a consultation with one of our specialists and learn more about your skincare routine in Washington, DC call 301-215-5955 or click here.