Medical Grade Laser & Skin Treatments
I strongly believe laser treatments are far superior to any filler treatment! Throughout this article I will tell you exactly why and what laser treatments to go for. I have tried filler, I did nasolabial – these are the creases in your skin extending from both sides of your nose to the corners of your mouth. They’re also called smile lines or laugh lines. The creases can become prominent by certain things, but especially (for me) if you don’t protect your skin from the sun! Ekkk. I do try and always keep my face out of the sun and wear sunblock if I am away somewhere tropical.
The Skinny
Right, don’t get me wrong. Filler is good in tiny little amounts but the way most women use it is to overfill their faces… they look really strange. I am not against you ladies having big pouty lips! But please be careful that you don’t put too much into the area between your nose and top lip, this sticks out and you start to look like a monkey. It’s so unattractive. I did the smallest amount ever in my nasolabial, that you could not even notice a difference. So, I had to do it a second time. The reason being, the Doctor did not want to make me look fake, he wanted me to look natural and natural it looked. This lasts for about 9 months to a year. I got it done over a year ago now and I don’t think I will do it again. It is pricey and it doesn’t do much unless you are brave and really fill the area, something I am not okay doing. I also did tear trough filler about 2 or 3 years ago and disliked it so much that I got it dissolved. However, when you dissolve filler it takes a small % of your natural collagen – so do this at your own risk. My reason for doing tear trough was because I was told it gets rid of fine lines (that I had showing on my face due to improper concealer + powder placement under my eye lol!) but it does NOT get rid of fine lines under your eye. You need LASER for this. I have also done deep skin moisture treatments like Profhilo but again this is a different story, and I don’t notice anything with this treatment.
Fraxel Laser
The Fraxel laser treatment is an effective treatment for scarring, sun spots, wrinkles and other signs of ageing. The laser targets both the superficial and the deeper layers of the skin giving a smoother, fresher and more youthful appearance. It is a treatment for anywhere on the body. I did Fraxel a total of three times with about 6-8 weeks in between each treatment. My Fraxel was accompanied by a chemical peel and my main concerns were sun spots/freckles and any scarring. I did a light to medium setting with the laser itself, more mature skin would do a higher laser setting. I found it amazing. It really did remove light freckles and sun damage. You can see on my face it starts to peel in little square splotches. The skin you get after it peels is the clearest and most beautiful skin you’ll ever have!
The Obagi Chemical Peel made my top few layers of skin peel off each time and revealed young, tight skin underneath. It all hurts and is unpleasant. The smell is atrocious, its literally your skin being singed off. However, once you get over this its fine! Now… it hurts like a MF…they do numb you up but when that wears off your face feels tight, looks like you’ve been in a fire and feels genuinely unpleasant and extremely dry. This all starts to peel by day 2 and then by day 5 you are really losing skin. On about day 7 or 8 you are looking amazing everything was worth it. I still wear makeup throughout the whole process if I need to go out or get to a meeting. They say not to or only use mineral makeup, but I never do that and the results have still been amazing.
VERDICT – GET IT DONE LADIES (AND GENTS!)
Skin pen
Okay so this isn’t technically a laser… fine! But, what this can do for your face is lifechanging, hear me out. I have had this done maybe 4-6 times. You wait about 6-8 weeks in between and once you do it 6 times you only need it a couple of times a year, leaving room for other treatments like Fraxel. However, please remember if you are getting Fraxel then you need to wait 6-8 weeks between Fraxel and Skin Pen as they both traumatize your skin. This is PAINFUL and leaves you as red as a tomato – that’s with the numbing cream. I get mine done at home and sometimes invite a girlfriend over or get my hubby to join me. Serving wine and cheese boards. I’m not sure if this is recommended (lol probably not) but its how Lux girls do!
SkinPen creates controlled micro injuries that stimulate the body’s natural wound healing response which initiates the release of natural growth factors to improve collagen formation and cellular tissue. Collagen Induction Therapy assists in the rejuvenation of the epidermal integrity resulting in improved appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. SkinPen can help with acne, scarring, wrinkles and more!
I absolutely loved it for a real deep clean into my pores. It made my skin so clear and blemish free for the years that I did it. It also got rid of sun spots and sun damage, which was my main reason for doing it. I will be back as soon as this baby pops out.
VERDICT – YASSSSSS – A MUST!
CO2
Fully Ablative CO2 is the Donkey Kong of Lasers! The one LASER to rule them all. I have not had the pleasure of having it done yet, I have been told by three doctors that I am too young and it should only be done on mature skin. That I should wait until my 50s as my skin is already younger than my biological age, high praise to my genetics – thanks Mum and Dad! The Māori genes winning again! However, I really really want to get this done so after baby comes I will go in and ask if I am allowed even the CO2 eye treatment, as you know I am obsessed with staying line free around the eyes (will share my makeup routine soon, as if you are anything like me you have probably used way too much concealer and powder and created lines where you don’t have any lines)!
Fully ablative CO2 (Lumenis Ultrapulse) and fully ablative Erbium YAG laser resurfacing (Sciton Contour TRL) to completely renew facial skin, remove wrinkles, tighten, and improve elasticity. You will require 14 days (yes TWO WEEKS) at home so do it in wintertime. It also takes 3 months to fully settle and heal. So do not expect instant results.
Versus the Eyelid Fraxel non-ablative skin rejuvenation to treat superficial sun damage, age spots and acne scars. This is the most powerful way to improve laxity and wrinkles around the eye other than conventional surgical blepharoplasty (surgical removal of excess eyelid skin). Recovery takes 9 on this one. Also, a side note – metal eye shields (large metal contact lenses) are inserted to protect the eyes prior to the procedure, which look really creepy and make me cringe so be aware of this ick factor.
Dr H Consult on Harley Street has not paid me (sadly) or given me free treatments (sad face) but the work speaks for itself. He literally takes 20 years off his patients, so I have to share his work!
VERDICT – It is the best treatment for lines, better than botox and better than any filler that is just going to make you look puffy and inflated!
Morpheus8
Morpheus8 is a safe and effective treatment option that utilizes radiofrequency technology to give the face, neck, and body a youthful appearance. Morpheus8 is an ideal treatment option for patients who would like to improve their facial appearance without undergoing laser or surgical procedures. Again, I have been rejected from my Dr for being too young. This is more for anyone with a sagging face/look around your jaw, the skin does not have to be hanging off your bones but just a lack of elasticity. This is also good for big bags, pockets of saggy skin under the eyes and for my much beloved Nasal Labial Fold Lines (which again I have been told I do not have deep enough lines to have any benefits from M8 yet…but the day will come)!! The really cool thing about M8 is it can be used for the fine lines around the mouth. Now I see these lines all the time in women in their 30s, forming. The thing is if you get in now you’ll banish them and its more preventative, but you do still need a few mouth lines for a Dr to agree to treat you. Acne scarring is another positive benefit of this treatment. M8 is also a body friendly skin treatment so if you have stretch marks or sagging skin from weight loss – it can be a godsend! I’m very exciting to try this after baby arrives.
I miss skin treatments so much now that I am pregnant. I have even tried to get one tiny sunspot zapped on my cheek and have been told “NO” by 3 different doctors. I get the point! I’ll wait! I do see a different doctor for each treatment listed above, the reason being I have found each individual doctor due to them specialising in the exact treatment I am referring to. I do a lot of research before letting anyone go near my face! I will definitely be reporting back about how my C02 laser treatment goes, when and if I am allowed to receive it in 2024!
XOXO
CSG Lux
