Curious about the liquid facelift?

FACESFIRST MD Skincare
EVENT RECAP: 

On Tuesday, September 20th, Faces First hosted a special product launch of their brand new private label skincare line, FacesFirstMD.

The event was designed to showcase our specially formulated products, which contain pharmaceutical-grade ingredients and are designed to work in tandem with one another to produce truly incredible results.

Thanks to the great turnout from our clients, we had a wide range of ages and skin types represented at the event. Here is some of their feedback:

Client Testimonials 

"After seeing the demos and getting my own individual skincare analysis with Elizabeth, I said 'Sign me up!' to a signature facial." 

" I was impressed with the look and contents of the products, especially the signature product, FacesFirstMD RENEW. What I especially liked about this line was that the A.M. products have a light green label, and the P.M. products have a dark green label, so it's easy to see what to use and when." 

"I think these products are actually going to do something to my tired skin!"  

"The whole line seems very affordable but also very high quality." 

During the event, attendees were offered an exclusive one-on-one skincare analysis session with Dr. Picerno, Dr. Cote, or our aesthetician, Elizabeth Whatley. Many incredible prizes were given out as well as demonstrations of all products in the line.

The event was a rousing success, and all of us here at Faces First are excited to be using and bringing this wonderful product line to all of our patients. Visit us today or click here for a fill explanation of the product line. 

• RADIESSE® - Get 2 syringes for $900  (a $300 Savings)  
• Elizabeth's Special: 20% OFF All Chemical Peels - Let Elizabeth help you find the perfect peel for your skin type and lifestyle!  
• Permanent Makeup Special: Eyebrows and eyeliner $750  (a $250 Savings)

• Photofacial IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Treatment - Treatment takes less than 20 minutes. Receive 20% OFF for $280  (a $350 Savings)  
• Pixel Treatment with Harmony Laser - Get maximum results with minimum downtime. 20% OFF for $300  (a $375 Savings)

• Dermaplaning is a gentle skin resurfacing procedure that involves using a medical blade at an angle to exfoliate the top layer of dead skin cells and fine vellus hair (otherwise known as "peach fuzz").  
• This resurfacing allows the smooth, underlying area of clear, undamaged skin to emerge, and prevents dead skin buildup that can make small facial wrinkles and acne scars appear larger.  
• The removal not only allows for cell renewal, but also allows for better penetration and absorption of professional and over-the-counter products, optimizing their results.  
• Dermaplaning provides an excellent alternative to chemical peels or microdermabrasion, and is a good choice for anyone who has fine facial hair, extremely sensitive skin, redness or rosacea, or visible facial veins.     
• Treatment is done in the office and takes only minutes.     
• Dermaplaning...coming soon to Faces First. 

• Dysport®:  $4/unit
  
  (20% savings)
   
• BOTOX®:   $11/unit
  (15% savings)
   
• ALL Fillers: $50 off 

One of the best and least-invasive ways of rejuvenating your skin is a facial peel.  

Faces First offers a wide array of facial peels, differing in intensity, results, and downtime for recovery; from light to deep.  

The Facial Peel 

Our Dr. Cote, like many in his field, has done many a chemical facial peel. "I always keep an open mind with each individual patient when it comes to different methods of resurfacing." he remarks. "I do think there is a compelling argument for peel procedures versus laser procedures when you consider the advantages and disadvantages, but either option can be wonderful when carefully selected for each patient. He suggests the following considerations: 

• Peels are much less expensive to the patient than laser and light technology.
• The search for the 'perfect laser' can be tricky as different lasers have their own advantages and disadvantage.  
• The CO2 laser is the gold standard for peel procedures, but it is extremely costly, making it not such a great option for most patients.
• The scarring and downtime associated with some lasers is another disadvantage to consider as well.  
• A peel will make your skin red and peeling for around 7 days, but laser resurfacing can have a much rougher and longer recovery period.

"It's all a matter of what the patient wants and what their skin can tolerate," continues Dr. Cote.

To better understand what facial peel might be right for you, it's important to know that peels fall into a few different categories, or "levels" of intensity.

Peel "Levels" - Light to Deep 

The Light Side - TCA Peels 

• These peels consist of 4-6 treatments of 10% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or 70% glycolic acid applied to the skin at two-week intervals. (This can generally have the same effect as one year's use of Retin-A® or Renova® in some individuals.)
• Serial peels are used for individuals who want to "jumpstart" their skin rejuvenation program, or on people who are unable to use Retin-A® or Renova®, either because it's too irritating to their skin or they are unable to work it into their schedule.

A gradual process
Over time, the skin gradually develops improved texture and a refreshed appearance. This peel can be used in combination with glycolic acid, Retin-A® or Renova®, and topical Vitamin C.  

Meet In The Middle - Medium Peels  

• Medium peels will remove mild to moderate skin textural and pigmentation changes.
• They may also be helpful in reducing minor acne scars and can be used to stimulate increased collagen formation in the upper dermal layers.
• The advantage of medium depth chemical peels is that they have minimal chance of changing your overall skin pigmentation, or of causing scarring.
• The results from a medium-depth peel can last two to five years for most individuals
• Medium depth chemical peels usually require mild sedation, such as an oral Valium, and are performed on outpatient basis.
• You can return home immediately and experience very little, if any discomfort.
• However, you need to refrain from wearing makeup for 5-7 days, and most importantly, apply a moist dressing (such as Vaseline) to the peeled areas daily.

Remarkable results
At the end of one week after a medium peel, your skin will be rejuvenated and usually has a pleasing red glow. Most patients can apply makeup and resume a normal work and social schedule at that time. Medium peels are used to treat degenerative skin, mild acne, moderate aging, and environmental changes to the skin.  

Off The Deep End - Deep Peels 

Carbon dioxide laser or deep TCA chemical peels provide dramatic results in:  

• Eliminating facial wrinkling
• Evening out pigmentation
• Improving elasticity. 

These peel procedures provide the most optimal skin rejuvenation possible:

• Deep treatments involve the use of carbon dioxide lasers (CO2) and higher percentages of TCA chemo-exfoliation.
• Deep-level peels remove the top layer of the skin and stimulate increased collagen formation in the deeper layers of the skin over the following nine to twelve months.
• Frequently, patients see not only a freshening of the skin by regeneration of a new "top layer" of the skin, but also find approximately a 20% tightening effect to the skin over the next 9 to 12 months following a deep peel.
• Some sedation is required for this procedure.
• Treatments are done on an outpatient basis, and you can return home immediately.
• Similar to the medium peel, there is very little discomfort during treatment.
• As with the medium chemical peel, a moist dressing technique must be used following treatment. Vaseline is applied to all treated areas four to six times a day for seven to ten days.
• Results can approach an 80% improvement in skin tone and texture. 

Other Peels At Faces First: 

There is, literally, a peel for every skin tone and type at Faces First! Here are a few more to mention: 

• Jessner Peel
• Glycolic Acid Peels
• Micro-Peel Plus
• Luminous Vitamin C Peel
• Esthetique Peel
• Ultra Peel
• Obagi Blue Peel

• TCA is more predictable and easily controlled.
• TCA  peels have been used successfully for decades.
• The concentration of TCA used in facial peels can be anywhere from 15% to 70%, but it is usually less than 35% to reduce any adverse effects patients may have.
• Chemical facial peels are most successful when the individual patient's skin condition is considered and properly prepared.
• As different patients have different levels of skin hydration, thickness, sebum content, acid concentration and actinic damage, the levels of penetration of the TCA solution will be different.
• Each patient will require different levels and numbers of treatments. All skin types can and are safely treated with TCA, but special consideration should be given for pigmented skin to manage treatment depths, pigmentation abnormalities, and post-treatment reaction.
• Some patients will benefit from pre-peel preparation, such as a retinol cream.

• Pre-treatment, the patient's skin is "degreased" with acetone or alcohol.
• A single coat of the 15% TCA solution is then applied to the skin.
• The patient may experience a burning sensation, and the skin will turn red and then a frosty white.
• TCA works to immediately coagulate dermal proteins under the skin as soon as it's applied. Severe vasoconstriction (constriction of blood vessels) produces a white "frost" on the treatment area as the coagulation proceeds.
• The endpoint for a light TCA peel is a patchy white frost with a pinkish background.
• This level is called an epidermal or superficial peel, as there is not a significant result from a single peel at this strength.
• Healing time with a superficial peel is about two to three days. Makeup can be worn the day after treatment. After performing this light, single-coat peel, multiple, simultaneous coats of 15% TCA can then be applied.
• Superficial peels usually do not require anesthesia, but a medium peel may. Topical anesthesia excessively hydrates the skin, so therefore it is not used in TCA peels.
• Oral sedation and local anesthetic blocks can be used to apply multiple coats, but the doctors at Faces First tend to use IV sedation when progressing up the peel-level ladder.
• A medium peel will result in a five to seven day recovery period to peel and re-epithelialize.
• The endpoint of this peel level is a more solid white frost with a deeper pink background.
• The result of this level would be smoother skin, improved melanin production, and fine lines and wrinkles reduced.
• In stronger concentrations (20%) TCA can be used by experienced peelers.

• Continual application of petrolatum or Aquaphor is recommended for the duration of the peeling process, which is about 7 days for medium-depth peels.
• Wash your face gently with your fingers using a gentle, hypoallergenic cleanser. Complications from peel procedures include: overtreatment, burns, scars, hypo- and hyper-pigmentation, acne flare, milia (whiteheads), infection, and ectropion (A rolling outward of the margin of a body part, especially an eyelid). Keep in mind, any laser treatment has similar risks.