From Acne to Aging: A Complete Guide to Doctor-led Aesthetic Treatments
Constantly bombarded with advice on skin care routines, serums, lotions, moisturizers, injectables, lasers, chemical peels, facials, LED devices, lightening to tanning, and more?
So, where do you Start?
How do you make sense of it all? Not everything is right for everyone and if you don’t have hyperpigmentation, maybe you don’t need the $200 serum that mostly treats hyperpigmentation.
First off, what are your Goals?
Once your goals are clear, a Physician can help you navigate the landscape of modern skin treatments, which are constantly evolving. Forget the one-size-fits-all approach; incorporating personalization and combination therapies will deliver truly bespoke results. This isn't just about what's trendy, but what's clinically proven and right for your unique skin.
What may be right for me as an Indian-American may not be right for my best friend who is Haitian-American.
The Complete Guide to Treatments
Knowing what treatments are available and what they treat is essential for making informed decisions.
Here's a list of common skin interventions with a short explanation of what they treat:
I. Injectables
Botulinum Toxin (e.g., Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau):
What it treats: Dynamic wrinkles (lines formed by muscle movement), such as frown lines (glabellar lines), crow's feet around the eyes, and forehead lines. It temporarily relaxes the underlying muscles, smoothing the skin above. Also used for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and certain types of headaches.
Dermal Fillers (e.g., Juvederm, Restylane, Sculptra, Radiesse, Belotero):
What they treat: Static wrinkles (lines present at rest), loss of volume, and facial contouring. They plump up areas like cheeks, lips, temples, and jawline, fill in deep folds (e.g., nasolabial folds, marionette lines), and can improve the appearance of scars.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Fillers: Most common, temporary (6-18 months), reversible. Treat volume loss, fine lines, lip augmentation, tear troughs.
Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) Fillers (e.g., Radiesse): Provide immediate volume and stimulate natural collagen production. Longer-lasting (12-18 months). Treat deeper folds, hand rejuvenation.
Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) Fillers (e.g., Sculptra): Stimulate the body's own collagen production gradually. Results appear over several months and can last up to two years. Treat diffuse volume loss, improve skin laxity.
Injectable Moisturizers/Skin Boosters (e.g., Skinvive by Juvederm, Restylane Skinboosters):
What they treat: Improve overall skin hydration, texture, and elasticity by injecting small amounts of non-crosslinked hyaluronic acid directly into the skin, rather than for volume replacement. Creates a "glow" and improves fine lines from dehydration.
Deoxycholic Acid (e.g., Kybella):
What it treats: Reduces submental fat (double chin) by destroying fat cells.
II. Laser and Light-Based Therapies
Fractional Lasers (e.g., Fraxel, CO2 Fractional, Erbium):
What they treat: Improve skin texture, tone, fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, and sun damage. They create microscopic channels in the skin, stimulating collagen production and new cell growth.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) / Broadband Light (BBL):
What they treat: Pigment irregularities (sun spots, freckles, age spots), redness (rosacea, broken capillaries), and overall skin tone. Uses broad-spectrum light to target chromophores (pigment and hemoglobin) in the skin.
Vascular Lasers (e.g., VBeam, KTP laser):
What they treat: Redness, broken blood vessels (telangiectasias), rosacea, cherry angiomas, and some birthmarks. Targets hemoglobin in blood vessels.
Pigment Lasers (e.g., Q-switched, Picosecond lasers):
What they treat: Unwanted tattoos, sun spots, freckles, melasma, and other dark spots. Break down pigment particles in the skin.
Hair Removal Lasers (e.g., Diode, Alexandrite, Nd:YAG):
What they treat: Unwanted hair. Targets the melanin in hair follicles to disable future hair growth.
LED Light Therapy (Red and Blue Light):
What it treats:
Red Light: Anti-aging, collagen stimulation, reduces inflammation, promotes healing.
Blue Light: Kills acne-causing bacteria (P. acnes).
III. Skin Resurfacing and Exfoliation
Chemical Peels (Light, Medium, Deep):
What they treat: Fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, acne, acne scars, hyperpigmentation (dark spots), and improve overall skin texture and tone. They use acidic solutions to exfoliate the top layers of skin, revealing fresher, smoother skin underneath.
Microneedling (Collagen Induction Therapy):
What it treats: Fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, stretch marks, and improves skin texture and firmness. Uses tiny needles to create controlled micro-injuries, stimulating the body's natural collagen and elastin production.
Microneedling with Radiofrequency (RF Microneedling, e.g., Morpheus8, Sylfirm X, VirtueRF):
What it treats: Skin laxity, fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, enlarged pores, and uneven texture. Combines microneedling with radiofrequency energy to deliver heat into the deeper layers of the skin, enhancing collagen remodeling and tightening.
Dermabrasion:
What it treats: More aggressive resurfacing for deep acne scars, significant sun damage, and some facial wrinkles. Uses a rapidly rotating brush to "sand" away the top layers of skin.
Microdermabrasion:
What it treats: Superficial exfoliation for dull skin, mild uneven texture, and minor sun damage. Uses fine crystals or a diamond tip to abrade the outermost layer of dead skin cells.
Dermaplaning:
What it treats: Removes dead skin cells and vellus hair (peach fuzz) from the face, providing immediate exfoliation and making skincare product penetration and makeup application smoother.
IV. Skin Tightening & Body Contouring (Non-Surgical)
Radiofrequency (RF) Devices (e.g., Thermage, Venus Freeze):
What they treat: Skin laxity and mild to moderate skin sagging. Uses heat to stimulate collagen production in the deeper layers of the skin.
Ultrasound Devices (e.g., Ultherapy, Sofwave):
What they treat: Skin laxity and lifting (e.g., brows, jowls, neck). Uses focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production at deeper levels than RF.
Cryolipolysis (e.g., CoolSculpting):
What it treats: Localized fat reduction. Uses controlled cooling to freeze and destroy fat cells without surgery.
Electromagnetic Muscle Stimulation (e.g., EmSculpt Neo):
What it treats: Builds muscle and reduces fat simultaneously. Uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) energy to induce powerful muscle contractions.
V. Regenerative Treatments
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP):
What it treats: Skin rejuvenation, fine lines, texture improvement, hair loss, and acne scars. Uses a concentrated solution of platelets from the patient's own blood, rich in growth factors, to stimulate healing and collagen production. Often combined with microneedling or injected.
Exosomes:
What they treat: Skin rejuvenation, repair, and regeneration, as well as hair restoration. These are tiny vesicles released by stem cells that contain growth factors, lipids, and genetic material, promoting cellular repair and rejuvenation.
Our Tailored Approach
Choosing the right aesthetic treatments can be overwhelming, but Doctor-led care makes all the difference.
At our Primary & Cosmetic Care practice in Midtown, we offer safe aesthetic treatments grounded in science and tailored to individual skin types, tones, and goals.
Whether you’re looking for acne treatment, smoothing lines with a Botox treatment, or advanced anti-aging treatments, our approach ensures you’re treated with a considered plan, tailored to you.
Where Clinical Expertise meets Personalized Aesthetics
We specialize in concierge aesthetics and skin rejuvenation with a Doctor who understands the full spectrum of skin tones & types, offering evidence-based solutions including laser treatments, injectables, and regenerative procedures.
Our patients trust us to help them navigate the ever-evolving world of cosmetics & aesthetics with clarity and safety.
Our goal is to reveal the best version of you with a little help from modern science. Subtle, conservative treatments to slow the aging process and optimize your beauty. Customized skin treatments that blend science forward clinical formulas and holistic techniques. We want you to feel your best from the inside - out!
Book a Consultation
Whether you're wondering how to treat adult acne? or want to know what the best aesthetic treatments are for aging? The journey starts with a medically-informed 30-minute consultation.The deposit can be used against any aesthetics treatment you book, email our Care Team to book.
Our concierge practice bridges the gap between beauty and science, offering Doctor-led aesthetics designed for real results.
Experience Concierge Aesthetic Treatments, from the Privacy of your Home
For added convenience, we also offer concierge aesthetic & cosmetic house calls, bringing doctor-led treatments directly to your home or hotel in New York City, so you can receive care on your terms.
Email our Care Team for more information and explore our pricing & services here.
