March 2018 - Apollo Cosmetic Clinics

  • Does Dermaroller Work? These Facts Will Surprise You!

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    What is a dermaroller? Wondering how to use a dermaroller? Learn about a dermaroller, how effective the treatments is, what kind of effects it leaves on the skin and the procedure to use it.

    According to our cosmetologists, a dermaroller is a skincare device that helps in the regeneration of skin cells. It repairs scars and stretch marks, treats fine lines, wrinkles, and many more skin problems. It is easy to perform, takes much less time compared to other cosmetic treatments, and gives lasting results.

    How does a Dermaroller work?

    A dermaroller is unique in its appearance- it has two parts to it- a round roller with nearly 1000+ tiny needles and secondly, a long handle that holds the roller and helps in easily targeting the roller on your skin. The roller’s needles are the main source for repairing your skin.

    When the roller is rolled across the skin surface, tiny skin pricks are formed on the skin layer, which stimulates important ingredients like collagen and elastin. Both these ingredients help in skin repair and cell regeneration. As these pricks increase the natural process of skin repair, the new skin is formed, and thus minimizing scars, stretch marks, acne scars, etc. The process also plumps your skin and works on activating skin cells that are otherwise dormant due to aging skin. This helps in reducing facial sagging, fine lines and wrinkles. It is like a massage on your face but with added benefits!

    Dermaroller is a non-surgical method of achieving young and healthy-looking skin.

    Fine lines and wrinkles are caused due to the low collagen and elastin contents in the skin, which is addressed by a dermaroller. Our cosmetic surgeons recommend this treatment as a highly effective solution for skin problems related to aging.

    How to choose the best dermaroller?

    The effects of the treatment vary depending on the skin type, sensitivity, skin condition, and also largely, on the needles. The number of needles present and the length of the needles impact the affectivity of the treatment. For some patients, longer needles are used to produce deeper pinpricks enabling more production of collagen. It is always advised to proceed with any treatment only after an expert consultation. There are umpteen varieties of dermarollers available in the market these days, but it is always better to consult a cosmetologist before trying them.

    Apart from the skin condition, reactions to the treatment, and skin type- you must consider three main aspects while selecting a dermaroller:

    • Needle length- this impacts how deep the pinpricks are caused on your skin. The longer the needles, the deeper the pinpricks, resulting in more production of collagen and repair of deeper skin layers.
    • Number of needles- this impacts how many pinpricks are caused on your skin. The more the needles, the more the collagen production (use after dermatologist consultation).
    • Length and size of the handle- this determines the ease of operation. If the handle is long, sturdy, and has a comfortable grip, you can easily massage your face without harming your skin.

    7 Facts about Dermarollers

    Here are some interesting facts and benefits of a dermaroller that will surely surprise you.

    1. Premature Aging

    Many signs of premature aging like wrinkles, fine lines, and facial sagging can be reduced with dermarollers. The process of derma rolling slows anti-aging effects by plumping the skin and giving a youthful look.

    1. Sun Damage

    Dermarollers rejuvenate and repair sun damaged skin by stimulating collagen deposits of the skin. Collagen is the skin’s internal healer and does wonders to sun damaged skin.

    1. Hyperpigmentation

    Hyperpigmentation is a skin problem with irregular skin tones on the face- a part of the skin becomes darker. Dermaroller helps in repairing this skin and produces a rejuvenated, even skin tone.

    1. Stretch marks

    Derma rolling repairs stretch marks by repairing the damaged skin cells through collagen production. Even the skin elastin is regained. However, it takes at least 3-12 treatments for achieving visible results.

    Looking for a quick, permanent solution for stretch marks? Click here.

    1. Reducing Pore Size

    Large pores not only reduce the appearance of flawless skin, they also secrete excessive oil causing acne, blackheads etc. Although dermarollers do not impact this directly, they reduce the appearance of large pores by repairing the skin.

    1. Low Cost

    A dermaroller costs much less compared to other cosmetic treatments like chemical peels, laser surgery etc. Although it takes certain time to show effective results, dermarolling improves skin in the long run.

    1. Minimal Infections

    Your skin may take some time to get accustomed to derma rolling. The initial few sittings may result in a little bleeding. If there is excessive bleeding, blood clot, skin rashes or itching, one should immediately warn or discontinue the treatment. Sufficient gap between sessions should be ensured to give skin enough time to heal. In order to avoid all this, one has to seek expert help and guidance prior to the treatment.

    Advantages & Disadvantages of Dermarollers

    Advantages:

    • Easy to use
    • Takes less time
    • Not painful
    • Quicker results

    Disadvantages:

    • Has a chance of spreading or increasing acne
    • Can cause skin irritation
    • Can cause infection

    Lastly, it is important to find the right dermatologist and skin specialist for your treatment. It is important for the doctor to analyze your skin, understand its condition, look into where the skin texture can be improved, where the treatments need to be stressed on the skin, and what parts can be repaired. You may also have to discuss your skin care habits, routine, medications being used, skin conditions if any, etc; with the doctor. This is to avoid any complications.

    Located in MRC Nagar, Apollo Cosmetic Clinics has Chennai’s top surgeons to care for all your skin problems. Get the best skin treatments with our world-class procedural suites that have near zero infection rates. Our successful treatments and happy patients stand testimony to our personalized care, professional quality, and state-of-the-art infrastructures. Know more about us, here.

  • 7 Types of Acne Scar Laser Treatments & Their Benefits

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    Having acne is scary and when it leaves behind ugly and visible scars on the face, it becomes a nightmare. Acne scars might be difficult to get rid of with home-made remedies and creams, but with laser treatment, you can have an all-clear face and restore your beauty and confidence.

    If you thought that acne affects only teenagers, then think again. Acne vulgaris can happen to anyone, anytime. It’s a chronic disease that occurs when our oil glands are frequently coagulated with oil, dirt and dead cells resulting in inflammation of the skin, a cluster of pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. The main causes are bad skin hygiene and hormonal imbalance that can be triggered by stress, depression, dietary issues, etc. Escaping acne attack may be impossible but attacking acne scars is surely possible with laser treatment in a safe and effective manner.

    7 types of acne scar laser treatments

    Just like there are types of acne scars and skin types, there are different types of laser treatments to deal with them. Here are the most commonly used laser treatments:

    • Carbon dioxide lasers: This is an ablative resurfacing treatment. It involves melting or vaporizing the damaged tissues layer by layer by poking very tiny holes into the skin. Since the holes are minute and made swiftly with laser light energy and not a needle, there is hardly any pain. The idea is to stimulate healing so that the body can produce collagen naturally. Collagen is the protein that helps in the growth of fresh, healthy and new skin especially after an injury. The recovery period might take 5 to 7 days but the procedure itself can be done in just one seating.
    • Fraxel: This is a non-ablative treatment and is one of the most modern options. It does not destroy the outer layers of the skin by vaporizing it. Instead, it heats the skin tissues in such a manner that it clears out or burns out the old skin cells that are pigmented due to scarring. As compared to the carbon dioxide lasers, Fraxel is comparatively milder and is thus better for people with sensitive skin. The recovery time is 3-4 days which is less as compared to the CO2 treatment but the number of sessions required is more.
    • Fractional laser treatment: This is considered as one of the best as it affects only a small portion of the skin. It is designed in such a manner that it impacts only the scarred areas of the face while keeping the parts having normal skin, intact. The laser penetrates deep into the skin and hence is ideal for big, wide and deep scars. Since the area affected by the laser beams is less, the recovery time is also quicker.
    • V-Beam or Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL): This is a highly accurate technology that is perfect for removing the redness of acne scars and rosacea. The concentrated light beams attack enlarged red blood cells (the cause of redness) with heat. The intense heating of the blood vessels makes the outermost layer of the skin almost dead by eroding all its nutrients and oxygen. Once it is shed, the skin gets a chance to grow back normally.
    • Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): This is apt for dark or brown acne scars. This treatment doesn’t attack the skin/acne texture much but works on the colour of the acne scars or acne-prone skin. It turns the colour back to the normal colour of the skin. The added benefit is that it also wipes out the bacteria that cause acne. The principle behind this treatment is that since darker objects absorb more light, the laser light is so intense that before it penetrates the normal skin, it is already absorbed in the area of skin which is darker due to scars. The heat thus absorbed, breaks down the pigmented cells.
    • Fractionated Eribum or Pixel laser: This is the most effective for Indian skin. It is completed in 4 to 6 sessions spread across a month. The light beam creates pixel size tiny dots or holes on the skin encouraging the body to heal these harmless and nearly invisible dots. In the process of healing the skin gets a chance to grow afresh, resulting in the appearance of a smooth and even skin in the previously scarred area.
    • Active FX and Deep FX: While active FX is recommended for smaller and shallow scars, deep FX is suitable for eradicating bigger and deeper acne scars. The first advantage of this is that it does not harm the epidermis (topmost and most sensitive layer of the skin) and affects only the dermis (the thicker layer of skin beneath the epidermis that contains the damaged glands and blood vessels). The second advantage is that after the treatment, you are not only scar-free but you also end up with a more youthful skin that’s firmer.

    Benefits of laser treatments

    Owing to their sophistication and powerful impact, you might be skeptical about laser treatments. The common benefits given below of the laser treatments discussed will clear all your doubts and fears.

    • They are non-invasive i.e. there is no surgery required at all
    • Unlike dermabrasion, it is painless as it does not ruthlessly strip off the top layer of the skin using a rapidly moving tool.
    • Unlike punch excision (method in which circles are cut around the damaged skin), the risk of infections is almost zero as there is no cutting and hardly any bleeding involved in laser treatments.
    • Unlike chemical peeling (acids are used to shed the first layer of the skin), there is no risk of harmful reactions of chemicals on the skin as laser treatments are chemical free.
    • The recovery time is minimal. Since there are no cuts and scars as such, the face gets back to normal within a week.

    Laser treatments might have guaranteed results with minimal side-effects but they may not suit everybody. If your complexion is dark or if you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, or have sensitive skin, then your condition may worsen with laser treatments. That is why it’s essential to consult an expert cosmetic surgeon before going in for any of these treatments. For an expert skin analysis and authentic laser treatments, only refer to the best doctors in the country at Apollo Cosmetic Clinic. Book an appointment here.

  • Is Scar Revision Surgery Right For You?

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    Everybody loves to have flawless beautiful skin. Thanks to scar revision surgery you can now fade your scars away into the past. Scar revision surgery is a common plastic surgery or cosmetic surgery that removes or permanently reduces the visibility of scars on the skin in a safe manner. First, let’s get into the science of how and why scars are formed.

    Scars are nothing but the marks and the blemishes left on the skin after a wound, cut, pimple, surgical incision or a burn heals. They appear when the skin tissues get damaged and the skin gets disfigured and discolored. Some scars also appear if the wound is not healed properly. During the wound healing period, if you expose the wound to too much sun, it can lead to scars with hyper-pigmentation – scars that are darker than the normal skin color. And not keeping the wound dry during the healing process stimulates inflammation leading to bulging scars. Most scars go away with time but some remain if the wound is too deep into the skin or if the skin is damaged frequently (recurrence of acne). This is where scar revision surgery comes in handy!

    Why is a scar revision surgery right for you?

    A scar revision surgery can be recommended for you for various physical and psychological reasons:

    • To enhance your look and beauty
    • To boost your confidence and self-esteem because scars can be very embarrassing and de-motivating, especially if you can’t hide them
    • To ease your discomfort. Some scars can be at inconvenient places that can cause you pain or difficulty while moving around
    • To re-heal a poorly healed wound
    • To reduce the psychological trauma caused by an accident as scars can be a constant reminder of the unfortunate event that caused the scar

    When is a scar revision surgery right for you?

    If you think that getting a scar revision surgery done as soon as your wound closes will reduce your chances of having a scar, then you are wrong. Getting a scar removal treatment as the wound heals can be unhealthy and dangerous, and might leave you with a bigger scar than that you would have had. Here are the conditions required before you’re ready for a scar removal surgery:

    • You will have to wait for 12 to 18 months after the injury for this therapy to be performed. Scars change with time and the true nature of the scar will be known only after 12 to 18 months of the scar formation. By this time the skin on and around the scar will also be tensile or stretchable and be healthy enough to withstand the treatment
    • If you’re a smoker, you may have to quit smoking for a considerable time before and after the surgery
    • At least 1 week prior to the procedure, make sure you don’t use any creams or home remedies on the scar. It can otherwise cause complications
    • Don’t go out at all 1 day before the surgery. The idea is to avoid the scar from sun exposure
    • You have to be mentally prepared, calm and relaxed before the surgery. This is more relevant during the facial treatment. Anxiety increases your blood circulation and pressure which can cause difficulties

    What is a scar removal surgery? Read here.

    What type of scar revision surgery is right for you?

    No two scars are alike. There are different scar removal procedures designed to effectively cure different types of scars. The good news is that not all scar removal procedures are invasive. Some procedures may involve only a few injections and ointments. While only the major scar issues involve minor surgeries and laser treatment.  To know what type of scar revision treatment is right for you, your cosmetic surgeon will examine your health and your scar thoroughly. Your doctor will come up with a personalized plan for your scar removal treatment based on the following conditions:

    • Your skin age
    • Your daily medication
    • The location of the scar on the body – naturally facial scars need a delicate treatment as facial skin is more sensitive
    • The amount of blood circulated around the scar
    • The cause of the scar
    • Your skin quality
    • The size and severity of the scar
    • Your skin color
    • Your general health in terms of nutrition
    • The type of scar

    For further clarification, this has been explained below. The nature and features of the scar also determine the type of scar removal treatment you will require. Here are a few types:

    • Atrophic scars: These are in the form depressions in the skin. These are mainly caused by the deficiency of a protein called collagen in the body. Collagen is vital for skin strengthening and elasticity. Collagen injections is one of the most common and simple therapy to rectify this. Light acne scars, stretch marks, wrinkles, etc. are some of the atrophic scars that can be treated with cosmetic injections.
    • Keloid and hypertrophic scars: These are broad, raised, thick, dark and clustered scars that form mounds or small outward bumps on the skin. The only difference between a keloid scar and a hypertrophic scar is that the former goes beyond the wound area. The minor ones can be almost corrected with cryotherapy (liquid nitrogen) while the major ones can be shrunk and softened with the help of silicone sheets and steroid injections.
    • Burn scars: Wounds caused by fire and acids can penetrate deep into the skin. These scars need a more sophisticated treatment. Skin grafting or skin flapping may be ideal in most cases. It’s when healthy skin from some other part of the body is cut and put onto the scar area.
    • Sunburn damage: Chemical peeling might be comparatively expensive but it’s a treatment used to rectify sun burns and irregular skin discoloration. The whole idea behind the therapy is to shed the old skin and allow the new and fresh skin to regenerate.

    Even though scars cannot be totally erased, they can surely be reduced in size and color and can be made less obvious. The success rate of the scar removal also depends a lot on your plastic surgeon. For best and guaranteed results, only consult the best cosmetic surgeon in Chennai at Apollo Cosmetic Clinics.

  • Do Breasts Look Normal After Breast Augmentation?

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    Will my breasts look normal or fake? Isn’t this the doubt that always stops you from going for breast augmentation? If you wish to enhance your breasts, breast augmentation is a good option to achieve this without making them look unnatural. Don’t let this fear hold you back from possessing good looking breasts. To clarify your doubt or fear, you first need to understand how breast augmentation and breast enlargement works.

    Breast augmentation is increasing the bust size by inserting implants that serve as a cushioned or fluffy padding that naturally make the breasts look bigger. This padding is placed right under the chest muscle with the help of a minor surgery.

    Now that you are clear about the process, here’s what you must keep in mind before you opt for breast augmentation for your breasts to look as normal and natural as possible.

    Surgical scars can be instantly concealed

    As breast augmentation is nothing but a kind of surgery, scars of a slit or cut are inevitable. For an apparently instant scar-free look, it is better to get the implant inserted from under the breast. Like this, the scar will be hidden. Moreover, these scars start disappearing within 2 weeks of the breast augmentation surgery.

    Types of breast implants

    The implants should compliment you. It is very necessary for the plastic surgeon to examine your breast shape and form well to decipher the type of implant that will ensure natural looking breasts.

    • Silicone v/s saline

    Silicone implants are made of silicone gel while saline implants are made of salt water. Since the texture of silicone gel is quite similar to our breast muscle – supple, rubbery, gelatin type – silicone filled implants give a more normal look to the enhanced breasts.

    • Round v/s lachrymiform

    For the purpose of keeping the implant’s shape intact, lachrymiform or tear-shaped implants are made thicker and tauter as compared to the round ones. That is why breasts look normal faster in the case of round shaped ones as the tear-shaped ones take a little bit more time to embed properly into your natural breast form.

    • Thick v/s thin skin

    If your skin is on the thinner side, then you should opt for the round shaped implant instead of the lachrymiform one. The thickness of the tear-shaped implants can make your thin skin to ripple or wrinkle, thus giving your breasts an abnormal look.

    • Smooth v/s textured

    To avoid wrinkly and deformed looking breasts, opt for smooth surfaced breast implants instead of textured ones if you have a thin skin. If you have a normal skin, the advantage of choosing a textured breast implant is that the minute ridges on its surface help the implant/ shell to integrate with the breast muscle better. This, in turn, helps the implant to stay in place. It reduces the risk of implant de-alignment or rotation – a risk that can make your breast look abnormal.

    • Enhancement v/s reconstruction

    The difference between the two is that breast enhancement surgery is adding padding to an already available breast muscle. While, reconstruction is almost like restoring back the fuller look of a breast by filling an empty cavity. The latter is done mostly after a mastectomy (breast removal) as a result of breast cancer treatment. Breasts look instantly more normal/ natural when breast augmentation is done for reconstruction purposes. Breasts after the breast enlargement procedure begin to look normal after a few weeks of the surgery.

    Keeping these points in mind can manifold your chances of restoring the natural look of your breasts while enjoying the benefit of enhancement.  Let’s now move on to the post-breast augmentation surgery stage.

    The swelling after breast augmentation is natural and not permanent

    You might expect the breasts to look normal and natural immediately after the surgery but you will have some swelling in and around the breasts. Here’s why there is no need to worry at all. Just like while healing an injury the body produces fluids in the wound area, the body follows the same mechanism even for healing the surgical incisions or cuts. Hence, the swelling is due to the fluids produced. Once the wound is healed the body reabsorbs the fluids and the swelling vanishes. Good news is that 70 to 80% of the swelling goes off in 2-3 weeks and the remaining swelling disappears in another 2-3 weeks.

    The high raise effect

    Immediately after the breast augmentation surgery, the breasts seem as if they have been raised high. Here’s why.  Breasts implants are foreign agents inside your body. Just like we take time to gel with a new acquaintance similarly even our body takes a little time to accept a foreign agent. As the body keeps getting used to the breast implants, the more relaxed the muscles get. This allows the implants to seep in further and adjust and reposition themselves as per the natural form of your breasts.  Thankfully this ‘high rise’ period occurs simultaneously with swelling up stage which means a speedy recovery towards normal/ natural looking breasts.

    Following the below-given steps for the first few weeks will ensure that breast implants get adjusted in the body naturally so that your breasts that don’t look artificial or fake.

    • Avoid lifting anything heavy. Otherwise, the muscle movements can disrupt the alignment of the implant.
    • Avoid exercise or any rigorous movement to prevent implant rupture and leaking. This would not only destroy the natural look of your breast but also can lead to infections and another surgery.
    • Use a surgical brassiere. The pressure and support provided by it will prove to be an asset to keep your assets in their natural shape.
    • Opt for draining the fluid out if the swelling is too big or painful or for more than 2 weeks. Otherwise, fluid retention can also become septic and cause infections.

    All good things take time. Plan your breast augmentation surgery at least 3 months prior to any special or major event to enjoy a hassle-free bold and confident look. The result of the breast augmentation also depends a lot on the expertise of the surgeon. For a safe experience and natural looking breasts consult only the best of doctors. Reach out to Chennai’s No.1 cosmetic surgeons here.

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