Advanced Cosmetic Procedures

What are Advanced Cosmetic Procedures?

Advanced Cosmetic Procedures (ACP) was previously referred to as Advanced Electrolysis; using either Short Wave Diathermy or Blend as in hair removal, unwanted skin blemishes can be safely removed or reduced with little to no mark being left behind.

Telangiectasias

These are not ‘broken capillaries’ as so often named, but permanently dilated capillaries.

There are numerous causes for Telangiectasia including: ageing, hereditary and genetic causes, pregnancy, hormones, general skin fragility, smoking, extreme sports, temperature extremes and harsh weather exposure. They are very commonly seen in a maturing ‘English rose’ complexion.

A course of advanced electrolysis is often advised for telangiectasia so that treatments can be spaced out to prevent skin damage or hyper-pigmentation. Diathermy (like hair removal electrolysis) is used, which involves a very accurate positioning of the probe over the blood vessel and a gentle tap that applies current to the skin’s surface. This causes that tiny section of vessel to immediately disappear. Treatment sessions are usually for example 15 minutes per cheek.

Although not considered a cause of telangiectasia, rosacea (and the medication for it) may be a related factor, with the two conditions often presenting simultaneously.

Campbell de Morgan Spots

In medical literature these vascular blemishes are also known as Cherry Angioma or Blood Spots. They present themselves as slightly raised or dome shaped and are of unknown origin. They are mostly seen on the trunk in middle aged and elderly clients and are even more common in men than women. They are also treated with Diathermy. Larger ones (50p size+) will need more than one treatment. Smaller ones often disappear at time of treatment.

Spider Naevi

Spider Naevi is a central dilated blood vessel with smaller capillaries radiating from it like the legs of a spider can be individual isolated blemishes or can be multiple in areas such as the cheeks or chest area. Certain conditions can make them worse including extreme heat and cold, obesity, pregnancy, stress or pressure on the area. They can be treated although they can be quite resilient and more than one treatment may be necessary.

Skin Tags

Skin Tags are commonly found in areas of friction such as the armpits, under the breasts, groin or around the neck where necklaces or collars may irritate. They often present with a neck like a mushroom and vary in size from a tiny speck, smaller than a grain of uncooked rice, to the size of a large pea or larger.

Advanced electrolysis is probably the quickest, easiest way of removing the problem in a safe and effective manner.

Milia

Milia present themselves as small white plugs and often show as hard, solid lumps lying in the top of the skin. Their exact cause is unknown although they are often related to diet with a high cholesterol count, excessive Vitamin C, too rich moisturising cream and are also associated with dry skin. They can all be treated easily with advanced electrolysis techniques using diathermy. Milia can appear between the eyelashes, on the eyelid itself, the cheek area or anywhere on the face or neck where dry skin is present. They tend to grow in size and become harder

Warts

There are various types of warts, including flat (plane) raised (common) Warts can develop individually or in clusters and can spontaneously disappear. Plane or flat warts occur mostly on the face, backs of hands and wrists.

Seborrhoeic Keratosis classified within the wart family; they present as raised and appear frequently as several lesions on covered body sites and are also quite common on the face in older people. The dry, scaly, crusty appearance often with a superficial ‘stuck on’ appearance are helpful identification points.

Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra is found on black skin and is a common disorder which develops in adolescence. They are identical to seborrhoea keratosis and present as smooth, dome shaped, brown to black papules seen mainly on the cheeks, neck and upper chest; the famous actor Morgan Freeman has many of these on his face. They are very easily and successfully treated.

Moles

Hairs from moles are easily treated and once treatment is started it is normal for the mole to reduce in size and colour, the mole itself is then treated but rather than ‘removing’ we ‘visibly reduce the appearance’ of the mole. The first treatment will visibly reduce the mole by up to three quarters of its size and then a follow up treatment can smooth it so that it is flat to the skin. The colour can never be guaranteed to exactly match the surrounding skin but if the mole is much darker the remaining skin, following treatment, will almost certainly be lighter.

Age Spots

Age Spots are caused by an accumulation of a yellow pigment from ageing of the collagen producing cells. They are very common on the hands and face of middle aged and elderly patients and are usually despised by them as they are so recognisable a sign of increasing age. Chemical peels and skin whitening products are commonly used for treatment but electrolysis is also very effective. Using a very fine electrolysis needle a tiny section of the age spot is lifted from the underlying tissue and the colour underneath is observed. If the tiny area exposed is lighter in colour removal can go ahead with varying degrees of success. If the pigment underneath the tiny section lifted is the same colour as the age spot itself the pigment goes deep into the dermis and treatment will not be successful.