Why a plastic surgeon is so interested in skin care and non-surgical treatments?
Unlike many other plastic surgeons, Dr Simone performs all non-surgical rejuvenations herself, as even the most minimal treatments require attention to detail and tailoring to each individual. A badly done filler, for example, can look just as bad as a surgery gone wrong. It’s not just about having the machines but also understanding what works best in each skin type. Many patients coming for plastic surgery can enhance their results with the right non-surgical treatment.
Glowing, healthy blemish free skin imparts a youthful appearance and is essential to looking young, no matter which other surgical or non-surgical treatments are being done. There are so many non-surgical options out there that can delay ageing and offering these and performing them is an essential part of any anti-ageing consultation.
Not just any Intense Pulse light (IPL) device- Why is Broadband light (BBL™) unique in its anti-ageing power?
Sciton’s BBL™ (Broadband light) is the most powerful IPL (Intense Pulse Light) device on the market.
It is the only device that has been shown to change the expression of genes associated with skin ageing, longevity, and increased lifespan.
With regular Forever Young BBL™ treatments, your skin will look clearer, healthier and more luminous. Maintaining a regular regimen of BBL™ treatments can reduce and delay the signs of skin ageing in a way that looks very natural.
A study done by Stanford university has shown that Broadband light modifies gene expression, something that is unique to this particular device.
Over 1,000 gene expressions became “rejuvenated” to be more like youthful skin resulting in decreased solar elastosis (sun damage) and more uniform collagen deposition; leading to improvements in fine wrinkles and pigmentation.
Precisely engineered parabolic optics to deliver energy to the treatment area uniformly, producing no hot or cold spots, which results perfectly consistent treatments unlike other less precise IPL devices.
(Broadband light) is the most powerful IPL (Intense Pulse Light) device on the market.
It is the only device that has been shown to change the expression of genes associated with skin ageing, longevity, and increased lifespan.
With regular Forever Young BBL™ treatments, your skin will look clearer, healthier and more luminous. Maintaining a regular regimen of BBL™ treatments can reduce and delay the signs of skin ageing in a way that looks very natural.
Over 1,000 gene expressions became “rejuvenated” to be more like youthful skin resulting in decreased solar elastosis (sun damage) and more uniform collagen deposition; leading to improvements in fine wrinkles and pigmentation.
The Sciton device is precisely engineered with parabolic optics to deliver energy to the treatment area uniformly, producing no hot or cold spots. This results in perfectly consistent treatments unlike other less precise IPL devices.
Which skin conditions can BBL™ treat?
Age spots and freckles
Sun damage
Pigmentation
Rosacea
Visible small capillaries and blood vessels (not suitable for large vessels or varicose veins)
Wrinkles
Loss of elasticity
Acne
Unwanted hair
Your treatment plan will be tailored to match your skin type and your desired results.
BBL™ can address and improve all your skin concerns in a single treatment. A series of treatments is usually required for the best results.
How does Broadband light BBL™ improve aged skin?
Pigmented blotches, redness and wrinkles can all be improved with Broadband light treatment which all contribute to the appearance of aged skin.
The machine is designed to have a number of smart filters that target each one of these skin concerns. Using a combination of different filters which is tailored to each person means that their specific skin problems can be addressed in each section of the face, neck and chest.
This process will restore your skin to its natural beauty, making it clearer, smoother, vibrant and younger looking.
Which areas of the body be treated?
BBL™ can be used almost anywhere on the body. Due to the range of small hand pieces even difficult to access areas such as ears and eyelids can be precisely treated which other IPL devices cannot target.
The most commonly treated areas are face neck and chest followed by the backs of the hands and forearms. However, this can be extended out to other areas of the body with visible signs of ageing.
Lower settings are needed on the body and patients are advised to minimise any tan prior to treating more sun exposed sites or the problems will recur.
How does BBL™ help acne?
In most cases, oral isotretinoin is the gold standard for people with significant acne. Dr Simone encourages consultation with a dermatologist to assess suitability for a course as a first line treatment.
For people with milder acne and not wanting to go on isotretinoin, it can settle down active pustules by destroying acne-causing bacteria, inflammation and treat redness associated with scarring with a series of treatments.
It can also be used in conjunction with isotretinoin if people are on a low dose and are still suffering from pustules or need to have their scarring treated.
How does BBL™ help scarring?
BBL™ can help settle the redness of post-surgical scars and also acne scarring.
With a series of treatments, pitted scarring can also be improved due to new collagen formation, however, improvements are gradual.
Scientifcally proven to make the skin look at least 10 years younger. How does BBL™ help prevent skin ageing and maintain my skin?
Once BBL™ has controlled specific skin concerns such as pigmentation and redness, maintenance treatments will ensure the skin remains looking young or “Prejuvenation™”.
BBL™ delivers light energy which heats the upper layers of the skin. The thermal energy absorbed by the targeted areas stimulates skin cells to regenerate.
BBL™ works by gene modification and studies have shown that people who treat their skin with BBL can literally stop the clock on skin ageing and also reverse ageing changes if present.
In fact with regular maintenance treatments, it is scientifically proven over the course of 10 years, patience can look younger 10 years later than they did prior.
In a study in which a combination of 500 doctors and lay people were surveyed about people’s skin age, BBL™ treated skin ended up looking on average 10 years younger than untreated skin.
People in the study ended up with smoother, younger looking skin when they were 10 years older (see photos below).
I don’t have visible signs of ageing but want to do something more powerful than just using creams. Can BBL™ be beneficial in people with no signs of ageing?
BBL™ can penetrate the deeper layers of the skin that creams cannot. It delivers controlled results with low downtime compared to other preventative treatments such as needling.
It does not alter facial expression or shape as other treatments such as injectables do.
In the absence of pigmentation and many blood vessels, people are often socially presentable the same day.
How much improvement should I expect with a single treatment?
Even a single treatment will give smoother, more even and vibrant skin. Uneven pigmentation will fade, sunspots, small blood vessels and redness will improve or disappear with a reduction in pores size and fine lines.
Results vary from person to person; depending on the state of the skin at presentation and skin type, however, almost universally people are happy with the skin improvements they see. Some pigmentation patches can be resistant depending on which level of the skin the pigmentation is in.
Most redness and pigmentation will require 3-5 treatments for the best results.
The effect on wrinkles is slower and cumulative. It will not give equivalent results to laser resurfacing with a single treatment, however, has much less down time. With multiple treatments all patients will see a reduction in wrinkles.
How many treatments do I need to do a year to stay looking young?
The recommended number according to scientific studies was 3-4 per year for the best maintenance. If you are younger, or have less of a problem, treatments can be less frequent.
Is the treatment painful?
Each patient is given the option of topical anaesthetic which is very strong and makes the treatment essentially painless.
People who have recurrent treatments sometimes do not require local anaesthetic.
How long does the treatment last?
Topical local anaesthesia is 45 minutes before treatment for the best numbing effect.
To treat the face is around 20 minutes; to add in the neck and chest takes around 30-40 minutes. Treatment time depends on area size.
I have darker skin can I have Broadband light BBL™?
The device has settings and filters suitable for darker skin types.
Lower settings have to be used usually with pre and post treatment topical medications to prevent pigmentation recurring.
How can I help maintain my results?
Stay out of the sun! People with a baseline tan need lower settings (therefore slightly less effect) and are more prone to burns and irregularity in the skin after treatment. Pigmentation can be increased after sun exposure.
You will be given prescription topical medications if required at the time of treatment that you can use for pre and post-treatment that will reduce your chances of hyperpigmentation if you are prone to this and can help maintain your results.
For neck ageing, enquire about a combination of Venus freeze radio frequency treatments for an extra boost if there is loose skin or fat present.
Dr Simone has developed a powerful anti-wrinkle treatment Wrinklase® by Skintillation® which has an effect on wrinkles as well as Vitamin B3 to help maintain smooth skin and prevent against damage from sun and environmental toxins.
