Advertisement

The Annual Fall Cosmetic Treatment Guide

Written with Dr. Gervaise Gerstner, Dr. Julie Karen, and Dr. Robert Anolik for Charlotte’s Book: an online resource dedicated to cosmetic health + wellness.

image

The ideal anti-aging skincare maintenance routine, according to Charlotte’s Book Expert Dr. Gervaise Gerstner, consists of a peel or microdermabrasion once a month, and then Botox and/or a dermal filler every three to four months.

This type of regimen can span all seasons, but what about other in-office cosmetic procedures? When should those be worked into your schedule?

Certain cosmetic procedures, particularly laser treatments, should be avoided during the summer months because excessive heat and sun exposure can lead to increased skin sensitivity. In addition to that, if any healing wounds or freshly zapped areas aren’t adequately protected from UV exposure, you could wind up with pigmentation problems and even scarring. With summer coming swiftly to a close, now’s the time to book those fall and winter procedures—here, a list of treatments to consider.

Related: Win $2,000 In Cult Skin, Hair, And Body Products - Curated By Us

______________________________________________________________________

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

Perhaps you found it difficult to keep up with the constant shaving and waxing this summer? It’s enough to break even the best of us. But best practices require you to wait until your tan fades because this laser treatment works best on lighter skin tones. The more contrast there is between a dark hair follicle and a paler skin tone, the easier it is for the laser to target the root of your hairs with more accuracy. Also, post-treatment, your zapped skin needs to be kept out of the sun for several weeks to achieve optimal results.

Related: The Fall Skincare Guide Is Here

Some tips: it’s better to have laser hair removal treatment in a dermatologist’s office versus medi-spa because the doctors can give you medical grade numbing cream for the pain (laser hair removal is not a pain-free matter). And, starting small is the way to go—have your underarms done before a larger or more sensitive surface just to see how well you handle this treatment.

More on Laser Hair Removal. Visit our directory to find a Charlotte’s Book expert that specializes in Laser Hair Removal.

______________________________________________________________________

LEG VEIN REMOVAL WITH SCLEROTHERAPY

Did you start to notice the appearance of leg veins while you were lying by the pool this summer? Now is the ideal time to zap the unwelcome visitors so they don’t accompany you on your holiday trip to St. Barths. Try Sclerotherapy, which works best when you’re untanned and can keep your gorgeous gams out of the sun for several weeks.

Related: We tried laser resurfacing with Clear & Brilliant

Says Charlotte’s Book Premier Provider Dr. Julie Karen, one of NYC’s top doctors for this type of treatment, “If we’re talking about people with more spider vein surface vessels, more of the aesthetic concerns, then Sclerotherapy is the gold standard. It works so well because the leg veins are an intra-connected system, like a tree with the big trunk, branches, then smaller branches and twigs. Oftentimes, the patient is most bothered by the twigs, the tiny vessels, but those twigs are being fed by underlying branches and sometimes even trunks. Sclerotherapy takes advantage of that network because when you inject into a small vessel, you reverse into the feeding vessel, but it’s also going backward into the branches. You can treat a network of vessels with fewer injections.”

Some tips: this is not a painless procedure, so be sure to talk to your doctor about pain management before you go in for treatment. In addition, you’ll want to clear your workout schedule the week following treatment because, while you can resume normal daily activities right away, Sclerotherapy patients are to refrain from vigorous activities and excessive standing for at least one week post treatment.

More on Sclerotherapy in The Arsenal. Visit our directory to find a Charlotte’s Book expert that specializes in Sclerotherapy.

______________________________________________________________________

LASER RESURFACING WITH FRAXEL

This is yet another marvelous treatment that is best performed when the summer sun goes on hiatus. And there is no better time than now to undo the sun damage you accidentally suffered over the summer.

Fraxel is the gold standard for laser resurfacing. Dr. Robert Anolik explains how it works: “The laser penetrates through the surface of the skin, but creates microscopic wounding within the dermis. This spurs new collagen production and remodels skin to a healthier state.”

Advice: plan for some post-treatment healing time. Take it from Dr. Anolik: “After receiving the treatment, it takes 5 days for the damaged skin to naturally flake off, and along with it goes dark spots and rough, uneven patches.” Dr. Gervaise Gerstner told us that her patients often book what she calls “Fraxel Fridays,” so the worst part of the healing process is over before work on Monday.

READ MORE

We tried Sclerotherapy and it made our leg veins disappear – but there are some caveats. We also tried laser resurfacing with Clear & Brilliant.

FIND BEAUTY AND WELLNESS EXPERTS

Learn more about cosmetic dermatologists Gervaise Gerstner, Dr. Julie Karen, and Dr. Robert Anolik. You can read client reviews, book appointments, and get expert advice. Only the best cosmetic doctors, skincare gurus, nutritionists, fitness and wellness professionals make it into our book.