Fine lines, wrinkles and skin discoloration might seem like inevitable parts of the aging process, leaving us looking older than we are.
But to local skin care experts, the effects of the sun, environment and just getting older can not only be prevented, but reversed. Tried-and-true treatments and cutting edge technologies can take years off the look of our skin – all without going under the knife.
The secret is selecting the right treatment for you and getting a start before the aging process gets a start on your skin.
Dr. Dara Spearman, of Parkview Physicians Group – Premier Dermatology & Skin Care, recommends establishing a good relationship with a dermatologist early on.
“A good relationship will save some heartache and money in the long run,” she says.
At Premier, where Dr. Spearman personally performs Botox injections and fillers, patients are given a personal skin care analysis and treatment options, beginning with the least invasive.
Among them are the Lumecca and Fractora lasers, which help improve skin discoloration from sun exposure and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
It’s a newer technology, Dr. Spearman says, and patients will have several treatments over a set time.
“You want to complement that with good sun protection,” she says. “It’s protecting the investment.”
A good skin care regimen can go a long way, and Dr. Spearman’s practice has its own line of products to help patients extend the results of the treatments.
“A facelift in a jar,” Sculptra is among the fillers that Dr. Jeff Sassmannshausen and the staff at Three Rivers Dermatology use to help patients look 10 years younger. The injectable treatment, which can be done in about an hour at the Coventry Lane office, not only fills in wrinkles but helps stimulate collagen growth to improve the look and feel of the skin.
“Everybody is lifted up like it was 10 years ago,” Sassmannshausen says. “It brings back the structure in the face that we lose in aging.”
And the bonus, he says, is that the product is approved to be advertised as lasting two years but he thinks patients might see results lasting double that.
Patients who have Sculptura injections might see some bruising and swelling, but like many of the anti-aging treatments, there’s very little downtime.
Kybella targets the area below the chin, whether you want to refer to it as a turkey neck or double chin. As we age, the skin can lose its elasticity, and Kybella helps by blasting the fat and tightening up the area.
“We were the first practice in northeast indiana to do the injection,” Sassmannshausen says, adding that nearly 500 patients have received the series of treatments and reported being very satisfied with the results.
Still, for those wanting to look younger, the most popular treatments are still Botox and Dysport.
At Bella Sante Med Spa, aesthetician Carrie Johanningsmeier offers anti-aging treatments such as fillers, lasers and microdermabrasion in a calming spa environment.
But while the options are many for clients, Botox continues to grow in popularity she says. The medical spa sees 10 to 20 people a day for Botox and Dysport, and clients can expect instant results lasting up to six months.
“We’re seeing a huge increase in the millenials for preventative reasons,” Johanningsmeier says. You need less when you are younger than when you start in your 40s.”
Parkview Physicians Group Premier Dermatology & Skin Care
Dr. Dara Spearman
1123 Parkview Plaza Drive, Suite 201
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46845
(260) 266-8392
parkview.com/en/ppg/dermatology/Pages/default.aspx
Services Offered: Cosmetic injections such as Botox and Dysport; facial peels; inmode lasers, laser hair removal; and laser procedures for the skin
Three Rivers Dermatology
Dr. Jeff Sassmannshausen
5650 Coventry Lane
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804
(260) 436-9696
threeriversdermatology.com
Services Offered: Kybella, DOT Therapy, Sculptura, Restylane, Radiesse, JUVÉDERM XC, Botox, Dysport, chemical peels, microdermabrasion
Belle Sante Med Spa
5010 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, Indiana 46804
(260) 436-6900
bellesantemedspa.com
Services Offered: Botox, Xeomin, Dysport, Restylane fillers, microdermabrasion
