Skin Savvy: Facial Treatments

The procedure of aesthetic medicine - woman receiving facial treatments

As your body’s largest organ, your skin has many jobs. It protects you from the elements, regulates body temperature and enables your sense of touch. But it’s more than just a body part. Your skin is often one of the first things people notice about you. When you look good, you feel good. The licensed aestheticians at The Center for Plastic Surgery at Sentara Princess Anne offer a range of facial treatments and non-surgical cosmetic procedures and services to help you invest in the skin you’re in.

Learn more about our services and which is right for you.

DiamondGlow Dermabrasion

Dermabrasion uses a device to gently exfoliate your skin’s surface, clean debris from pores and deliver medical-grade serums into your skin. The Center for Plastic Surgery at Sentara Princess Anne uses the DiamondGlow® dermabrasion system.

The treatment can help with concerns such as:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
  • Rough texture
  • Dryness
  • Dullness

Dermabrasion is relatively gentle and safe for most people, even during pregnancy. The procedure can sometimes cause redness, which can appear purple, gray or white on darker skin, but it typically goes away within a day.

Chemical Peels

Think of a chemical peel as a step up from dermabrasion. During a peel, an aesthetician applies a mild acid solution to your skin. The solution helps remove the outermost layer of skin cells to uncover a smoother, more even complexion.

Chemical peels can treat many common skin concerns, including:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
  • Uneven skin tone or texture
  • Scars (including acne scars)
  • Freckles

Types of chemical peels

At Sentara, you can get a variety of chemical peels, ranging from light to deep.

Light peels
Nicknamed “lunchtime peels,” light peels have few side effects and little recovery time. As the name suggests, you can have one during your lunch break and go back to your regular activities by the afternoon. They’re safe to get as often as every two to five weeks. In the days following a peel, you might experience:

  • Redness
  • Flaking or peeling skin

Medium peels
These peels penetrate deeper into the skin and can more effectively smooth scars and wrinkles. You can repeat them every four to six months. After the peel, recovery can take seven to 14 days. During that time, you might experience:

  • Redness
  • Swelling, sometimes significant
  • Blisters or scabbing

Deep peel
Deep peels penetrate even further, improving wrinkles and scars. Some doctors suggest deep peels to treat precancerous growths. You get the full benefit from one deep peel and won’t need to repeat it. But the recovery process is more prolonged, lasting 14 to 21 days. You’ll likely experience:

  • Redness
  • Significant swelling
  • Blisters or scabbing
  • Bandages that must be changed several times per day for the first two weeks

After a peel, your skin will be more sensitive to the sun. Avoid sun exposure until you’ve finished healing, then use sunscreen regularly.

SkinPen Microneedling

The SkinPen® uses tiny needles to create “micropunctures” on your skin’s surface. The procedure helps increase blood flow to your skin and stimulates collagen production. Collagen is a protein in your body that gives your skin structure and support. As we age, collagen levels naturally decrease, which can lead to wrinkles and sagging skin. Microneedling can help boost some of that lost collagen.

Microneedling is a good option for skin concerns such as:

  • Facial acne scars
  • Wrinkles on the neck

Medical-Grade Facials and Other Services

We also offer facials to clean, exfoliate and nourish your skin. We use medical-grade products that have been studied for safety and effectiveness across people of different ages, skin tones and skin types.

Additionally, we offer our medical-grade lotions, cleansers and other skin care products for sale. Our aestheticians can help match you with the right products to use at home for your skin care needs.

Which Facial Treatments Are Right for You?

If you’re new to skin care services, it can be hard to know where to start. The licensed aestheticians at The Center for Plastic Surgery at Sentara Princess Anne discuss your options to help you find the right services for your skin care concerns.

Our practice also has nurses on staff who provide medical injections such as Botox®, plasma injections and fillers. If you’re looking for more dramatic changes, our experienced plastic surgeons offer several procedures. If you’re not sure what you want, give us a call. Together, we can mix and match a menu of services and facial treatments to meet your goals.

Aesthetic Facial Treatments at Sentara

So why choose The Center for Plastic Surgery at Sentara Princess Anne for your skin care needs? As a medical setting, we take safety and sanitation seriously. Our experienced providers use proven techniques and products to help you put your best face forward.

To make an appointment at The Center for Plastic Surgery at Sentara Princess Anne in Virginia Beach, call 757-507-0720.