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Question:

Will a chemical peel improve the appearance of large pores?

Answer:

Chemical peels come in a variety of strengths and formulations. In general terms, chemical peels can improve the appearance of large pores. The stronger the formulation of the chemical peel, the deeper the penetration of the chemical agent which results in increased and controlled skin damage.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:
I am in my mid-thirties and still suffer from acne. I have used over-the-counter and prescription treatments, but nothing has worked. I was thinking that a chemical peel might help. Am I correct, or would that just be a temporary solution?

Answer:
Acne is an ongoing problem for most adults who suffer from adult acne. Chemical peels will help to calm down the skin and control some of the acne flare-ups that you are experiencing, but you will still likely have periods where your acne is poorly controlled. At Renu Med Spa and Plastic Surgery we have been extremely pleased with the use of the Isolaz laser with profusion technology to control acne is both teens and adults. The laser treatments are pain free and will not only clean your pores but, will also kill the acne bacteria to prevent future acne outbreaks.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:
I have deep acne scars on my cheeks. How well do fat transfers work on acne scars? I’m not sure if I want to go through such an invasive procedure if there is a risk it might not work very well.

Answer:
Facial acne scars are one of the most challenging issues we deal with as plastic surgeons.  Not all facial acne scars look the same and not all facial acne scars can be treated the same.  Autologous fat injection into the face is an excellent procedure to help elevate some of the wider and deeper acne scars of the face.  The acne scars are first elevated to release the skin from the deep connections that they have to the face and fat is then placed underneath the scars in order to smooth out the face.  Facial fat injection in combination with laser skin resurfacing can really give noticeable improvement to acne scarring of the face.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:
I have very bad facial acne scars. I hate looking like this and it seems to look even worse every year. I am Mexican and have darker skin. Is there a skin resurfacing procedure that I can have that won’t change my skin color but will get rid of some of the pitting on my face?

Answer:
I have been asked this question before and have performed consultations on individuals who are interested in treating acne scarring who also have darker pigmented skin. Laser skin resurfacing or dermabrasion are the two most effective methods to address facial acne scars. The problem with darker skin is the propensity for either burns, or pigment issues of the skin following treatment of the acne scars. Fraxel non-ablative technology can be conservatively performed to treat the acne scars of your face. The results are not as impressive as ablative laser resurfacing or dermabrasion, but, the risks of having Fraxel laser in darker skinned individuals is more predictable and side effects can be avoided.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:
I have very bad facial acne scars. I hate looking like this and it seems to look even worse every year. I am Mexican and have darker skin. Is there a skin resurfacing procedure that I can have that won’t change my skin color but will get rid of some of the pitting on my face?

Answer:
You have a very difficult problem for two reasons. Treatment of deep acne scars can be challenging and treatment of facial scarring in darker skinned individuals can be even more challenging. I would suggest a trial of Fraxel laser to treat your acne scarring. The Fraxel laser treatments will give you a decent amount of improvement in the texture of your skin form the acne scarring but, it is also the safest approach to prevent post procedure complications such as hyper or hypopigmentation of the skin. More invasive procedures such as, full face laser resurfacing or dermabrasion for acne scarring is more effective but your risk of complications is significantly increased.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:
I’m 23, female, and I have pretty bad acne that isn’t getting better. I currently use Accutane to help control it. I’m thinking about getting microdermabrasion to further help keep it in check. I’m a little concerned though: Will the aluminum oxide used for microdermabrasion react badly with the Accutane?

Answer:
There are different machines for microdermabrasion. The use of Accutane for acne should make you cautious in undertaking any abrasive treatment to your skin. Microdermabrasion should pose no harm to yuur skin even with the use of Accutane. We do not use crystlal based microdermabrasion but rather small tips that act as a gentle sandpaper to your skin removing only the outer most layers of dead skin. There is absolutely no risk of interaction with this type of microdermabrasion and Accutane for acne.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:
I’m a 24-year-old female and I am completely fed up with my back acne. I’ve tried all sorts of ointments and washes and nothing seems to help. I’ve been considering trying a skin resurfacing method since less aggressive treatments don’t seem to be working. Can dermabrasion be used to treat acne of the back?

Answer:
Back acne can be a very distressing problem especially in a young female who may wish to wear tops which can be slightly revealing or simply cool in hot weather. We have had great success with the use of our Isolaz with profusion acne laser treatments in controlling and even eliminating back acne flare ups. The procedures are entirely pain free, require no anesthesia, and eliminates the need for systemic drugs such as Accutane for the treatment of acne. The addition of microdermabrasion with a salicylic acid chemical peel really helps in controlling the acne.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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Question:
Can I have the Isolaz treatment and a treatment for my current acne, even if it’s not severe?

Answer
The Isolaz acne treatments are ideal for mild or severe acne. The Isolaz acne treatments are gentle, safe, and extremely effective in both the treatment and prevention of acne.

Posted by Dr. Philip Schoenfeld

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