Ask Dr. Man- Non Surgical Wrinkle Treatments

Dear Dr. Man, I’m only 42 years old but I have such bad wrinkles. They’ve only gotten worse since I moved to Florida. I must admit that I spend a lot of time in the sun because I am an avid golfer. I’m most interested in getting rid of the wrinkles on my face, but I’d rather not have surgery. Are there lasers treatments or other non-surgical methods of removing facial wrinkles?



The year-round sunshine in Florida exposes us to more sun than most people in the rest of the country are exposed to. This added exposure to the sun can ultimately lead to premature aging of the skin, as you seem to have noticed. Sun damage causes the skin to lose its elasticity, and lines and wrinkles begin to appear. After a while, the skin’s texture can begin to appear rough, with brown spots or red irregular pigmentations. There are many non-surgical treatments available- both old and new ones, which can help reduce wrinkles and sun damage on the face.



Peels can be an excellent choice to help reduce wrinkles and sun damage. Peels are minimally invasive, cost-effective and involve minimal downtime. Peels also offer flexible treatment options, ranging from light to medium to very deep. Lighter peels include alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, and combination peels. Superficial lines can be treated using these lighter peels. Glycolic acids can help improve skin clarity and increase the thickness of the skin, making it appear more youthful. A series of treatments are required to achieve optimal results; the additional treatments also make excellent “refreshers” for the skin. Beta hydroxy acids, including salicylic acid, are very good and very effective at reducing pigmentations. They are an excellent choice for people with darker skin, acne and oily skin. Combination peels, which entail applying salicylic acid and a special formula known as Jessner, can also be beneficial.



Another procedure that is used to treat lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and acne is TCA, otherwise known as “the designer peel” or “the work horse of the peels.” TCA allows us to do many more things to treat the skin, even more than some expensive lasers. TCA can be used either superficially or deep; lighter skin types allow for deeper penetration. Depending on the depth required, several applications are applied in various concentrations.



Phenol is excellent for treating deep lines and sun damage. Used since 1903 as a skin rejuvenator, it uses a chemical known as phenol, combined with buffers, to remove wrinkles, lines and sun damage. It is considered the “gold standard” by plastic surgeons and dermatologists.



Technology is in the forefront today with new advances in procedures such as intense pulse light (IPL), Erbium, Thermage, Fraxel and Portrait, just to name a few.



The method you choose will depend upon your desires as a patient, as well as the depth of wrinkles and sun damage. I recommend you meet with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss which treatment option is right for you.

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Dr. Daniel Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has dedicated his life’s work to helping people look younger and improve their appearance through cosmetic surgery. He is a noted author, artist, inventor and educator. Dr. Man has been featured on major television networks, as well as national and local magazines and newspapers for his work as both a plastic surgeon and an artist. He has a successful private practice in Boca Raton, FL. For more information about Dr. Man, visit www.drman.com.