Most people, including those who otherwise invest significant time and effort into various cosmetic procedures, overlook the importance of proper cleansing, exfoliating, and toning when it comes to facial skincare. Today I want to underscore how valuable a proper facial cleansing regimen is with respect to appearance and anti-aging effects and offer some product recommendations.
Throughout the years of performing cosmetic injectables, I have administered hundreds of deoxycholic acid injections to dissolve the submental fullness (fat) under people’s faces – otherwise known as the much-dreaded DOUBLE CHIN. The chin fat reduction results are generally amazing. If you’ve ever accidentally turned on the reverse camera on your phone and were surprised at what you saw, keep reading.
With a natural phobia of anyone touching or coming close to my ticklish neck, I waited years to finally test out this treatment to remove that stubborn fat from under my own chin. Although I absolutely hated the inflammation period which lasts between 3-14 days (that’s right – your chin fat first swells up, even more, post-treatment), the results were so great that I really wish I hadn’t waited so long. Even after one treatment, everything felt tighter and the area beneath my face displayed a much flatter and sculpted look.
So, for those of you considering the chin fat reduction treatment, you’re probably wondering what you can expect. An initial consultation is definitely necessary, as not everyone is an ideal candidate.
Deoxycholic acid is the product used to perform this treatment, but don’t worry, it’s less terrifying than it sounds. It works by dissolving the fat cells in that area through a series of shallow injections. On average, a patient receives approximately twenty injections per treatment. These injections are generally hardly felt.
Then comes the swelling. The injection area will swell up; peaking approximately 24 hours post-treatment, and slowly dissipating over a period that averages 3-14 days. This occurs because the product is breaking down fat cells, and some of the volume is simply due to the solution itself, so in other words, swelling actually indicates that the solution is working to dissolve the fat. Trust me, this isn’t a treatment you want to do the day before performing your bridesmaid’s duties.
Over the days and weeks following the treatment, inflammation and numbness subside as the fat cells and solution itself slowly become metabolized and processed through your body’s natural metabolic pathway.
The number of chin fat reduction treatments can vary depending on the amount of submental fullness and your goals.
To conclude, if you can get over the downtime and a bit of swelling, the end goal is worth it. Hello, jawline!
Cleansing
Summoning my inner dentist – and being as exasperating as yours is with reminders about the importance of flossing – I cannot stress enough how imperative it is for everyone to be properly cleaning their faces daily!
It is commonplace for people to not put enough care into facial cleansing, or simply skip this step.
Daily, our faces are exposed to a host of potential sources of damage including UV exposure, dirt and pollutants, sweat, dead skin cells, bacteria, and other certain harsh environments (both outdoors and in).
Naturally, our skin creates sebum which is an oily substance that works to protect our skin from damage, however, without proper facial cleansing, the sebum can blend in with any dirt, debris or makeup left on your face and end up clogging skin cells and hair follicles―this can result in a variety of skin issues including a blotchy or unhealthy appearance, acne, and other issues.
Proper washing works to remove any dirt, oil, and debris. This helps to prevent skin issues related to the appearance of your skin but also allows exfoliating and toning products to properly pass through to the skin, the latter being a point that is highly overlooked. If you are purchasing and applying topical skin products regularly, you must ensure that your face is clean enough to actually absorb the product!
Exfoliating
Exfoliating is a crucial second step in a proper facial cleansing regimen to ensure that you are effectively removing any dead skin cells left over on your face. Exfoliation products are generally comprised of a more granular agent that is used to scrub the face. Dead skin cells that remain on the face can clog pores, resulting in a dry-looking appearance, and lead to some of the skin-related issues mentioned above. Proper exfoliation doesn’t help just to remove dead skin cells, but also can work to brighten your face and increase the effectiveness of other skin products.
Another longer-term benefit of exfoliation is the potential to fight the signs of aging by increasing the production of collagen. It works by stimulating your skin’s natural ability to heal itself and, in the process, produces collagen and elastin — the skin’s process of repair, which results in a thickening of the derm. This improves skin elasticity, and thus minimizes age-related skin issues such as sagging and fine lines.
Toning
Toning is the third and final step. Following the use of a facial cleanser and exfoliator, toner is applied to assist in removing any excess traces of makeup, dirt, and oil. Toners also help to reduce the appearance of pores, improve blood flow to the skin and restore the natural pH level of the skin (which ensures proper retention of other skin products and moisture). Given this, toners are a critical product to use before applying other skin creams and moisturizers. Toners generally contain certain acids, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories that work towards these results.
These three steps leave your face clean and ready for any other skin creams such as moisturizing products, which are recommended, particularly after toning, which can leave the face feeling dry.
Products
As I am sure most of you can attest, the lion’s share of over-the-counter skincare products are rarely effective at achieving what they’re intended to. There are many medical-grade products available on the market that most are unaware of exist because they can only be sold by certain entities.
The brands that I carry, for example, include much stronger ingredients and work more effectively to combat certain skin issues as well as signs of ageing. These medical-grade products work harder to cleanse, exfoliate, tone, and protect the skin. Most of these lines generally contain various products and have programs for users to follow, depending on their needs. Below are the products that I carry, use daily and recommend to my clients for facial cleansing.
