Lunchtime cosmetic treatments

Gone are the days of pricey surgeries with long recovery times to treat cosmetic issues. Medical and cosmetic advances today allow you to instantly rejuvenate your appearance with zero downtime.

Between pollution, sun exposure, sleep deprivation and poor food choices, our bodies (especially our skin) can take a beating. So aside from drinking plenty of water, exercising, getting a good night’s sleep and ditching bad habits (tanning, smoking, drinking alcohol), you can turn back time or reshape your body at Rao Dermatology on your lunch break.

With that in mind, here are our suggestions for lunchtime cosmetic procedures and treatments.

1. Microdermabrasion

Our skin has two primary layers: the epidermis (the surface) and the dermis (beneath it). The epidermis itself has five layers, the outermost being the stratum corneum. Originally thought to be merely an inert, protective sheath, the stratum corneum is actually a complex structure that’s responsible for how our skin looks.

This is where microdermabrasion comes in. It’s a specialized dermatological procedure that treats this outermost layer of your skin (going any deeper could potentially damage it) to address fine lines, acne scarring, age spots, blackheads, uneven texture, wrinkles and melasma.

A gentle exfoliation technique, it uses a diamond-tipped wand to loosen and remove dead skin cells while also stimulating collagen production. A non-chemical, non-invasive procedure (it doesn’t hurt), microdermabrasion is dubbed the “lunchtime facelift” because it’s quick and you can go right back to daily life with minimal impact; you just need to stay out of the sun for a while. Microdermabrasion also works well in tandem with other treatments like chemical peels, and it’s a great treatment for “bacne” and stretch marks.

2. Microneedling

Understandably, “needle” and “skin” might not be two words (or realities) you like pairing together, but the dermal roller microneedling system doesn’t actually hurt. It might be mildly uncomfortable, but we use numbing cream to help with that. The tiny, fine needles on a 5” to 6” roller create microscopic, controlled injuries that produce collagen and elastin to improve your skin’s texture and suppleness. For this reason, it’s called a “collagen induction therapy.”

The injuries, or channels, the roller makes heal quickly, and the new collagen production plumps up the skin. This procedure is often coupled with PRP (platelet-rich plasma). Many dermatologists favour microneedling for its versatility: it’s effective for all skin tones (it doesn’t trigger hyperpigmentation), it helps with wrinkles, loose skin and acne scarring, and it can even stimulate hair growth. The treatment takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and you can resume your regular routine immediately afterwards. The only aftereffects are some redness and tenderness, like a raw feeling.

3. PRP (platelet-rich plasma)

While it’s known as the “vampire facelift,” and the concept of blood therapy might send your thoughts spiralling back to the days of bloodletting, PRP is actually a minimally invasive procedure that uses your own blood to promote collagen production and tissue regeneration.

For many patients, the idea of injecting a foreign filler into their body is scary, so PRP offers comparable results using your body’s own resources.

In PRP, your blood is drawn and placed in a centrifuge that separates the platelets and serum from the blood cells. These are then enriched with platelets and growth factors to create a solution that improves tone, tightens your skin and can help with scarring, restoration, under-eye hollows and hair loss, among other benefits and applications like sports injuries, chronic pain and accelerated healing. The procedure itself takes only about 20 to 30 minutes and, like the others noted above, you can return to your regular activities immediately afterwards.

4. truSculpt

But what about lunchtime treatments for the rest of your body? How do you eliminate pesky, troublesome body fat without liposuction? truSculpt can help. A procedure that uses radiofrequency (RF) energy, truSculpt is a non-surgical body contouring treatment that reduces the appearance of both fat and cellulite. Radiofrequency applies deep, controlled heat to the skin’s fatty layers to tighten and boost circulation so that the lymphatic system drains the fat deposits.

Offering improved skin tone and reduced cellulite, truSculpt works best for those with normal BMIs, localized excess fat and healthy lifestyles. It’s not a weight loss procedure.

Looking to enhance your appearance without taking time off work? Try one of these lunchtime procedures.