SUPPLEMENT: Pre- and Post-Procedural Care Best Practices to Enhance Energy-Based Treatment Outcomes
August 2019 | Volume 18 | Issue 8 | Department | 186 | Copyright © August 2019
Kilmer, S.L. et al.
aLaser & Skin Surgery Center of Northern California, Sacramento, CA bLaser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, New York, NY cJefferson Laser Surgery and Cosmetic Dermatology Center, Philadelphia, PA dCapital Laser & Skin Care, Chevy Chase, MD eRejuva Medical Aesthetics, Los Angeles, CA fDr. A Jay Burns Cosmetic Surgery, Dallas, TX
Consumer demand for skin tightening and resurfacing procedures has accelerated during the last several years. Numerous energy-based treatment options have emerged for facial rejuvenation together with new complementary skincare products that are specifically formulated for pre- and post-treatment care. Currently, no widely accepted “best practices” guideline exists for combining the safe and effective use of these devices and products for improving clinical outcomes, reducing recovery time, and enhancing overall patient satisfaction. A group of experienced aesthetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons convened for a roundtable discussion of the pre- and post-treatment skincare protocols they currently use with various energy-based facial rejuvenation devices. The objective of this discussion was to generate a Best Practices Guideline. Overall, participants agreed that rejuvenation procedures represent a significant investment in time and money for their patients. Any adjunctive treatment that improves outcomes of a rejuvenation procedure, shortens downtime, and increases patient convenience is desirable and will provide benefits to both the patient and the practice. Participants also agreed that the concept of pre-treatment skin preparation is a recent change in their overall treatment protocol. Depending on the procedure, a variety of pre-treatments being used include hydroquinones for patients prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, retinoids, moisturizers, ceramides, sunscreens, and exfoliants, along with products specifically formulated for pre-procedure use. Similarly, there is a range of post-procedural treatments including ice packs, vinegar soaks, hydroquinones, oral antibiotics, and antivirals, along with products specifically formulated for post-procedure recovery. Although the use of these treatments varied widely across practices, all authors use the Alastin® Skincare line of products, particularly Regenerating Skin Nectar, for both pre- and post-procedural skincare.
J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(8 Suppl 1):s187-195.
