A Guide to Today’s Most Popular Medical Aesthetic Treatments

A guide to today’s most popular medical aesthetic treatments

Skin Booster Injections

Downtime: 1 day

Pain level:

How it works: Nutrients such as hyaluronic acid are injected into the superficial and mid-dermis. This replenishes hyaluronic acid and other nutrients while stimulating
collagen production, a skin-rejuvenating system that helps slow the aging signs caused by collagen loss and dehydration.

As we age, hyaluronic acid content gradually decreases, especially noticeably within the dermis. This leads to changes in skin quality, requiring intervention to help the skin return to good condition. Skin booster injections can help improve enlarged pores, skin aging, uneven skin tone, pigmentation, rough skin, dry skin, excessive sweating, and even hair loss.

Procedure: After facial numbing, a 5-pin 31G ultra-fine needle is used to treat the entire face (forehead, eye area, temples, cheeks, nasolabial folds, chin), neck, chest, scalp and other areas.

Skin booster injections are quick and simple to perform. Marks typically fade within 1-3 hours after treatment, allowing you to resume normal life, with natural-looking results. Depending on the treatment area and the injected substance, results generally appear 2-3 days after treatment and last 2-3 months.

After skin booster injections there may be localized redness, swelling and bruising, which usually disappears within 2 to 3 days. Sunscreen (SPF 50 recommended) must be applied when going outdoors. For one week, avoid saunas, intense exercise and facial massage; smoking and drinking alcohol will reduce the post-treatment results. Wait 12 hours after treatment before washing your face, and be gentle when doing so. Make sure to drink 1.5 L of water daily.

However, the following groups are not suitable for skin booster injections

(1) People with pustular acne on the face (2) People with common conditions such as high blood pressure or heart disease are not recommended, and treatment should be deferred (3) People with allergic or scar-prone constitutions (4) People in special physical states (pregnancy, breastfeeding, menstruation, etc.)

Acne & Pigmentation Treatments /

Currently popular “acne & pigmentation” medical aesthetic treatments

Oral isotretinoin therapy, AHA chemical peels, OPT photorejuvenation, laser treatment, PRP repair therapy, and more.

Oral Isotretinoin (A-acid) Therapy

Downtime: none

Pain level: none

How it works: Reduces oil (sebum) production and inhibits the growth and proliferation of Cutibacterium acnes.

Procedure: Taken orally daily, for a continuous course of 3-6 months each time. After taking it, you still need to strengthen sun protection to prevent acne marks from darkening. This treatment method is more suitable for deep, severe acne. Because this type of treatment is a medication, long-term use is not recommended. Women taking oral isotretinoin are advised not to conceive within two years, to avoid the risk of fetal malformation. For milder acne concerns, it is generally not recommended.

OPT Photorejuvenation

Downtime: 3 days

Pain level:

How it works: This is a treatment that uses intense pulsed light to address skin concerns. The process is non-invasive and does not contact the skin, making it relatively safe. OPT is a high-tech technology with very high production costs, and the equipment is generally very expensive. Operating the device is highly specialized and requires long-term training and clinical experience to use well. It can address superficial skin pigmentation (such as freckles, age spots, solar lentigines, etc.), broken capillaries (redness), enlarged pores, skin firmness, and issues such as laxity and wrinkles. It can also treat seborrheic dermatitis, steroid-dependent dermatitis, acne and rosacea.

Procedure: A full-face treatment generally takes only about 20-30 minutes, while localized treatment takes only 5-10 minutes, once every two weeks.

Some areas may become slightly red after treatment, which usually fades quickly with no obvious marks. Pair it with repair-focused products for skin conditioning. Many devices on the market are not genuine OPT, so be sure to seek a licensed medical facility for treatment in order to ensure its effectiveness.

PRP Repair Therapy (a newer treatment method: autologous stem cell repair therapy)

Downtime: 3 days

Pain level:

How it works: Plasma rich in a high concentration of platelets is separated from your own blood. This can stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of dermal stem cells and attract abundant secretion of skin growth factors. It can also promote the substantial release of platelets, which contain 9 growth factors that aid wound and tissue healing and cell regeneration, repairing nine autologous growth factors within the skin. It can also produce proteins with cell-binding functions, forming the large protein molecules needed for tissue structure, and effectively promote the proliferation of type III and type IV collagen. PRP can fill in wrinkles, depressions and scars, and can be used for full-face minor rejuvenation, comparable to a surgical facelift. It can comprehensively repair and reorganize the entire skin structure, enhancing skin condition in an all-round way and slowing aging.

Procedure: Once every two to four weeks. The extraction of your own blood can be completed in 30 minutes, shortening treatment time.

Step 1. Venous blood is drawn and mixed directly with the reagent in a sealed tube, then centrifuged for 10-15 minutes to prepare autologous plasma containing 8 growth factors.

Step 2. The desired area is selected for injection; injection depth and method also affect the results. Methods include device-assisted injection, dermaroller, dermapen, and syringe injection.

Step 3. After injection, apply ice for 20-40 minutes.

Step 4. Hydrate and nourish the skin after treatment.

Of course, all of the above must be performed at a professional medical facility. At the same time, because serum rich in high-concentration growth factors is extracted from your own blood for treatment, it does not cause a rejection reaction.

AHA Chemical Peel

Downtime: one week

Pain level:

The AHA chemical peel is a type of “superficial chemical peeling” and is also currently the most commonly used. There are now many types of AHA peels on the market, and which acid to use, what percentage of acid, and how long to leave it on all need to be chosen according to each person’s needs and condition.

How it works: A high concentration of alpha hydroxy acid is used to exfoliate the skin’s keratin, causing the aged stratum corneum on the skin surface to shed, and promoting the proliferation of elastic fibers within the dermis. This can improve enlarged pores and make the skin smooth and elastic. It works well for superficial acne scars.

Procedure: Once every two weeks (varies from person to person).

Step 1. A patch test must be done before an AHA peel.

Step 2. The treatment area is cleansed with a special cleanser, then high-concentration acid is applied in the order of forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. After a few minutes, a neutralizing solution is sprayed on, followed by an ice compress to reduce pain and redness, and finally a repair cream is applied.

You may feel some stinging during the process, and there may be mild redness and pain within the first two days after treatment. Some people experience peeling after the peel; after receiving an AHA peel, the skin will need about several days to a week to fully return to normal.

A course of treatment requires roughly eight to ten sessions. Each peel should be spaced two to four weeks apart, and the concentration of acid used and the duration will gradually increase or decrease with your skin’s condition. Multiple treatments are needed before acne scars can be effectively cleared.

(1) At the time of treatment, the area must be free of viral infections such as herpes or warts, free of wounds, with no recent surgery or acute eczema, in order to undergo an AHA peel.

(2) Within one week you may feel: mild irritation, itching, a burning sensation, mild pain, tightness on the face, peeling or slight scabbing. Apply ice within 24-48 hours after the peel to avoid swelling.

(3) Within 1-7 days after the peel, wash your face with plain water only (avoid vigorously rubbing the skin), and use ointment or nourishing cream as directed by your physician (once in the morning and once at night). After about 1-7 days, you can use cleansers to wash your face (gently patting dry) and resume using your post-peel AHA skincare products.

(4) Absolutely avoid sun exposure before the skin returns to normal, and apply sunscreen products when going outdoors after it does. Sun protection is the most important part of post-peel care; without careful sun protection, the skin can easily darken and become dull more quickly.

Laser Pigmentation Removal

Downtime: 10 days

Pain level:

How it works: The laser emitted by the device can concentrate and penetrate the skin, targeting the pigment in spotted areas. Under the strong laser, the pigment in the spots disperses on its own, reducing pigmentation. The laser does not forcibly remove the pigment, but if the wrong laser is chosen or the intensity is too high, scarring may remain after treatment.

Procedure: About 30 minutes each session, once every two weeks. Before the laser is needed, we first discuss your needs and goals, and the type and schedule of laser to be used. Then the physician will cleanse the area for you to avoid wound infection after treatment. The laser beam for pigmentation removal is applied spot by spot; depending on the area of skin to be treated, treatment time ranges from a few minutes to half an hour. Afterward, the skin is soothed and calmed, and wound care is provided.

Improper post-laser care can easily leave marks, so long-term aftercare and sun protection are important. Avoid sun exposure for three months to prevent pigment deposition, and use sunscreen as much as possible. In some people, pigmentation may even darken, but it will fade after 3-6 months. The treated area may also feel a burning sensation or have minor bleeding, and scabbing will occur. The scabs fall off on their own after 7-10 days; be careful not to forcibly remove them.

Reactions after treatment vary from person to person; some degree of redness and swelling may occur, which can be relieved with an ice compress. Keep the face away from water for one week, using only a cotton swab dipped in water to carefully wipe the area around the eyes to avoid bacterial infection. The affected area should be treated daily with repair factors or erythromycin to speed skin recovery.

• ID Cosmetic Clinic’s attending physician, Dr. Dan Xu, holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from Canada
• Dr. Xu has a comprehensive understanding of North American aesthetics and the complexity of Asian facial structures
• Combining Eastern and Western aesthetics to create the ideal features best suited to Asian faces
• 80,000 treatment-area cases
• Pioneered by Dr. Dan Xu, an injection technique that lifts the eye and facial areas, specifically addressing the flat Asian face and creating a slimmer face
• Based on your skin concerns, a personalized solution is designed for you, bringing medical aesthetics back to its medical essence
• Personally performed by an experienced Chinese female physician
• Bilingual, on-site consultations for a safe treatment experience
• Free consultation booking