Conditions We Treat

Facial and Under Eye Rejuvenation

As we age, collagen production starts to slow down and our skin loses its elasticity and firmness — lines and wrinkles appear, skin sags, and our complexion turns duller.

As we age, collagen production starts to slow down and our skin loses its elasticity and firmness — lines and wrinkles appear, skin sags, and our complexion turns duller.

Thankfully, there are a variety of modern treatments for facial and under eye rejuvenation. At Livingstone Dermatology, we offer medical-grade, non-surgical procedures to help restore skin for a tighter, refreshed, and more lifted look, so you can feel confident in your skin at any age.

Understanding our skin’s ageing process

Ageing is a natural and inevitable part of life, and it impacts every layer of our skin — with visible changes like wrinkles, pigmentation and skin laxity. Most of these changes are caused by slower cell turnover, and reduced collagen and elastin production.

Slower cell turnover rate

When we’re younger, damaged or dead cells are replaced with newer ones at a faster rate. Conversely, as we age, this cell renewal process slows down, resulting in an accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. This leads to:

  • Uneven skin tone and texture — dead skin cells build up on the skin’s surface, causing dull and uneven skin textures.
  • Pigmentation — pigmentation issues, like dark spots or liver spots, can appear when damaged skin cells are not replaced as efficiently.
  • Thinner skin — reduced collagen and elastin production also leads to thinner skin, and loss of fat and connective tissue. This is particularly evident under the eyes where our skin is naturally thinner [1].

Slower collagen and elastin production

In our mid-20’s, collagen and elastin production begins to slow gradually, but we usually experience noticeable effects during our 30’s and 40’s. Combined with the slower rate of collagen production, the skin slowly loses its elasticity, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin [1, 2].

Thinner skin

Due to the decline in collagen and elastin production, along with loss of fat and slower cell renewal, we may experience thinner skin.

This is more evident in the skin under our eyes, which are naturally thinner. The under-eye area also requires more delicate treatment, and may not be suited for conventional facial rejuvenation procedures.

What can Facial and Under Eye Rejuvenation treat?

Facial and under eye rejuvenation targets the mechanisms of ageing in our skin cells, enhancing cell turnover rate and collagen synthesis. Hence, these treatments generally target and reverse the effects of skin ageing, such as:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Acne scars
  • Freckles and sunspots
  • Loose or sagging skin
  • Eye bags and sunken under eye
  • Dull or uneven skin
  • Pigmentation

Types of Facial and Under Eye Rejuvenation treatments

Reversing ageing doesn’t have to be synonymous with going under the knife. Advancements in technology and science have brought about minimally invasive treatments to reverse the effects of ageing and achieve a more refreshed, younger-looking appearance.

Topical Serums (with peptides and growth factors)

Topical serums are lightweight formulations designed to deliver active ingredients in the skin. Topical serums tailored for rejuvenation often target skin-ageing concerns, such as fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation and skin dryness.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as messengers, stimulating collagen and elastin production, keeping your skin tight, plump and strengthening the skin’s foundation. Growth factors, on the other hand, are proteins that naturally occur in the body and promote cell growth and repair.

Depending on the topical serum formulated, they can provide the following rejuvenation benefits:

  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Enhances skin firmness and elasticity
  • Stimulates collagen and elastin production
  • Improves skin hydration
  • Improves overall skin tone and texture
  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Reduces inflammation

Polynucleotide Injections

Polynucleotide (PN) injections are medical aesthetic injections that repair the skin with polynucleotides, which are biological molecules derived from DNA fragments. This confers tissue regeneration, boosts hydration, and encourages skin healing.

One commonly known type of polynucleotide injection are polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) injections delivered directly to the dermis via micro-injections. PDRN is a compound taken from purified salmon DNA, which is highly biocompatible and well-tolerated, minimising risk of rejection. PDRN Injections have the following benefits:

  • Improves skin tone and texture
  • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
  • Fortifies the skin barrier
  • Promotes skin healing
  • Calms inflammation
  • Deeply hydrates
  • Accelerates tissue repair
  • Minimises scars
Polynucleotides can be delivered into facial skin via a variety of methods.

Laser treatments

Laser treatments are advanced dermatological procedures that utilise targeted light energy to treat various skin issues, such as sagging skin, fine lines, wrinkles, and pigmentation. Some laser treatments work by reaching deeper layers of the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production, while other laser treatments resurface the skin to reveal the newer skin underneath. These include:

  • Ablative lasers — Ablative lasers generally work by removing the outer layer of the skin to reveal the newer skin underneath. At the same time, collagen and elastin production is stimulated. This leads to resurfaced and rejuvenated skin.
  • Fractional lasers — Fractional lasers target deeper layers of the skin in a grid-like pattern without damaging the outer layers or surrounding tissues. This is useful for stimulating collagen and elastin production, while addressing fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Collagen lasers — Collagen lasers are specially designed to stimulate collagen production in the skin. Deeper layers of the skin are accessed via laser energy, and the heat generated stimulates the production of collagen and elastin to tighten the skin and improve skin texture.

Are there any risks or side effects of facial and under eye rejuvenation?

Due to their minimally invasive nature, these treatments are generally well-tolerated, with minimal side effects. Common side effects include redness, swelling or bruising, but this subsides within a few days.

What can I expect from a facial rejuvenation treatment?

Before your treatment, a consultation with our Dermatologist is necessary to assess your skin condition and discuss the treatment plan with you. What to expect varies, depending on the type of treatment you are most suitable for.

Is it painful?

Many of these facial and under-eye rejuvenation treatments are generally well-tolerated. However, for certain treatments, numbing cream is applied to minimise pain and keep you as comfortable as possible throughout the procedure.

When do I see results?

When you see results also depends on the type of treatment you opt for. Generally, for laser and polynucleotide injections, results will continue to improve over time as your skin heals and collagen and elastin production is encouraged.

Is there downtime?

Due to their minimally invasive nature, facial and under eye rejuvenation treatments generally have close to no downtime. In fact, they’re often touted as “lunchtime treatments” because you can come in for a quick session and resume your daily activities right after.

Reach out to us now to schedule a consultation session. We are dedicated to addressing any concerns and doubts you may have on facial and under eye rejuvenation treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use peptide or growth factor serum with other skin care?

Yes, peptides and growth factor serums can be layered with other skin care ingredients such as retinols. Using these ingredients together may also enhance the anti-ageing effects. However, it is best to consult your dermatologist before mixing your skin care to ensure optimal results.

Polynucleotide injections can last up to 6 months, but this will also vary from person to person.

A healthy lifestyle and consistent skin care can slow down ageing of our skin. Some of these include:

  • Wearing sunscreen regularly
  • Eating a balanced diet
  • Exercising regularly
  • Reducing alcohol intake
  • Quit smoking
  • Getting enough sleep

Yes, there are generally 4 main types of topical peptides:

Signal peptides Signal peptides, such as Matrixyl, stimulate the production of collagen, elastin and other proteins in the skin. This enhances the skin’s structure and firmness and adds “bounce” to your face.
Carrier peptidesCarrier peptides carry elements like copper and magnesium, which promotes skin healing, repair and regeneration.
Enzyme-inhibiting peptidesEnzyme-inhibiting peptides, such as soy peptides, prevent the breakdown of collagen by inhibiting the action of certain enzymes. This helps slow the effects of ageing and maintains skin structure.
Neurotransmitter-inhibiting peptidesNeurotransmitter-inhibiting peptides reduce dynamic facial expressions by blocking signals that cause facial muscles to contract. This reduces the appearance of wrinkles and expression lines. 

Topical peptides are very versatile, and often incorporated into serums or topical solutions during professional treatments [9].

References

  1. Letsiou S. Tracing skin aging process: a mini- review of in vitro approaches. Biogerontology. 2021 Jun;22(3):261-272. doi: 10.1007/s10522-021-09916-z. Epub 2021 Mar 15. PMID: 33721158.
  2. Fullard N, Wordsworth J, Welsh C, Maltman V, Bascom C, Tasseff R, Isfort R, Costello L, Scanlan RL, Przyborski S, Shanley D. Cell Senescence-Independent Changes of Human Skin Fibroblasts with Age. Cells. 2024 Apr 9;13(8):659. doi: 10.3390/cells13080659. PMID: 38667274; PMCID: PMC11048776.
  3. Aldag C, Nogueira Teixeira D, Leventhal PS. Skin rejuvenation using cosmetic products containing growth factors, cytokines, and matrikines: a review of the literature. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 Nov 9;9:411-419. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S116158. PMID: 27877059; PMCID: PMC5108505.
  4. Quinlan DJ, Ghanem AM, Hassan H. Topical growth factor preparations for facial skin rejuvenation: A systematic review. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2023 Jul;22(7):2023-2039. doi: 10.1111/jocd.15644. Epub 2023 May 24. PMID: 37222303.
  5. Griffiths TW, Watson REB, Langton AK. Skin ageing and topical rejuvenation strategies. Br J Dermatol. 2023 Oct 30;189(Suppl 1):i17-i23. doi: 10.1093/bjd/ljad282. PMID: 37903073.
  6. Lee KWA, Chan KWL, Lee A, Lee CH, Wan J, Wong S, Yi KH. Polynucleotides in Aesthetic Medicine: A Review of Current Practices and Perceived Effectiveness. Int J Mol Sci. 2024 Jul 27;25(15):8224. doi: 10.3390/ijms25158224. PMID: 39125793; PMCID: PMC11311621.
  7. Lee YJ, Kim HT, Lee YJ, Paik SH, Moon YS, Lee WJ, Chang SE, Lee MW, Choi JH, Jung JM, Won CH. Comparison of the effects of polynucleotide and hyaluronic acid fillers on periocular rejuvenation: a randomized, double-blind, split-face trial. J Dermatolog Treat. 2022 Feb;33(1):254-260. doi: 10.1080/09546634.2020.1748857. Epub 2020 Apr 6. PMID: 32248707.
  8. Yi KH, Winayanuwattikun W, Kim SY, Wan J, Vachatimanont V, Putri AI, Hidajat IJ, Yogya Y, Pamela R. Skin boosters: Definitions and varied classifications. Skin Res Technol. 2024 Mar;30(3):e13627. doi: 10.1111/srt.13627. PMID: 38481069; PMCID: PMC10938033.
  9. Topical Peptides: Applications in Cosmetics and Dermatology. Cosmetics. 2017 Jun;4(2):16. doi: 10.3390/cosmetics4020016.

Your Journey to Healthy Skin Starts Here

Whether you’re dealing with a specific skin concern or seeking to enhance your natural beauty, Livingstone Dermatology is here to guide you on your journey to healthy, radiant skin. 

Schedule an appointment today and experience the Livingstone standard of care in a welcoming, professional environment.