Here’s Part 1 if you haven’t read already 🙂
What to Expect at your Clear and Brilliant Treatment
You will discuss with your provider on which handpiece to use depending on your skin goals and priorities. Permea and Original are both amazing, so there’s really no bad decision!
After your consult with your provider, along with a set of photos and signed consents expect:
- + 30 mins topical numbing time
- + 30 mins for treatment
Immediately afterwards, your face feels like a sunburn, tight & red. I apply a soothing vitamin C serum for hydration and healing, as well as sunscreen. The heat quickly subsides in about 30 mins-1hr and is very manageable.
These are my go-to's immediately after treatment
Obagi C-clarifying serum: Contains 4% hydroquinone to reduce hyperpigmentation (sun spots, melasma). Also contains 10% Vit C (antioxidant) to help defend against free radicals that cause aging skin. You can only get this in office, but I will link a similar one here
I love this oil-free EltaMD UV Clear Tinted spf. It helps calm and protect sensitive skins, especially those that are prone to acne and rosacea. This also contains niacinamide (Vit B3), hyaluronic acid, + lactic acid which all promote appearance of healthy looking skin. I also love how it is absolutely lightweight and silky, and oftentimes can substitute as light tinted coverup/foundation.
PRE-CARE instructions
- Make sure to be diligent with being sun-avoidant and wear sunscreen daily.
- Avoid retinols, salicylic acid, and any other active ingredients for at least 3 days prior to treatment.
- You cannot put on numbing cream if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, however you can do the Clear and Brilliant treatment itself … (I’ve only done 2 patients out of many many 100s who didn’t want to have the topical numbing)
- Try to arrive for treatment with a clean slate of a face 🙂
POST-CARE instructions
- In time you may notice little “scab” like texture on your darker spots. We call it microcrusting. Absolutely do not pick nor exfoliate it off! Just moisturize and it will flake off in its due time.
- For the next 3-5 days or so, your face will feel like rough sandpaper and appear dry. Keep moisturizing your face with gentle moisturizer
- *Common sense note: if your moisturizer is feeling extra fiery and burning, please wipe and use something more gentle and simple. Aquaphor, vaseline, cetaphil, cerave suffice.
- You can wear your makeup 12 hrs later, but personally I recommend to let your skin breathe.
- DO wear sunscreen diligently and cover your vulnerable baby skin from the sun
After about a week you will see your beautiful glowy new skin.
It may still feel slightly rough but you can come into the office and get a gentle exfoliating + moisturizing dermalinfusion called DiamondGlow (I wholly love this so much too!) – your skin will be even more soft and supple and glowy!!
How many C&B treatments do you need?
Well depends on your overall goals for your skin. Most start out with a series of 3. However, C&B is easily a staple in the optimal skin care regimen. It eventually becomes part of a maintenance routine, similar to facials and massages. For instance, are you ever going to be done with 3 massages? No I don’t believe so, you’ll be doing it as a maintenance because we want massages for life right lol.
How long do results last and how to best maintain your results?: So the results are immediate and progressive. I say the results build upon the previous. Of course keep on top of your moisturizing and applying sunscreen to prolong your skin health and glow. For best maintenance and regimen, have a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, adequate water intake, exercise, as well as sleep and skincare applications. Protect the investment you make on your face so that your skin is more even, bright, and younger-looking.
How far apart do you do the treatments?: Typically we space out the treatments every 4 wks or so, to allow the regenerative process of your skin to complete itself. However, if patients want to target their acne scars ASAP, then the soonest you can do the treatment is at 2 wks. I also tell patients to do C&B at about 1-1.5 weeks before their big event to have the best glowy, dewy skin!!
