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Dr. Cox uses a holistic approach to facial aging, rejuvenation, and maintenance. Her style takes into account the physiology of the skin, the effects of age and environment on the complexion, and the gentlest way to create long-lasting vibrance for years to come.

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You're a unique individual, and you deserve a unique approach to the care and maintenance of your skin. Whether you're facing chronic issues related to your skin's health or you're looking for a way to enhance your look ahead of an event or social get-together, Dr. Cox can create a bespoke facial rejuvenation plan that is tailored directly to your needs, and the highly unique qualities of your skin.

About the Skin

Our faces don’t age in a one-dimensional pattern. There are complex changes within the different layers and structural components that collectively make up our individual facial texture, contour, and tone. Texture is determined by our skin and the health of its layers. Skin is the largest organ in the body and has essential responsibilities such as surface barrier protection, insulation, cooling, environmental signaling, and cushioning of deeper facial structures. For simplicity, consider there are two layers that together make up the skin: An external ‘barrier' layer, and an internal ‘cushioning’ layer separated by a membrane.

The External Layer

The external layer consists of tissue oriented in a flat, planar shape at the outermost surface and plumper towards the inner separating membrane.

The external layer is largely responsible for providing barrier protection and the integrity of the complexion.

The Internal Layer

The internal layer consists of tissue oriented in a matrix of proteins and other elements configured in a dense and supportive, yet supple structure. This layer is largely responsible for supporting the external layer, precursory cushioning of the deeper structures of the face, and as a domain for blood vessels, sensory nerves, and other specialized cells.

Skin Treatments

There are treatments that specifically address the skin layers with the goal of maintaining their vibrance. The side effect is healthy, beautiful skin. These treatments include the following:

Chemical Peels: These are substances with acidic properties that can penetrate both the external and internal layers of the skin depending on the strength of the peel. Superficial peels generally act on the external layers by causing keratolysis (exfoliative effect) and result in polished, glowing skin. Deeper peels penetrate the external and internal layers and not only polish but stimulate collagen production internally, which keeps the skin supported, supple, and elastic.
Ablative and Non-ablative Energy: These modalities use light energy to rejuvenate the skin. With ablative energy, the light heats the skin, removing superficial to deep layers, resulting in exfoliation and collagen and elastin remodeling and production. Non-ablative energy also heats the skin but typically does not remove skin cells. Instead, non-ablative energy devices typically bypass the external skin layers and deliver heat to the internal layers (dermis), resulting in the revitalization of this tissue.
Skincare: Consistent, high-quality topical products that nourish the external skin layers, promoting active cellular turnover, smooth texture, pore clarity, and a radiant complexion.
Color-Specific Lights and Lasers: These light and laser modalities are designed to focus on color changes in the skin (e.g., red and brown spots). They can range from non-selective light therapies to highly selective lasers that target the chromophore responsible for the red (hemoglobin) or brown (melanin) discolorations. The result is a more uniform complexion.
Radiofrequency Energy: This nonsurgical treatment uses electromagnetic waves to increase the temperature of the dermis. The added heat stimulates collagen production, which is responsible for skin firmness, thus decreasing the appearance of wrinkles and sagging skin.

Deeper Skin Structures

Contour and tone are characteristics of the face that largely involve the deeper structures, and every person has a unique combination. Simply put, contour is related to facial shape, and tone is related to how tight the facial structures are.

Over time, our faces lose volume and loosen, which changes facial contour and tone. These deeper structures include fat pads that provide volume, muscles that are involved in facial expression, bone that is the framework of the facial structures, and numerous ligaments that suspend and connect all these facial structures together within compartments. As we mature, each of these undergo changes individually and as a group, which results in an overall loosened and droopy appearance.

Deeper Skin Treatments

There are nonsurgical and surgical procedures that are designed to address these global facial changes.

Volume-Enhancing Fillers

Fillers are used to address facial shape changes due to fat pad and volume deflation. These are not designed to lift the face. There are different types of filler substances, including but not limited to, hyaluronic acid (HA), stimulatory lactic acid, and your own fat (autologous fat grafting). When utilized appropriately, these provide a powerful restorative result.

Neurotoxins

These are micro injections of botulinum toxin that exclusively target the muscle and nerve interaction. They relax muscles by temporarily interrupting the connection between the nerve ending and the muscle. This results in softened muscle action and less bunching and wrinkling of the skin.

Radiofrequency Energy

By stimulating the production of collagen in the skin using the heat generated by electromagnetic waves, the skin becomes firmer with less wrinkles.

Surgical Lifts

These are procedures that are utilized when other modalities cannot adequately address facial laxity. These include blepharoplasty, brow lift, neck lift, and facelift surgeries. The goal is to rearrange and restore a natural contour to the facial structures that have changed beyond what an energy device or injection can approach.

Other Considerations for Beautiful Skin

It is important to be mindful of other variables that have a strong influence on the skin and facial aging, including weight management, lifestyle habits, and genetics. Even more important is maintaining a mentality that focuses on healthy habits and reasonable expectations. We all experience aging, and instead of achieving a certain ideal ‘look’ or ‘age’, our aesthetic services focus on restoring and maintaining facial tissue health. The side effect is a luminous and natural result.

Schedule a Consultation

If you would like to address the signs of aging through a holistic approach that will restore your skin to its youthful glow using a variety of nonsurgical or surgical treatments, schedule your appointment for a consultation in Boulder today.

Dr. Cox will assess your facial structure, your skin, your medical history, and your goals to develop a treatment plan that is customized just for you. Rejuvenate your appearance and radiate beauty from every cell of your being!