So, I’m 30. Yep, it happened, and on December 5, 2017 I have entered my third decade of life. Scary things are supposed to happen now, right? Wrinkles, pressure to have babies, officially being more of an adult than I felt I was in my late-twenties?
Luckily, Dermalaser here in Miami is helping me embrace entering my 30’s – at least when it comes to my skin. They focus on laser treatments, body treatments, skin care and injectables and I sat with the owner, Marisol, to consult about my skin needs before deciding what treatments were best for me.
Marisol is one of the most knowledgable skincare experts I have ever spoken with. She gave me some incredible insight into what many spas do wrong and why it’s so important to understand what machines they are using and what exact processes they are using during your treatments. She advised that some medspas use non-FDA approved machines (or are unknowingly sold fraudulent machines that have a fake FDA sticker placed on them). She also said that some technicians don’t apply the right temperature or settings to treatments (for instance, on laser hair removal treatments), so although you might have 6-8 sessions, if the temperature/settings are not correct, you won’t see the results you are promised.
To beginning prepping my skin for 30, I started with an eMatrix treatment before the Thanksgiving weekend, as there is some downtime involved.
{About eMatrix}
Sublative Rejuvenation with eMatrix is a unique procedure which uses radio frequency, rather than a laser, to deliver controlled ablative and non-ablative fractional treatment for wrinkles, scars, large pores, and overall skin composition.
Basically, each pulse of the eMatrix delivers radio frequency energy to small areas of your skin via a grid of matrix spots (the little gun they use has a series of dots in a square that look like a little matrix). This signals the collagen to regenerate and remodel in each area that it hits. The surrounding tissue then helps to support and accelerate the healing process in the skin, which reveals healthier skin (more details below on the benefits).
I’m sure you have some questions…
{Q+A}
What benefits can I expect?
You’ll see reduced fine lines, wrinkles, acne, scarring, and improved skin texture, elasticity, and overall skin composition. Most results appear over a period of three to six months (while collagen is growing), but some patients notice immediate results after healing. I personally noticed a visible difference in my skin’s smoothness, tightness, and brightness as early as 4 days after my treatment.
What is the process?
Your treatment will start with a topical anesthetic applied to your face and neck, which takes about 20-30 minutes to kick in. Luckily, the digs at Dermalaser are a comfy and relaxing spa setting, so I was able to lay on the table under a blanket with a towel on my eyes and spa music playing – not too shabby. After the numbing kicks in, your technician will take the eMatrix “gun”, and apply the frequency (feels like a small pinch), to small sections of your face, until your entire face has been treated.
Your face will be probably feel a bit warm and inflamed, which will only last a few hours. Marisol immediately applied her own cooling mask to my face, which was made up of hyaluronic acid as well as oatmeal, to help the inflammation and redness.
What is the downtime?
The day of the treatment, your face will be red and a bit inflamed, so it’s best to rest and definitely stay out of the sun. Over the next several days, you will start to see the little “matrix” marks come to the surface and start to heal. They scab up a little, but they are extremely tiny so it’s not as noticeable as you think it is. The day after the treatment, don’t wear any makeup, and use sunblock if you plan to head outside. By Day 3, you can wear makeup, which will help cover up any of the little marks that are healing. The recovery process isn’t painful at all, you will just be healing and might slightly peel from any dry skin or scabbing, but it is pretty low-key.
What are the risks and side effects from eMatrix?
The pinching during the procedure has some discomfort (which is minimized by the topical anesthetic). I definitely felt it during the treatment, but each little “zap” is very quick, and the overall treatment does not take long. Side effects may include the redness and inflammation that I mentioned, which usually dissipates by the next day, but could depend on your skin type.
How many treatments do I need?
Dermalaser recommended a series of three treatments for maximum results, over the span of a few months. Most patients do see results after one treatment, so this will depend on your current skin type and issues, and what type of results you would like to see. Although my skin is in pretty good shape without wrinkles or major imperfections, I will probably do at least one more, as I also find it proactive for skin tightening, and it can’t hurt!
A couple of weeks after my treatment, I went back in for an Oxygen Facial, to prep for my actual birthday. The Oxygen Facial provides instant results, often called the “Red Carpet Facial”, as there is no recovery or downtime, so you can get it done the morning of a red carpet event or special occasion. After this facial, my skin was *glowing*. It was dewy and hydrated and bright, and I looked refreshed and rejuvenated – perfect for my birthday festivities (if you follow me on Instagram, you heard all about my incredible surprise birthday party here). See the process and final photo below:
Interested in learning more? I’m happy to answer any additional photos about my treatment, or feel free to contact Dermalaser for a consultation and appointment!
Dermalaser Med Spa is located at 10560 NW 27th St. Suite 102, Doral, FL 33172. Contact them at: (305) 629-9064
