Today, in the fast evolving arena of cosmetic dermatology, it is all about quick, minimal-downtime procedures with big rejuvenation rewards! So before you rush out to invest in this season’s chic new designer wardrobe, take a good look at your face. If it looks healthy, happy, young and well-rested, you do not need any designer labels! If, for whatever reason, be it stress at work, at home, lack of sleep, lack of rest and exercise, too much sun exposure, poor diet, etc., your face looks tired, angry, sad and hollow, this is unfortunately what everyone will notice first.

Although Dr. Sommerville firmly believes that it is our inner beauty, kindness, passion and desire to help those less fortunate than ourselves that matter most in life and ultimately lead to true happiness, in today's society, looking younger and beautiful can potentially alter the quality of one’s life!

The good news is that you can safely, in one or two relatively short visits with little or no downtime erase the frown lines, relax the "crows feet," obtain a gentle lateral brow lift (all with BOTOX®), followed by smoothing out the smile lines with Restylane^® or Juvéderm^®, subtly plump the lips with one of several fillers or receive your first photorejuvenation treatment on top getting started on the skin care regimen that will further reduce the signs of aging and more importantly, keep you looking young! And this is just the beginning of your options. To discuss more, please schedule a consultation with our Medical Director, Dr. Sommerville, today!

Perlane^®

Perlane^® is the newest member of the hyaluronic acid fillers available in the U.S. It is indicated for the correction of deep facial folds and wrinkles, such as nasolabial folds.
It may also be used for shaping facial contours (e.g. cheeks and chin) and for achieving lip fullness.

The three-dimensional gel particles on Perlane^® are hydrophilic molecules attracting and binding water helping to maintain results of the augmentation for about six months.

Perlane^® has been approved for use in the U.S. in May 2007, however it has been used safely by dermatologists and plastic surgeons since 2000 outside the U.S.

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Skin Peels

Chemical peels remove damaged outer layer of the skin to smooth texture, correct hyperpigmentation, sun damage and blemishes, lessen fine lines, stimulate collagen production and create an overall healthier, more youthful appearance.

At Chevy Chase Dermatology, we offer a variety of chemical peels to best suit your unique skin care needs:

• Glycolic Acid Peel
  Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) which include glycolic acid are derived from certain plants and fruits, including sugar cane, apples, grapes and citrus.  “Fruit acids” have been used even by women of ancient Rome to improve their skin.  These acids are now used to improve acne, dry skin, sun damaged skin, hyperpigmentation and fine lines.

  AHAs dissolve the glue that binds together the dead cells on the surface of the skin revealing smoother, softer skin and stimulating new cell growth.  AHAs also dissolve the material that clogs pores in acne patients.  A series of 5 or 6 peels is needed to accomplish the best results.  We perform glycolic acid peels every 2 to 4 weeks and our patients usually return to work or school the next day. 

  An alternative to the glycolic acid peel is “Innovative Facial” by IS Clinical.

• Glow Peel
  Our newest and uniquely flexible peel contains alpha and beta hydroxy acids and resorcinol with a skin firming peptide accelerator. It can be performed every 1 to 3 months depending on the numbers of layers applied. This peel comprehensively addresses sun damage, dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, facial acne, and uneven texture of the skin revealing smoother, softer, more youthful, and glowing complexion. After the peel is performed, patients experience some redness and flaking of the skin. By day 3 or 4 this may be followed by crusting and peeling. The average patient is fully recovered after seven days. Strict sun protection should be followed throughout the entire healing process. Our experience with the Glow Peel is very impressive, especially since we can customize each patient’s results depending on their individual needs and tolerance level for downtime. Please call our office at 301.656.7546 to schedule a consultation or to ask any questions that you may have.

• Obagi® Blue Peel RADIANCE
  This new peel from Obagi® Medical provides superficial exfoliation with little or no downtime. It is indicated for a range of skin concerns including sun damage, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, melasma, and acne. It provides brighter, smoother, and tighter skin after just one use. A series of 4 to 6 peels performed every 2 to 4 weeks provide the best overall results. This salicylic acid-based peel is gentle and safe for most skin types. According to a study performed by OMP, Inc., 92% patients were satisfied with the results and would recommend this peel to a friend.

• VI Peel
  The VI Peel delivers dramatic results with almost no pain and little downtime. It improves the tone and texture of the skin; reduces or eliminates age spots, sun damage and hyperpigmentation, including melasma. What’s more, VI Peel softens fine lines and wrinkles, calms acne, and improves acne scars. It also stimulates the production of collagen. This peel takes approximately 20 minutes to perform. It can be performed on the face as well as the chest, arms, and hands. VI Peel received a prestigious “Best of Show” Award at the 2008 Los Angeles Spa & Resort Expo and Conference and Medical Aesthetics Conference and Expo. It has been featured on the Doctors Show and Extra TV Show. A recent study performed by the International Research Services, Inc. confirmed its safety and efficacy, demonstrating statistically significant improvement in fine lines and wrinkles as well as reduction in melanin content and increase in collagen content.

  Just one peel produces noticeable results and visibly radiant skin; however, VI Peel can safely be performed three to four times a year or even once a month, depending on your individual needs, the degree of sun damage, melasma, or acne scarring. Dr. Sommerville will carefully assess your skin and discuss the best treatment plan.

  Vi Peel produces a relatively mild stinging sensation which subsides almost immediately. After the peel, your skin will look slightly tan, yellow, or red. On days one and two, the skin will feel tighter with no visible peeling. In most patients, the actual peeling starts on day three post-peel, and is finished by day five. The peeling can be mitigated by aggressive moisturizing of the skin. Makeup can be worn after the peel solution has dried completely (four hours or more after VI Peel). Dr. Sommerville recommends avoiding heavy sweating during the first few days after the peel; however, other normal activities can be resumed immediately. The VI Peel contains a patented synergistic blend of powerful ingredients suitable for all skin types.

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Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion allows for gentle and precise skin exfoliation improving the appearance of uneven skin tone, fine lines, hyperpigmentation and sun damage. It is suitable for almost any skin type.

At Chevy Chase Dermatology, our advanced crystal-free microdermabrasion system eliminates the occurrence of airborne hazards while ensuring reliable, excellent results with no patient downtime.

During your forties, the natural cell turnover begins to slow down, resulting in a dull complexion. Microdermabrasion can contribute to restoring your skin’s youth, erasing sun damage, and improving fine lines and dark spots.

Microdermabrasion involves exfoliating the skin using small particles in order to expedite cell turnover and stimulate new cell growth. At our office, we utilize genuine sapphire granules located on a gently vibrating tip, which while passing across the skin surface, removes the outermost layer of dead skin. This safe, no-downtime, painless, yet effective patented Swiss technology represents a form of the newest, state of the art, “coarse grit” microdermabrasion technique.

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Sapphire Microdermabrasion with Botanical Extract Infusion

At Chevy Chase Dermatology, we offer a unique patented Swiss technology of sapphire abrasion performed with genuine sapphire crystals to painlessly and effectively remove the top layer of the skin in order to expedite the cell renewal.  This step prepares the skin to receive and absorb soothing yet stimulating treatment formulated with pure botanical extracts including green tea extract, grape seed extract, rosemary extract, licorice extract and aloe vera.  The results are cumulative over time and a series of 5 treatments is recommended.  This unique procedure is designed to accomplish noticeable reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, revealing softer, smoother skin while reducing the sun damage and hyperpigmentation.

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Sapphire 3™ Photo Abrasion Therapy

THE NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART SWISS TECHNOLOGY representing the ultimate combination of no-downtime, painless rejuvenation treatments for fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged/clogged pores, hyperpigmentation, acne, scars, anti-aging skin rejuvenation and more…

The treatment includes:

• The Sapphire Abrasion named after actual Sapphire granules used to painlessly remove the outer most surface layers of the skin.
• Vitamin and nutrient infused exfoliation delivering the natural benefits of sweet almond, sweet almond oil, glycol, field horsetail and citrus limonum.
• Relaxing Massage and Lymphatic Drainage to detoxify and regenerate the tissues.
• Red Monochromatic Light Therapy to stimulate production of collagen and expedite the replacement of older damaged cells.
• Blue L.E.D. Therapy known for its antibacterial effects in acne and promotion of healthy cell growth and faster healing.

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Fraxel™ Laser

Featured in national media and many beauty magazines, Fraxel laser has been getting unprecedented attention as a true innovation in the area of skin rejuvenation.  It treats wrinkles, melasma, dark spots, and acne scars.  Due to the “fractional technology”, thousands of tiny but deep columns of skin known as microscopic treatment zones are affected leaving the surrounding tissue untouched.  This allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area were treated at once.  Clinical experience suggests that on average, an effective treatment regimen is 3 to 5 sessions spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart.  Results are immediate and progressive.  Optimal improvement occurs in about 3 months.  Only topical anesthesia is required in most cases.  The procedure takes approximately 25 minutes for the full face.  Transient discomfort, redness, exfoliation and swelling are typically the only side effects of the treatment.  Make-up can be applied soon after the treatment.  Fraxel is also appropriate for treatment of the sun damage on the neck, chest, hands and arms.

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Pixel laser

This innovative cutting edge laser treatment counteracts years of sun damage or acne scarring.  It provides noticeable results in as little as a single treatment.  It lifts away years from your face and stimulates new collagen to grow.  It erases fine lines, wrinkles, and even most acne scars.  Pixel® laser treatments are safe and effective and require no anesthesia.  You can expect your skin to be flushed and red after the treatment similar to sunburn.  We usually perform this therapy on Fridays and our patients frequently are able to return to work on Mondays.

How it is possible to have such limited recovery and such noticeable results?  Thanks to the amazing patented technology from Alma Lasers®, the laser light passes through patented optics to penetrate the skin in tiny channels.  Each channel creates a micro-injury without disturbing the surrounding tissue which results in quicker healing and faster recovery.  These micro-injury sites trigger the process of healing.  As collagen remodels, the skin tightens, its texture improves and wrinkles fade.  We find it amazing that considering the results that can be obtained; the patients remain comfortable throughout the procedure without the need for anesthesia.

For most patients, we recommend two treatments spaced two months apart.  The average treatment takes less than 30 minutes.   If you are looking for a safe, yet effective but non-painful treatment to erase years from your face, look no further.  Pixel® laser represents the fruits of many years of research into the fractional ablative technology which became available just a few years ago and is quickly becoming the new standard for facial rejuvenation.  Please call our office at 301.656.SKIN to discuss the benefits of this treatment with Dr. Sommerville or one of our aesthetic assistants.

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