Cosmetic Dermatology

The best way to know which treatment is right for you is to have a consultation with a certified cosmetic dermatology. Cosmetic dermatology isn't one-size-fits-all. The right treatment depends on your skin type, your concerns, your schedule, and how much downtime you're willing to work around. 

Our dermatologists take the time with each patient to understand what's bothering them and what's realistic, rather than recommending the same approach to everyone. If you're not sure where to start, that's completely fine. Book a consultation and we'll figure it out together.

Yes, there is a difference between a dermatology practice and a medspa. At Pure Dermatology, cosmetic treatments are performed or directly supervised by a board-certified dermatologist. That means your provider has the clinical training to recognize when something is a cosmetic concern versus a medical one, and knows  how to treat both. A med spa may offer similar services, but the level of medical oversight varies significantly. For patients who want the confidence that comes with seeing a trained specialist, a dermatology practice is often the better choice. 

Plastic surgery involves surgical procedures like facelifts, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, and implants. Cosmetic dermatology focuses on non-surgical treatments, like injectables, lasers, peels, and other in-office procedures that improve the skin's appearance without going under the knife. 

The two fields overlap in some areas, but for patients looking to address skin texture, tone, volume loss, or early signs of aging, cosmetic dermatology can often achieve meaningful results with far less downtime and risk than surgery.

For most non-surgical cosmetic concerns, like wrinkles, sagging skin, uneven tone, sun damage, and loss of volume, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist is well-equipped to help. You might consider a  plastic surgeon when the concern requires structural change, like significant excess skin, facial reconstruction, or results that injectables and lasers simply can't replicate. During your consultation, we'll give you an honest assessment of what's achievable with the treatments we offer and whether a different specialist might serve you better.

Chemical peels can be effective for a wide range of skin concerns, including uneven tone, sun damage, fine lines, acne-prone skin, and mild pigmentation issues. During your consultation, your dermatologist will evaluate your skin and recommend a peel strength that's appropriate for your skin type and what you're trying to achieve.

Fillers restore volume that's been lost over time and can also reshape or add definition. They're often appropriate to resolve hollowed cheeks, thin lips, deep lines around the mouth, or a less defined jawline. At Pure Dermatology, we use a range of products including Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, and several others, because different fillers have different consistencies and are better suited to different areas of the face. Results typically last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years depending on the product used and the area treated. We'll walk you through what to expect before any treatment.

Both are neuromodulators that relax the muscles responsible for expression lines, including forehead creases, crow's feet, and frown lines between the brows. The difference is mostly in formulation. Dysport has a slightly smaller molecule, which means it can spread a bit more from the injection site. For some patients, this means a more natural look in broader treatment areas like the forehead. We'll recommend whichever is the better fit for your anatomy and goals during your consultation.

Clear and Brilliant is a gentle fractional laser treatment designed for skin maintenance and early prevention. It helps with finer texture, mild tone issues, and early signs of aging. It's often called a "baby Fraxel" because it works on a similar principle but at a lower intensity. Recovery is minimal, typically a day or two of mild redness.

Fraxel goes deeper and produces more significant results, but it requires more downtime. If you're not ready for a more intensive laser treatment or want to maintain results between sessions, Clear and Brilliant can be a good fit. We offer both and will help you decide which makes sense given your skin and your timeline.

Sclerotherapy is the standard treatment for spider veins and small varicose veins, most commonly on the legs. A solution is injected directly into the targeted vein, which causes it to collapse and eventually fade. Most patients need more than one session. There's no significant downtime, though we typically recommend wearing compression stockings for a short period afterward. Spider veins on the face are treated differently, usually with our Excel V laser rather than injections.