Skin Rejuvenation and Reconstruction

At Faith Regional Physicians Services in Norfolk, Nebraska, we combine smart therapies to treat problem areas and refresh your skin. Your care is guided by a board-certified plastic surgeon with advanced expertise in the latest skincare treatments.

We offer laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, fillers, topical therapies, and other treatments. You can enhance the skin on your face, neck, hands, or anywhere on your body. Conditions treated range from dark patches, skin irregularities, and loss of skin tone to spider veins and blood vessel malformations.

Removing large or curved lesions on the face, nose or other parts of the body may require reconstructive procedures. Your plastic surgeon has specialty training in complex incision placement and closure for safe wound healing with minimal scarring.

Skin Rejuvenating and Resurfacing

Today’s technologies, tools, and products can help give your skin a fresh start. We’ll combine multiple therapies with a series of treatments to get the look you want.

Skin condition, quality, and your goals are as unique as you are. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your concerns. Your plastic surgeon will recommend effective ways to brighten skin, smooth surfaces, and fix flaws.  

Conditions We Treat 

At Faith Regional, we treat these and other skin conditions:

  • Birthmarks
  • Dark patches, sun damage, age spots, and freckles
  • Dull skin caused by cell buildup and clogged pores
  • Lines, wrinkles, and folds
  • Moles and other lesions
  • Pitted or discolored areas
  • Poor skin tone and loss of elasticity
  • Scars from acne, surgery, or injury
  • Spider veins, visible blood vessels, and redness

Skin Care Procedures

At Faith Regional, we offer many skin rejuvenation treatment methods, including:

  • Chemical peels – The doctor applies pharmaceutical-grade acid peels that penetrate the skin and remove damaged layers. Lighter compounds include glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, and fruit enzymes. Deeper compounds include trichloroacetic acid (TCA), phenol, and croton oils.
  • Dermabrasion – The surgeon uses a blade or rotating device to exfoliate the skin, remove flaws and encourage new skin growth.
  • Injectable dermal fillers – Surgeons inject soft tissue fillers to diminish lines and fill out and shape the face, neck, hands, or other areas. Formulas include natural collagen, hyaluronic acid gel, and other formulas.
  • Intense pulsed light (IPL) – The surgeon uses broad-wavelength pulsed light to tighten skin and treat lines, spots, spider veins, rosacea, sun damage, and other flaws.
  • Laser skin resurfacing – Ablative (deeper) and non-ablative (gentler) laser therapies smooth out lines and wrinkles by removing skin layers and stimulating collagen growth. Doctors use computer-generated laser wavelengths from fractional CO2, YAG, or other lasers. Your surgeon tightens skin and treats wrinkles, blemishes and scars.
  • Micro-needling – Using fine needles, the surgeon treats lines and folds around your mouth, vertical lip lines, and other wrinkles on your face or neck.
  • Microdermabrasion – The surgeon uses a fine-tipped instrument or mist of abrasive particles to exfoliate the skin. This reduces scars and spots, minimizes lines, brightens skin, and improves skin tone.
  • Neuromodulators – Your surgeon injects Botox, Dysport, or other purified neurotoxin complexes to block muscle-contracting nerves. This reduces lines on the face and neck.
  • Spider vein treatment (sclerotherapy) – Your doctor makes a series of injections that collapse tiny red veins on the skin’s surface.

Complex Wounds and Skin Reconstruction

When your surgeon removes a large, deep, or irregular lesion, it leaves an open wound. Plastic surgeons use special incision methods and closure techniques. This promotes healthy wound healing and protection while keeping scarring to a minimum.

Risks of Skin Rejuvenation and Resurfacing

Skin rejuvenation methods are minimally invasive, but some risks occur with any procedure. These include:

  • Burns
  • Infection
  • Poor wound healing
  • Redness and swelling
  • Scarring
  • Sun sensitivity
  • Texture changes

Condition-Specific Risks

Certain procedures carry unique risks, which your doctor will discuss. For example:

  • Deep dermabrasion or removal of large lesions exposes tender skin. Your surgeon provides wound care and other guidance to reduce infection risk.
  • Dermabrasion can change skin pigmentation. Your doctor advises you on whether it’s appropriate for your skin type.
  • After a skin graft, there is a risk of poorly matched skin color, texture, or thickness of the transferred skin.
  • If cancer is found during a biopsy, your doctor will talk with you about prompt, specialized care.

Your surgeon will discuss risks, answer questions and discuss ways to reduce the chance of complications.  

During Your Procedure

Most skin rejuvenation procedures at Faith Regional can be done in your doctor’s office. Procedure times can range from 15 minutes to two hours or more for a full-face treatment. Your skin will be cleaned and sterilized. Treatment steps vary and may include:

  • Ablative laser skin resurfacing – Your surgeon directs a light beam over treated areas to remove damaged skin and heat underlying skin. This can cause discomfort and the doctor may give you sedation or local anesthesia to numb your skin.
  • Other types of skin resurfacing:
    • Chemical peels and IPL are less invasive and relatively painless, but your doctor may give you a topical numbing cream to keep you comfortable.
    • For chemical peels, the doctor applies a thin solution over your skin. Once the formula soaks in, the doctor clears the area and applies a soothing serum.
    • If you have dermabrasion, the surgeon uses a blade or rotating device to gently exfoliate skin one layer at a time.
    • For microdermabrasion, the surgeon uses a fine-tipped instrument or a fine spray of abrasive particles to exfoliate skin and vacuum exfoliated skin.
  • Injectable therapies – Botox or other injectables can cause a mild, temporary pinching sensation. Your doctor may give you a local, topical anesthetic.
  • Large or complex lesion procedures – You’ll have local or general anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision around the lesion and a small margin of tissue. The doctor removes the lesion and may send it to a lab for biopsy.

During initial office visits, the surgeon may discuss types of incisions. Closure techniques for complex wounds can include flap procedures that use adjacent tissues to close the wound.

If you have a skin graft, the surgeon removes tissue from a predetermined area, such as behind the ear or neck, and sutures it over the surgical wound. The doctor may add a dressing that prevents fluid buildup.

After Your Procedure

The post-procedure skin condition can range from normal to red or flaky with scabs and blisters. After injections, you may experience mild swelling or bruising.

Deeper chemical peels or surgical removal of a large lesion require a longer healing process and downtime.

After skin reconstruction such as a flap or graft, you’ll have soreness, redness, and discomfort. You’ll receive pain medication and your doctor will instruct you about wound care.

During earlier office visits, your doctor will discuss expected results and recovery time. Your practitioners will arrange follow-up care.

Results

Skin rejuvenating results vary. Visible improvements begin to be evident once any swelling or redness subsides. Results can last for years with good health habits and skincare. The surgeon will discuss ways to protect your skin. For lasting results, follow your doctor’s guidance.

Your Plastic Surgery Team

At Faith Regional, your plastic surgeon, a specialized nurse and other healthcare professionals such as an advanced care practitioner may be involved in your care.

Dr. Mark Shashikant

Schedule a Consultation

You can reach us at 402-844-8167, frpsclinics@frhs.org, or online to schedule an appointment.