You’re never too old to stop learning and the new school year is quickly approaching. For some who have kids, it has already arrived. Either way you may be thinking of having a cosmetic treatment or two to refresh your appearance or make you feel a bit better about the end of summer.

While there isn’t time to recover from a surgical procedure before the first school bell rings, you can choose from a number of non-surgical or minimally invasive treatments that will give you a rejuvenated look just in time for your kid’s first class.

Derma Planing

If you want smoother, more evenly toned skin, derma planing might be just the thing. During the treatment, your surgeon will use a surgical scalpel to gently remove the top layer of skin.

Derma planing is one of the least invasive ways to give your skin a healthy glow. It’s helpful for people who have dry skin, acne scars or who are just beginning to develop fine lines or wrinkles. As an added benefit, the treatment removes the fine, vellus hairs from the face. What it doesn’t do is cause the hair to grow back thicker or coarser.

If you like the results you get from derma planing, you can go back for an additional treatment every four weeks or so. There are some side effects from the treatment, but they are usually very mild. Since a sharp blade is involved, the most common side effect is light bleeding. The treatment isn’t recommended if you’re in the midst of an active breakout or if you  have very oily skin.

Botox

No one wants to be the grumpy teacher. If you’re starting to develop frown lines between your eyebrows, a Botox injection before the school year begins will keep the students from thinking you’re always upset with them.

Botox injections typically last about three or four months, so you may need to repeat them once or twice a semester or once a quarter. The treatment itself is very quick, and typically takes between 10 or 15 minutes. If school is already back in session, you can get the injections on your lunch break and be back in time for the last few periods of the day.

The treatment is often used for the two vertical lines between the eyebrows. It’s also FDA-approved to treat the crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes. Your surgeon may also recommend using Botox to give your eyebrow some lift or to smooth the horizontal lines across your forehead.

Keep in mind that the results aren’t instant. You won’t leave at lunch for your injections and head back to school looking completely different. In many cases, the results gradually appear over the course of several days or a week.

Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty

It’s too late to schedule a surgical nose reshaping surgery before school starts again. You won’t have time to recover without missing class. If you’re thinking about rhinoplasty, a non-surgical rhinoplasty can give you an idea of what you can expect, without a lengthy recovery process or the high upfront cost of surgery.

The non-surgical option uses fillers, such as Juvederm, Radiesse or Restylane to correct an asymmetrical nose or to fix up bumps on the nose. The non-surgical route isn’t for everyone, though. If you want a smaller nose, it won’t work for you, for example.

Usually, results from a non-surgical rhinoplasty last between six months and a year or two, depending on the filler used. That means you may enjoy the results of the your non-surgical treatment throughout the upcoming school year, then decide to have a surgical rhinoplasty to make them permanent once summer rolls around again.

Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is somewhat similar to derma planing, although the treatment replaces the sharp blade with a diamond tipped device that gently exfoliates the skin. The dead skin cells are removed using a small vacuum device. It’s a great treatment option if you want to keep your skin looking rejuvenated throughout the school year. Many people decide to have microdermabrasion performed every four weeks or so to maintain results.

The treatment helps reduce the look of fine lines, uneven skin tone and acne scars on the face. Usually, you’ll be able to get right back to your regular routine after a microdermabrasion treatment. Your skin may be a bit red and you’ll want to be very careful about sun exposure, especially for the first week after treatment.

Whether you’re dreading this time of year or can’t wait to see everyone when classes begin, give your face a treat with a minimally invasive procedure. To learn more about the procedures and decide on the one that’s right for you, contact Dr. Kyle Choe, a board certified facial plastic surgeon in Virginia Beach. Call Dr. Choe’s office at 757.389.5850 for an appointment today.