Skin care is one part of self-care that we all might let fall to the wayside a little too often. But, not taking care of your skin can lead to consequences—signs of aging, skin concerns, and even skin cancer. By searching “skin specialist near me in Tuscaloosa,” you’ve taken the first step in taking control of your skin health!
People tend to find the next step more challenging—and that’s actually putting in the skincare regimen work at home. When you come to Indian Hills Plastic Surgery and meet with skin care specialist Dr. Wallace (who also doubles as a Tuscaloosa plastic surgeon), you have a built-in guide to help you make decisions on treatments and products!
In this blog, we’re going to tell you all about where to start with your skincare routine, the importance of medical-grade products, how to maximize your post-procedure results, and how our process works.
Why medical skincare products?
If you’re not familiar with medical skincare products, allow us to explain what’s special about them. Medical-grade skincare products are made with higher concentrations of the active ingredients that heal your skin. Some of these ingredients include: ceramides, hyaluronic acid, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
You may have picked up skincare products that contain these active ingredients from the drugstore in the past.
The difference between over-the-counter and medical products is you’re getting lower concentrations of the ingredients in over-the-counter, meaning it takes more product and more use to see results.
With drugstore products, you may not reach your desired results because there aren’t enough of the ingredients to penetrate deeply into the skin and induce changes.
To get the most out of your skincare routine long-term—whether it’s to reduce fine lines, hyperpigmentation, or dull skin—medical-grade skincare is the way to go.
These products are serious business; a skin care specialist is one of the few individuals who can get their hands on a wide variety of medical-grade products. Indian Hills Plastic Surgery carries various brands—more on that later.
Skin care: where to start
If you’re searching “skin care specialist near me,” we’re going to assume you need a little guidance on a routine. For starters, you’ll want a good cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.
Once you have those secured, we recommend adding on vitamin C during the day and a vitamin A derivative at night.
Don’t worry, we’ll break this all down.
Cleanse
A good cleanser is integral to your skin health! It wipes away dirt, grime, oil, makeup, dead skin cells, and anything else your face collected throughout the day (and night). Cleanse twice a day (two times each) with a cleanser that complements your skin type. As a premier skin care specialist near Fayette, we can help you find the right cleanser.
Moisturize
Once your skin is clean, it’s time to add moisture back in that might’ve been taken away during the cleansing. Just like with a cleanser, you’re going to want to choose a moisturizer based on your skin type. A common misconception with oily skin is that it doesn’t need hydration because it already has plenty. What oily skin actually means is your skin is overproducing oil because it isn’t hydrated.
If your skin is oily, you might try a lighter, gel-based moisturizer to balance things out. If your skin is dry, you might opt for a thicker, creamier moisturizer. Again, we’re here to help guide you in the right direction.
Sunscreen
We hate to break it to you, but wearing sunscreen isn’t just a thing you do when the sun is out and the weather is warm. Even when the sky is filled with clouds in the dead of winter, we should all be applying sunscreen every day. Harmful UV rays are present regardless of what the weather might look like.
Investing in a medical-grade sunscreen and creating a habit of applying and reapplying every 2 hours is one of the best ways to protect your skin from aging signs and skin cancer.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C has many talents. Not only does it protect your skin from sun damage, it also induces collagen production. Collagen, i.e. the beauty protein, allows skin to appear plump, volumized, youthful, and glowy.
As a result of more collagen, the skin appears brighter and firmer, and early aging is kept at bay. Additionally, vitamin C is great for improving the appearance of acne- and blemish-prone skin.
Vitamin A derivative
Vitamin A derivatives, also known as retinoids, are great for inducing collagen production, stimulating new blood vessels in the skin, and turning over skin cells. By doing so, they reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, while also unclogging pores and preventing acne and blemishes. Vitamin A derivatives are best used to repair your skin overnight.
How to maximize your post-procedure results
As amazing as aesthetic treatments like Botox and filler can be by themselves, it’s important to follow post-procedure instructions to maximize your results. Having a solid skincare routine at home can help your injectable results last longer.
When you go to a skin care specialist in Tuscaloosa who also doubles as a plastic surgeon, you’re in the hands of an expert who understands all the science behind skin. Because not only does Dr. Wallace provide expert personalized care during the procedure, she can recommend skin care products like vitamin C, retinoids, and sunscreen to enhance your results after the procedure.
Our process at Indian Hills Plastic Surgery
Whether you come to our practice for surgery, injectables, or medical-grade skincare recommendations, we always start with an introductory conversation, i.e. a consultation. We’ll get to know you and work from there to build your treatment plan.
Consultation
When you’re trying out a skin care specialist near you, monitor how you feel at the practice. During the consultation, you can learn a lot about a provider based on how they treat you and whether they listen to you.
At Indian Hills Plastic Surgery, our goal is to create a safe space for our patients to share their concerns with us. We understand how vulnerable this experience can be. Our practice is a judgment-free space in which you can tell us your concerns and goals for treatment without worry or pressure.
Individualized care plan
After we learn about what your routine already looks like, your skin goals, and what you’re looking to improve, we’ll start developing your individual care plan. This includes a recommendation of medical-grade products—like a cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen, and serum—that will help your skin reach its full potential.
Begin your at-home skincare regimen
The best way to get the most out of your visit with a skin specialist near you is by following the regimen you worked together to create. Give your new routine a few weeks to a couple of months to set in. If you don’t notice drastic changes right away, don’t give up! Good things (cellular turnover and collagen production) take time.
Follow-up appointments
Once you’re fully submerged in your skincare regimen, we’ll continue checking in with you to make sure you’re achieving your desired results. A great skin care specialist will offer free follow-up appointments to check in on your progress. During these sessions at our Tuscaloosa practice, we’ll check in on how your skin is doing and adjust your care plan as needed.
Our brands
At Indian Hills Plastic Surgery, we carry the latest and greatest medical-grade products. These are the following brands we carry:
We ship products
If you’re not local in Tuscaloosa, no problem! We can ship any products you need straight to your door. No need to make the commute or look elsewhere. Reach out and we can discuss all your options.
Start your skin care journey
Your well-being and goals come before anything else! You can count on expert personalized care no matter whether you’re seeing us as your skin care specialist, board-certified plastic surgeon, or both.
Phase 1: Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you and answer any questions you have!
Phase 2: Schedule a consultation
Join us for a consultation at our welcoming, judgment-free practice. Let’s discuss your skin goals.
Try our virtual consultation tool
Looking for something other than skin care? Try our Virtual Consultation Tool. Simply choose your concern areas and we’ll send expert treatment recommendations straight to your inbox.
Phase 3: Keep up with us
Our monthly newsletter showcases all of our savings and any events going on at our practice.
