What Are the Benefits of a Facial?

Fighting the signs of aging and taking good care of your skin means more than going in for the occasional injection or filler and more than thinking about facial plastic surgery. Many patients see the greatest results when they combine more invasive procedures with basic skincare, such facials and other spa treatments. If you've never had a facial before, it's not too late to start. The treatment offers several benefits, but there are a few things to look out for.

They Can Be Customized

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of having a facial is that your treatment can be fully customized to meet your skin's needs. Some people might be dealing with dry skin and need a facial that restores moisture to the skin. Others might be dealing with acne or have oily skin and need a facial that will deep clean their pores. Going in for a facial is a bit like going in for plastic surgery. You'll meet with the aesthetician and describe what your skin issues are, and he or she will create a facial that addresses those issues.

They Help Your Skin Look Better

One of the more obvious benefits of a facial is that it helps your skin look better. People wouldn't continue to book facials if the process didn't somehow improve their skin. Depending on the type of facial you receive, the products used can help exfoliate the skin, removing the top layer of dead skin cells. New skin cells are then able to grow, so that you look more youthful and more refreshed.

If your skin looked dull before the facial treatment, the aesthetician might use a product that contains vitamin C or other antioxidants, which can provide much-needed nourishment to your skin and help it look brighter. Photofacials use intense pulsed light to reduce or remove age spots, areas of rough texture, or fine lines, improving the appearance of your skin.

They Can Help You Feel Better

Your skin isn't the only part of you that can benefit from a facial. The treatment can also help you feel better inside. For many people, the entire process is very relaxing and gives them a chance to unwind and enjoy being pampered for a bit. If you're having a rough time at work or feel that your life is overcrowded, taking the time to schedule a facial can help you relax and calm down.

Along with being relaxing, facials can help improve your self-esteem. Just as people report feeling a bit more confident after plastic surgery, regular facials can go a long way towards boosting your self-esteem. Whether you've been concerned about acne or worried about the first signs of aging on your skin, scheduling regular facials can help you feel as though you are in control of the situation.

What to Look Out For

Just as you want to be careful when choosing a plastic surgeon for a surgical procedure or injection, you want to be careful when choosing who will perform your facial. While not very common, there have been instances when people went in for facials only to experience an allergic reaction or to have their skin break out afterward. Allergic reactions and negative effects can be avoided, as long as the aesthetician has a good understanding of your skin and what it needs.

The more trained and supervised the person who will be performing your facial is, the more likely you are to enjoy good results. Look for an aesthetician who is licensed in your state. Even better is an aesthetician who is performing spa services under the supervision of a doctor or surgeon. An aesthetician who doesn't have sufficient training or who doesn't know how to perform certain aspects of a facial well, such as extractions, can end up causing lasting harm, such as scars.

Asking around can also help you find an aesthetician and a spa that will provide you with the results you want. Interview friends and family members and see if they can recommend a spa to you. If no one you know is into facials, check reviews online. You can also ask the practice to provide you with testimonials or references from past clients.

Keep in mind that facials won't provide the same results as injections or surgery. You might want to think of them as ancillary to other procedures. They can help you maintain any results you'd get from a surgical procedure or minimally invasive procedure, but can’t replace those procedures completely.

Voted “Best in Brevard,” Dr. Ross Clevens supervises the Professional Skincare Center at Clevens Face and Body Specialists. To learn more about what a facial, or other skin care treatment, can do for you, call (321) 727-3223 to schedule an appointment today.