We’re all for efficiency, especially when it comes to our in-office treatments. Be it a fear of needles, a jam-packed schedule or wanting to keep appointments to an absolute minimum right now, treatments that only require one visit sound more appealing than ever. Here, the experts share which procedures and “tweakments” take minimal time out of our schedules without skimping on those game-changing results.
High-Powered Facials
The celebrity-loved Hydrafacial took the world by storm over the past couple of years, and for a good reason: it’s a three-in-one treatment that combines a peel, facial and microdermabrasion, all while being tailored to your skin’s needs and sensitivities. “It refreshes and cleanses the skin, especially if you’ve been hiding out from your normal skin-care routine,” says New York facial plastic surgeon Matthew White, MD. The result: purged pores, seriously hydrated skin and an all-around glow in anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes, depending on your provider and optional add-on treatments.
Neuromodulators
For a quick refresh in next to no time at all, Chicago dermatologist Rachel N. Pritzker, MD agrees the best option “hands down” is a neuromodulator, such as Dysport, Botox Cosmetic or Jeuveau. “When placed correctly, they can really brighten up the face without the ‘frozen’ look. I find that patients say they feel dramatically better within days,” adds Dr. Pritzker.
Laser Resurfacing Treatments
A Fraxel treatment may be one of the most intense options when it comes to erasing stubborn hyperpigmentation, but Dr. Pritzker says a “light” version of a Fraxel Dual treatment is actually a great way to drastically refresh the skin in one visit. “I don’t crank it up, and call it more of a ‘laser peel,’” she explains. “We can improve texture and brown spots after even one treatment. After healing within a few days, the skin feels smooth and you shed the quarantine skin off. It’s very customizable, which makes it great.” For similar collagen-stimulating, pigment-busting results, Miami Dermatologist Dr. Janice Lima-Maribona loves Clear + Brilliant, also known as “baby Fraxel” as it uses the same technology as Fraxel, but less harshly.
Facial Filler
Although filler can be, and often is, injected gradually for subtle results, Nanuet, NY dermatologist Heidi A. Waldorf, MD says her filler “prescription” differs slightly for patients who have little time to come in for an appointment. “They will come in once a year, but have a more significant amount injected at that time—basically, getting them to optimum in one treatment,” she says. “I have patients who would normally have come in during the time we were closed for the pandemic, but because they did sufficient filler last fall, their face didn’t fall more than six months later—we were just building on normal aging.”
Combination Treatments
Experts refer to combination treatments as those that are complementary and safe to perform together—an option Charlotte, NC dermatologist Gilly Munavalli, MD says is ideal when time—and efficacy—is of the essence. “They can provide a nice improvement with the limited of number of visits that patients are willing to give,” he adds. Some of Dr. Munavalli’s favorite treatments to combine? Injectables—including dermal fillers to improve the facial contour and revolumize the face—along with laser and light treatments, such as IPL paired with Fraxel Dual to simultaneously improve flat and raised brown spots and red spots.
Tissue-Tightening Treatments
If a tighter, lifted look is what you’re after but don’t have much time to commit, Dr. Waldorf offers up Thermage or Ulthera as two great options. Different in technology—Thermage is powered by radio-frequency; Ulthera by ultrasound—Dr. Waldorf says both are one-session treatments, not a series (although many patients repeat the treatment every one or two years). “Although you can start to see results right after, you really see improvement starting at two months and continuing through six months.”
