What's Covered on This Page
- The Unique Aging Impact of Coastal Living
- Anti-Aging Treatment Options
- What to Expect During Your Murrells Inlet Treatment
- How does living near the Murrells Inlet coast affect how often I need anti-aging treatments?
- What anti-aging treatment works best for sun spots and uneven skin tone?
- How long does a first anti-aging appointment in Murrells Inlet take?
- Do I need to stop using retinol before my anti-aging treatment?
- Can I get more than one anti-aging treatment done on the same visit?
- How do I know if I need fillers or skin tightening instead of BOTOX?
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What Our Patients Say
The Unique Aging Impact of Coastal Living
The coastal lifestyle is great for your spirit, but tough on your complexion.
Our location here in Murrells Inlet means you face UV radiation much greater than what is felt at the beaches even 20 miles or more inland. The water and the sand reflect sun right into your skin, meaning you're being tanned from all angles, above and below, even when you're strolling the Marshwalk on an overcast day. The Skin Cancer Foundation says reflected UV can increase total UV exposure by as much as 80% near the water, the sand. After you have lived here for decades, that is a lot of UV.
Sun is only part of the problem.
Salt air desiccates the skin. Humidity makes it feel hydrated, but the salts of the salt air break down your skin barrier over time. These are the concerns we most often encounter with our clients in Murrells Inlet:
- Earlier onset fine lines, especially around eyes and brow area
- Pigment changes such as blotchiness and sun spots, which seem to get worse every year
- Uneven texture and a rough, dull complexion that can not be treated at home
- Firmness loss in the cheek and jawline that leaves the face looking aged and fatigued
Often, the person comes in thinking a simple facial is all that is needed, but with a bit of scrutiny, it is obvious that a lot has happened to the skin in that time. The rate of collagen loss is accelerated here. The ability of elastin to maintain its shape and spring back is gone. Aging happens so gradually you don't really notice the changes until you look in the mirror and the person looking back at you is unfamiliar.
To repair and treat your complexion against the damage that occurs in the coastal environment, you have to utilize anti-aging treatments designed to reverse, correct, and prevent aging, to encourage your own skin to make new collagen and to treat the pigment issues of UV reflected UV, sun and the ocean. We see the same issues with our clients here in Murrells Inlet from Garden City and in the neighborhoods along the creek. This is not a matter of vanity. Your skin responds to where you live and it is time for a serious plan to combat the effects of living at the coast.
Anti-aging treatments are part of our broader esthetics services in Murrells Inlet.
Anti-Aging Treatment Options
The reality is that everyone is different and there is no "one treatment that fits all." This is the one truth that you must understand.
Every week we talk to clients in Murrells Inlet who come to us thinking one treatment is needed when the opposite is true. One asks for BOTOX because their sister told them about it, even though what they really are concerned about is uneven texture and sun damage they have endured on the MarshWalk over the past years.
BOTOX isn't the answer there. Instead, they might be the perfect candidate for a chemical peel or microneedling. Every person has different skin type, age, daily habits, problems, timeline and other factors. Some results take a day.
Others take weeks. Here's what we do: We take a look at your skin in a bright light, and we ask what's on your mind. We assess volume loss, wrinkles, texture, and pigmentation. We discuss your skincare routine, sun exposure, and past procedures.
We match your goals with a realistic treatment plan. So if you have deep wrinkles on your forehead and crow's feet, you can definitely use BOTOX or Dysport. However, for people concerned about the loose skin around their jawline, skin tightening may be a better option. If you have volume loss in the cheeks or under eyes, dermal fillers can add volume to the area.
And then there is someone who simply always looks exhausted. No one specific wrinkle, no sagging, no specific area to focus on. Just flat, dull, tired skin that lacks vitality. We see this all the time.
PRP and collagen facials are a fantastic option. The wrong procedure is an unfortunate waste of money. It makes a patient feel good when their skin looks its best. It's not uncommon for us to spend at least 20 minutes or more with our patients discussing and outlining potential procedures rather than immediately recommending a procedure that is wrong for them.
The most important part of the treatment is the consultation. It's an absolutely necessary part of your experience here. We take the opportunity to look at and evaluate your skin, as well as to get a better idea of who you are as a person, what you want, and whether the procedure you're getting will address it. Sometimes people will come in thinking they want BOTOX, but when you actually look at their skin, a chemical peel would work far better.
Sometimes you may think that you are in need of dermal fillers, but the truth is that they might be a good candidate for something like microneedling. This is just some of the things that we help our patients get out of the way of during their consultation. To help prepare for the consultation, we will ask that our patient do the following:
- No retinol for at least 3 days before their consultation.
- Please come in without heavy makeup if possible.
- List any medications you may be on and daily supplements.
- Bring old photos of your face from a year or two ago if you have any.
- Think of the one thing you most dislike in your current look, such as wrinkles, volume loss, or dullness.
This is a really important one to think of beforehand. It all starts with a client walking in and telling me she just wants to look fresher, but then can't describe what fresh is or how it feels. Those pictures. Those conversations.
They do the talking for you.
We'll check your skin out in proper lighting and walk through what realistic results might look like, not the ones you see on Instagram but what your body can actually do. As a matter of fact, the American Academy of Dermatology says the majority of people begin to witness the results of losing collagen from their bodies in their early thirties. Your point of beginning will determine our treatment recommendations.
Do you need to block out your entire afternoon? The answer is, not really. A general initial consultation takes approximately 30 minutes. Then if both you and your provider decide to proceed in that initial appointment with any specific treatment, such as Dysport or a vitamin C facial, it will likely be able to take place at that time.
There is no obligation to do anything on the first visit. Many of our local Inlet Square patients will return the next week when they have had time the proposed recommendations. That's okay. The better option is for a client to feel confident, not to feel rushed.
What to Expect During Your Murrells Inlet Treatment
You walk into our offices, we start talking. It is the standard start of every session at our Murrells Inlet office. And the most important part.
Before we ever touch your skin, we need to know what your problem area is. Some people tell us about new eyes lines in their eyes over the past summer. Some people will tell you that their neck looks different than it has for the past two years. We have heard it all many, many times.
Your consultation covers your medical history, what your skin issues are, what medicines you take, and what results should look like regarding what issues you may have. We will be able to know exactly the solution you need.
What to expect during your visit
Once you and your provider have come up with a strategy, the process of your appointment goes like this:
- Your skin will be cleansed and prepped for the treatment to that it responds to the treatment as you would like.
- If the treatment you are going to be receiving involves the area of the body where your skin is being treated, microneedling, peels, BOTOX, or dermal fillers, then we will apply numbing cream to that particular area before beginning.
- The treatment will take place. Generally it will take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the area of treatment.
- Once you have completed your treatment, we will go over the after care before you leave. This includes written instructions.
- You will schedule your follow up appointment so that we can check how your body has responded.
Most of our clients who have done treatments tell us that it was easier than expected. Generally the thought you have before you go in your head is a lot worse than the experience itself.
There is usually no downtime for treatments. If you come to your treatment in the middle of the day during your lunch break, you will be able to go back and grab a bite to eat in the MarshWalk and no one will notice a thing. You might have a little bit of redness, but it won't be dramatic.
And the most important part is that no one is going to be pushing you in our office. We don't just run people through like a drive through window. No, it doesn't work like that. When you don't perform it correctly, it could create irregular or even dangerous outcomes, and we're licensed and trained to do this the right way.
If you're not sure what the best course of treatment is, we can help you decide when you call us. You won't receive pressure from us during your visit because we'd rather have you walk out of our door without an appointment than book yourself into a treatment that doesn't give you the results you desire. That's what's led to Murrells Inlet residents returning to us for years. We tell everyone who comes into our offices this: You need to think of these aesthetic treatments as an investment in yourself, not a one-time thing.
Once they've done the job in getting you looking better and feeling better, your body continues to age. The sun along the Inlet doesn't take a day off and neither does gravity. So the question becomes, how do you maintain these results in the time that follow? Most of our patients settle into a treatment schedule that works for their skin and schedule.
This will look different for everyone, but you can expect that we'll discuss the basics, like these:
- Schedule a follow-up appointment four to six weeks after your initial treatment to see how your skin responded to it.
- Schedule a quarterly treatment such as chemical peels or microneedling that help to keep the collagen production steady and robust.
- Schedule injectable touch-up treatments before your current result wears off.
- Schedule a medical-grade facial to maintain your skin's barrier function between more intensive treatments.
We see patients wait for far too long before they return to us, and then feel that they have to start from the beginning. There's no need to do that to yourself. What's more, sunscreen is more important than any treatment we perform. this is a hard truth to hear. The American Academy of Dermatology states that daily use of a broad-spectrum, SPF sunscreen is the most effective thing you can do to prevent premature skin aging.
We can do collagen restoration and fine line reduction all day long, but nothing we do will hold if you don't wear sun protection every day you go on your morning walk along the MarshWalk. Murrells Inlet patients' skin also responds differently in the humid summers versus the drier winters, and so we adjust treatment schedules to the current needs of the skin rather than what may have worked six months before. A vitamin C facial may work wonders in the springtime, but a hydrating facial works best in the fall. The patients that always look fantastic don't do anything extraordinary.
They just show up at the right times and keep the right expectations. Making these small investments in your skin is worth much more than any great big overhaul every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about anti-aging treatments services in Murrells Inlet
How does living near the Murrells Inlet coast affect how often I need anti-aging treatments?
Coastal living means you likely need treatments more often than someone living inland. Salt air, reflected UV off the water and sand, and wind break down your skin faster here. Clients along the Marshwalk area often see collagen loss and sun spots appear earlier than expected. Most people doing well with their skin here come in every three to four months for maintenance rather than waiting until damage is obvious.
What anti-aging treatment works best for sun spots and uneven skin tone?
Chemical peels and microneedling are usually the best starting point for sun spots and uneven tone. BOTOX won't touch pigmentation issues, so the treatment has to match the actual problem. After years of reflected UV near the inlet, most clients need something that resurfaces the skin and stimulates new collagen. A vitamin C facial can also help brighten tone between deeper treatments.
How long does a first anti-aging appointment in Murrells Inlet take?
Your first visit usually takes about thirty minutes for the consultation alone. If you decide on a same-day treatment like Dysport or a vitamin C facial, plan for extra time. There is no pressure to do anything on your first visit. Many clients near the Inlet Square area come back a week later once they have thought it over. We would rather you feel confident than rushed.
Do I need to stop using retinol before my anti-aging treatment?
Yes, stop using retinol at least three days before your appointment. Retinol makes your skin more sensitive, which can affect how your skin responds to treatments like chemical peels or microneedling. Come in with a clean face and no heavy makeup if you can. Also write down any medications or supplements you take daily so we can plan your treatment safely.
Can I get more than one anti-aging treatment done on the same visit?
Sometimes yes, depending on what your skin needs and how it looks that day. Some combinations work well together, like a PRP facial paired with a collagen facial. Others need to be spaced out so your skin can recover properly. We look at your skin in person before deciding what makes sense. Rushing multiple treatments at once can do more harm than good, so we always plan carefully.
How do I know if I need fillers or skin tightening instead of BOTOX?
The concern you want to fix tells us which direction to go. BOTOX works well for forehead lines and crow's feet. If you are seeing sagging along the jawline, skin tightening is usually the better fit. Lost volume in the cheeks or under the eyes points toward dermal fillers. We sort this out during your consultation so you are not spending money on something that won't address what's actually bothering you.