In martial arts novels, “Double Swords Combined” refers to the perfect combination of two people’s body movements and sword techniques, interpreting a set of powerful and flawless swordsmanship. This is the effect of one plus one being greater than two. In medical aesthetics, what treatments can achieve the effect of “Double Swords Combined”?
Skin aging is a complex process, and using only one type of treatment may not achieve the best results. For example, injection of botulinum toxin can improve dynamic wrinkles, but cannot improve static wrinkles and sagging. Hyaluronic acid can improve volume loss, but is powerless against skin surface flaws and dynamic wrinkles.
If static wrinkles are widespread and severe, using laser and hyaluronic acid together has a complementary effect. Fractional laser can improve shallow static wrinkles on the surface, while improving the overall skin condition at the same time. Then, use hyaluronic acid, injected into the deep skin layer, to fill in deeper and more concave static wrinkles. This method is very effective in improving forehead wrinkles and frown lines.
If the skin has acne and unevenness, we can use glycolic acid and laser therapy. Glycolic acid can improve acne inflammation and excessive sebum secretion, while laser can improve the unevenness and skin quality left by acne. If acne is not treated properly and laser is done first, the skin problems may not be improved and may even worsen. We can first do a glycolic acid peel to control acne, and then use fractional laser to stimulate skin restructuring and improve unevenness.
Another method of “Double Swords Combined” is to mix the use of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid. This golden combination can improve aging problems in different areas of the face and neck. For example, forehead wrinkles, also known as train tracks, are formed due to the overuse of forehead muscles, which over time can form wrinkles resembling deep pits. Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles, improves dynamic wrinkles, and combined with hyaluronic acid, improves static wrinkles that have already formed, greatly improving forehead wrinkles. Evidence shows that after muscle relaxation, the duration of hyaluronic acid can be increased, so the effect is definitely one plus one greater than two! The same goes for neck treatment, where botulinum toxin can improve turkey neck (vertical wrinkles) and hyaluronic acid can fill in horizontal wrinkles, making it a golden combination.
Understanding the root cause of skin problems and knowing the pros and cons of each treatment can help to complement each other and achieve the effect of “Double Swords Combined”.