Tetra CO2 Featured in Artful Living's 'Top Tips for the Unapologetically Well-Groomed Man'
In an article on the trending cosmetic treatments and products for men, Cartessa's Tetra CO2 laser and CoolPeel treatment were highlighted as a resurfacing treatment without the downtime. Below is an excerpt from Top Tips for the Unappologetically Well-Groomed Man, written by Doug Marshall for Artful Living.
In 2016, Forbes coined the term “Brotox” when it reported on the increase in men seeking out injections to get rid of the furrow between their brows. According to a recent American Society of Plastic Surgeons study, almost half a million men get Botox each year and the male customer base for this industry is growing by 8% annually. A recent Fox Business article claims guys are turning to Botox to keep up the appearance of youth in order to climb the corporate ladder without aging out of it. I’m 42 and definitely have had moments when I wonder at what point will I walk into a client’s office and they’ll think I’m too old to be relevant. Two years ago, I told a cashier at my local drugstore that I was turning 40 and she said, “I can’t believe it!” I was relieved until she followed up with, “I thought you were older.”
I felt panicked. I had always looked younger than my age. I have always taken great care of my skin, and I know my way around a good concealer and brow groomer. This woke me up. Had I let myself go? I didn’t run out and get a face full of fillers, but I started seeking out new treatments, professionals, gadgets and products to keep me looking 38 forever. Luckily for you, I’ve documented everything I’ve discovered along my personal beauty journey.
Laser Treatments
The demand for noninvasive aesthetic procedures is growing by roughly 10% a year, and men are an important factor in fueling this. Cartessa Aesthetics is the exclusive U.S. supplier for the Tetra CO2 laser used to do a CoolPeel, a facial resurfacing procedure that employs a laser to improve skin texture, minimize pores, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and sun damage. CO2 is nothing new, but it came at a cost of looking pretty awful for days (or weeks!) after a treatment. (Think back to that episode of Sex and the City where Samantha got a “lunchtime peel,” and her face looked like beef carpaccio at Carrie’s book launch party.) The Tetra’s ability to cool the skin during the treatment lets the laser do its best work without heating up the skin, so you’ll only be red for a couple of days and it’s not enough to draw attention in the boardroom.
Microneedling
There’s another route for guys who aren’t ready for Botox or lasering: radio frequency microneedling. This procedure pokes many tiny holes in the skin to jog your own collagen production while delivering radio frequencies to tighten skin and reduce wrinkles. Why should men care about collagen? It’s what gives your skin its elasticity and plumpness. As we age, collagen breaks down, skin begin to sag and we spend all our money trying to get it back. This death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach follows the theory that you need to break your skin down so your collagen builds itself back up. Microneedling has been around for a long time, but newer versions like RF Microneedling have better delivery systems that tone the skin.
