LaMiNa: Dr. Claytor’s Innovative Combo for Youthful, Rejuvenated Skin

Published July 5, 2023 by Dr. R. Brannon Claytor

Man and woman smiling after Philadelphia LaMiNa procedure with Dr. Claytor

Dr. R. Brannon Claytor, Chief of Plastic Surgery for Main Line Health, is a nationally-recognized double board-certified plastic surgeon who performs a unique facial cosmetic procedure called a “LaMiNa” (Laser + Microneedling + Nanofat), also known as a Biologics + CO2 Laser Skin Tightening (BLT) treatment, to significantly enhance facial rejuvenation outcomes for his Bryn Mawr and Greater Philadelphia patients. This innovative approach to skin renewal stemmed from Dr. Claytor’s personal research, which showed that this novel treatment combination achieves faster, more robust results than individual treatments alone.

Here, Dr. Claytor explains how he uses these treatments and the science behind their efficacy to significantly improve signs of aging and overall skin vitality.

Treatment overview

Before we explore the advantages of LaMiNa skin tightening, it’s helpful to understand each procedure in its own right to fully grasp what the treatments can synergistically achieve.

Nanofat

Biologics are derived from living organisms, and in this case, from your own purified fat called nanofat. Nanofat includes naturally occurring substances our bodies produce, such as growth factors, stem cells, and cytokines.

Using nanofat in aesthetics harnesses your body’s natural healing and regenerative capabilities in several ways:

Stimulates regeneration. Biologic elements in nanofat help stimulate the production of new, healthy cells for rejuvenated skin that looks & feels younger and more vibrant.
Enhances healing. Nanofat improves the healing process, reducing recovery time and maximizing aesthetic outcomes.
Promotes collagen production. Collagen is a key protein that provides structure and elasticity to our skin. Nanofat increases collagen production to restore the skin’s natural elasticity and firmness.

CO2 Laser Skin Tightening

CO2 Laser Skin Tightening uses a high-energy beam of light that precisely targets specific areas to improve the appearance of various skin concerns, such as wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging skin. Here’s a breakdown of how it works:

Precision treatment. The controlled laser energy penetrates the skin’s deeper layers to treat skin concerns without damaging the surrounding tissues.
Increased collagen production. The heat from the laser energy contracts and tightens collagen fibers and initiates the development of new fibers to significantly improve skin firmness and elasticity.
Skin resurfacing. CO2 laser treatment reduces the appearance of age spots, acne scars, and other skin imperfections, resulting in smoother, more even-toned skin.

Dr. Claytor also employs a microneedling technique for better absorption of the nanofat; microneedling (or RF microneedling) is a very effective standalone cosmetic treatment to improve the appearance of dull skin tone, uneven skin texture, fine lines, large pores, and pigmentation irregularities. Dr. Claytor has been published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery journal for his research on “Microneedling Outcomes in Early Postsurgical Scars,” which showed the efficacy of microneedling treatments for improved surgical scar appearance—findings that support his comprehensive approach to skin rejuvenation.

Patient shown before and 6 weeks after LaMiNa treatment. — This 55-year-old patient received a LaMiNa treatment to her face. Her before photos (right) show brown spots and deeply etched facial and lip lines. The after photos (left) highlight how the treatment corrected the pigmentation irregularities and achieved shorter, softer facial and lip lines. The increased collagen production also adds youthful volume for a naturally lifted appearance.

The LaMiNa procedure

This procedure revolutionizes the field of skin rejuvenation and sets a precedent for how expert plastic surgeons can achieve stronger aesthetic improvement without extending recovery times or solely relying on more invasive procedures. Dr. Claytor has an extensive clinical background in aesthetic medicine and has developed a treatment protocol optimized to achieve noteworthy results with minimal downtime:

Step 1: Fat harvesting and preparation. Fat is harvested using a tiny incision and thin cannula from the belly or thighs. It is then meticulously emulsified to access the nanofat.

Step 2: CO2 laser treatment. Dr. Claytor ablates the desired treatment area at an ideal depth of 2-3 mm to cause a controlled amount of thermal damage to resurface the skin and boost collagen production.

Step 3: Microneedling. Micro-punctures in the newly ablated tissue allow for deeper penetration of the nanofat and an enhanced healing response.

Step 4: Nanofat. The nanofat is introduced to the treated tissue to allow the growth factors, stem cells, and cytokines to amplify the skin’s regenerative abilities and thicken the reticular dermis (the bottom layer of connective tissue that supports the skin).

Patient shown before and 3 months after face and neck rejuvenation with MyEllevate suture, fat grafting to the face, and LaMiNa skin resurfacing. — This 67-year-old patient received face and neck rejuvenation with MyEllevate neck lift suture, fat grafting to the face, and LaMiNa skin resurfacing. Notice the significant improvement in vertical lip lines and how the nasolabial folds are softer and more symmetric. This patient’s overall skin texture and tone also shows stunning improvement that takes years off of her appearance.

Dr. Claytor’s personal research showed that this treatment combination achieves faster, more robust results than individual treatments alone.

Key advantages of LaMiNa skin tightening

LaMiNa skin tightening presents a groundbreaking approach to skin rejuvenation that leverages the body’s natural healing mechanisms and cutting-edge laser technology. Dr. Claytor’s advanced LaMiNa treatment protocol provides several key advantages:

Minimally invasive. The procedure can be performed using a local anesthetic in our med spa and requires a very short incision for virtually no visible scarring.
Short recovery time. Local anesthesia means patients can immediately resume most daily activities. Patients typically take about 1-2 weeks of social downtime to allow redness to resolve and to protect healing tissues from UV exposure to prevent potential damage and scarring.
Immediate and long-lasting results. Initial improvements in wrinkles and skin tightness and texture are visible early on, and these results improve over time as the healing and regenerative processes are carried out.
Versatility. This treatment can be applied to multiple areas of the face to treat vertical lines above the lips (smoker’s lines), marionette lines, nasolabial folds, and other unwanted wrinkles. It can also be used in several ways:
- As a standalone procedure
- In conjunction with other non-surgical rejuvenation treatments
- As a part of a surgical treatment plan for facial enhancement, including procedures such as facelift, brow lift, lip lift, and more

Facial rejuvenation in Bryn Mawr, PA

Philadelphia board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Brannon Claytor thoroughly understands anatomy and physiology and has extensive experience employing the most advanced treatments to safely achieve outstanding, remarkably natural-looking aesthetic results. He has been featured in several magazines, such as Philadelphia Style and Haute Beauty, and named one of “America’s Best Plastic Surgeons” in Newsweek for 2021.

To learn if you are a good candidate for LaMiNa skin tightening or to learn more about your treatment options at Claytor Noone Plastic Surgery, schedule your personal consultation with Dr. Claytor by calling 610-527-4833 or contacting our practice online today.