Skin Care
InstaDerm MD Clinics
Medical Aesthetics
June 14, 2026
You have probably visited a medical aesthetic clinic website and found a treatment menu that listed dozens of options across half a dozen categories, each with a name that sounded confident but revealed little about what it actually does or who it is for.
This guide is a practical decoder. By the end, you should be able to look at any clinic's treatment menu and have a working understanding of what each category offers, how the treatments within it differ from each other, and what kind of concern or goal each one addresses.
Facials
The facial category covers treatments applied to the skin's surface and immediate subsurface — targeting cleansing, hydration, exfoliation, and targeted active delivery. The range within this category is wide. A basic express facial addresses surface hydration and cleansing. A HydraFacial adds mechanical extraction and serum infusion. An LED facial adds photobiomodulation — light therapy that stimulates cellular processes. An oxygen facial uses pressurized oxygen to drive actives deeper. A microcurrent facial uses electrical stimulation to tone facial muscles.
The common thread: facials address the surface and provide maintenance, preparation, or enhancement. They are not typically designed to produce structural change in the dermis or correct significant scarring, aging, or pigmentation. They are excellent for skin quality maintenance, general improvement, and as standalone or complementary treatments alongside more intensive options.
Microneedling
Microneedling treatments create controlled micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate collagen production. Variations differ in the adjuncts used: basic microneedling uses standard serums; PRP microneedling (the Vampire Facial) adds platelet-rich plasma; exosome or meso microneedling adds targeted biological or active cocktails. More advanced variations combine the needling with radiofrequency energy (RF microneedling) for enhanced tissue tightening.
Microneedling is appropriate for acne scarring, fine lines, textural concerns, mild laxity, and general skin quality improvement. It requires a short recovery period and produces results that build over weeks to months.
Laser Treatments
The laser category covers a broad range of applications that all use controlled light energy to target specific skin concerns. Understanding this category is easier if you know that different laser wavelengths target different chromophores (light-absorbing targets) in the skin.
Laser hair removal targets melanin in hair follicles. Laser pigment reduction targets melanin in pigmented lesions (sunspots, freckles, age spots). Laser vein removal targets haemoglobin in visible blood vessels. Laser skin rejuvenation and resurfacing treatments target water molecules in skin tissue, creating controlled heating that stimulates collagen and removes damaged surface skin. Laser photo facials (including laser toning) use lower-energy settings to produce gradual brightening and pigmentation improvement with no downtime.
When reading a laser menu, the key questions are: what are they targeting, at what depth, and with what recovery?
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels use acidic solutions to accelerate skin shedding and stimulate renewal beneath. The key variables are the acid type, concentration, and depth of penetration. Superficial peels work at the epidermis and have minimal downtime. Medium peels reach the upper dermis and produce more significant results with a few days of visible healing. Reading a peel menu, look for clues about what it is designed to treat — brightening peels address dullness and mild pigmentation; resurfacing peels address texture and deeper pigmentation; targeted peels address specific concerns like acne or melasma.
Injectables
The injectable category divides into three distinct mechanisms. Neuromodulators (Botox, Dysport) relax muscles to smooth dynamic wrinkles. Fillers physically add volume to restore facial contours. Biostimulators (Sculptra, PDRN, PRP, Exosomes, Peptides) stimulate the body's own collagen production and tissue regeneration. Within injectables, look for which mechanism a treatment uses — that tells you what it addresses and how long results last.
Body Contouring
Body contouring treatments reduce fat, tighten skin, and improve body contour without surgery. Technologies vary — some use cold (cryolipolysis), some use heat (radiofrequency, laser-based diode), and some use electromagnetic stimulation (EMS) to build muscle. Understanding which technology is being used helps set expectations for results and timelines.
Scalp Treatments
Scalp treatments address hair thinning and loss through biological stimulation of follicles. Options include PRP (growth factors from your own blood), exosomes (biological signalling molecules), low-level laser therapy (cellular stimulation), and targeted topical and injectable protocols.
Skin Products
Medical-grade skin products differ from over-the-counter options in active ingredient concentration, formulation stability, and clinical validation. A clinic's product menu is worth understanding — the products are designed to extend and support the results of in-clinic treatments.
The most important thing a treatment menu cannot tell you is whether a particular treatment is right for your specific skin concern. That is what a consultation is for. Use this guide to come to that consultation with better questions — and leave with clearer answers.
