Cosmetic Dermatology

At Clarus Dermatology, we offer specialist-led cosmetic dermatology treatments designed to refresh your skin, restore confidence, and reveal your natural radiance. From smoothing fine lines to lifting sagging skin, our non-surgical options are tailored to your goals, minimizing downtime and maximizing results.

Our board-certified dermatologists and aesthetic professionals deliver advanced care in a comfortable, patient-first setting. Whether you’re taking the first step on your cosmetic journey or ready for your next treatment, we’ll work with you to build a plan that fits your lifestyle.

Botox & Dermal Fillers

Injectables like Botox and dermal fillers are commonly used to address early signs of aging, such as expression lines and volume loss, with results that are subtle and effective. They offer fast, natural-looking enhancements without requiring surgery.

Botox gently relaxes facial muscles to soften the experience of dynamic wrinkles, like crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead creases, while preserving your natural expression.

Dermal fillers, such as Juvederm and Restylane, restore volume in areas like the cheeks, lips, and under-eyes using hyaluronic acid-based formulas. The fuller appearance refreshes your look with subtle lift and definition.

Benefits of these treatments include:

• Non-surgical wrinkle reduction
• Natural-looking volume restoration
• Immediate results with minimal downtime

Overview

Botox® is a chemical protein complex produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that is used cosmetically to diminish the appearance of wrinkles.

How it Works

Botox® essentially relaxes the contraction of muscles by blocking nerve impulses

Procedure

Facial skin is first cleansed and sterilized. The dermatologist then injects the protein using a fine needle to minimize discomfort.

Botox® injections do not require anesthetic, and take just a few minutes to perform. Patients will begin to see the results within 48 hours, and full effect in about a week.

Recovery

Patients may experience some tenderness and swelling at the injection point immediately after the procedure, which usually subside within 48 hours.

Patients can usually return to their regular routine immediately after the procedure.

Laser Treatment

Laser treatments are among the most powerful tools in cosmetic dermatology, addressing tone, texture, and signs of aging beneath the surface. Our advanced cosmetic laser dermatology services stimulate collagen and target deeper layers of the skin for noticeable, long-term improvement.

We use fractional CO2 lasers for deep resurfacing, which is ideal for:

• Sun damage and age spots
• Acne scars
• Wrinkles and large pores

This option is popular among our patients throughout Minnesota seeking dramatic yet refined results.

Overview

This nonsurgical procedure is used to treat blemishes on the skin's surface.

Ablative laser resurfacing can smooth fine wrinkles and scars, and promote the growth of healthy new skin.

Ablative laser resurfacing can have dramatic effects after just one treatment.

Preparation

Before the treatment, facial skin is cleansed and sterilized.

Anesthesia or sedation may be administered, depending on the type and extent of treatment.

Procedure

The dermatologist directs a handheld laser over the surface of the skin at the treatment area. The laser vaporizes the skin's surface, exposing the fresh new skin underneath.

Laser resurfacing can be effective for targeting fine wrinkles, blemishes, uneven pigmentation, loose skin, and burst blood vessels.

Recovery

When the procedure is complete, the dermatologist may apply a topical medication and dress the skin.

After the procedure, the skin will be red, swollen, and sensitive. The skin will scab over and heal over the next few weeks, leaving fresh new skin in its place. The entire process takes between 6 and 12 weeks.

Rejuvapen is a microneedling treatment that we use at Clarus Dermatology for a variety of skin care issues – including ones related to sun damage and melasma (a common skin problem that causes brown and gray-brown patches on the face).

Microneedling & PRP Therapy

Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries to leverage your body’s natural healing power, triggering new collagen production. This, in turn, helps improve texture, fine lines, and scars over time.

When paired with Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy, where growth factors from your own body are applied or injected, it becomes a next-level rejuvenation dubbed the “Vampire Facial.”

This treatment can improve the appearance of:

• Acne scars
• Uneven texture
• Fine lines
• Dull or crepey skin

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels use controlled exfoliation to remove damaged outer skin layers, working to improve brightness, smoothness, and overall tone. This treatment varies in depth based on your specific needs:

• Light or glycolic peels are best for routine glow and maintenance
• Medium-depth peels are ideal for addressing pigment and fine lines
• Deep peels are great for more intensive rejuvenation

The level of peel affects the outcome, but as a whole, they’re great for dull skin, sun damage, acne scars, and pigmentation. Our Minnesota-based team will help you select the right peel for your lifestyle and skin condition.

Overview

This outpatient procedure consists of an acidic solution applied to the skin, which removes the outermost layers of cells and allows the skin to rejuvenate.

Medium peels are commonly used to treat acne scars, fine wrinkles, blemishes, and pigmentation problems, and often work well for patients with darker complexions.

Preparation

Before the peel, facial skin is cleansed and sterilized.

Medium peels may be performed while the patient is lightly sedated, and can be used on the entire face or on selected portions of the face.

Procedure

A chemical solution is carefully applied by the dermatologist to select areas of the face, and is usually left on the skin for less than 1 hour.

The solution is then gently washed away with water, after which, a soothing ointment may be applied.

Recovery

After a medium chemical peel, the skin will be sensitive, and may be swollen and red for about a week. The outer layer of skin will then begin to flake off, revealing fresh skin beneath.

The entire process takes about two weeks. In some cases, more than one treatment may be necessary to achieve the desired result.

April, our Skin Technician, performs a lot of Hydrafacials at Clarus Dermatology, and that’s because it’s a treatment that is recommended for any of our patients to help improve the appearance of their facial skin, including those with even the most sensitive skin

Hydrafacials & Medical-Grade Facials

Hydrafacials and medical-grade facials give your skin a clean slate by exfoliating, hydrating, and boosting your natural glow.

Hydrafacials are multi-step, device-powered treatments that deeply cleanse, extract, and infuse hydration using medical-grade serums. They’re gentle, effective, and ideal for maintaining skin health.

Medical facials are customized to your skin concerns, be it acne, aging, or dryness. The treatment flexes to your needs and can include masks, extractions, and LED therapy.

These treatments are best for:

• Routine skin maintenance
• Hydration and brightness
• Gentle care for sensitive skin

Skin Tightening Treatments

Skin tightening treatments use non-surgical technology, such as radiofrequency, ultrasound, and thread lifting, to stimulate collagen and gradually improve skin firmness and elasticity.

• Radiofrequency (RF) uses heat to firm jowls, neck, and areas of the lower face
• Ultrasound (Ultherapy) targets deeper tissue to lift the jawline and brow
• Thread lifts use dissolvable sutures to subtly lift skin with immediate and progressive results

These treatments can help with mild to moderate skin laxity, particularly in areas around the jawline and neck. Our cosmetic dermatology team works with patients across the Twin Cities to deliver visible, confidence-boosting results.

If you’re considering cosmetic dermatology in Minnesota, our team is here to help you explore safe, effective options for your skin.

Benign Growth Removal

Many benign skin growths, such as skin tags or seborrheic keratoses, can be removed for cosmetic reasons or to reduce irritation. While they’re non-cancerous, these can affect your confidence and comfort. We offer cosmetic removal with minimal scarring and excellent cosmetic outcomes.

We often treat:

• Skin tags
• Seborrheic keratoses
• Milia
• Cherry angiomas
• Benign moles (upon evaluation)

Removal methods vary, but may include cryotherapy (freezing), electrosurgery, laser ablation, or surgical shave excision.

Overview

Because moles can become cancerous, it's important to be aware of the characteristics that can signal skin cancer. Dermatologists use a handy mnemonic device to remember these characteristics: ABCDE.

With early detection and treatment, most cases of skin cancer can be cured.

A. Asymmetry

Normal moles generally have a regular shape. If one half of a mole is unlike the other half, the mole is suspicious.

B. Border

Normal moles have smooth, even borders. Moles that have irregular, poorly defined, notched, or scalloped borders are suspicious.

C. Color

Normal moles are a single color, usually brown or black. Moles that have different shades of color, multiple colors, or atypical colors such as white, blue, or red are suspicious.

D. Diameter

Any mole that has a diameter larger than a pencil eraser is suspicious.

E. Evolving

Normal moles generally do not change appearance. Any mole that is growing larger, changing shape, or changing color is suspicious.

Professional Care

A mole that displays one or more of these characteristics should be evaluated by a dermatologist as soon as possible.

Skin cancer can be deadly, and postponing an evaluation can allow a cancerous mole to spread to nearby areas or to other parts of the body.

Scar Revision & Acne Scar Treatments

Scars tell a story, but they don’t have to define your skin. Scarring from acne, surgery, or injury can often be reduced with targeted dermatologic treatments aimed at improving texture, tone, and skin smoothness. Our specialists offer a range of treatments to soften, lift, and smooth scars.

We offer:

• Laser resurfacing to improve texture and color
• Microneedling with PRP to promote collagen renewal
• Chemical peels to fade pigmentation and refine tone
• Subcision to release tethered, indented scars
• Dermal fillers to elevate atrophic or sunken areas

These treatments can help with acne scars (boxcar, rolling, icepick), post-surgical or traumatic scars, and red or dark pigmented scars. We see patients across Minnesota looking to minimize scar visibility and regain skin confidence.

Overview

Scars are the body's way of healing the skin after injury. A scar's appearance depends on the type of wound and where it is on the body, but other factors such as age, sex, ethnicity, and heredity can also play a role.

Scars may fade over time or with treatment, but they will never completely disappear.

Causes

When the thick layer of skin, called the dermis, is damaged, the body repairs it with collagen, eventually forming a scar.

Scars are caused by trauma to the skin from incisions or burns, and can also be caused by conditions such as acne or chickenpox.

Appearance

Scar tissue looks different than normal skin, and typically appears flat and paler than surrounding skin. Scars can vary greatly in appearance depending on location, cause, age, and skin type.

Acne scars can form deep pits, while burn scars often have a wavy, stretched appearance. Young, and dark-skinned persons may develop raised scars.

Treatment

Treatment options depend on the type of scar, and may include topical applications, steroid or collagen injections, laser resurfacing, or surgical removal.

Scars cannot be completely removed, but treatment can help make them less noticeable.