As we age our skin becomes drier and loses elasticity. We lose fat, so our cheeks may look flattened or hollow and we start to see dark spots, fine lines, and not-so-fine wrinkles. And it’s not only our face, but other parts of our body from our neck and arms to our buttocks, breasts, abdomen, and thighs can also all show our age.

Some people are prone to chronic skin conditions such as rosacea, and most of us had acne as a teenager. For many, acne is not a distant memory because the scarring left behind is a constant reminder. Some adults continue to be plagued by active acne.

In San Antonio, we get a lot of sun exposure, which can cause sun damage to our skin regardless of age – issues such as sunspots, darkening of freckles, and rough texture. The heat also aggravates melasma, a common condition that causes grayish-brownish patches on our face and other often-exposed areas such as the neck and forearms.

No wonder we are all looking to rejuvenate our skin.

Eterna Cosmetic Surgery provides the most innovative, effective options available in the aesthetic industry today.

Whatever is going on with your skin, we can help. Every treatment and procedure we offer has been chosen by Dr. Hernandez specifically for its power to deliver excellent results for our San Antonio patients – all ages, all genders, all skin types. We invite you to read on, to learn more about how Dr. Hernandez and our aestheticians at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery can not only rejuvenate your skin but help you maintain a face and body that look as youthful and vibrant as you feel inside. 

No matter your age, following a regular skincare regimen using top-quality products is the best way to fight the visual signs of aging, boost overall skin health, and keep your skin looking vibrant.

ZO Skin Health products are the most effective medical-grade products available for hyperpigmentation, acne, and anti-aging. This comprehensive skincare line also includes products to combat rosacea and sun damage, maintain already-healthy skin, and to address the special needs of those with sensitive skin. And, of course, full-spectrum sunscreen.

Scrubs, creams, serums, gentle peels, or lotions, each product is based on the latest scientific understanding about skin protection and correction. These powerful ingredients get right to work, whether your skin needs cleansing and exfoliation, smoothing and firming, or overall brightening. There are products designed to address the underlying causes of skin irritation and signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles, by improving circulation, restoring natural pH, controlling oil production, and stimulating new cell growth.

Best of all, the ZO line includes products for all patients, so everyone can enjoy the benefits of better skin. Dr. Hernandez especially recommends ZO products for patients who have hyperpigmentation and acne.

Dr. Hernandez not only recommends, ZO, but she can also personally attest to the value of these products. Like many of us, she has multiple skin issues (in her case acne, large pores, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage spots). After trying nearly all the medical-grade products available, she finally noticed a significant improvement in her skin when she switched to ZO products.

The products are reasonably priced, too and you can purchase them online! But why wait for delivery when you can get the products you need simply by visiting our clinic? Watch for our special promotions, and you can get discounted pricing with in-clinic purchase.

Which products would be best for you? It’s easy to find out. Dr. Hernandez and our aestheticians at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery offer free skin evaluations.

You might say a HydraFacial gives you three times the benefits because it is three treatments in one. Plus, it is so relaxing you’ll swear you’re at the spa. HydraFacial uses proprietary technology that is safe and highly effective for all skin types, and for your face as well as your body. We use this treatment to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, discoloration, rough and dry skin, and even acne scarring.

During the three-step process, your aesthetician will first gently cleanse and exfoliate the skin. Then she will clear the pores of debris and other impurities and nourish them with an infusion of moisturizers. For the finishing touch, she will saturate the skin’s surface with a unique serum blended with hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, and peptides. Every step of the process is individually tailored to each patient, based on your own skin’s condition and needs.

Although you will see significant results following a single HydraFacial session, Dr. Hernandez recommends that patients schedule follow-up sessions every three months for optimal maintenance.

The basic HydraFacial treatment takes just a half-hour, so it’s convenient no matter how busy your schedule. If you have a little more time and want even deeper, more personalized results, Dr. Hernandez can recommend one of our eight HydraFacial Boosters – add-on treatments that use serums specifically formulated to address certain skin conditions:

1. BrightAlive reduces discoloration to brighten skin.
2. Growth Factor minimizes lines and wrinkles, restoring a healthy glow.
3. Dermabuilder applies penetrating peptides for a renewed, younger appearance.
4. Britenol lightens sun spots and dark spots for a more even complexion.
5. Lip therapy smooths, moisturizes and plumps and comes with a 2-week supply of complementary products to take home.
6. Eye therapy softens those pesky crow’s feet and other lines and wrinkles around the eyes. Patients also receive a complimentary 2-week supply of follow-up products.
7. Lymphatic therapy improves circulation and refreshes the lymph system, helping reduce puffiness as well as the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
8. LED light therapy uses either red or blue light to improve rosacea, sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, and/or imperfections resulting from clogged pores. 

A HydraFacial treatment costs $150 at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, plus the cost of optional boosters or therapies. 

There are several types of chemical peels available in the aesthetic industry, but many of them can be very harsh, with painful treatments and real downtime. At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we offer a kinder, gentler chemical peel called TCA. We can produce impressive results with this peel, assuring greater patient safety and comfort at the same time.

TCA stands for trichloroacetic acid, so you can see why we use just the initials. Don’t let the word “acid” scare you, though. TCA is chemically related to vinegar (also an acid). It is non-toxic and has been used successfully to resurface skin for more than two decades. It works by drying the surface cells, which then slough off to reveal fresh, new skin. While this process is gentle enough to use on the face, we can use it to improve the appearance of your skin on other parts of your body as well.

Also because TCA peels are gentler, we can use this treatment on a broad range of skin types and colors, whereas other chemical peels are too harsh. This gives most of our patients with darker skin tones a safe, effective option to achieve smoother skin.

Every TCA treatment is personally tailored, right down to the specific percentage of TCA used. The procedure is comfortable and fast, and simple. Having determined the proper formula for your skin, the aesthetician will first cleanse the area to be treated, to remove any oils and ensure maximum TCA absorption, then apply the TCA. 

Following the procedure, your skin may appear a bit pink, as if you’re flushed, but there is no downtime required. The treated surface cells will dry up and peel off over the next few days, leaving your skin smoother with a more even tone.

The TCA peel process stimulates new production of collagen and elastin, too, so your body will continue to produce new skin cells long after the procedure. Nonetheless, because TCA is very mild, Dr. Hernandez recommends a series of three monthly treatments to achieve optimal results, then a maintenance program of refresher treatments every 6 or 12 months. She also recommends an individualized, comprehensive skincare regimen based on each patient’s skin and goals. This might include sunscreen, anti-aging night creams, facial wash, etc.

The average cost of a TCA peel at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery is $125.

Microdermabrasion uses a hand-held tool rather than chemicals to exfoliate the skin. At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we use diamond tip microdermabrasion, the most advanced technique. Traditional treatments use crystals for abrasion, but the diamond tip is superior because it is safer and more precise. That means we can treat even delicate skin such as around the eyes and mouth.

Diamond tip microdermabrasion exfoliates deeper than the traditional technique, which makes it more effective in treating lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Nonetheless, this is still a gentler skin resurfacing procedure than dermabrasion used to treat skin with severe texture imperfections. There is no downtime required.

Diamond tip microdermabrasion is also good for all genders and all skin types, and we can use it to address skin conditions such as wrinkles, acne scars, age spots, and uneven skin tone. That said, the best candidates for this treatment option are patients who have fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring,  hyperpigmentation or the rough texture of their skin.

Although a single treatment gets your skin started toward a fresher appearance and you will see some improvement, it takes multiple sessions to achieve optimal results – smoother, softer, tighter skin. We recommend 3-6 treatments, about a week apart.  

Microdermabrasion at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery takes about an hour and costs $100.

As the name implies, this treatment uses tiny surgical-grade stainless steel needles to prick the skin’s surface. These microscopic wounds trigger the body’s natural healing process to produce new collagen, elastin and blood flow to the area. The result is skin that looks smoother and healthier right away and continues to improve as it continues to generate new cells.

Our skilled aesthetician adjusts the depth of microneedle penetration to tailor each treatment for the skin condition being treated and its severity. For example, acne scars generally go deeper into the dermis than fine surface wrinkles. This adjustability makes microneedling an effective option for treating a broad range of skin imperfections such as fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars and traumatic scars, stretch marks, sun damage, rough texture and loose skin.

Microneedling is a good option for those with mild to moderate skin issues, and it can be used anywhere on the body as well as the face (including delicate skin and hard-to-reach areas such as around the eyes or nostrils). It usually takes 3-6 treatments, about a month apart, to achieve maximum results.  

Optional platelet-rich plasma

Platelets are the component of blood that deliver growth factors, nutrients and stem cells to wounds in the body, to facilitate the healing process. Dr. Hernandez recommends adding platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, following microneedling treatment because it both enhances the results of the treatment and speeds healing.

PRP is a natural serum derived from your own blood. A small blood sample is taken, then spun in a centrifuge to separate the plasma from red and white blood cells. The resulting PRP is usually injected into a site to spur healing. In the case of microneedling, PRP can also be applied to the skin’s surface, where it can easily penetrate the tiny punctures created by the needles. PRP treatment adds about 15 minutes to overall treatment time.

A microneedling treatment alone costs about $250 at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery. With PRP treatment, the cost is $250 more.

Eterna Cosmetic Surgery was the first practice in San Antonio to introduce patients to Morpheus8. You might think of this skin rejuvenation treatment as “microneedling and then some.” It combines gentle radiofrequency heat with microneedling to improve surface texture, tone, firmness, and contouring, resulting in smoother, healthier, younger-looking skin.

Like microneedling, Morpheus8 is safe and effective for all genders and skin types. It is a non-invasive treatment suitable for treating skin on the face or anywhere on the body – the neck, décolletage, breasts, arms, abdomen, waist, back, hips, buttocks, thighs, and knees. Because it is more powerful than microneedling alone, it can deliver more noticeable results with fewer treatments. It can also produce significantly firmer skin than microneedling alone.

Morpheus8 does require a little downtime, but not much. For the first 3-5 days, your skin in the treated area will appear reddened and slightly swollen, and it may peel or flake. However, most patients are able to return to work and other normal daily activities the day after your treatment.  

Dr. Hernandez often recommends combining Morpheus8 with other treatments because it does such a nice job of firming the skin and improving texture. In particular, she uses both Morpheus8 and FaceTite for Eterna’s EmbraceRF procedure (see below). Also, as with microneedling, patients may elect to add a PRP treatment as part of their Morpheus8 procedure.

Depending on the size of the area being treated and whether you choose to add PRP treatment, your Morpheus8 treatment will take about one hour. On average, the cost is about $995.

If you’d love to have a more youthful jawline and neck but you aren’t ready for surgery, FaceTite could be exactly what you’re looking for. In the same family of procedures as BodyTite and AccuTite, FaceTite is Dr. Hernandez’s preference for treating skin on the lower face and neck when patients have mild to moderate drooping of the skin.

If you have moderate to severe laxity in these areas, you can benefit more noticeably from an enhanced procedure that follows FaceTite treatment with a Suture Suspension FaceLift or Suture Suspension NeckLift. (For patients with very severe skin laxity in the lower face and/or neck who want a significantly more youthful look, Dr. Hernandez recommends a surgical lift.)

FaceTite is an in-office procedure that is considered non-surgical. Instead of traditional incisions, Dr. Hernandez makes tiny needle punctures to accommodate a thin cannula used to remove and/or re-contour fat just under the skin’s surface and to tighten the skin itself. Results are impressively surgical-like, with far less downtime required for recovery. FaceTite leaves no visible scars.

As noted above, Dr. Hernandez often recommends that patients choose a combined procedure that starts with FaceTite and then includes Morpheu8 for greater skin texture and tightening. This procedure has a name of its own – Embrace RF. (It is described below.)

FaceTite treatment takes about one hour and the cost is $5000. 

Smoother, tighter skin without a facelift or necklift surgery? Who wouldn’t get excited about that! With EmbraceRF, you can achieve impressive results without major incisions or an extensive recovery period. This alternative procedure is designed to rejuvenate the lower face and neck, tightening loose, sagging skin and smoothing the jawline.

 But EmbraceRF can do even more than smooth away wrinkles and fatty deposits. It reduces the appearance of sun damage as well as acne scars. It minimizes pores and improves overall skin tone and texture. The results really are impressive, generally considered superior to results that are achievable using any other non-surgical option.    

 EmbraceRF is actually two minimally-invasive procedures in one – FaceTite plus Morpheus8, both of which use radiofrequency energy. Dr. Hernandez performs FaceTite first, using the controlled heat to tighten the skin while gently dissolving fat beneath the surface if needed in certain areas such as under the chin. Then, she performs Morpheus8 over the same area, using this advanced type of radiofrequency microneedling to further enhance skin tightening and refine contouring.   

Downtime? Just a couple of days. Results? Some tiny pin-prick incisions that heal quickly without scarring, leaving you with firmer, healthier-looking skin, and more youthful looking features. Noticeably lifted, without the downsides of surgery – and for most patients, optimal results in just one treatment. That said, Dr. Hernandez always gives patients the option of adding a PRP treatment as the finishing touch to EmbraceRF. PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, is a quick way to boost the skin’s natural healing power, to both speed and enhance results.

Like all non-surgical facial rejuvenation options, whether or not EmbraceRF is the best choice for you depends on the severity of your skin laxity and/or wrinkles and folds. This procedure is most successful for patients in their 30s, 40, and 50s who have visible signs of aging but whose skin is still elastic enough to respond to tightening.

If Dr. Hernandez believes EmbraceRF may not provide the level of improvement you desire, she may recommend an alternative such as a Suture Suspension FaceLift (or neck lift) combined with FaceTite treatment.  

An EmbraceRF procedure typically takes about two hours and costs about $6,000.

By now, everyone is familiar with dermal fillers – at least the concept, even if you haven’t taken advantage of them to rejuvenate your own face yet. As medical research advances, more and more varieties of dermal fillers are introduced into the marketplace, giving adults of all ages and genders increasingly specific options to address their particular signs of aging.

For this reason, our repertoire of top-of-the-line dermal fillers continues to evolve and expand. The different fillers we offer can help reduce or even erase fine lines and wrinkles, fill in deeper wrinkles and folds, refill depressed scars, restore youthful roundness to cheeks . . . whatever “ails” you about your face. And dermal fillers aren’t just for your face any more. We can use some of the products now available to improve contours and skin appearance virtually anywhere else on the body.

Our menu of fillers includes:

• Bellafill
• Juvéderm Ultra XC
• Juvéderm Ultra Plus
• Juvederm Vollure
• Juvederm Voluma
• Revanesse Versa
• Radiesse
• Belotero

Dermal fillers are an ideal companion treatment for Botox, to produce instantly smoother, younger-looking features while also helping prevent future lines and wrinkles.

And speaking of combinations, Dr. Hernandez also uses multiple dermal fillers designed for different areas of the face to produce the effect of an “instant facelift” in a single treatment session.

Renuva is also an injectable dermal filler, but it is different from traditional fillers and produces more extensive, longer-lasting results. Rather than a gel composed of hyaluronic acid and/or other volumizing ingredients, Renuva is made from allograft adipose matrix made from human fat. It functions much like fat transfer, rejuvenating the skin’s surface appearance in two ways:

1. The injected product restores volume to visibly reduce or eliminate wrinkles, folds, or other surface irregularities.
2. The allograft adipose matrix contains collagens, proteins, and what is known as “growth factors” – the building blocks of new fat and blood vessels. Over time, these stimulate your own fatty tissue to regenerate. This improves skin health and tone as well as contouring.

Renuva treatment is essentially the same as for any dermal filler. During a short, in-office appointment (usually just 5-10 minutes), Dr. Hernandez will rehydrate the allograft in the syringe with saline solution, apply a numbing agent to the treatment area, then precisely inject it into sub-surface skin where needed. There is virtually no discomfort and no downtime.

Renuva is intended to re-plump and smooth contours in small areas, but Dr. Hernandez can use it to address dimpling, etc. anywhere on the body in addition to the face. That versatility, plus Renuva’s extended results, make it an exciting new alternative for patients. Renuva is especially effective in addressing:

• Frown lines, crow’s feet, sunken temples or cheeks, deep smile lines (nasolabial folds)
• Loss of fullness in the lips
• Loss of volume in the back of the hands
• Depressed scars
• Dimpling or uneven contouring on the buttocks or breasts

Even better, results achievable with Renuva last five years or longer. Because other types of dermal fillers are made from quickly-absorbable ingredients, results typically last just a few months or up to a year or two, depending on the specific product. Renuva is not absorbed by the body, but fat cells naturally shrink as you age, and that will eventually affect the results you now see.

A Renuva treatment costs $900 to $1800 depending on the amount required to produce desired results.

“Botox” is famous the world over as a proven winner when it comes to reducing the appearance of certain wrinkles and preventing wrinkles from forming or deepening. But Botox Cosmetic is not the only product we use here at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery. We also offer Xeomin, which is also derived from botulinum toxin A.

While dermal fillers work to replace lost volume, neurotoxins work differently. Any aging skin can show wrinkles as it loses moisture and elasticity. Dynamic wrinkles, however, are caused by the facial expressions we make frequently – squinting, scowling, smiling, etc. Over time, the repetition causes the creases that form to become indelible and deeper. Injecting tiny amounts of neurotoxin causes the muscles that form these expressions to relax slightly.

You can still make all the facial expressions that define “you,” but with less noticeable wrinkle formation. This helps existing lines and wrinkles to soften somewhat over time, and it helps prevent new ones from appearing.  

The main difference between Botox Cosmetic and Xeomin is the formulation. Xeomin is a “naked” neurotoxin, in that it contains only a single ingredient (botulinum toxin A). The formulation of Botox Cosmetic includes various protective proteins clustered around the active molecule. The current theory is that some people’s immune system reacts to these proteins, causing the body to metabolize the Botox faster.

Both of these products are suitable for (and very popular with) all genders. Everyone’s face is different, so results can last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. Most patients choose to schedule regular refresher injections to maintain their more youthful appearance. If you have been using Botox Cosmetic for many years and notice that the effects are not lasting as long as they used to, switching to the more purified formulation of Xeomin may be a beneficial alternative.  

Botox and Xeomin both cost $11 per unit at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery. It takes about 20 units per area to treat an average woman’s forehead, crow’s feet, or frown lines.

This versatile skin tightening procedure is one of our favorites (and one of our patients’ favorites) here at Eterna. Like its cousins BodyTite and FaceTite, AccuTite uses radiofrequency energy (heat) to gently and safely melt sub-surface fat while tightening the skin’s surface. The result is firmer, more even texture and smoother, more even contours. Because this process also stimulates the body’s own production of collagen, skin continues to improve even after the treatment.

While FaceTite is ideal for treating the lower face and neck, and BodyTite is designed to treat large areas all over the body, AccuTite finds its niche treating smaller areas of the face and body. The device itself is smaller, allowing for exceptional precision. Dr. Hernandez typically recommends AccuTite to improve contouring and appearance of the:

• Forehead
• Eyelids
• Smile lines
• Jowls and jawline
• Neck
• Armpits
• Upper arms
• Hands
• Abdomen
• Inner thighs
• Knees
• Labia
• Calves

Dr. Hernandez also uses AccuTite to help patients who suffer from hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating. Combining this treatment with Morpheus8 RF microneedling can significantly reduce this frustrating problem.

Because AccuTite is so versatile, Dr. Hernandez also combines it with Morpheus8 or other procedures to help correct or improve a wide variety of skin conditions.

Not only are all of these non-surgical skin rejuvenation options excellent on their own to address their intended skin conditions, many of them work even better in combination with another treatment or procedure. Here at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we offer combination treatments that bring together two or even three non-surgical options.

One of the most common examples that everyone knows about is combining Botox and dermal fillers. But that’s just the beginning. A few combination treatments are developed and marketed as such within the industry. EmbraceRF as described above is a good example, combining FaceTite and Morpheus8 to achieve even better, longer-lasting results than either procedure can deliver on its own.

However, at Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, we can offer many other combination options. Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez is very knowledgeable about each of the treatments we offer. She has chosen them with care, and she is experienced performing them to help different types of patients achieve the best possible results. That expertise makes her particularly adept at identifying which procedures and which combinations will produce optimal, individualized results.

Eterna Cosmetic Surgery offers a broad, versatile menu of minimally-invasive skin rejuvenation procedures because every patient has different skin, concerns, and desired results. No matter what treatment you receive, though, your personal safety and results will depend in large part on who is performing the procedure. So perhaps the most important thing we offer at Eterna is confidence.

Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez believes that her patients deserve the very latest, most effective choices when it comes to skin rejuvenation and other cosmetic enhancement opportunities. That’s why, as you look through her website, you’ll see that she is a pioneer when it comes to introducing new treatments and procedures to San Antonio.

While many clinics and med-spas delegate injectables and some other minimally-invasive treatments to nurses, here at Eterna Dr. Elizabeth Hernandez performs these medical procedures herself. In fact, she often sees patients who have had work done elsewhere, with disappointing results, and who now want to be treated by a doctor. Our staff also includes well-trained aestheticians, too, who perform less invasive med-spa services such as facials, peels, waxing, and lashes.

These days, there is no reason to “just live with it” if you don’t like the visible signs of aging or other skin imperfections you see in the mirror. Anywhere on your face or body. And thanks to cutting-edge technologies and techniques, most people don’t need surgery to achieve significant improvement. With the right treatment, you can refresh your skin’s surface appearance, improve the health and condition of your skin, and even stimulate natural production of new, better quality skin and fat cells to dramatically reduce the appearance of imperfections such as scars and stretch marks.

Why wait to find out what possibilities await you? Contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hernandez. You’ll find her easy to talk to about your concerns and hoped-for results. You can ask all your questions, and together you can explore the treatment options that fit you best.

We are here for you

We all want to look and feel our best. Yet, we are all different, with different aesthetic goals. At Eterna Cosmetic Surgery, our goal is to work with you to create a personally-tailored skin rejuvenation plan based on what you want to achieve. We invite you to contact Dr. Hernandez and Eterna Cosmetic Surgery today to schedule your consultation.