Laser Rejuvenation
As the initial visible feature of the face, the health and quality of the skin and its surface are usually the starting point in our facial rejuvenative plans. Along with an individualized home care regimen, laser technology and light therapies can provide a variety of benefits including:
- Improvement of fine lines and wrinkles of the face, particularly around the upper lip and crow’s feet area around the eyes.
- Lightening brown spots and evening out patchy skin tone.
- Minimizing and smoothing acne scars and surface imperfections, tightening large pores.
- Eliminating visible broken capillaries and redness associated with rosacea.
We have several options for skin resurfacing that vary in aggressiveness, downtime, and number of treatments required. Of course, we can customize a treatment plan according to your goals.
Before beginning any laser resurfacing or rejuvenation treatment, you will meet with an aesthetician to review your recommended home care regimen. We believe (and clinical studies confirm) that it is vital to prepare the skin before undergoing any facial surgical or non-surgical rejuvenative treatment. Benefits include significant improvement in the health of the skin and decreased risk complications such as hyperpigmentation of the skin. Patients who prepare the skin first also experience faster healing times and a superior end result.
We also recommend taking proper care of your skin after treatment, as this will help preserve the results. Our medical aestheticians are able to customize maintenance regimens for each patient’s needs. Think of it as insuring your investment. The longevity of results with these laser treatments is highly dependent upon the consistency and quality of the post-procedure maintenance and follow-up care.
Fractional Laser Technology
We employ two different lasers that use fractional technology – Lumenis® UltraPulse Encore and Reliant Technology’s Fraxel®. The versatility of employing these two platforms allows us to choose the method of skin resurfacing that will provide you with the best result for your skin type.
Fractional laser procedures involve treating only a “fraction” of the skin’s surface, leaving bridges of untouched skin to aid in the healing process and reduce recovery time.
Lumenis UltraPulse Encore
The Lumenis UltraPulse Encore Laser encompasses a family of light-based technologies that can treat a wide variety of skin conditions:
- Active FX is the application most commonly used for treating hyperpigmentation “age spots” and fine lines.
- Deep FX is the preferred therapy for improving deeper wrinkles, acne scars, and to stimulate long-term dermal remodeling.
- Total FX combines both Active FX and Deep FX for the ultimate improvement in pigmentation, wrinkles, scars, and tissue tightening.
This platform utilizes CO2 laser technology that is the gold standard in skin resurfacing. The laser delivers thousands of tiny pulses in a pattern to the skin, which can eliminate discolorations in the surface of the skin and creates a zone of heat deeper in the tissue. This causes collagen to shrink, which in turn stimulates new collagen growth, producing a tightening and thickening effect in the skin.
Depending on the areas treated and intensity of the procedure, recovery time and cost can vary. This treatment is ideal for the individual who wants to do a single treatment but is willing to go through a longer recovery period of about four to seven days.
Fraxel re:store™
This Fraxel system uses a gentler erbium laser that is non-ablative and requires a shorter recovery time. The laser targets the more superficial layers of the skin and is beneficial for treating fine lines and wrinkles, uneven pigmentation and sun damage. Fraxel also encourages collagen growth. Optimal results can be seen two to three months after the completion of the series.
This treatment is best suited for the patient who requires little downtime but is willing to undergo several treatments. We typically recommend three to five. Package pricing varies depending on the areas treated and how many treatments are included.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) technology is a treatment breakthrough that can correct a variety of skin conditions such as sun damage or photoaging, rosacea, excessive visible blood vessels, unwanted hair, and more. It offers a safe, less invasive solution that can be tailored to your individual condition and skin type, providing superior cosmetic results and outstanding satisfaction. Photorejuvenation with IPL has a short recovery time and does not disrupt the skin surface, making it an attractive option in skin treatment and rejuvenation.
What to Expect During Your Photorejuvenation Treatment
A cold gel is applied to the area to be treated, and you may be given dark glasses to protect your eyes from the light. The smooth surface of the IPL hand piece is gently applied to your skin and pulses of light are applied. You may feel a slight sting, like the snapping of a rubber band. A topical anesthetic cream may be used for comfort during the procedure.
Treatment is generally administered in a series of three to five sessions that provide excellent long-term results, minimal adverse effects, and high satisfaction. Each treatment lasts approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
Why are Multiple Treatments Necessary?
The number of sessions necessary will depend on the conditions being treated as well as their severity. A series of between three to five sessions may be recommended, but conditions like individual blood vessels can sometimes be treated in one session. Multiple treatments are necessary to maintain the short recovery time and avoid potential longer-term problems such as prolonged redness or discoloration. The number of treatments may be adjusted to your response and goals and are spaced three to four weeks apart. As with all laser and light therapies, meticulous sun protection is critical following treatment.
back to topPhotodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic Therapy is an exciting technology that combines a topical medication with a specific wavelength of light. Medications commonly used for these treatments include Levulan (or ALA) and Metvixia, which are activated by the light source when left on the skin. This powerful and effective technique can benefit a number of skin conditions such as:
- Reducing the number of precancerous skin lesions and early skin cancers
- Eliminating bacteria that cause acne and reduce outbreaks
- Reducing the number of active oil glands and improving the appearance of pores
- Improving fine lines by increasing collagen production
- Reducing sun damage and rejuvenating the skin
Before undergoing photodynamic therapy, each patient must be evaluated by either our physician or medical aestheticians. Preparation and post treatment skin care are important to maximize results and minimize any side effects. Many patients with a history of skin cancer or precancerous lesions may be eligible for insurance coverage for this procedure.
Omnilux Combination Light Therapy
With 12 years of extensive medical research behind it, the Omnilux system is a new and valuable tool we can use to give just about anyone a clearer, brighter and smoother complexion with reduced lines and wrinkles. Using light emitting diode technology, widely known as LED’s, Omnilux uses visible wavelengths of light to work with the body’s own natural processes to counteract the effects of aging and acne. We can use LED's to help treat many skin conditions including:
- Acne and acneic inflammation
- photodamage (sun damage)
- non-melanoma skin cancers
- skin rejuvenation (treat fine lines and wrinkles)
- pigmentation or discoloration
- redness and inflammation (post treatment or from rosacea)
- pain in muscles and joints
Treatment with Omnilux Light Therapy is quick, non-invasive, requires no downtime, and is a low-cost way to improve the skin’s appearance and health. LED Therapy stimulates natural processes to repair the skin, and depending on the skin issues you may be experiencing, we can use a combination of different lights to be able to:
- stimulate cells that help to counteract the effects of aging
- destroy bacteria responsible for acne
- reduce inflammation
- stimulate cell growth and collagen production
- decrease pore size
- limit oil production
Omnilux Therapy may also be used for a technique called photodynamic therapy, which uses the light in combination with topical medication to reduce precancerous cells called actinic keratosis, or to improve acne and skin aging.
LED Therapy with Omnilux is safe and effective. When following the prescribed protocol, studies have shown 80% of patients report reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, and up to 81% clearance in mild to moderate acne.
Talk to your aesthetician about adding LED therapy into your treatment plan, and see the difference a little good light can do for you!
Laser Hair Removal
Plucking, shaving, and waxing are helpful but are only temporary and often uncomfortable. Electrolysis is popular for longer-term hair removal but can be time consuming, expensive, and painful.
We use the Light Sheer Diode laser by Lumenis for our hair removal procedures. This is a state of the art system especially designed to remove or reduce unwanted hair more quickly and reliably, and with less discomfort than other methods. Areas that can be treated include the upper lip and chin, legs and bikini area, underarms, back, neck, and anywhere unwanted hair is present.
Unlike temporary procedures, laser hair removal with the Light Sheer Diode uses a laser pulse for a fraction of a second, long enough to heat up the hair and stop the follicle where hair is produced. Because the laser is attracted to the color of the hair, it is more effective with dark hairs. It is extremely important to avoid tanning (from sun, tanning booth, or sunless tanner) or having excessive pigment in the skin during treatment. With the Light Sheer it is possible to treat darker skin tones, but it is important to have a thorough consultation first to assess each individual case.
The length of the session depends on the area being treated, and may last from 10 to 15 minutes to an hour or more. It is important to know that the hairs in the active growth phase (anagen phase) are most affected by the laser. At any particular time, the hairs are in different phases of growth, making multiple sessions necessary to achieve the best result. Three to five treatments may be recommended depending on each individual case.
The procedure typically does not cause any significant discomfort, and topical anesthetics and analgesics are usually not needed unless a very large area is being treated. After the treatment, there may be some minor redness and swelling around the follicles, which is a sign that the treatment was effective. Most people can return to normal activity immediately after the procedure.