What happened in medical spas, skin clinics and laser treatment centers in 2009?

Cosmetic enhancements circa 2009 can be divided into three basic categories. Non Invasive includes wash and wear injections and resurfacing treatments such as IPL & laser treatments and chemical peels, and clinical skin care. Minimally invasive falls somewhere in between surgery with visible scars, and the non invasive category, and can be performed in a doctor’s office. Invasive procedures involve surgery done to reshape or refine parts of the face and body, typically involving an office or hospital setting and anesthesia. Most common are breast augmentation, liposuction, mini face lifts and pretty much anything that involves a scalpel.

In the overall scheme of things, there is no ideal time frame to jump on the Botox bandwagon, although the trend is certainly towards doing things earlier as a preemptive strike for maintenance and to forestall the day when everything goes south. But there will come a time when creams stop doing enough to make you content with the way you are aging, and you start to wonder what else is out there. You don’t have to take it lying down (although lying down does make sagging disappear – try holding a mirror above your head).

The next logical step from wrinkle creams and sunscreen are chemical peels, laser treatments, and intense pulsed light treatments (IPL) that can even out skin tone and improve texture.

Botox is brilliant for lines around the eyes, forehead and mouth. Dermal fillers such as Restylane, Evolence and Radiesse are de rigeur for plumping furrows, creases and deeper folds. Brown spots and sun damage can be helped with a course of Fraxel or Pearl. For slack skin, tightening devices such as Thermage and Titan can deliver a subtle lifting effect on droopy brows and necks. The final stage before considering surgery tends to be a combination of several of these to maximize the anti-aging results.

Of course, when the non invasive treatments stop delivering what you really want in terms of sagging, sinking and bulges, you might consider a short scar face or neck lift and some minor eye rejuvenation surgery to reduce excess skin and fat deposits.

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Post from: Laser Clinic MD

Medicals Spas & Laser Clinics in 2009

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Laser Hair Removal FAQ

Laser Hair Removal FAQ from skin clinics, plastic surgery clinics and dermatology centers.

All laser treatments technically operate the same way when performing a hair removal treatment. The Intense Pulsed Light Device (IPL) or cosmetic laser uses light energy to destroy the hair folicle.

It is important that patients about to undergo a laser hair removal treatment or procedure not to wear dark clothing near the area to be treated. While very unlikely, the pigment in the clothing could potentially be absorbed by the Intense Pulsed Light Device (IPL) or cosmetic laser light and can result in a burn. Patients should be instructed to refrain from using any body washes, lotions, cosmetics, or any skin medications the day of the procedure.

Some patients may prefer to have a topical anesthetic applied prior to the procedure. If any residue of the anesthetic remains, it should be wiped clean from the skin. Often a cooling gel or other cooling apparatus is applied to the skin.

Patients with darker skin types or suntanned skin could experience a paradoxal response where the laser or light therapy may stimulate more hair to grow instead of causing follicular destruction. Patients with dark or ethnic skin types should be spot tested a month before proceeding with a full treatment. A patch test should be performed on the intended treatment area. After waiting 10 to 15 minutes, the area is checked for unusual redness swelling, bruising, or any other undesirable responses. If the area emits a slight reddish hue with no other abnormalities, the device settings are optimal.

Some Intense Pulsed Light Devices (IPL) or cosmetic lasers, IPL in particular, require a second pass over the intended treatment area at a different parameter. Before proceeding with the second pass, the skin should be carefully examined for adverse effects.

Laser Hair Removal FAQ: Post Treatment

After a aesthetic laser or IPL hair removal procedure the patient may experience a mild burning sensation and redness. Exposure to ultraviolet light (sun, tanning beds/booths) should be avoided. A sunscreen with an SPF 20 UVA and UVB protection should be applied to the skin prior to leaving the office.

In the case of burning or blistering a topical antibiotic medication should be applied and the laser clinics physician should be consulted. Unfortunately, some patients may experience temporary pigment changes such as lightening or darkening of the skin.

After the Intense Pulsed Light Device (IPL) or cosmetic laser hair removal treatment, the portion of the hair which remains under the skin will be expelled. The patient should be made aware that an actively growing hair is the only follicle which will respond to laser and light therapy. This is especially more noticeable in areas of the body which has thicker or more coarse hair such as the axillae and genetalia. It is important to educate the patient about the process of hair follicle destruction.

Laser hair removal patients should also be informed that no laser or IPL device can destroy all of the hair follicles… especially after only one treatment. Some hairs are in their dormant state and can’t be treated, some have been placed into a prolonged dormant state due to the procedure effects, and others have been transformed into vellus hairs (light, fine hairs). Several treatments are required at monthly intervals for an optimal outcome. A maintenance procedure performed at yearly intervals is recommended for permanent hair removal.

Post from: Laser Clinic MD

Laser Hair Removal FAQ

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Skin Tightening: Thermage & Laser Treatments

Skin tightening treatments are usually performed in a med spa or laser clinic by an aesthetician under the direct supervision of a physician skin tightening treatments don’t require much down time for the patient. While devices used for skin tightening do vary in their modality; the procedures do not require topical anesthetics. These procedures are typically performed in monthly intervals and results can be seen gradually over several months. Because of the gradual improvement, it is important to obtain before photos of the intended treatment area(s) before the procedure, with subsequent photos taken immediately prior to performing each consecutive treatment. A final results photo should be taken one month after the last treatment. This photo journal can show the patient their improvement.

Nonsurgical Skin Tightening Devices

The source of energy used to produce thermal damage can be either radio waves, infrared light, lower wavelength laser or any combination of the three. The intention is to stimulate increased collagen production.

Light wavelengths, specifically in the infrared spectrum, are successfully used to promote tightening of the skin by heating the dermis. This in turn initiates the body’s natural healing response. This type of treatment is called “selective thermal damage”. When the dermis becomes “damaged”, the body will begin to heal itself by encouraging additional collagen production and the rebuilding of the collagen that already exists in the tissue. As the layer of collagen builds upon itself, the underlying tissues of the skin contract, resulting in a tighter appearance to the skin. Most infrared devices deliver their light source in a single grid. This results in a large area of controlled thermal damage. The Palomar LuxDeepIR Fractional is one device on the market that delivers light in an array of columns into the target area of tissue and leaves the surrounding areas untouched. The company says that this type of technology reduces patients’ pain and also promotes quicker healing time as the new developing areas of collagen can attach to and build upon the untouched areas. When using the radio frequency devices, there also is a variance from one source of energy to bipolar devices constituting two wavelengths.

Why is collagen important to Laser Skin Tightening?

Collagen is an important protein and structural component of skin. Large amounts of collagen are contained in the dermis. Collagen fibers build a strong mesh responsible for maintaining the texture, strength and resilience of skin. As we get older, our collagen fibers start to break down and the epidermal layer thins. The results are visible sagging, wrinkles and folds. Even though fibroblasts can produce more collagen fibers, the human body’s ability to do so decreases as we age.

Skin Tightening Results

Although not comparable to plastic surgery, on average, the most dramatic results of laser skin tightening treatments are seen in the neck and jaw line where the dermal layer is thinner. However, results are not seen until months after one treatment or more. Results are also varied depending on differences in skin texture and thickness and a patient’s lifestyle (alcohol, smoking, sleep patterns). Each device states different claims of how painful the procedure is, so some patients may choose to use a topical anesthetic or an analgesic to decrease pain. Side effects may include edema, erythema, or skin blanching immediately following treatment. Rarer side effects of laser skin tightening may include blistering, skin depressions and even slight pigment changes. Post treatment skin care can greatly affect the recovery time from skin tightening.

Post from: Laser Clinic MD

Skin Tightening

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