LASER AND IPL PROCEDURES

Cosmetic laser procedures are relatively new and highly specialized treatments using state of the art technologies that become available every 3-5 years. Physicians who specialize in cosmetic procedures and keep up to date with new technology learn and get trained in new procedures as they become available.

One of the unique characteristics of lasers is their ability to focus on extremely small areas while avoiding healthy skin adjacent to the area being treated — meaning they are highly specific to the target and selective (do not destroy other tissue).

How Lasers Work
A laser is a finally focused, narrow wavelength beam of light. Different lasers emit beams of different frequencies. Different targets (pigment, hair, skin, blood vessels, etc.) are mainly responsive to a particular wavelength for each application.

Your physician can control both the intensity of the laser beam and its duration while doing your procedure so, good results are very dependent on the skill and experience of your doctor. Only experienced physicians can make adjustments during the procedure that take into account how your skin is reacting to the treatment, therefore increasingly results and decreasing possible side effects.

Some of the benefits of the cosmetic lasers are:

Very flexible Customize to the the problem and the patient Bloodless procedure

Reduced risk of infection Very accurate and precise Out patient procedures

Laser Wavelength & Applications
Wavelengths of lasers are measured in nanometers (billionths of a meter)

Non-Ablative Lasers

This type of laser is used for gentle wrinkle correction. Non-ablative lasers work by going through the surface of the skin and directly treating the layers underneath without disrupting the top layer of the skin. The skin can then respond as though it was repairing a wound and regenerate itself.

Because they are gentler, there is no downtime or recovery needed. A series of treatments is required to stimulate your body to produce the collagen you have lost. As your body produces the new collagen, your skin gets smoother and its texture and elasticity improves. The improvement is gradual over weeks and months.

IPL - Intense Pulsed Light

IPL uses scattered light energy with a broad wave spectrum and larger scanning devices. These characteristics make this technology successful addressing multiple problems at once.

Because this equipment is not a laser, the laser regulatorylaw is bypassed, making this technology quite dangerous in inexperienced hands or completely ineffectiveif too weak, non-powered sources are being used. Beware of "salon/day spas" IPL Treatments

Photorejuvenation Photofacial - Follow skin report on page 9

How it works
IPL, treatments are done with a non-invasive medical system that uses intense pulsed light therapy to reduce or eliminate photo aging manifested as skin redness, spider veins, sun damage, age spots, brown spots and more. It can treat successfully the full face, neck, chest, and even the hands.

Ablative Lasers

The ablative CO2 laser is absorbed by your tissues regardless of pigmentation or vein condition because its target of interaction is water. The depth of penetration is a function of its wavelength and can be customized to the problem being treated by changing energy; the number of passes and by using super pulsed or ultra pulsed technology.

Vaporizing your top layer of skin removes all damage to it while heating the deeper layer to stimulate collagen production resulting in a smoother, cleared and firmer skin. This procedure is indicated for advanced skin damage with fine and deep wrinkling, discolorations, and sagging. The procedure requires about 7-10 days recovery time but the rewards are worth it.

For the aggressive correction with the CO2 resurfacing laser the one time cost range from $1200-$3200 depending on the size of the area treated. In this case you will be able to return to work in 1-2 weeks.

Partial Ablative - Fractional/Profractional Lasers

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FRACTIONAL LASER RESURFACING THERAPY

Facial laser resurfacing has become a popular option for patients seeking to enhance the appearance of their skin. Unlike traditional laser peels, where effective results are associated with long periods of downtime, fractional technology, offers a short-downtime solution for treating wrinkles, scars, pigment, and toned and texture of the skin.

How Fractional & Profactional Laser Works
Fractional Therapy laser modality uses energy to create micro ablated channels deep in the dermal tissue, covering only a fraction of the total surface area and leaving the surrounding skin intact for faster healing and increase comfort. The wound-healing process produces fibroblasts that generate new collagen, plumping the skin and correcting skin imperfections.

Fractional Therapy allows the physician to select from a wide spectrum of treatment depths and densities, depending on the indications treated, the desired outcome and the patient's tolerance of downtime. Use superficial depth treatments for pigment, medium depth for fine lines and wrinkles, and deep depth for deep scars, acne scars, or deep wrinkles.

First generation fractional devices use non-ablative laser energy, leaving columns of necrotic debris in the tissue. They require multiple treatments and are not very effective on wrinkles or deep scars.

New generation fractional devices use ablative wavelengths- Er: YAG, CO2, or Er: YSGG. The results are more dramatic, but limited by the characteristics of the wavelength used.

Profractional-XC Tunable Profractional Solution is taking fractionated resurfacing to the next level for dramatic improvement in wrinkles, scars, pigment, tone, and texture.

Sciton's unique Tunable Fractional technology allows the use of any ablative fractional technology thereby optimizing treatment depth, are coverage, and the ratio of ablation and thermal zone to each patient's condition, skin type, desired outcome, and tolerance of downtime.