Laser Rejuvenation
Lasers are excellent for improving the skin ranging from minimally invasive procedures with little to no down time to aggressive skin resurfacing for highly sun damaged skin. The choice of procedure and laser depends on your goals and how it matches what can be achieved with various lasers. Dr. Pearlman and his staff will help determine which treatments are best for you. Most of our patients find that the Cutera laser can help treat all but the most wrinkled skin.
Non-Invasive Laser Procedures
The most advanced skin rejuvenation technology is now available in our office for treating aging skin. Photo damaged skin is more than just wrinkles; it is hyperpigmentation (discoloration), enlarged pores, telangiectasias, and brown “age spots”.
Classical treatment for most of these conditions has been dermabrasion, deep chemical peels and laser resurfacing with either CO2 or Erbium lasers. However, these treatments require significant healing time for patients. We are happy to share that alternative solutions have been provided through IPL or Intense Pulsed Light laser with no visible healing time in most patients.
Why Non-Invasive Lasers?
Minimal discomfort and no “down time”
Slow down the signs of aging, unwanted hair, small veins, and other blemishes
Reduce the redness associated with Rosacea
Diminish red and brown spots
Reduction of imperfections in the skin along with improving pore size
The laser that we offer is from Cutera and offers all the following platforms:
LimeLight™
CoolGlide Excel® Vascular Laser
Cutera CoolGlide® Laser Hair Removal
Laser Genesis™
The Cutera Laser is one of the latest and newest laser and light technologies on the market today. This laser is used at our office for a customized treatment for ALL skin types. It provides the ability to have a wide range of laser procedures such as hair removal, vein reduction/removal, pigment (brown spots) and redness reduction/removal, as well as skin texture enhancement.
LimeLight™
The LimeLight facial is a new, non-invasive approach to skin rejuvenation. The procedure offers the advantage of improving skin tone and surface imperfections associated with aging and photodamage. This procedure is ideal for any part of the face, neck, décolleté, and hands with skin redness, telangiectasia (tiny “spider” veins) or brown spots. It is also well-known as an IPL or Photo-rejuvenation treatment. This laser also works well for patients who have Rosacea. Rosacea is a skin condition that leaves people with red/flushed faces that comes from dilated blood vessels. This laser helps to heat and cauterize the veins and thus improve/diminish redness of the skin.
Pigmented brown “age” spots are treated with the same device at a different setting. The light targets the irregular or pigmented lesions that are usually caused by sun damage and age. Once targeted by the laser the melanin (pigment granules in the skin cells) absorbs the laser energy, and within one to three weeks the darkened spots will flake off and fade. The LimeLight laser works in a series of treatments. To reach significant improvement typically requires 5 sessions. However, after each treatment, there is little visible healing other than some darkening of the skin or mild redness for a few days to a week. These can usually be covered by makeup as of the day of treatment.
CoolGlide Excel® Vascular Laser
The CoolGlide laser is used to treat facial and leg spider veins. This laser can be used for women and men of ALL skin types and is much less painful than injections. Using the most advanced laser technology, the CoolGlide can safely and effectively treat both tiny superficial face veins, spider veins, hemangiomas, and deep retricular (blue) leg veins. The system delivers pulses of light energy which cause the blood within the vein to coagulate, eventually destroying the vessel which is later reabsorbed by your body. Blood flow will then be redirected to veins deeper below your skin’s surface, where it should be. Most patients find that the majority of the treated veins will show improvement within two to six weeks. For optimal results two to three treatments are recommended. However, the number of treatments can vary depending on how many, color, and size of the vessels being treated.
Cutera CoolGlide® Laser Hair Removal
The CoolGlide Laser Hair Removal is making unwanted facial and body hair a thing of the past. No more wasting money on endless cycles of painful waxing, razors, or electrolysis. The CoolGlide laser can treat men and women of ALL skin types safely and effectively, year-round. The hair follicles absorb the intense light pulses creating very localized intense heat. This heat destroys the follicle and re-growth potential. This creates a permanent reduction in hair. Some patients experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. The number of treatments required depends on a number of factors- hair thickness, the area treated and your hair’s growth cycle. Not all hairs are actively growing at the same time and actually go through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. CoolGlide treatments work by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary. About a week after the treatment you may experience what seems to be regrowth of hair. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not re-growing. Between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hair, but it is permissible to shave. Patients with dark hair or hair with color are good candidates for this procedure. Blonde, White or Gray hair will not be eliminated as there is no pigment for the laser to reach. A minimum of six to eight sessions are recommended for optimal results.
Laser Genesis™
Laser Genesis is a breakthrough non-ablative procedure that provides multiple skin therapy benefits. This advanced innovative technology promotes vibrant and healthy looking skin for men and women. Laser Genesis addresses common skin conditions due to the aging process and the result is a healthier, younger-looking complexion. This procedure safely treats fine-line wrinkles, diffuse redness, helps manage large pores, and improve uneven skin texture (sun damage) and scars. This technique works by gently heating the upper dermis well below your skin’s surface which stimulates collagen regrowth. This helps to restore the skin’s youthful glow and appearance. On average, a total of four to six treatments are recommended for optimal results. Every patient’s condition and needs may vary. Subtle yet consistent results are seen after each treatment without unwanted side effects such as bruising, clogged pores or irritation. The overall effect of multiple treatments can be quite dramatic and very liberating.
Why Deep, Invasive CO2 Laser Resurfacing or Peels?
For highly sun damaged skin, minimally invasive procedures may not be enough. Skin resurfacing is an excellent way of reducing deeper facial wrinkles and reversing the effects of aging on the skin. This is accomplished by stripping away the dead outer layer (epidermis) of skin and stimulating re-growth within the deeper layer of the skin. Newer, more youthful skin then re-grows, like the baby skin you get under a scrape or a superficial burn. This field of cosmetic surgery has been revolutionized by the use of lasers.
A laser is a high intensity light of a specific wavelength, which has very precise and predictable effects on the skin or any substance being treated. The mainstay for skin resurfacing is the Carbon Dioxide laser, referred to as the CO2 laser.
The CO2 laser accurately vaporizes the skin layer by layer. There is some effect on the collagen fibers as well during deeper laser treatments, adding strength and causing re-organizing of collagen bundles to efface deep wrinkles.
In the hands of an expertly trained laser surgeon, like Dr. Pearlman, who understand the effects of the laser, laser resurfacing can lead to routinely good results. This treatment is not for everyone. Patients with darker skin may not be candidates for CO2 laser resurfacing.
Changes that can be made using the CO2 laser:
Reduce wrinkles and fine lines
Soften deep laugh lines and frown lines
Restore sun damaged skin
Even out sun induced pigmentation
Remove brown age spots
Smooth acne and facial scars
Immediately following laser treatment the skin appears deep red. Various dressings are used which occlude and protect the skin in some fashion. The length of recovery depends on the depth of laser treatment and the patient’s skin type. Camouflage make-up can usually be applied commencing 5 to 8 days following the procedure. Side effects can be reduced by routinely using antibiotic and antiviral medications. The skin may become transiently darker, called hyperpigmentation, which is treatable.
Chemical Peels for the Face
Chemcial peels have been used for many decades to restore smoother, more youthful skin. These techniques have become less popular with the advent of the laser. However, similar results can often be achieved to invasive laser treatments. Basically, both are controlled burns that leave behind the “baby smooth” skin that you might see after any burn. The choice of chemical peel depends on the depth of treatment desired, the skin thickness and the healing time.
Superfical peel: Office glycolic peel
Light Medium depth peel: Jessner’s peel; a few days of peeling and flaking
Medium Depth peel: TCA, trichloracetic acid peel
Deep Medium Depth peel: Jessner’s and TCA combined
Deep peel: Baker Gordon Phenol based peel