Remove Sun Spots for Good with Laser Treatment

Do you have sun spots and freckles that have appeared over the years? While one or two freckles are fine, when more appear, it can change the tone and appearance of your skin. Sun spots can make your skin look older, an occurrence most people want to avoid. There are options to remove sun spots and other discolorations that happen from aging and sun exposure. One of the best solutions is laser treatments which can fade away those sun spots for good.

Laser Treatments for Sun Spots

There are many different types of skin laser treatments. Some types are used for eliminating hair growth, while others stimulate collagen or treat spider veins and other skin flaws. For removing sun spots, you need a laser treatment that is specifically designed to target darker pigmented skin cells, destroying them and allowing new, lighter cells to take their place.

One option for improving the tone and complexion of the skin, including removing sun spots, is a Limelight Photofacial. This procedure uses intense pulsed light or IPL to target sun and brown spots on the skin. It is non-invasive and not painful, only requiring a quick office visit to perform. Over the next few weeks, the darker spots begin to flake away, revealing even-toned skin. Plus, IPL helps increase collagen production which can help the skin look smoother and younger.

If you have sun spots on your hands, chest or face that you want removed, find a med spa at a plastic surgical clinic that offers Limelight Photofacial laser treatments. In as little as one treatment, you can watch your sun spots fade away for good, giving you beautiful skin that looks healthy and youthful.

Posted on behalf of
Kalos Facial Plastic Surgery LLC
5670 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Northeast #910
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 936-6665

How to Prevent and Fade Sunspots

Sun spots or solar lentigines are brown spots that are left on the skin after many years of exposure to the sun. While not harmful, they are equated with aging and many people prefer to not have them on their face, hands or other exposed areas of skin. There are many creams and home remedies that claim to fade sun spots, but do any of them work? Here are some tips on how you can prevent sun spots and fade them once they appear.

  • Wear sunscreen. Sunscreen is your best protection against sun spots. If you only have one or two sun spots, start wearing a higher level of sunscreen to prevent new ones from arriving. Remember that is does not need to be sunny for UV rays to affect your skin.
  • Avoid tanning beds. Many people who have sun spots have also frequented tanning beds. Many people get sun spots at a much younger age due to using tanning beds.
  • Use a moisturizer with retinol. Putting on a good moisturizer with retinol at bedtime can help improve the health of the skin and fade minor sun spots on the skin.
  • Laser treatments. More pronounced sun spots, freckles and other brown spots on the skin can be faded or removed with laser skin resurfacing at your dermatologist. This treatment only takes about 10-15 minutes per session and can be very effective at removing dark-pigmented spots from your skin.

If you want to keep your skin free of sun spots, start protecting your skin from the sun. Visit your dermatologist to learn more about effective products and treatments to fade your existing sun spots.

Posted on behalf of:
Maurice M. Khosh, MD, FACS
580 Park Avenue, Suite 1BE
New York, NY 10065
212-339-9988

Option for Combatting Sunspots, Large Pores and Wrinkles

Does your skin look older, changing in texture, color and firmness? Your delicate facial skin is one of the first areas to show your age. Sun spots appear, the skin wrinkles and your pores can be more noticeable. The smooth, even skin tone of your youth can seem gone forever. However, you can reverse some of the signs of aging with advanced laser therapy.

Laser therapy can be used to improve the appearance of skin. However, not all laser therapy is the same. Different lasers affect different aspects – what will work well for removing sunspots may not be the best option for wrinkles. To get results for multiple skin issues, dual lasers can be used for excellent results.

2D Laser Treatment

Some cosmetic surgeons offer advanced options for laser treatment, including 2-dimensional therapy. This uses two different laser treatments to obtain exceptional results when treating aging skin. For those with several issues they want to correct like redness, sun spots, wrinkles and visible pores, this can be an optimal solution.

2D laser treatment uses a multi-purposes laser that combats aging with an IPL laser that fine tunes the process. This can help rejuvenate the skin by producing more collagen, tightening the skin to reduce wrinkles and improve texture. The IPL laser can remove redness, fade small veins and sunspots. The combination of lasers can address many different aging skin issues, all in one quick treatment.

2D laser treatment can be done in a short visit to your cosmetic surgeon’s office. There is little to no downtime, so you can undergo this procedure without taking time off from your busy life. Get a more youthful face and feel confident again with a quick trip for laser skin treatment.

Posted on behalf of:
Kalos Facial Plastic Surgery LLC
5670 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Northeast #910
Atlanta, GA 30342
(404) 936-6665

When Skin Damage Goes Too Far: When to See a Plastic Surgeon

The skin is a living organ of the body, changing and rejuvenating throughout your life. It has an amazing ability to repair itself, even when cut, burned or removed. However, it is not trauma that causes the most damage to skin. The elements -sun, wind and water – are the hardest on the skin and can do the most damage, leaving it looking aged and tired.

Skin damage comes in many forms. Sunspots, discolorations, redness, wrinkles and rough texture can all be caused from exposure to the elements. Sun can be the most detrimental, with risks of cancer from too much exposure. However, if you are most concerned with aesthetic changes in your skin from damage, there are remedies available.

Plastic surgeons offer more than just surgical options for improving your appearance. When it comes to the skin, many offer a variety of non-surgical solutions. If your skin has changed in texture, color or firmness, there are treatments that can improve the surface of your skin. These treatments help the skin do what it does best – repair itself. Some of the options available include:

  • Laser skin therapy
  • Facial chemical peels
  • Dermabrasion
  • Skin resurfacing

These options all work in different ways to remove damaged skin cells and promote new skin growth. Oddly, with skin damage, a targeted cosmetic damaging of the skin can actually improve the appearance.

If your skin damage has gone too far and you want to explore options to bring back your healthier, more youthful skin, it is time to see a cosmetic surgeon. There are solutions to undo the skin damage and give you beautiful skin again.

Posted on behalf of:
Beverly Hills Center for Plastic & Laser Surgery
120 South Spalding Drive #236
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 288-0641

6 Uses for Facial Laser Treatments

Medical lasers use light energy to manipulate tissue, whether it is during brain surgery or for cosmetic skin treatments. The advancements in laser technology has improved medical procedures, creating options that were not available before the 1990’s. For facial improvements, laser treatments can offer safe, effective procedures that have little risk or downtime. Here are six popular uses for laser treatments on the face.

  1. Remove birthmarks. Laser treatments are a safe and effective option for fading port wine and strawberry birthmarks on the face.
  2. Hair removal. Laser hair removal can permanently remove the female mustache, chin hairs or facial “fuzz” to eliminate waxing or shaving.
  3. Age spots. Sun damage or age spots can be faded and removed with laser therapy, targeting the darker pigmented skin cells and rejuvenating the skin.
  4. Sagging skin. For sagging or loose skin on the brow, around the eyes or in the neck area, laser skin resurfacing can be used to tighten and improve elasticity for a more youthful appearance.
  5. Fine lines and wrinkles. Laser therapy can help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, stimulating collagen production and smoothing the skin. Laser treatments can also improve the texture of the skin through resurfacing, similar in effect to a chemical peel.
  6. Facial folds. Laser treatments can help reduce folds in the skin from aging, like nasolabial folds and jowl sagging, tightening and smoothing deeper lines and folds.

Laser treatments are quick and usually painless. Some procedures may leave the skin red or flaking, but little downtime is needed after treatments. For effective laser treatments, consult a plastic surgeon that offers skin laser therapy at their practice for the best results.

Posted on behalf of:
Sanaz Harirchian, M.D.
9230 Katy Fwy Suite 600
Houston, TX 77055
713-791-070

How to Know if Laser Resurfacing is Right for You

You cannot stop the hands of time. Your body, hair and skin will change as you age, but that does not mean you cannot slow the process. Your skin is one of the most noticeable areas for aging, especially on your face. This skin is delicate and exposed to the sunlight and elements, making it more likely to age quicker. However, there are options to help you fight the aging process, including laser resurfacing.

Benefits of Laser Resurfacing

There are many different types of laser therapy for the skin, from removing scars to eliminating hair growth. For rejuvenating aging skin, the fractional Co2 laser is one of the best options. This form of laser therapy is used for resurfacing the skin, giving it new life. The thermal energy is used to remove dead skin cells and bolster collagen production, slowing the hands of time on your face as your skin repairs itself. Some skin issues that can be treated with laser resurfacing include:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Loose or sagging skin
  • Crepe-like skin
  • Scarring
  • Large pores

Laser skin resurfacing can address these specific issues and improve the overall appearance of your skin. It can help the texture and tone, creating even, more youthful appearing skin. This procedure can be performed outpatient at a facial plastic surgeon’s clinic on its own, or combined with other options like platelet-rich plasma or dermal fillers to help give you a more youthful look.

If you want to slow the aging process and keep your skin looking fresh and youthful, visit the med spa at your local plastic surgery clinic to learn about options like laser resurfacing.

Posted on behalf of:
Sanaz Harirchian, M.D.
9230 Katy Fwy Suite 600
Houston, TX 77055
713-791-0700

Skin Resurfacing: One Goal, Many Options

Do you long for smoother, clearer, younger looking skin? Fortunately for you, the fountain of youth really does exist – to a degree – right in the offices of your local plastic surgeon.  Modern skin rejuvenation procedures can produce remarkable results, taking years off your appearance without the need for costly plastic surgery or long recovery times. 

There are a number of options available for skin rejuvenation, also called skin resurfacing. They fall into several groups: 

Superficial Peels –  Superficial peels include those using glycolic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid. Such peels work by removing the very outer layer of the skin, allowing the newer, fresher cells to come to the surface. Some may experience redness and tingling during and immediately after the peel, but there is generally no down time associated with these types of peels. 

Medium/Deep Chemical Peels –  Jessner solution and TCA, or Trychloroacetic acid, are considered medium chemical peels, while a Phenol acid peel is considered the strongest. The results for these peels are more dramatic and longer lasting, but there is more down time. Phenol peels can take seven to 10 days for recovery, with swelling, redness and pain. Skin remains sensitive for awhile, and sunscreen is an absolute must. 

Traditional and Fractional Laser Therapy –  Laser resurfacing uses intense light to treat wrinkles, sun damage and other signs of aging. The two main types are CO2 and erbium. CO2 produces the most dramatic results, but also requires the longest healing times. Erbium tends to be more gentle and have a quicker recovery time. All forms of laser skin resurfacing produce a certain amount of redness and swelling. Healing can take a number of months, but the results can last for years. Laser therapy can be much more costly compared to other procedures, sometimes costing thousands of dollars. 

Dermabrasion –  With dermabrasion, the cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist uses a small rotating brush to remove the damaged outer layers of the skin. Swelling and bleeding can occur, and recovery can take weeks to several months. Lasers have largely replaced dermabrasion as a skin resurfacing technique, but dermabrasion is still used to treat targeted areas such as acne scars or small lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

Advantages of Pearl Fractional and Pearl Fusion Lasers

Lasers have come a long way in recent years for facial cosmetic procedures.  The latest cutting edge lasers such as the Cutera Pearl Fractional and Pearl Fusion lasers are the state of the art in facial laser resurfacing.  They work miracles in improving skin tone and texture, restoring lost volume, repairing sun damage, and reducing wrinkles, acne scarring, pore size and other skin irregularities.

Pearl Fractional laser treatments work by exposing a fraction of the skin to pulses of tiny laser beams. These laser beams remove small amounts of damaged tissue and stimulate the body’s natural process for creating new skin full of healthy collagen.

The Pearl Fractional and Pearl Fusion laser have the advantage of producing excellent, immediate results with only a single short treatment, minimal discomfort, and short recovery time.  The procedure is virtually painless and only takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

In addition, these laser techniques have a very fast recovery time.  You can expect only about three to five days of “social downtime”.  During this period, patients should avoid sun exposure are encouraged to relax at home for at least two to three days.

Following the procedure, the skin will look and feel sunburned.  A natural protective dressing will form as part of the healing process.  The redness will start to face after two days and the protective dressing will begin slough off after about 3 days revealing fresh, healthy skin.

Most patients will experience the desired results after a single treatment.  The patient will see noticeably more vibrant, youthful skin shortly after the procedure and the process of natural collagen production will continue for months.  Some patients may wish to schedule follow up treatments for optimal results.

Winter Facial Laser Treatments

If you are considering facial laser skin resurfacing or rejuvenation, now may be a great time to see your facial plastic surgeon about having the procedure done.  According to a recent article in the New York Times, winter is the best time of year for laser skin treatments including skin rejuvenation, hair removal, facial resurfacing, treatment of brown spots, or tattoo removal. 

Dermatologists suggest winter as the ideal season for laser skin treatments because the skin is not tanned.  Melanin, the natural pigment in the skin, can temporarily reduce the effectiveness of some laser treatments.  In addition, some laser procedures take several laser treatments over a period of weeks and in the winter, there is less sun exposure throughout the duration of the treatment.

If you schedule your facial laser skin treatments in the winter, tanning will not be as much of a concern.  If you are planning a winter cruise or vacation to a milder climate, consider planning your facial laser treatment after Halloween, but well before your scheduled departure to allow time for your skin to heal.  Alternatively, plan your treatment well after you have returned to allow your tan to fade.

By scheduling your procedure during the winter months, you can maximize the effectives of the procedure and have plenty of time for your skin to heal before the sunny days of spring arrive.

The seasons are not the only consideration when scheduling your facial laser skin treatments.  Be sure to consult with your facial plastic surgeon or dermatologist.  They can help you determine when to schedule your procedure for the best possible results.

Types of Laser Skin Rejuvenation Treatment

Laser rejuvenation has become a very popular cosmetic procedure for improving the appearance of skin damaged by age or other causes. There are traditionally  two different types of lasers used for laser rejuvenation

Ablative lasers are used for resurfacing the skin. They treat the top layer of the skin (called the epidermis)  while non-ablative lasers treat deeper layers of the skin (the dermis) without affecting the epidermis.  Non-ablative lasers stimulate the growth of collagen in the dermis, resulting in smoother, more youthful skin.

Ablative laser treatments use high temperature lasers to remove unwanted tissue.  This type of laser skin resurfacing treatment is very effective for improving the appearance of sun damaged skin, and treating moderate to severe skin damage including acne scars, freckles, enlarge pores, and rosacea.

The downside of ablative laser treatments is that your skin will be swollen and red similar to a sunburn for several days after the treatment.  Full recovery time can be as long as two weeks.

Non ablative lasers have very few side effects.  Because they work by stimulating collagen growth rather than by removing tissue there is very little, if any, redness or swelling after the treatment.  They are effective for treating mild skin damage and reducing mild to moderate wrinkles.

Fractional lasers are a recent development that are similar to ablative lasers, but they only treat a percentage of the depth of the epidermis.  This procedure produces excellent results like an ablative laser with much reduced down time. 

Some fractional lasers also have a non ablative component for stimulation of collagen growth.  These combine the benefits of ablative and non ablative lasers while minimizing side effects and recovery time. 

Talk to your facial plastic surgeon about what types of laser rejuvenation treatments will be most beneficial to you.