What is FotoFacial treatment?

FotoFacial is a proprietary term for a rejuvenating treatment that combines the benefits of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) and RF (radiofrequency) technologies to treat signs of UV damage and aging. These two forms of light energy work together when applied to targeted areas with a special handheld device.

What issues can FotoFacial treatment address?

Among the many reasons patients choose FotoFacial treatment are pigmentation and UV-damage issues — spider veins, pink and brown blemishes, age spots, and freckling — and signs of aging such as wrinkles, lines, and enlarged pores. FotoFacial treatment can also be of benefit in calming the redness of rosacea, smoothing acne scarring, and resolving melasma (“the mask of pregnancy”).

How does FotoFacial treatment work?

FotoFacial treatments are given in a series of 3 to 6, scheduled over up to 18 weeks, for optimum results. When the pulsed light waves of a FotoFacial are absorbed into the skin, they destroy areas of UV damage and absorb the blood that causes redness and inflammation. Surface areas of damage skin then dry, blacken, and flake off, exposing new, healthy skin. At the same time, the radiofrequency waves work below the surface to tighten tissues and stimulate supporting collagen for a smoother, more youthful look.

What should I expect during and after treatment?

FotoFacial treatments are particularly popular because they offer many of the same benefits as more invasive laser rejuvenation or cosmetic surgery without the expense or risk and with no downtime. Patients generally experience a gentle “zapping” sensation in the targeted areas as treatment is applied. Following each treatment, the affected skin will turn dark and flake off naturally over a day or two. Your skin care provider will recommend procedures for keeping treated skin clean and moisturized. You will need to use a high-SPF broad spectrum sunscreen and avoid prolonged sun exposure during the course of your treatment schedule, as treated skin will be more sensitive to UV damage until it is healed. On treatment days, avoid wearing any lotion, cream, perfume or makeup on skin to be treated as these may interfere with or block the FotoFacial light waves.

How successful is FotoFacial treatment?

Each patient’s results are individual, but most people see an immediate improvement after each treatment and a 50% to 70% improvement in the appearance of treated areas over the full course of treatment. Patient satisfaction rates for FotoFacial treatment approach 90%, making it one of the most popular treatments in cosmetic dermatology.

If you’d like to learn more about what FotoFacial treatment can do for you, contact our cosmetic consultant Mary Lou for a complimentary consultation. She’ll help you design a treatment plan that fits your skin, your schedule, and your budget. It’s time to see the light!

The post FotoFacial Treatment: Your Face in a New Light appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

Developments in laser technology have allowed this powerful form of harnessed light energy to be used as skilfully as a scalpel and as gently as a warm massage. Different laser properties can be combined to address multiple cosmetic issues in one treatment or series of treatments, says Dr. Tina Alster of Washington DC’s Georgetown University.

As a result, she says, a dermatologist may use one device to treat redness, another to treat brown spots and another to treat sagging skin — all during the same patient visit.

“These ‘mega combination’ treatments allow dermatologists to provide patients with truly revitalized skin in just one treatment session,” she says. “We can optimize their results while minimizing the amount of time they have to spend in the office.”

In our office you can see our registered laser nurse, Kimberly Bailin, RN, for a variety of cosmetic procedures. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses photosensitizing medication and the application of blue light to treat acne and rosacea and to address the precancerous lesions known as actinic keratoses. IPL (intense pulsed light) Fotofacials zap away sun damage and stimulate the production of fresh new skin cells. Laser hair removal is an ever-popular solution for year-round skin-baring smoothness.

You can also see Kimberly for Pellevé^® tissue tightening, which uses RF (radio frequency) technology to firm and smooth sagging skin. For treatment of deep lines and wrinkles rejuvenation, Kimberly is also skilled in sublative rejuvenation with the Matrix laser.

Our Board-certified Dermatologists also specialize in the most popular advancement in laser rejuvenation, treatment with the SmartSkin^® Fractionated CO2 Laser from Cynosure. We offer full facial rejuvenation as well as the laser eye treatment known as the Madonna eyelift. As the AAD report notes:

Fractionated lasers use the same amount of energy as older models, but that energy is broken up into smaller doses, offering safer, more effective treatment. “Today’s lasers allow us to provide a rejuvenating effect with less trauma to the skin,” [Dr. Alster] says. “That means a lower risk of complications and shorter recovery time for patients.”

The AAD report reminds patients that even with all the developments in laser technology, it’s the human hands that wield the light that matter most. Always seek laser treatment from qualified medical professionals, preferably with experience in dermatological applications. At Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena, we’re proud of our experienced laser team of Dr. Sara Gaspard, Dr. Han Lee, and Kimberly Bailin. Contact us today to find out how laser treatments can light up your healthy, beautiful skin!

The post Let There Be Laser! appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.

We’re in for a cloudy, rainy winter thanks to El Niño, we’re told, but there’s more than one silver living to the cloudy forecast. Some welcome relief for drought-stricken Southern California, of course! But did you know a cloudy winter is also a great opportunity to reverse aging?

Laser rejuvenation has revolutionized the world of cosmetic dermatology. Today’s controlled, safe lasers offer all the benefits of traditional surgical rejuvenation—without the risk, expense, high discomfort level, and extended recovery time of surgery.

Treatment with the advanced SmartSkin^®® CO2 Micro-Ablative Laser Skin Renewal system combines skin resurfacing, collagen stimulation, and tissue-tightening in one procedure, addressing deep wrinkles, sun damage, poor skin texture, pigmentation issues, and scarring. Offered in full-face and the famous “Madonna Lift” eye-lift versions, our SmartSkin^® CO2 Laser Rejuvenation treatments are among our most popular cosmetic procedures.

We also offer traditional sublative rejuvenation with the Matrix RF system, and pinpoint renewal with the controlled Vbeam laser.

One thing laser rejuvenation treatments have in common is the need to protect your skin from UV rays during the preparation for and followup to treatment. That makes the winter season, with its shorter daylight hours and fewer outdoor activities, the perfect time to schedule your laser rejuvenation. While the raindrops are falling, the years will be falling away!

Call or email our cosmetic consultant Mary Lou Brimecombe today to learn more about finding your silver lining this season!

The post Darker Days, Younger Skin! ‘Tis the Season for Laser Rejuvenation appeared first on Comprehensive Dermatology Center of Pasadena.