Featuring - Laser Skin Resurfacing (Skin Rejuvenation), Laser Hair Removal and Tattoo Removal
Dr. Melanie Carreon

LASER SKIN RESURFACING

CO2 laser resurfacing MaxFX continues to be an ideal method for eliminating moderate to deep lines and creases due to aging and photodamage and with the ActiveFX peel using the CO2 lite features, is now the ideal method for a lighter minimal downtime peel. Skin resurfacing with heavier settings is a tried and true approach to skin rejuvenation precisely removing layers of skin to correct fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars and smooth skin, soften pucker marks, and repair skin discoloration. The results of laser resurfacing are generally quite dramatic and long-lasting.

In laser skin resurfacing a laser is used to remove areas of damaged or wrinkled skin, layer by layer. The procedure is most commonly used to minimize the appearance of fine lines, especially around the mouth and the eyes. However, it is also effective in treating facial scars or areas of uneven pigmentation. Laser resurfacing may be performed on the whole face or in specific regions.

 

Newest Staff Members at LCS are Deborah Maloney, Licensed Aesthetician - Medical Skin Care Consultant (on left) and Jessica Williams, Licensed Aesthetician - Medical Skin Care Consultant (on right).  These two professionals are highly trained experts in the areas of facial skin care, treatment and rejuvenation.

Active FX Removes Sun Damage, Improves Bags Under the Eyes

Our skin changes over time, losing its youthful look, and giving way to brown spots, wrinkles and laxity. In recent years there has been a growing number of aesthetic procedures available to treat the skin. ActiveFX – the result of the latest advances in laser technology – is a new procedure that yields remarkable, long- lasting results with just one treatment. A fast, office-based procedure with minimal patient downtime, ActiveFX is your single-treatment solution for beautiful younger-looking skin.

 

"I am ecstatic with the results. A single treatment, in-office – and one week later I look 10 years younger."

              
Laser Cosmetic Solutions Featuring Laser Skin Resurfacing, Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal
Seguin, New Braunfels, San Marcos San Antonio, Austin

ActiveFX is a fractional laser procedure performed in a single treatment with minimal patient downtime. During the procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light is used to smooth out lines, wrinkles and scars, remove brown spots and other irregularities, and tighten the skin. It also stimulates formation of new underlying col- lagen to continue improvement over time. With fraction- al laser treatment, only a fraction of the skin’s surface is treated by the laser, leaving small “bridges” of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner.

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VIDEO OF THE ACTIVE FX LASER TREATMENT FOR FACIAL ENHANCEMENTS

Laser Facial Treatment Video - Three Patients Receiving Laser Facial Treatments

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ActiveFX treatment produces a dramatic effect on the skin: • Causes immediate skin tightening • Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and softens deeper frown lines • Noticeably improves skin tone and texture • Stimulates new collagen formation and plumps the skin • Restores the skin to a healthy youthful-looking state The results of ActiveFX laser treatment are long-term and, with proper sun protection, can persist for many years. Most effects of treatment become visible right away, whereas others – such as new collagen forma- tion, which leads to continued inner tightening – build up gradually and become more evident over time. Therefore, most people look even better 3-5 months after the procedure.

Most physicians perform the procedure in the office with a topical anesthetic cream that is applied 30-40 minutes before the ActiveFX procedure begins. There is little to no pain associated with the procedure – most patients say they feel warmth similar to sunburn. You can drive yourself home after the procedure. With a gentle washing and moisturizing regimen, your photo- damaged skin will begin to flake off within 2 days. After about 3-5 days, your doctor will probably let you wear make-up. Pinkness should be gone in about a week.

IPL Skin Treatments Using Photorejuvenation

As the population ages, ever-increasing numbers of people are interested in improving their appearance. IPL technology can be used to help restore the skin's youthful appearance.

IPL technology improves the appearance of photoaged skin, removes age spots (sun-induced freckles), most benign brown pigments, and redness caused by broken capillaries through a process called photorejuvenation for face and body. The process is ideal for patients with active lifestyles because the procedure requires no downtime and has a low risk of side effects.

The gentle, non-ablative treatments use broad spectrum light to treat the face, chest, neck and hands—virtually anywhere that sun damage shows.

 

How IPL Works

A broad spectrum of light is transmitted through a small, smooth, transparent handpiece which is gently placed over the skin. Cut-off filters in the handpiece change the wavelength range allowing it to be optimized for different applications and skin types. The light penetrates the tissue and is absorbed by either the blood when treating vascular lesions or the melanin when treating pigmented lesions damaging them. The body's natural processes then remove the injured tissue giving the skin a more even and youthful appearance.

IPL Skin Treatments using Photorejuvenation often consist of full-face treatment or treatment of isolated body areas like the hands or chest. The treatment regimen typically consists of:

• Four to six treatments administered at three week intervals
• Broad spectrum light in the visible and near infrared range, from 515 nm up to about 1200 nm

As a sub-epidermal procedure, IPL Skin Treatments using Photorejuvenation produce few side effects and requires little to no alteration in the patient's normal routine.

Laser Cosmetic Solutions Featuring Laser Skin Resurfacing, Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal
Seguin, New Braunfels, San Marcos San Antonio, Austin

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LASER SKIN RESURFACING

Enhancing your appearance with skin rejuvenation and resurfacing If you want to improve the appearance of your skin, skin rejuvenation or resurfacing may be right for you. Skin rejuvenation can be achieved in a number of ways, ranging from laser, light and other energy-based treatments to chemical peels and other non-ablative methods. The result is a smoother, clearer and more youthful appearance to your skin.

What can skin rejuvenation treat? Skin rejuvenation is a treatment to resurface your skin, or to improve the texture, clarity and overall appearance of your skin. Conditions that can be treated include:

Is it right for me? While not as involved as surgical cosmetic procedures, skin rejuvenation is a medical procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.

Skin rejuvenation is an option for you if: You are physically healthy You don’t smoke You have a positive outlook and specific, but realistic goals in mind for the improvement of your appearance. The success and safety of your skin rejuvenation procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.

Be prepared to discuss:

What happens during skin rejuvenation? Laser resurfacing can improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles of the entire face, or those that develop in specific regions of the face, such as the upper lip and around the eyes.

Laser and light treatments, or specially formulated chemical peels, resurface the skin to treat pigmentation disorders, such as sun and age spots. Careful consideration of your natural skin color and type will determine the treatment best suited for you to minimize the risk of developing additional pigmentation or a loss of pigmentation (whitening of the skin). Laser and fractional resurfacing, or mechanical resurfacing such as dermabrasion or dermaplaning, can improve the appearance of acne scars as well as other skin conditions. The degree of scarring, your skin type and color will determine the treatment options available to you.

What about my long-term recovery? A series of treatments are required to achieve improvement in skin texture and clarity and repeated treatments are essential to maintain your results. A special note about sun exposure: Absolute sun protection is essential for the first year after any of these resurfacing treatments to prevent irregular pigmentation. Diligent sun protection for life will help to maintain your new, younger, smoother skin.

A special note about sun exposure: Absolute sun protection is essential for the first year after any of these resurfacing treatments to prevent irregular pigmentation. Diligent sun protection for life will help to maintain your new, younger, smoother skin.

Important Terms Related to Laser Skin Resurfacing

• Ablative: Resurfacing treatments that remove the uppermost layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis) to varying degrees.
• Dynamic wrinkles: Expression lines that may appear as folds when the skin is not moving, and deepen with facial movements or expressions.
• General anesthesia: Drugs and/or gases used during an operation to relieve pain and alter consciousness.
• Intravenous sedation: Sedatives administered by injection into a vein to help you relax.
• Laser and energy therapies: Ranging from ablative to non-ablative, these treatments use laser energy, light energy, radio waves, ultrasonic energy, or plasma energy to treat the skin.
• Local anesthesia: A drug injected directly to the site of an incision during an operation to relieve pain.
• Loss of skin tone: Weakening of the supportive skin structure that results in a loss of skin firmness, or the development of cellulite.
• Nasolabial fold: Deep creases between the nose and mouth. Non-ablative therapy: Treatments that do not remove any skin but rather penetrate the skin or treat the skin superficially (only on the surface).
• Pigmentation: Freckles, sun spots, melasma, or other darkened patches of skin result mainly from sun exposure.
• Scars: As the result of acne or injury to the skin, scars may be rolling (a wavy appearance to the skin), pitted, discolored, or have raised borders.
• Static wrinkles: Wrinkles that are visible at all times.
• Tear trough: Deep creases below the lower eyelids.
• Vascular conditions: Blood vessels visible on the surface of the skin, vascular lesions that appear as tiny blood filled blisters or even a constant flush of facial redness.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal technology is evolving. No matter what skin type you have, newer lasers can safely and effectively remove unwanted hair from your face and body.

Definition
Laser hair removal is a medical procedure that uses laser light — an intense, pulsating beam of light — to remove unwanted hair. Laser hair removal works by passing a light beam through the skin. The laser targets dark pigment, called melanin, in hair. When the light beam hits the hair follicle (where hair growth originates), the intense heat destroys the hair follicle instantly. In most cases, laser hair removal slows hair regrowth, but it takes several treatments to provide an extended "hair-free" period.

Why it's done
Laser hair removal is used for people who want to remove unwanted body hair. Common treatment locations include legs, armpits, upper lip, chin and bikini line. However, it is possible to treat unwanted hair in almost any area of the body. Although laser hair removal doesn't guarantee permanent hair removal, it does extend the hair-free period, which can vary from several months to many years. With multiple treatments, long-term hair removal is possible.

Risks
Hair color and skin type are the key factors that influence the success of laser hair removal. It's most successful on people with dark hair (brown or black) and light skin. However, it can also be used safely on people with darker skin types. Laser hair removal does not work for white, blonde, light brown or light red hair. To reduce your risks, choose a qualified, trained doctor who is board certified in dermatology or a similar specialty. Your doctor should meet with you before the procedure and determine your treatment plan. If a physician's assistant or licensed nurse performs the procedure, your doctor should supervise and be available on-site during the treatments. Do not go to a spa, salon or clinic that allows nonmedical personnel to perform the procedure. Complications from laser hair removal are rare if you go to a qualified doctor. Bleeding during the laser treatment is extremely rare, as is the possibility of infection resulting from treatment.

Side effects from laser hair removal include, but are not limited to:

• Incomplete hair removal or regrowth. Some hair may be resistant to the laser treatment or may regrow after treatment.
• Darkening of the skin (hyperpigmentation). This is usually a temporary condition, but in rare instances, is long lasting or permanent.
• Lightening of the skin (hypopigmentation). This is of special concern with people who have darker skin. Laser hair treatment is more successful on fair skin, but darker skin also can be treated.
• Blistering and scarring. These rarely occur.
• Changes in the skin texture. These rarely occur.
• Crusting or scabbing. If this occurs, it's temporary.

Hair changes.
New hair growth may be finer and lighter in color. In some cases, new hair may grow in areas adjacent to the treated areas. This can be successfully treated with additional laser treatments. Talk to your doctor about how these risks apply to you.

How you prepare
Before scheduling laser hair removal, you meet with Dr. Carreon to discuss the factors that determine whether the procedure is likely to work well for you. This meeting generally includes:

Your medical history.
Your doctor asks questions about conditions you have or have had, as well as any medications you're taking.

Photographs.
Photographs are taken from different angles of the area to be treated. Your doctor uses these photos for before-and-after assessments and long-term reviews.

A discussion of risks, benefits and expectations. You and Dr. Carreon talk about risks and benefits. She explains what laser hair removal can and can't do for you and what your results might be.

If you have a tan from sun exposure or sunless tanning products, you must wait until the tan fades completely before undergoing laser hair removal. A tan increases your risk of side effects such as blistering and discoloration. Avoid sun exposure four to six weeks before treatment. Laser hair removal is most effective if hairs are visible but shaved short. You can shave the day of the procedure. Avoid waxing or plucking the hair and electrolysis three weeks before treatment. What you can expect

Laser hair removal procedure
A hand-held laser instrument is pressed to your skin. Depending on the type of laser, a cooling device on the tip or a cool gel is used to protect the skin. When the doctor activates the laser, the laser light passes through your skin's surface to tiny sacs (hair follicles) where hair growth originates. The intense heat damages the hair follicle, which inhibits hair growth.

It takes several treatments to provide an extended hair-free period.

During the procedure
You wear goggles to prevent accidental exposure of your eyes to laser light. When the laser is activated, you feel a stinging sensation. Often times a topical local anesthetic is applied before the procedure to reduce discomfort. The procedure causes a slight charring of stubble. You may notice a strong odor of singed hair, which is normal.

How long the procedure takes depends on the area of the body involved. A small area such as the upper lip may take several minutes. A larger area such as the back may require several hours.

After the procedure
After laser hair removal, no medications or bandages are necessary. You may notice some redness and swelling for the first few hours. Also, stinging may occur for the first 24 to 48 hours. Some people experience a slight crusting of the skin. If crusting occurs, keep the area moist with petroleum jelly (Vaseline).

After treatment:

Laser Tattoo Removal

It is estimated that close to 10% of the U.S. population has some sort of tattoo. Eventually, as many as 50% of them want to have laser tattoo removal.

There is good news for those who have an unwanted body design. Newer laser tattoo removal techniques can eliminate your tattoo with minimal side effects. Here's how it works: lasers remove tattoos by breaking up the pigment colors of the tattoo with a high-intensity light beam.

Black tattoo pigment absorbs all laser wavelengths, making it the easiest to treat. Other colors can only be treated by selected lasers based upon the pigment color.

Who Can Benefit From Laser Tattoo Removal?

Because each tattoo is unique, removal techniques must be tailored to suit each individual case. In the past, tattoos could be removed by a wide variety of methods but, in many cases, the scars were more unsightly than the tattoo itself.

Patients with previously treated tattoos may also be candidates for laser therapy. Tattoos that have not been effectively removed by other treatments or through home remedies may respond well to laser therapy providing the prior treatments did not result in excessive scarring.

What Can I Expect During the Laser Tattoo Removal?

Depending on the size and color of your tattoo, the number of treatments will vary. Your tattoo may be removed in two to four visits, though many more sessions may be necessary. You should schedule a consultation, during which time a trained professional will evaluate your personal situation and advise you on the process.

Treatment with the laser varies from patient to patient depending on the age, size and type of tattoo (amateur or professional). The color of the patient's skin, as well as the depth to which the tattoo pigment extends, will also affect the removal technique.

In general, this is what will happen during an office visit for tattoo removal using the newer lasers:

• Protective eye shields are placed on the patient.
• The skin's reaction to the laser is tested to determine the most effective energy for treatment.
• The treatment itself consists of placing a hand piece against the surface of the skin and activating the laser light. As many patients describe it, each pulse feels like a grease splatter or the snapping of a rubber band against the skin.
• Smaller tattoos require fewer pulses while larger ones require more. In either case, the tattoo requires several treatments and multiple visits. At each treatment, the tattoo should become progressively lighter.
• Immediately following treatment, an ice pack is applied to soothe the treated area. The patient will then be asked to apply a topical antibiotic cream or ointment. A bandage or patch will be used to protect the site and it should likewise be covered with a sun block when out in the sun.

Most patients do not require any anesthesia. However, depending on the location of the tattoo and the pain threshold for the patient, the physician may elect to use some form of anesthesia (topical anesthesia cream, painkiller injections at the site of the procedure).