Who are the best candidates for Laser-Toning?

Anyone wishing to reduce or delay the signs of aging, postpone more aggressive treatments or prolong the results of previous treatments can benefit from Laser-Toning. Even patients with pigmentation that precludes the use of some lasers, or with depressed acne scars will benefit from our Laser-Toning/Facial Rejuvenation.

What are the benefits of Laser-Toning?

• Laser-Toning treatments are safe and effective and work on all pigmentation and skin types.
• Laser-Toning is a non-invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis.
• Treatments with Laser-Toning rarely produce injury to surface tissues.
• With Laser-Toning there is no downtime.
  
  

How many treatments will I need?

Every patient is different. Many see results after the second or third treatment.
Treatments are normally spaced 2 to 3 weeks apart in the beginning, then 8 to 12 weeks in a maintenance program. Your maintenance program will last as long as you would like to retard the effects of aging, or until the need for a more aggressive treatment such as laser resurfacing or a facelift arises.

Do I have to have my whole face treated?

No. A full face treatment is necessary for a “laserlift”, but RRLC offers “ala carte” treatments for crow’s feet, forehead lines, “smoker’s wrinkles” above the lips, labial fold smile lines, acne scars, lip enhancement, dark circles under eyes, Port Wine stains and hemangionas. Stretch marks, acne scars, and most pigment imperfections can be treated on any body part.

What will my recovery be like?

Are Laser-Toning treatments for you?

Your doctor or CLS will review your medical history, age, skin type and pigmentation, consider your desired results, and determine the best course of treatment for you. Results will vary from patient to patient depending on age, skin type, condition and the number of treatments.

How does laser hair removal work?

A laser produces a beam of highly concentrated light. The light emitted is well absorbed by the pigment located in hair follicles. The laser pulses for a fraction of a second, just long enough to vaporize the pigment, disabling numerous follicles at a time to eliminate or significantly impede the hair’s growth.

Is laser hair removal painful?

The laser treatment itself can cause a slight tingling sensation. Most patients tolerate the procedure well. Because some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, topical anesthesia can be an option.

How long do the treatments take?

The treatment time can vary considerably depending on the size of the area treated, and the particular technique used. A small area such as the upper lip may take only five minutes, while a larger area like the back or legs may take up to one hour. Since the laser affects only those hairs in the growing stage, and not all hairs will be in this stage at the same time, several treatments will most likely be needed to effectively remove all the hair from one area. Subsequent sessions will be scheduled at least a month apart, when you will probably begin to notice the re-growth of hairs that were previously in the resting stage.

How many treatments are required?

Although the FDA has approved several types of laser for permanent hair reduction, results can vary. Each individual has a different metabolism, hormonal level, hair quality and number of hair follicles, all of which can influence the outcome. Moreover, normal hair goes through a growth cycle in three stages: the anagen, or growing phase; the telogen, or resting phase; and the catagen, or transitional phase. During the anagen phase, hair is susceptible to the laser’s energy, but during the telogen and catagen phases, it is resistant. At any one time, various percentages of body hair will be in each of these phases, making complete removal unlikely without multiple sessions. Typically five (5) treatments are necessary to achieve the desired result.

How are tattoos removed?

Medical lasers use an intense beam of light to significantly lighten or completely remove your tattoo. When the ink particles of your tattoo absorb the light from the laser, they are broken up into tiny fragments. These fragments are then absorbed through your body’s natural cleansing mechanism. This cleansing process generally takes a few weeks. Larger ink particles may require multiple treatments.

How do laser treatments compare to other methods of tattoo removal?

Your other treatment options for removing your tattoo include surgical excision, dermabrasion (or sanding) and chemical peels. These methods are more invasive and painful, and can often result in scarring. Laser tattoo removal is safer. It is non-invasive and only targets the ink used in the tattoo process. It does not affect the tissue surrounding the tattoo.

What are the treatments like?

Some patients say they feel a slight sting, like the snap of a rubber band on the skin, followed by the feeling of sunburn. Many treatments do not require anesthetics. However, some patients feel more comfortable with a local numbing agent like ice or an anesthetic cream. For others, a local anesthetic injection may be beneficial.

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments required for maximum improvement depends on the size, location, depth and color of your tattoo. Treatments should be placed 4 to 8 weeks apart to allow your body to remove the maximum amount of tattoo pigment. Treatment sessions usually take from 10 to 30 minutes. You will continue to see a lightening of your tattoo after each treatment as your body disposes of more pigment. Most patients will see improvement in their tattoos. The improvement can be quite dramatic. However, large or heavily pigmented tattoos applied by a professional tattooist can require several treatments for optimum results.

What will my skin look like after treatment?

Right after your treatment, your skin may have a white discoloration, and the area around the tattoo may be reddish and could have some swelling. This is normal and will disappear slowly over time. Maximum treatment results take about 4 – 6 weeks.

Are there any side effects?

Occasionally, hypopigmentation, or a whitening of the skin, may occur. But, normal skin tone should return within 6 – 12 months following your last treatment session. Since the ink used in tattooing is not regulated, some patients have only partial clearing even after several laser sessions.

Are laser treatments safe?

Lasers have been used successfully in hundreds of thousands of treatments. Laser treatments performed properly, by a trained physician or certified laser specialist, are safe and effective. There are many benefits to laser surgery including little if any pain, no needles, less bruising and swelling and once removed, lesions do not return.

Do treatments for skin lesions hurt?

Some patients say they feel a slight sting, like the snap of a rubber band on the skin, followed by the feeling of sunburn. Many treatments do not require anesthetics. However, some patients feel more comfortable with a local numbing agent like ice or an anesthetic cream. For others, a local anesthetic injection may be beneficial.

How many treatments are required?

This depends on the size, location, depth and color of your lesion. Spider veins on the face and age spots generally do well with one or two treatments, while darker or deeper birthmarks may require additional treatments. Port Wine stains and hemangiomas usually experience satisfactory results from laser treatments, however as many as six to eight treatment sessions may be required. Treatments should be placed 4 to 8 weeks apart to allow your body to remove the maximum amount of pigment cells. You will continue to see a lightening of your lesion after each treatment as your body disposes of the pigment cells.

What is Photodynamic Therapy?

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a special treatment performed with a topical photosensitizing agent called Levulan (5-aminolevulinic acid or ALA) activated with the correct wavelength of light. This is also known as "ALA/PDT treatment".These treatments remove sun damaged pre-cancerous zones and spots called actinic keratosis. Sun damage, fine lines, and blotchy pigmentation are also improved because of the positive effect of Levulan and the light treatment. ALA/PDT treatment also has the unique ability to minimize pores and reduce oil glands, effectively treating stubborn acne vulgaris, acne rosacea, and improve the appearance of some acne scars.

How much improvement can I expect?

Patients with severe sun damaged skin manifested by actinic keratosis, texture, and tone changes including mottled pigmentation and skin laxity may see excellent results. You may also see improvement of large pores and pitted acne scars. Active acne can improve dramatically.

How many treatments will it take to see the best results?

To achieve maximum improvement of pre-cancerous (actinic keratosis) sun damage, skin tone and texture, a series of three treatments 2-4 weeks apart is the most effective. Some patients with only actinic keratosis are happy with just one treatment. More treatments can be done at periodic intervals in the future to maintain the rejuvenated appearance of the skin.

What are the disadvantages?

Following PDT, the treated areas can appear red with some peeling for 2-7 days. Some patients have an exuberant response to PDT, and experience marked redness of their skin. Temporary swelling of the lips and around your eyes can occur for a few days. Darker pigmented patches called liver spots can become temporarily darker and then peel off leaving normal skin. (This usually occurs over seven to ten days.) Repeat treatments may be necessary.

What are the advantages of PDT?

Just what is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

It is a purified protein administered in a simple nonsurgical procedure that temporarily improves the appearance of moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people aged 18 to 65. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines between the brows.

BOTOX® has been used therapeutically for over 15 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. It is approved in more than 75 countries. BOTOX® for therapeutic use remains one of the most widely researched medicines in the world. The same product with losing specific to glabellar lines was approved in 2002 as BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Is it FDA approved?

Yes, BOTOX® Cosmetic is FDA approved.

What is the difference between BOTOX® Cosmetic and fillers?

Frown lines are caused by overactive facial muscles. Fillers mask the wrinkle by adding volume around the muscle with intradermal injections. BOTOX® Cosmetic is intramuscular, blocking the chemicals that cause facial muscles to contract, thereby relaxing them. While there are many options available for fillers, BOTOX® Cosmetic is the only product of its type that affects the muscles that cause these wrinkles.

What are the common side effects?

The most common side effects following injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic include headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop, and nausea.

Have patients been happy with their results?

According to a recent survey of 200 dermatologists and plastic surgeons, BOTOX® Cosmetic has the highest perceived patient satisfaction rating of all physician administered treatments in 2003 and 2004*. And for the past 3 years, BOTOX® Cosmetic was the most popular physician-administered cosmetic procedure in the United States (surgical and nonsurgical combined).

Who are good candidates for Botox?

• Anyone with an increased or problem of underarm sweating.
• Anyone who worries about sweating through his or her clothes.
• Anyone who would like to wear fine fabrics, sleeveless shirts and blouses, or who would like to take their jacket off.
• Anyone working in close contact with others such as hairstylists, nurses, physicians, dentists, hygienists, and flight attendants.
• Anyone working in hot conditions, such as models, television personalities and chefs.
• Anyone making public presentations, including: executives, attorneys, and salesmen.