SKIN REJUVINATION

WITH IPL

Fotofacial with the Intense Pulsed Light is helpful for treatment of brown spots, redness and capillaries and aging skin of the face, neck, chest and hands. Three successive treatments are usually necessary. There is no "downtime" because a little redness and puffiness of the face usually subsides within a few hours and there’s no residual marking of the face. Treatments are done about a month apart, and there’s a charge for each treatment. The cost should be discussed with Dr. Webb and his Physician Assistant who often performs the treatments. IPL of the face costs $400 each treatment for example.

Treatment is performed with the patient seated in a comfortable chair wearing eye protective goggles. Protective gel is applied to the skin and the laser is used to treat the entire area. There’s some stinging associated with the treatment. The treatment is much more comfortable if over-the-counter topical anesthetic cream, LMX, is applied several times and rubbed in well beginning 2 hours before treatment. After treatments, cool compresses are applied to the skin. Redness and swelling are minimized by icing the areas immediately after treatment Additional risks include scabbing and crusting, which would be most unusual; and scarring which is very unlikely. It’s important to avoid any sun for several weeks before treatment in order to have the skin be as pale as possible.

The same laser is used for hair removal. This treatment works best on very dark hair on light skin that is not at all tanned. This requires multiple treatments (5 or more). The amount of hair is reduced but not eliminated, and treatments are spaced several months apart to allow regrowth after each treatment. Cost should be discussed with Dr. Webb or his Physician’s Assistant who would be doing the treatment. LMX anesthetic cream applied before treatment is helpful for alleviating discomfort.

LASER TREATMENTS:

Wrinkles, lip creases and crows feet can be erased with laser treatment. Enlarged “broken” capillaries, tattoos and brown spots can also be erased. Hair can be permanently reduced, and face and neck redness and blotchiness cleared with laser treatment.

Laser light is an intense focused beam. By choosing the proper color of laser light, Dr. Webb can selectively target the part of the skin to be eliminated. For instance, the green light of the laser selectively erases the red lines of enlarged capillaries. The surrounding normal skin is not sensitive to this light, so there is no damage or alteration. The newest lasers use only instantaneous brief pulses of light rather than a continuous beam. This further protects the normal skin from damage.

The laser procedure is done in the office. Patients are seated comfortable in the large laser suite. Special eye protecting glasses are worn. Dr. Webb or his Physician Assistant uses a pencil-like laser want to “paint” the area to be treated. There is a sensation of pinpricking, or stinging with the laser. Anesthesia can be used if desired but is usually not necessary. After treatment the area can be gently washed. There is no discomfort. Sun exposure must be avoided for weeks before and after treatment. Facial wrinkles are removed with the pulsed CO2 laser which precisely removes surface layers of skin without damaging deeper layers. This technology allows smoothing out of surface creases and wrinkles without scarring. The skin surface heals in 1 to 2 weeks. Residual redness can last for weeks to months, but makeup can be applied. Sun avoidance is important to minimize color changes. Deep folds may not benefit from laser resurfacing but may benefit from filling material or fat injections or face lifting.

The Fraxel Repair laser erases creases and wrinkles with only a week down-time. It treats the face, neck and chest by resurfacing the skin in a grid pattern.

Dark hairs can be permanently removed from the face or body in a brief treatment repeated every few months. 5 or more treatments may be necessary.

Tattoos can be eliminated without scarring using an infrared laser light. A tiny brief flash of light wipes out the pigment without damaging the surrounding skin. The areas of color take weeks to fade, and multiple treatments several months apart are sometimes required. Professional tattoos can require different lasers for different tattoo colors.

Capillaries are enlarged veins and red lines of the face and are treated with a green light laser. After treatment the areas may swell with an occasional slight scab but there is no pain. Some areas may require retreatment. The laser can erase red areas that electrosurgery cannot help and do this without scarring. Most leg veins are treatment by injection sclerotherapy. Put your name on our laser list at no obligation. We will call to announce the schedule.

Fotofacial – IPL intense pulsed light is used for face and neck redness, coloration and rosacea. Brown “age spots” of face, chest, and hands are cleared. 3 treatments are often required.

Other problems can be treated. Ask Dr. Webb about the newest developments. Research is ongoing on discoloration, wrinkle and scar reduction.

The cost of laser treatment depends on the size of the area to be treated. Treatment time is brief, but the equipment is very expensive. Total cost ranges from $350 for a tattoo or areas of capillaries to $4000 for full facial resurfacing. Ask Dr. Webb for more information about your specific interests.

The risks of laser surgery include scarring which is rare but can occur in spite of the technology. Incomplete improvement and color change can occur. Discuss with Dr. Webb the details of your specific area.