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Successful treatment of acne scars usually involves using several different techniques, layered on top of one another. For instance, deep acne scars may require subcision (to raise the deepest part of the scar), filler (to further plump up the scar and return it to normal skin level), and light resurfacing, to smooth out any skin texture irregularities around the acne scar. By using a combination treatment approach, I have been able to achieve results impossible to attain by using any one method alone.
For the final light resurfacing step, I have been particularly impressed by the results of the Fraxel/Mixto laser systems.  I have been using these lasers in my office since it came on the market, and I find it to be an indispensable tool for management of acne scars and other scars.
After one treatment with a combination Fraxel/Mixto laser systems, the texture of the skin is remarkably improved, and the acne scars are substantially diminished in appearance.  

Labels: Artesense, Evolence, Laser Peel, Laser Resurfacing, Lasers

Keratosis Pilaris: A genetic condition of the follicles that sometimes resembles acne, but appears as rough bumps on the upper arms, backs of the thighs, and buttocks. It is also common in teens.

We use an inhouse resurfacing cleanser that works like a treat! Avoid scratching the bumps, as this may lead to scarring or spreading. Lasers DO NOT work for this condition.

Labels: Keratosis Pilaris, Lasers, Seborrheic Keratoses

Shaving Bumps: Called Psudo-Folliculitis Barbae, shaving bumps are a widespread problem, especially among women with curly hair and in the bikini area and underarms. As the hair follicle grows out of the skin, it immediately curls and re-enters the skin. The skin becomes inflamed and irritated, creating bumps.

Wash the area twice daily with an exfoliant to raises the hairs from under the skin and prevent them from growing back into the skin. This should be done twice a day. Options include laser treatments to remove the hair follicles.

Labels: Laser Hair Removal, Lasers, Shaving Bumps

Dermatoses Papulosa Nigra: These little black or dark brown bumps that usually appear on dark skin, and start out as little freckles under the eyes and on the top of the cheekbones. They can grow in clusters, and tend to run in families.

Electrocautery or hot iron tip can be used to melt these right off. Carbon Dioxide or Erbium Lasers are very useful for a clean treatment.

Labels: Dermatoses Papulosa Nigra, Laser Peel, Laser Resurfacing, Lasers

Often known as “barnacles of old age,” these benign lesions occur from excessive growth of the top layer of skin cells. They show up on the body, under the breasts, shoulders, and in places where they get rubbed by clothing. They can range from light tan to black in colour, and look like they have been pasted on your skin. Electrocautery or hot iron tip can be used to melt these right off. Carbon dioxide or an Erbium Laser is very useful at giving a clean reduction without any scarring.

Labels: Laser Resurfacing, Lasers, Seborrheic Keratoses

Skin Tags: A skin tag is a bit of skin that sticks out and may appear attached to the skin. They may be smooth or irregular, flesh colored or pigmented, raised or dangling. They can show up almost anywhere, but most commonly appear on the eyelids, neck, armpits, and chest, and especially in women. They can be instantly snipped away almost painlessly with surgical scissors. We also use a cutting laser that works at the speed of light!

Labels: Laser Resurfacing, Lasers, Skin Tags

Open Pores: Pores expand because they become clogged with dead cells and oil - which make them look larger. Sun damage, lack of exfoliating, and clogging blackheads are common culprits.
Treatment To get pores back to their normal size, you need to get rid of the blockage that causes them to expand. The key elements are unplugging the pores and cleaning dirt, bacteria and oil; limiting sun exposure; exfoliating and using the right ingredients like vitamin A, Azelaic acid, and alpha and beta hydroxy acids. Some of the latest LASER treatments really give excellent results.

Labels: Laser Resurfacing, Lasers, Pores

Labels: Lasers, Spider veins, Varicose Veins

We perform laser peels for "benign epidermal pigmented lesions and rough texture". These are those irritating brown marks that people find annoying with some rough skin. We use an amazingly powerful technology from Hoya Conbio called the Medlite C6 laser which allows for an ideal light based peel. We use a particular wavelength called the 532 nm light (Green Light) that is suited for lighter skin types.

The advantage of this peel compared to IPL (which a lot of spas and clinics use) is that it does not leave any residual pigment behind that is left after 5 or 6 IPL treatments. 532nm can remove any light pigmentation effectively. We usually find that couples of sessions are enough for the treatment. Once the treatment is done a mild redness is left on the skin for 4 days. This can be nicely covered up with mineral make up. The brown spots start to lift and flake off over a period of 7 to 10 days with small crusts. It is no touch treatment.

In our practice these laser peels are even more popular than Botox or fillers. This laser peel requires maintenance once or twice a year. We prefer a real laser to an IPL. It is a much more effective treatment.

Labels: Brown Spots, IPL, Laser Peel, Lasers, Pigment Spots

Labels: Cosmetic Tattoo, Lasers, Tattoo Removal

There are lots of choices but the best answer I can give you is combination treatments, combinations treatments, combination treatments. No one type of aesthetic treatment is enough.
I use a combination of the following to get the individual result the person desires. There is no one treatment that is 100% effective all the time in all the patients. One has to look at the individual and figure out the best combination in consultation with the person seeking the improvement.

Rhytec plasma
CO2
Erbium
Fraxel
Thermage
Refirme
Fillers
Botox
Skin care creams

Labels: Laser Resurfacing, Lasers, Skin Tightening, Soft lift

Despite its association with passion, love, and vibrancy the color red is not what most people want to see on their faces when they look in the mirror. Redness on your face develops from inflammation and from dilated tiny blood vessels right at the surface of your skin. Sometimes the redness can be sudden, whereas other times it can develop slowly over many years. Here are five things your should know about facial redness and what to do about it.

1. The most common cause of facial redness is Rosacea. Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory condition that leads to red, sensitive skin and sometime to pimples on the nose and cheeks similar to acne. People with Rosacea often have sensitive skin that stings when exposed to sun or cold and turns bright red when they eat hot or spicy foods. If you have Rosacea, then try products that contain anti-inflammatory and anti-redness ingredients such as feverfew or licorice.

2. Over-exfoliating or scrubbing your skin can lead to redness. This is common among young women with acne. Remember that acne is from bacteria trapped in clogged pores. Scrubbing with apricot scrubs or using alcohol based toners will not help erase your acne, but it certainly will worsen the inflammation. Often this makes a bad situation worse. Unless you have very oily, sebaceous skin, remember that scrubbing is best done in moderation and in the middle of winter when your skin is already is dry and sensitive, scrubs might not be needed at all.

3. Excess sun exposure over years can lead to redness. The ultraviolet radiation from the sun triggers blood vessels to grow like weeds across your face. If you look closely at some people’s skin, you can see that diffuse redness is actually millions of tiny threadlike vessels right at the surface. This condition can be treated by using a laser that targets blood vessels. The laser can literally explode the tiny vessels, destroying them along with their unwanted redness. The downside is that you will often have obvious bruising for a few days; however, when the bruising heals, the redness is often significantly reduced and sometimes is erased altogether.

4. Allergic contact dermatitis can also cause redness on your face. Common causes of allergy include chemical sunscreens, preservatives in cosmetics, hair dyes, and fragrances. Skin allergies occur when your immune system reacts to a particular allergen. It is the same reaction as poison ivy or poison oak and can lead to redness, scaling, and itching. If you have a rash around your eyes, a rash that is itchy, or a chronic redness and scaling on your face, then see your physician. He or she can do patch testing to determine if you have a skin allergy and can give you a list of products to avoid.

5. Rarely is redness on the face the result of an underlying medical condition. Women with lupus, an autoimmune disease that can affect many organs, sometimes develop a bright red rash on their cheeks and nose, often called a butterfly rash because from a distance it looks like a butterfly on their face. The rash is triggered by sun exposure but can occur any time of the year. If you have the sudden development of this type of facial redness, then you should see a physician. A few blood tests can diagnose the condition and sometimes treatment is needed to keep the immune system from flaring.

Labels: Lasers, Reddness