Category: Non surgical

Whether you’re looking for a specific skincare goal or are curious about how you can enhance your complexion without undergoing surgery, you’ve likely heard of laser treatments of various kinds. Cosmetic lasers are used to treat or improve the appearance of the skin, hair, and other cosmetic areas of the body. You can find these lasers in various forms and styles, including those that target specific skin conditions or tones, such as treatment for rosacea and melasma (dark patches) on the face. Here are some of the key differences and definitions of the many types of laser treatments that are available at Dr. Golosow’s clinic in Ft. Meyers, FL.

How Do Lasers Work?

Lasers designed for cosmetic work typically involve an intense beam of light dialed into a specific wavelength that penetrates the skin to achieve different results. Treatments are customized based on wavelength, intensity, and skin type to best achieve a patient’s goals.

Various lasers can target multiple skin conditions depending on how they’re set up, including acne and rosacea, thin or loose skin, acne scars, non-scarring keloids, and stretch marks. Areas of skin that one might treat with a laser include the face, neck, arms and shoulders, chest and abdomen, bikini line, or buttocks.

Ablative vs. Non-Ablative Lasers

Ablative lasers may be used to treat many types of acne scars and improve the appearance of uneven skin tones. These lasers may work by removing highly precise layers of existing skin, resulting in a smoother, more even complexion.

In contrast, non-ablative lasers do not reduce, remove, or destroy existing skin to improve the appearance of the face; instead, they target the underlying collagen, fat, and blood vessels that cause various symptoms and conditions, such as pigmentation (red marks or discoloration).

Lasers are relatively new technologies in the cosmetic industry, and they can vary significantly in cost and performance depending on their size, manufacturer, etc. The largest cosmetic laser manufacturers are Sciton, Cynosure, and Cutera.

Skin Laser Procedures

1. Skin Tightening

This procedure aims to tighten loose skin by promoting collagen production deep in the layers of skin. It may be helpful for patients who have loose skin from weight loss or those with predisposed laxities, such as those who are aging and losing collagen through the natural decrease in collagen production over time.

2. Skin Rejuvenation

This type of treatment repairs damage to the dermis caused by skin aging, wrinkles, or scars. Cosmetic laser specialists use various devices and complementary procedures to help smooth wrinkled skin and improve complexion.

3. Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is becoming increasingly popular due to its increased effectiveness and comfort with newer laser technology. It uses specific wavelengths to target hair follicles to fade hair or thin hair over time to make it less noticeable and not necessary to shave or wax. Lasers can remove unwanted hair in specific body parts, including pubic hair, eyebrows, and underarms.

4. Acne

Active acne breakouts and acne scarring as the result of prior acne infections can be treated with various laser technology. Certain wavelengths are absorbed by the acne-causing bacteria, killing it and reducing the appearance of inflammation nearly immediately. Ablative lasers are often used to help the skin trigger its own regenerative process to minimize the appearance of scarring.

What Can a Cosmetic Laser Do for Me?

Cosmetic laser treatments may improve the look of uneven skin tones and scarring, remove hair in unwanted areas, improve the appearance of minor discoloration or increase collagen production for skin that is otherwise healthy but not producing enough. No matter what your goal, it’s possible that a non-surgical laser skincare treatment session can help you achieve it.

Skin Rejuvenation in Ft. Meyers, FL

Call or visit our website today to learn more about the cosmetic lasers that board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Lorraine Golosow offers. Whether you have a specific concern in mind or just want your skin to have a more youthful radiance, our treatments, with or without lasers, can help you achieve a healthy-looking glow in no time. Call or contact us online to start a conversation about what you want from your skin rejuvenation treatment.

Everyone has concerns with how their skin appears. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to keep your skin always glowing and looking youthful. However, to improve your skin’s quality and take care of your concerns, there are many options available. Thanks to advancements in the medical aesthetic field, treatments have become more effective and more affordable. So more and more people can get the skin they desire. Laser and light therapies are among your choices if you are looking to improve skin concerns. Do some research before choosing a treatment. It is important to know the differences between laser, BroadBand Light or BBL, and Intense Pulsed Light or IPL therapies. 

Light from Laser Therapy

Light from a laser is different than light from BBL and IPL therapies. Generally speaking, the light from a laser is collimated, which means its size remains the same at all times. Unlike other types of light treatments, the amount of light does not spread out the further away it is, and instead, the light remains in one even beam. The beam does not expand with distance.

Laser light is also monochromatic. In other words, it is only one color and is also one wavelength. No other types of light fall under these categories. Additionally, light from a laser is invisible, but it only reacts with water and nothing else. Skin cells are comprised of 99 percent water, which means a laser’s light can vaporize them. When you choose laser therapy to improve the quality of your skin, the laser will remove the layers of skin cells to be targeted to change the texture of the skin.

In general, if the main concern with your skin is wrinkles and fine lines, laser light treatment is the best option for you.

Intense Pulse Light Therapy

IPL therapy is a popular type of rejuvenation treatment that corrects a variety of skin problems. Issues include rosacea, large pores, age spots, sun spots, scars, and redness. IPL photo facial therapy concentrates intense pulsed light directly and deeply into the skin, which allows the blood vessels to constrict and promotes collagen. This results in taut, firmer skin. At the same time, it also leaves the skin clearer while reducing redness.

This is the type of therapy that relies on various ranges of light waves that target melanin and hemoglobin beneath the skin’s surface. It allows for the elimination of dark spots, sun spots, and other discoloration issues, making the skin tone even. Overall, most patients get three-to-five treatments over a month for optimal results.

BroadBand Light Therapy

Essentially, BBL therapy is considered to be a modernized version of IPL. Overall, it’s easier to customize treatments for each patient and can be used to treat a variety of skin problems. Issues that can be corrected include age spots, freckles, redness, sagging skin, and acne scarring.

BBL targets the imperfections deep below the surface of the skin and includes cooling mechanisms to ensure the patient’s comfort. It is safe, effective, and leaves minimal side effects and pain. 

BBL therapy can also be used for permanent hair removal. Just like it does with skin treatments, the dual light technology it uses can easily be customized based on the skin’s pigmentation, the density of the hair, and the sensitivity of the area to be treated.

Schedule a Consultation

Light and laser therapies have been clinically proven to be safe and effective at treating skin concerns. If you live in Florida and are interested in getting one of these skin treatments, contact Lorraine Golosow, M.D. at your earliest convenience. Dr. Golosow will help to recommend the best treatment for you based on your concerns. lifestyle, and goals. Schedule a consultation at our office today.