FotoFacial™
Renew your skin with no downtime.
By Paul Van Camp MD
Laser skin surgery, particularly the rejuvenation procedure
known as laser resurfacing is able to remove sun damage and
the ravages of aging to restore skin to a youthful and healthy
appearance. This is more than just an appearance. The sun
damaged epidermis and upper dermis are actually removed by
the laser and replaced by new healthy new elements during
healing. But there are limits to this technology. Deep wrinkles
may be improved about 70% in a typical patient, and acne
scars may be improved about 50%. But these results are sufficient
to offer a very dramatic improvement.
One of the chief limitations of laser resurfacing is the
time that is needed for healing. Most resurfacing patients
will need to take a full week off before resuming work and
social activities, and perhaps two weeks for outdoor sports.
Many busy people simply cannot find the time to do this.
In recent years there has been significant medical research
on using lasers and pulsed-light to achieve skin rejuvenation
without wounding. By correcting the damaged in the skin without
resurfacing, results could be achieved with no "down-time" for
healing. Cool-Touch™ was the first laser to be approved
for this. But the results are very modest and only the collagen
is affected. The most promising and effective method available
today use intense pulses of light for skin rejuvenation.
This method is called the FotoFacial™ and it is being
introduced at the Aesthetics MD.
FotoFacial™ treatments are full face, neck and/or
chest treatments using pulses of intense light to resolve
facial redness, flushing, pigment problems, and sun damage.
New collagen growth is stimulated to improve skin texture,
increase skin smoothness and reduce pore size.
The benefits of FotoFacial™ treatments are consistent,
visible improvement in the skin with no downtime, no discomfort,
and high safety.
FotoFacial™ treatments were developed and first introduced
by Board-certified dermatologist, Patrick Bitter Jr. MD as
a non-invasive method to rejuvenate and improve skin with
no downtime. Dr. Paul Van Camp has trained with Dr. Bitter
and offers the FotoFacial™ technique at Aesthetics MD.
FotoFacial™ uses a non-laser pulsed-light medical
device, (the Quantum-SR by ESC Medical) to deliver a series
of gentle pulses of light to the skin. Specific settings
are selected for each treatment to maximize improvement.
A series of five or more treatments are performed at three-week
intervals.
Medical lasers deliver just one pure wavelength (color)
of light to treat one specific type of skin problem. The
Quantum-SR delivers a broad band of pulsed light, so several
types of improvement can be achieved in one treatment.
With FotoFacial™ treatments the embarrassing redness
and flushing of rosacea can be dramatically reduced. Sun
damaged, blotchy and coarse aging skin can be substantially
improved. And all these improvements occur through one treatment
series.
What are the indications for the FotoFacial™? FotoFacial™ treatments
are beneficial in all of the following:
- Treatments effectively reduce redness and flushing.
- Reduction of visible small spider veins and broken vessels.
- Removal of abnormal pigment, freckles, and age-spots.
- Sun damage (photo-aging) is markedly improved.
- Treatments reduce fine wrinkling and skin roughness.
- Enlarged pores are reduced and skin texture is improved.
- Treatments reduce irregular pigment for a more even skin
tone.
- For rosacea, FotoFacial™ treatments reduce the
overall redness, flushing and dilated capillaries and improve
the breakouts of this common chronic facial condition.
What areas can be treated?
FotoFacial™ treatments can be used on any part of
the skin. They are especially effective for improving the
appearance of the face, neck, chest and the backs of hands.
What results can I expect?
You can expect to see a gradual decrease in overall redness,
flushing and dilated capillaries. People with visible aging
from the sun can expect to see their skin become smoother
with a decrease in fine wrinkles, reduction in pore size,
and fading of sunspots. Many people with rosacea see an
improvement in breakouts and may be able to decrease or
discontinue their medications.
What are FotoFacial™ treatments like?
Each treatment takes approximately 30 minutes. A topical
anesthetic, ELA-MAX®, is applied 30 to 60 minutes before
treatment so there is almost no discomfort. Immediately
following a treatment, the skin may appear red and flushed
and tiny capillaries may appear more visible. These changes
gradually fade over a period of hours to a few days. Brown
spots at first appear darker. After several days they begin
to flake off. There is no purpura (bruising or discoloration).
The skin is not broken by the treatment.
How soon will I see results?
After your first treatment, your skin will feel smoother
and will have a more even tone. These improvements are
gradual and will become more visible after each treatment.
Five treatments are performed for optimal results. Some
patients will benefit from additional treatments.
Who are the best candidates for FotoFacial™ treatments?
- People who suffer from Rosacea and experience flushing
and redness of their skin.
- People with all types of sun damage who desire healthier,
more youthful appearing skin.
- People who desire skin rejuvenation but cannot take
the time off to heal from laser resurfacing or chemical
peels.
FotoFacial™ treatments can also be beneficial after
laser resurfacing or facelift surgery to improve the results.
FotoFacial™ treatments can be used in conjunction
with chemical peels or micro-dermabrasion to enhance the
results of these procedures.
With FotoFacial™ treatments there is less discomfort
and no downtime or disruptions to your normal activities.
The end result of FotoFacial™ treatments is smoother,
healthier and younger-appearing skin.
(Medical lasers have certain risks and limitations.
Treatment may not be appropriate for everyone. Full information
will be provided during your consultation before deciding
on any treatment. For inquiries call 330-6160.)
|
