We can’t slow time, but we can turn back the hands a little with laser skin therapy. Take years off your skin age, reduce sun damage, smooth wrinkles and fine lines, and tighten and tone sagging lax skin. The latest generation of lasers for skin therapy is bringing remarkable results to anyone interested in bringing out the beautiful in their skin.
Lasers work by transferring energy in the form of light into the skin where that light energy is absorbed by tissue and converted to heat. Different wavelengths of light are absorbed by different colors and will penetrate to different depths. The exact wavelength of light determines then what part of the skin is treated. Lasers use different crystals to separate out the desired wavelengths of light.
Getting rid of brown spots, broken capillaries or fine wrinkles on the surface of skin is done with shorter wavelengths of laser light. Using relatively low-energy light, surface imperfections such as redness of rosacea, blood vessels, age spots and other discolored signs of photo-aging can be gently heated and eliminated, replaced by newer, younger looking skin. This 20-minute “photo rejuvenation” procedure is so quick and easy it can be done over a lunch break, as it does not require any medications or downtime for recovery.
Laser hair removal requires a longer wavelength of light that is absorbed by the color found in the hair. Darker colors are more treatable with laser as the color absorbs the light energy where it then converts to heat. The laser energy knocks out the hair follicle along with the root, making laser the premiere treatment for hair removal. Forget waxing and plucking; this simple and quick treatment can put an end to messing with treatment of unwanted body hair.
Skin tightening is ideal for targeting those telltale signs of aging, including jowl and neck laxity, sagginess under the eyes, droopy brow lines, and nasolabial folds. For these conditions the laser energy needs to be absorbed in deeper skin layers causing heat-induced collagen shrinkage and micro-thermal injury as well as dermal regeneration, repair (healing) and remodeling. Skin tightening produces dramatic yet comfortable deep dermal heating without damage to the surface epidermis. The result is a tighter, smoother and fresher appearance to the skin.
Fractional Laser Treatments
For more significant wrinkling, discolored and sagging skin, the laser treatment needs to deliver increased energy to the deeper layers of collagen. In years past the only laser treatments for deeper collagen restoration involved a more destructive process called “ablation” in which the entire skin surface was treated leading to a complete stripping of the outer layer of skin, which involves a higher risk of infection and more downtime for healing. Seeking a less invasive and simpler approach for these more aggressive treatments, laser companies developed technologies that allow treating only a fraction of the skin at deeper levels while leaving most of the surface skin intact. This is called “fractional resurfacing.”
Different from previous laser technologies, with fractional resurfacing only a tiny proportion of the skin receives the laser light. The laser delivers a series of closely spaced laser spots to the skin while simultaneously preserving the normal healthy skin between. By leaving mostly healthy skin this results in rapid healing following the laser treatment. Fractional lasers strive to achieve the skin improvements obtained with ablative lasers without the associated side effects or downtime.
Pixel
By splitting the laser into a seven-by-seven array of pixels we can effectively treat deeper skin layers while only disturbing 15 to 20 percent of the surface of the skin. This creates an ablative heat channel at the pixel area — a micro-injury — without disturbing the surrounding tissue. Those micro-injured areas start the process of healing and the untreated area acts as a reservoir for rapid healing. As collagen remodels, skin tightens and texture improves.
Pixel is the name given Alma Lasers to their laser handpiece that delivers a seven-by-seven grid of laser energy. Each pulse of laser light leaves a seven-by-seven “stamp” showing where the laser energy has been emitted into the skin. The Pixel handpiece is then lifted and precisely moved to the next spot to treat, with a slight overlap onto the last treatment spot, thus leaving a smooth and even coverage over the entire treatment area. For those patients with mild to moderate wrinkling the pixel laser is powerful enough to produce great results with a series of three to four treatments that only require a few days for recovery.
Clearlift
The ClearLift Laser from Alma Lasers is a non-ablative fractional laser that is used for skin rejuvenation and tightening. It’s often referred to as a “lunchtime facelift” because it is quick, painless, and requires no downtime.
ClearLift stimulates collagen production by delivering controlled energy beneath the skin’s surface. This results in tighter, firmer, and more youthful-looking skin over time. It helps to smooth out fine lines and moderate wrinkles by enhancing the skin’s natural elasticity. The treatment reduces pigmentation, sun damage, and uneven skin tone, giving the skin a smoother and more radiant appearance. It’s safe for delicate areas like around the eyes, helping reduce crepiness and dark circles. ClearLift can help refine enlarged pores, resulting in smoother skin.
Unlike other lasers, ClearLift is non-ablative, meaning it does not damage the surface of the skin. Instead, it works beneath the skin, so there’s no downtime and no visible peeling or irritation.
Complimentary Consultation
If you are interested in skin health and appearance but are not sure where to start or who to trust then I recommend seeking guidance from a skin care professional. Work with aestheticians and laser specialists that know more than just the latest marketing hype while trying to sell you the newest product. Our aestheticians offer a free consultation with a focus on education and making sure patients are comfortable choosing the best treatment plan. Call Bellezza Laser Aesthetics at 970-245-6911 to schedule a consultation.
Author
Scott Rollins, MD, is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Practice and the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine. He specializes in bioidentical hormone replacement for men and women, thyroid and adrenal disorders, fibromyalgia and other complex medical conditions. He is founder and medical director of the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (www.imcwc.com) and Bellezza Laser Aesthetics (www.bellezzalaser.com). Call (970) 245-6911 for an appointment or more information.
