Tag Archives: fine lines

Laser Skin Resurfacing vs. Cosmetic Skin Treatments like Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion

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Rosacea treatment AtlantaPatients often ask about the advantage of laser skin resurfacing over other treatments targeting surface damage like chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Although each of these treatments target conditions like wrinkles, sun damage, melasma, and acne scarring, they produce different results. The main difference is that lasers penetrate the skin’s surface to target deep layers of tissue while chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments better address milder, superficial issues.

Lighter chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments are better suited for patients who have just started noticing imperfections like fine lines, wrinkles, and melasma. In fact, many young patients receive these types of treatments to maintain a youthful appearance while older patients may benefit from stronger peels. We offer a variety of chemical peel options to treat an assortment of skin conditions. During a chemical peel treatment, the skin is cleansed and a chemical solution is applied. Once chemicals have reached the desired depth, a neutralizing agent is applied. The damaged outer layer of skin is eliminated to reveal the healthy skin beneath and stimulate collagen production. Depending on the strength of the chemical peel, the outermost layer of skin may continue to peel for up to a week following treatment.

Microdermabrasion creates a similar effect to that of a chemical peel. However, rather than using a chemical solution, microdermabrasion uses a handheld device with a rotating head to exfoliate the damaged outer layers of skin. Microdermabrasion successfully stimulates collagen production while reducing surface imperfections like acne, acne scarring, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. Although patients may experience temporary redness following treatment, microdermabrasion requires no downtime.

Laser skin resurfacing erases wrinkles, reduces imperfections and blemishes, and stimulates collagen to tighten skin. Instead of only targeting the outermost layer of skin, our lasers penetrate within deep layers of tissues to repair more extensive wrinkling and pigmentation irregularities. Our fractionated CO2 laser induces the body’s wound healing response by using a series of tiny laser columns to penetrate the skin’s surface, which generates “new skin” and ignites collagen and elastin fiber production. Our Erbium laser only penetrates the first three layers of skin to treat more superficial conditions including fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.

If you aren’t quite sure which resurfacing treatment will best produce the results you’re after, schedule a pre-treatment consultation with one of our licensed estheticians today. During that time, we will listen to your concerns and thoroughly examine your skin to determine a treatment protocol specifically for you. Visit our website to learn about the other services we provide, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for skin care news and updates on our monthly specials.

What are my laser skin treatment options?

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A look at our menu of laser services shows the variety of laser treatments we offer Duluth and Atlanta Laser Lights’ patients. However, since a list like this can seem overwhelming, we thought we’d break it down for you. By grouping laser treatments into three categories—spot treatments, anti-aging treatments, and removal treatments—we can guide you in finding the best cosmetic laser treatment to meet your skin’s needs.

laser treatmentsLaser Spot Treatments

Spot treatments are those laser treatments that help remove skin imperfections, whether they are age spots, freckles, warts, birthmarks, or even scars. Our lasers target the darker pigments within the skin, causing the spots to break up and be absorbed by the body. At Laser Lights, we use different lasers depending on the type and size of the issue we’re treating. The number of treatment sessions necessary for permanent, complete removal also depends on the spot’s size and type. Smaller spots like freckles, age spots, hemangiomas, and warts can usually be removed in one treatment. Larger and/or darker spots like birthmarks and port wine stains usually take up to three treatments spaced a few weeks apart for permanent removal. Although you should avoid sun exposure after any laser treatment to reduce the risk of hyperpigmentation, there is no downtime associated with laser spot treatments.

Anti-Aging Laser Treatments

Wrinkles, fine lines, hyperpigmentation, melasma, and rosacea can contribute to an aged appearance, but the providers at Laser Lights offer treatments to restore youthful looking skin. From our micro laser peel that combines the power of microdermabrasion, chemical peel, and laser technology for rejuvenation with minimal downtime to deeper treatments like CO2 Fractional Laser, we offer treatments for patients with a variety of facial rejuvenation needs. Most of our anti-aging laser treatments will produce the desired results in just one to three treatments, but it’s important to schedule a consultation to help determine which laser treatment (CO2 Fraxel, Erbium, Photofacial, etc.) will best meet your specific needs.

Laser Removal Treatments

laser lightsOur laser removal treatment category consists of those treatments that remove unwanted hair, spider veins, or even tattoos. Patients looking to rid themselves of hair on the legs, face, bikini area, arms, underarms, and chest can benefit from laser hair removal. Although semi-permanent results will be present after one treatment, we recommend up to six treatments spaced four to six weeks apart due to the recurring nature of the hair growth cycle. Skin color, hair color, and hair texture can affect the amount of treatments required. Unsightly spider veins are often found on the face and legs. Our lasers target these veins, causing them to gradually disappear and be absorbed and dispelled by the body. Most patients see a reduction in the appearance of spider veins in just one to three treatments. Laser tattoo removal almost always requires multiple treatments, and the number of treatment sessions necessary is determined by the size, type, age, color, and depth of the tattoo.

It’s important to understand that whether or not the particular laser treatment you receive requires downtime, it is vital to avoid the sun for a few weeks prior to and following your treatments to minimize hyperpigmentation. For this reason, we recommend reserving laser procedures for the colder months, meaning now is the perfect time! If you do have to go out in the sun after a laser treatment, be sure to wear SPF 30 sunscreen as well as protective clothing. If you still aren’t sure which laser treatment will meet your needs, schedule a pre-skin treatment consultation today. For more skincare news and updates, be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Laser Skin Resurfacing with CO2 Fractional (Fraxel) Laser Technology Erases Imperfections

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If you came to Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center to have a wart removed from your knee, you might find it strange if we treated your entire leg. The original CO2 lasers used for laser skin resurfacing weren’t fractionated, so instead of targeting specific skin imperfections, the lasers treated the entire face equally. That means, even if you had rosacea and melasma only on your cheeks, your whole face would be treated with the exact same frequency. Luckily, today’s fractionated laser technology can specifically treat skin imperfections without the dreaded line of demarcation between treated and untreated skin.

If you keep up with our blog, you know the importance of quality laser equipment. Since Laser Lights is co-owned by Dr. David Whiteman of Southern Plastic Surgery, we are able to house the highest quality, medical grade lasers. Equally important to laser equipment is a highly trained laser technician as risks associated with laser skin treatments decrease significantly when performed by properly trained technicians. Details such as these are of utmost importance in facial laser treatments as well as procedures like laser tattoo removal and laser hair removal.

So you may be thinking, why CO2 Fraxel? What makes this laser treatment so different? You can get Botox® or Dysport® injected into muscles that cause wrinkles to relax and smooth lines away. You can also be treated with cosmetic injectables like Juvèderm®, Restylane®, and Perlane® to plump areas of lost volume and fill in wrinkles. Treatments like microdermabrasion and chemical peels can help correct conditions like sun damage, uneven pigmentation, and other surface imperfections. Although these are all great treatments for isolated cosmetic issues, CO2 Fraxel is most effective for overall facial rejuvenation, or those patients who exhibit multiple signs of aging like sun damage, skin texture irregularities, and blotchiness. This technology penetrates deeply into the layers of the skin that are untreatable with the softer facial rejuvenation procedures mentioned above to improve the overall surface texture of skin and help new, healthy youthful skin cells reproduce. Not only will you feel a difference in the firmness of your skin shortly after treatment, but once your skin heals (typically about one week after the treatment) you will no longer see fine lines, red spots, brown spots, or other blemishes.

Patients who are searching for a lighter facial laser treatment may be interested in our Erbium laser, which does not penetrate as deeply into the layers of skin as our CO2 fractionated laser. While CO2 fractionated laser treatment can improve many skin conditions, the procedure’s appropriateness will depend on the individual cosmetic needs of the patient. Schedule a consultation to determine which cosmetic skin service will best meet your needs. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on our monthly specials.