Tag Archives: laser tattoo removal

Prepare Your Skin for Summer

Posted on by

Between the pool parties and cookouts, skin care becomes less of a priority when summer begins. However, you can keep your skin looking great without missing out on any of the fun. Whether you’re traveling or staying in town, SPF 30 sunscreen should be your number one skin care product this summer. In fact, we suggest wearing sunscreen every day—even during the winter. Not only does sun exposure cause sun spots and wrinkles, it can also cause dangerous skin cancer.

When you go to grab your SPF 30 sunscreen, be sure to put on sunglasses also. Although we don’t always think about it, sun exposure can also damage the eyes causing conditions like cataracts. Additionally, you’re more likely to squint in bright sunlight, which causes wrinkles to develop more rapidly around the eyes. Certain wrinkle reducing laser treatments can improve an aged eye appearance, but during this time of year patients often seek cosmetic injectables like Botox® and facial fillers like Restylane® to reduce wrinkles. Many patients also like eyelash and eyebrow tinting services during the summer or try Latisse® to make their lashes grow longer, darker, and thicker so they won’t have to worry about going without mascara.

Skin care routines should change as the weather changes. Although the air is more humid in Atlanta this time of year, it’s still very important to moisturize. A lighter moisturizer can usually do the trick during the summer. Exfoliation is also beneficial during the warmer months in helping to remove the skin’s surface imperfections while sloughing away dead skin cells that clog pores. We offer various services to exfoliate the skin at Laser Lights including microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and facials.

When seeking summer skin treatments, it’s important to understand the sun can exacerbate certain skin conditions. Therefore, we conduct pre-skin treatment consultations to discuss patients’ skin conditions and thoroughly evaluate the skin before treatment. Patients with rosacea often experience flare-ups with exposure to sun and heat. We offer services to improve rosacea symptoms and tips about skin care products and steps patients can take to further relieve rosacea symptoms. Although rosacea sometimes resembles acne, they are two very different skin conditions. Contrary to popular belief, sun exposure does not improve acne. While we offer acne light therapy to reduce acne, the photodynamic therapy (PDT) used is very different from sunlight and works by shrinking oil glands, killing bacteria within pores, and regulating the shedding of dead skin cells.

We also offer a variety of laser procedures to treat skin conditions, but we ask patients who seek these procedures during the summer to use caution. Laser procedures and sun exposure can cause hyperpigmentation, so we advise laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, or other laser procedurepatients to stay out of the sun for a few weeks before and after treatment. Patients who know they will be spending most of their time indoors this summer shouldn’t have anything to worry about, but we advise these patients to wear sunscreen and protective clothing when they must go out in the sun.

Schedule a consultation today to learn more about which treatment will meet your skin’s specific needs as the seasons change. Be sure to view our website to learn more about the other procedures we offer. Also, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ if you haven’t already for skin care news and updates on our specials.

Save with March 2012 Specials from Laser Lights for Beautiful Skin

Posted on by

 

This month, Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center has plenty of skin care discounts to choose from. Save on laser spider vein treatments, laser hair removal, CO2 fractionated laser skin resurfacing, Viora Reaction™, Vi Peel, and hour-long massages through March 31st, 2012. See the flyer below to learn more. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ if you haven’t already for more updates on skin care news and specials.

Laser Lights March 2012 Specials

 

What are my laser skin treatment options?

Posted on by

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.

The New Year Never Looked So Good with Skincare Specials like These

Posted on by

 

During the month of January, Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center in Duluth, GA (north of Atlanta) is offering discounts on treatments like laser hair removal,  Viora Reaction™, CO2 fractionated laser resurfacing, and massage therapy! See the flyer below for more details, and be sure to schedule your appointment before January 31st, 2012 to save.

Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center Explains the Science behind Tattoo Removal

Posted on by

Atlanta Laser Tattoo RemovalAccording to a study performed by the National Institutes of Health, around a quarter of all adults in the United States have at least one tattoo.  Many people wonder why tattoo pigments aren’t absorbed by the body like when you get a shot at the doctor.  While the concept is vaguely similar—using a needle to inject a substance into the body—the tattoo machine was actually designed more like a printer that engraves words into hard surfaces.

A modern tattoo machine pushes a solid needle (as opposed to a hypodermic/hollow needle) up and down through the skin between 50 to 3,000 times a minute. Penetrating the skin approximately a millimeter, the insoluble pigment is injected into the dermis, or second layer of the skin. While the outer layers of the epidermis are constantly shedding, the cells in the dermis are more durable which means the pigment remains permanent.

The aforementioned study also found that, of those with tattoos, up to 50% were dissatisfied with their ink and 17% were considering having them removed.  Among other laser skin treatments, Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center offers laser tattoo removal in Duluth, GA (outside of Atlanta).

Using a specialized tattoo removal laser, our certified and licensed medical staff can help you remove any tattoos that you may regret or no longer want.  The treatment works by targeting laser energy to the specific tattoo pigments. Penetrating the layers of skin, the laser breaks up the permanent ink into particles small enough for the body to easily absorb them. From there, the immune system rids the body of the pigments.

While this process seems easy enough, depending on the size and color of the tattoo (as rated by the Kirby-Desai tattoo removal scale) tattoo removal can take multiple treatments. Some pigments are harder to remove so complete removal isn’t guaranteed, though our treatments can significantly diminish the appearance of unwanted tattoos.

For more information on Atlanta laser tattoo removal or other laser skin treatments, contact our office. You can also stay up to date on the latest Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center news by connecting with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Chemical Peels Can Help Skin Glow All Winter Long

Posted on by

As the warm weather turns cool, our skin conditions change. You may begin to notice that your “healthy” summer glow is fading to reveal patches of irregular pigmentation. Aside from that, your skin is probably turning dry in the colder weather, but don’t let the weather get you down. Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center offers plenty of solutions for treating various skin conditions all year long.  If you keep up with our blog, you already know that procedures like laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, and even laser skin resurfacing are great for these colder months, but we’d like to highlight some of our non-laser treatments that will keep your skin looking great this winter.

Chemical peels are perfect for reducing mild imperfections (like sun damage and melasma), minimizing wrinkles, and restoring collagen production. Our licensed estheticians will perform a pre-skin treatment consultation prior to your peel to help determine which of our chemical peels will produce the results you’re after and complement your skin type. Once we’ve determined the type of chemical peel to perform, one of our experienced, licensed estheticians will apply a chemical solution to the outer layer of skin, which will cause the damaged outer layer of skin to be slowly eliminated over the following days (up to a week of peeling). Downtime is minimal, but we do suggest you use SPF 30 sunscreen prior to being in the sun after having a chemical peel to avoid sun damage and hyperpigmentation to newly rejuvenated skin.

We offer a variety of chemical peels that treat various skin types. People who suffer from acne, mild hyperpigmentation, rough skin and a busy lifestyle might choose our Fruit Acid Peel since it requires no downtime, while those looking to correct fine lines, melasma, or acne scarring may choose the Glycolic or Jessner’s Peel. Other types of chemical peels you’ll find on our menu are our Mandelic Peel, Salicylic Peel, and TCA Peel (Trichloroacetic Acid Peel), but we’d like to specially introduce the newest chemical peel we offer: Vi Peel.

Not only does the Vi Peel minimize sun damage, clear most acne, reduce acne scars and pigmentation problems, and smooth fine lines and wrinkles, but it actually stimulates collagen and elastin production to promote tighter, more youthful skin. With minimal downtime, you can expect the outer layer of skin to peel for up to a week to reveal refreshed, younger-looking skin. If you purchase a Vi Peel from Laser Lights before November 30th, 2011, you will receive one Vi Peel for free, so schedule your treatment today.

Laser Lights offers plenty of other treatments to care for your skin and keep you looking your best like our new Viora Reaction™ skin tightening (face & body), microdermabrasion, hand rejuvenation, and more. Be sure to take a look at our website to learn more about the services we offer. Also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for updates on skincare news and specials.

Save on Your Favorite Cosmetic Treatments with Our December 2011 Specials

Posted on by

 

Do you need a little help with your list this year? Whether you’re looking for yourself or to give a gift to someone else, beauty is always on everyone’s list! December is the perfect time to take advantage of specials on our most popular cosmetic services.

With discounts on laser hair removal and laser spider vein elimination, you can have smooth and beautiful skin in plenty of time for warmer weather next year. We’re also offering FREE Reaction™ skin tightening treatments with the purchase of 3- or 6-treatment packages (see below for more details).

If you’re looking for glowing holiday skin, take advantage of our deals on Fotofacial skin rejuvenation and the newest addition to our services menu, the Vi Peel. If the hustle and bustle of family gatherings and get-togethers with friends has you stressed, look into our massage packages.

We also have gift certificates available so you can give the gift of beauty and relaxation this holiday season. Contact our office for more information or to schedule your holiday treatment today! We’re also on Facebook and Twitter with the latest in beauty and cosmetic laser news, so make certain to follow us to stay up to date!  All offers below expire December 31, 2011.

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

Posted on by

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.

Pile on the Savings this November 2011 at Laser Lights

Posted on by

 

During the month of November, you can save on massages, laser hair removal, fractionated CO2 laser treatments, laser spider vein removal, and photofacial treatments at Laser Lights. We are also offering Viora Reaction™, our newest technology for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, packages at a special introductory price.  See the flyer below for more details, and be sure to take advantage of these discounts before they expire on November 30th, 2011.  Contact our office at 770-495-9322 to for more information.

 

Kirby-Desai Scale Helps Atlanta Laser Tattoo Removal Patients Predict Treatment Time and Results

Posted on by

Laser Lights cosmetic laser centerLaser tattoo removal is an intriguing process to most individuals, and like a tattoo each procedure is individualized based on the person and the ink they’d like to remove. Because laser tattoo removal works through light, there are important factors in predicting its effectiveness on any particular person’s tattoos. While most tattoos can be removed successfully, the number of treatments required to eliminate a tattoo completely vary as well as the type of laser used.

The creators of a proposed scale for tattoo removal called the Kirby-Desai Scale hope to help laser technicians and doctors to efficiently determine the most effective way and the number of sessions needed to remove any tattoo—regardless of size, color, or shape.

The Kirby-Desai Scale focuses on 6 major elements to determine the effectiveness of tattoo removal: a person’s Fitzpatrick skin type, the tattoo’s location on the body, the tattoo pigment color, the amount of ink in the tattoo (or size), the amount of scarring or tissue change, and whether the tattoo is layered. Each element is assigned a score from 1 to 5.

For example, we’ll say a man has a full-color, completely filled-in tattoo of a tiger on his chest that covers the pectoral muscle that he’d like to remove. A person with light skin is 2 points on the scale, and a tattoo on the chest is 2 points. A tattoo with multiple colors is 4 points, and if the size/amount of ink is moderate, that’s 3 points. The application of a tattoo that caused no scarring is 0 points, and the tattoo wasn’t layered over another tattoo, which is 0 points.

The points are then added together, in the case of our tiger man 11 points, and that number is used to determine the number of laser tattoo removal sessions required to eliminate that tattoo completely. So, tiger man would need somewhere around 8 sessions to get rid of his inked cat.

This scale can be useful to the tattoo removal specialist for obvious reasons, but can be helpful to the patient as well. Being able to plan out the number of tattoo removal sessions allows patients to schedule the removal sessions within their agenda, budget for the appropriate number of procedures, and prepare themselves adequately for the process because they’ll know what to expect from laser tattoo removal.

The originators of the Kirby-Desai tattoo removal scale hope to bring certainty to patients in an effort to help doctors educate their patients completely before them embark on the tattoo removal process.

Make sure to check out our laser tattoo removal before and after gallery for pictures of results we’ve gotten at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center in Duluth.

Contact us for more information on tattoo removal and other laser services at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. You can also keep up with our news and updates by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Thinking about Laser Hair Removal, Tattoo Removal or Wrinkle Treatment? What to Look for in a Reputable Laser Treatment Center

Posted on by

laser lights

Because laser cosmetic treatment is so new, many patients are unaware that standards exist to regulate which practitioners and physicians can use the equipment and how it should be used. While the use of lasers for cosmetic and medical treatments seems like space-age technology, these criteria and rules help keep patients and physicians safe. More specifically, organizations like the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) and the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB) regulate and determine the appropriate safety criteria for the medical and cosmetic use of lasers.

When looking for a reputable laser treatment center, it is important that the facility follow high standards of practice to ensure patient safety. The ASLMS lists training and education, patient and procedure selection, and patient safety as the three main determining factors in high standards of laser treatment practice. Continue reading →

Summer Skin Care

Posted on by

laser lights cosmetic laser centerAlthough laser skin treatments can erase imperfections and produce healthy, beautiful skin, being exposed to the sun’s rays after laser treatment can cause unsightly hyperpigmentation. It’s important to employ proper laser after care; especially during the summer months. If you choose to have a laser procedure during the summer you should wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 and a zinc oxide base. You should follow these guidelines not only after laser treatment, but four to six weeks before and between laser treatments. If you anticipate spending a lot of time in the sun this summer, you may want to reserve laser procedures for the winter months and try one of our other non-laser procedures in the mean time.

One of our newest summer treatments is eyelash and eyebrow tinting. Great for patients with blonde or light colored hair, this treatment adds darker pigment to the eyelashes and brows for up to two or three months. That’s basically a whole summer free from applying mascara, eyelash extensions, or brow pencil. Plus, brow and lash tinting is easily combined with other Laser Lights’ treatments. Some patients, however, do not have thick or long enough eyelashes to benefit from tinting. These patients are better suited for Latisse® eyelash treatment, which helps eyelashes grow thicker, longer, and even darker.

Chemical peels, facials and microdermabrasion treatments are also great for the summer, but the 30 SPF sunscreen rule is still important with these treatments too. Continue reading →

Check out our latest specials on hair removal, CO2 treatments and more…

Posted on by