chemical peels atlanta

February 9, 2018

What’s it Like to Get a Chemical Peel?

Uncategorized Atlanta skin treatments, chemical peels atlanta, facial rejuvenation atlanta, how much does a chemical peel hurt, what’s it like to get a chemical peel

At Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, we often have consultations with patients who have already done some research about the treatments they’re interested in. There’s certainly plenty of information online (some accurate and helpful, others not so much). But the fact is that you won’t really know what a procedure will be like until you have it yourself. Sadly, technology hasn’t quite reached the point of a 4-D virtual reality skin treatment, but we have the next best thing: an uncensored, tell-it-like-it-is account by one of our patients.

What’s it Like to Get a Chemical Peel

Keep in mind that every patient’s experience is unique, but here’s one patient’s story about her chemical peel.

Hey there! My name is Colleen, and I’m excited to share my story with you all! I’ve been thinking about getting a chemical peel for a while. Even though I’m only 29, but let’s just say I was a big fan of the tanned look when I was younger, so I have some sun damage in the form of light brown spots. My skin has also developed an uneven texture and coloration, so my goal for my peel was just to lighten my brown spots and get a more even complexion. I spoke to Vida at Laser Lights about my concerns, and she suggested a series of three SensiPeel® chemical peels with a few months in between each one. Given what a great job Laser Lights had done with my laser hair removal and other past treatments, I was 100% on board!

I went into the office on a Thursday during my lunch break for the peel, and Vida brought me right into a room and got me set up, reclined, and relaxed. She started with a cleanser and a toner to prepare my skin. She gave me a hand-held fan to help dry out my skin, and so that I could keep a cooling element on my skin throughout the procedure.

Once my skin was ready, Vida explained that she would apply two layers of the SensiPeel®. This would give me a greater improvement even though we were still using the milder solution to keep my somewhat sensitive skin from overreacting. This is the part I was nervous about. When you think about a chemical peel, it’s essentially using acid on your face, and I was worried about the skin treatment being painful.

Vida applied the first layer and told me to let her know if it started getting painful. She gave me a few minutes to relax and let the solution do its magic, but I didn’t feel much sensation in my skin at all. Then she applied the second layer, and I thought, “Okay, here’s where it’s going to start burning.” To my surprise, I still felt very little – just a mild tingling near my chin. Here’s where you get to see what a persistent worrier I am, because while I was glad that the treatment wasn’t painful, I started worrying that because I didn’t have any pain, I wouldn’t have any results, either! I know, I know, I do it myself!

After giving the second layer some time to work, Vida applied a peptide to start the skin revitalization process. Vida explained that the longer I could leave it on, the better – ideally overnight. Challenge accepted!

When I looked in the mirror, I saw the distinctly yellow, somewhat greasy look the peptide gave me. It didn’t bother me – Vida had warned me ahead of time that I’d have this yellow look for the rest of the day of my peel, so I should schedule accordingly. Fortunately, I work in a casual office and I’d given them all a heads-up that I’d come back looking like mustard. But I have to confess, it was kind of fun to watch the looks I got on the train on the way home!

Throughout that night and until the next morning, the yellow tone on my face took on more of an orange look. When I washed off the peptide in the morning I realized that it was because my skin was getting red. Since I knew this was the first step toward seeing my results, I was thrilled! It just looked (and felt) like I had a hefty sunburn.

On Saturday morning, I saw my first hint of that glorious peeling! It started with very fine peeling around my chin, and then gradually expended throughout Sunday and Monday to involve my entire face. If I’m being honest, the toughest part of the whole experience was holding myself back from helping the peeling along. Vida had warned me to keep my hands off and just let the peeling happen on its own, so here’s a word of advice: stay away from mirrors so you forget about the peeling and aren’t tempted!

By Tuesday and Wednesday, nearly all the peeling was complete, and I was THRILLED to see my results! My skin was so much clearer, brighter, and smoother, and my complexion was so much more uniform that foundation has now become a special-occasions-only makeup rather than an everyday one.

All in all, my first chemical peel was an absolute success, and I’m so excited to complete the other two in the series and see how the results continue to improve even more! To Vida and the rest of the Laser Lights team, you’ve all been fantastic, and I can’t wait to see you for Part 2!

At Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center, our focus is on customizing each treatment to the patient’s precise needs. When it comes to a chemical peel, we have several formulas we use, like SenisPeel®, VI Peel®, and TCA peels, all of which can be customized by our Licensed Medical Aestheticians. To find out if a chemical peel or any of our other laser or non-laser skin treatments are right for you, schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights. Plus, browse our current specials, past blogs, skin care tips, and more on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google+.

January 10, 2018

How to Know What Type of Chemical Peel is Right for You

Uncategorized chemical peels atlanta, chemical peels for sensitive skin, facial rejuvenation atlanta, skin care atlanta, types of chemical peels

Chemical peels have been a long-time favorite in the skin care world. It’s even been said that early Egyptians used a form of the procedure. Of course, medical science has advanced since then, and so have chemical peels. Today, there are any number of formulas that can be used to target specific cosmetic concerns. Our licensed aestheticians have a few tips to help you understand the various types of chemical peels and the ones that may be best for you.

The Basics

If you’re new to chemical peels, here’s the basic concept: after cleansing your skin, an aesthetician or other medical professional will apply a specialized, acidic formula. After letting it work on your skin for a few minutes, it will be washed away. Over the following several days, your skin will look and feel like it’s sunburned before the damaged surface skin peels away. This reveals brighter, smoother, younger-looking skin with fewer fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, sun damage, and other surface imperfections.

Three Depths of Peels

Chemical peels can have any number of strength levels, but there are three basic categories: light, medium, and deep.

Light peels produce a minimal amount of peeling – in some cases, no visible peeling at all. They typically use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) like citric, glycolic, lactic, malic, or tartaric acids. Other light peels use beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) like salicylic acids. Any light peel will reduce fine lines, dryness, acne, and minor pigment irregularities. They’re particularly effective when patients receive a series of several peels.

Medium peels penetrate deeper into the skin for more significant peeling and more dramatic results. They usually use trichloracetic acid (or TCA), although they can use different concentrations of TCA. On top of the issues light peels can treat, medium peels address acne scars, advanced sun damage and pigment imperfections, and deeper wrinkles.

Finally, deep peels are much more extensive procedures. They need to be performed by an experienced physician using anesthesia and they require extended recovery time – which is more than most patients want. In fact, advanced laser skin treatments have been able to achieve similar results with far less downtime and with a procedure that an aesthetician can perform in-office. For this reason, deep peels are not performed often.

Types of Peels at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center

At Laser Lights, we’re all about giving each patient the best treatment for their specific needs. For that reason, we offer a variety of both light and medium peels.

For patients with sensitive skin who still want the improvement a light peel can offer, we provide the Sensi Peel®. Depending on the results you’re aiming for, our licensed medical aestheticians can apply multiple layers, and/or recommend a series of several treatments.

For stronger results, we offer two types of medium peels – TCA peels and the well-known VI Peel®. Both of these peels can also be performed as a series of treatments depending on your cosmetic goals.

Within the categories of peels, there are different formulas designed to address specific skin care concerns. The only way to truly know which peel is best for you is to complete a consultation with a licensed aesthetician. At Laser Lights, we offer a free skin care consultation to give you the perfect recommendation for your cosmetic goals. For more skin care tips, keep up with our blog, our special offers, and more on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

July 3, 2017

July Specials Ripe for the Picking

Uncategorized chemical peels atlanta, facials Atlanta, microneedling Atlanta, skin care atlanta, Vi Peel Atlanta

Who among us doesn’t want to love the way we look? But in reality, that’s not as easy as it looks. You might be able to whiten your teeth or color your hair on your own (though even these are best left of the pros), but for some problems, you need to take it to the next level by seeing a true medical professional. This July, you can do that for less with our special offers at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center.

Réjuvapen® Microneedling – 20% off

If there’s one thing everyone loves, it’s crossing two items off your list at once. That’s why Réjuvapen® is so popular. By stimulating your body’s natural healing process, microneedling treats fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars (or other types of scars), and uneven skin texture all at the same time.

SculpSure® Fat Reduction – 15% off

You can’t knock a healthy diet and regular exercise, but the problem is that all the crunches in the world can’t tell your body where to lose fat from, so if you’re already maintaining a healthy and happy weight but just want to get rid of one of two specific “bulges” of extra fat, you’ll need a more direct approach. That’s where SculpSure® fat reduction comes in – a non-invasive, 25-minute treatment that uses targeted, controlled warmth to get rid of fat cells in specific areas.

Laser Tattoo Removal – Buy 3, get 1 free

You don’t need a time machine to erase a tattoo that you don’t want anymore. All you need is an appointment with our licensed aestheticians and laser specialists who can tailor our advanced laser to your precise needs.

Chemical Peels and Fire and Ice Facials – Buy a peel and save 50% off a Fire and Ice Facial

Such a large part of improving the look of your skin is getting rid of surface damage, and that’s why chemical peels and their gentler cousin, the Fire and Ice Facial, make such a great team. Both focus on removing damaged surface skin to make way for a brighter complexion. Try starting with a peel to get your skin in tip-top shape, then using Fire and Ice Facials periodically to keep up your results.

Skin Care Products – 10% off select items

In addition to dozens of unique and advanced skin treatments, we also offer products to enhance and maintain your results, and even to tackle lighter concerns that don’t yet need professional attention. This month, you can enjoy savings on a variety of these exceptional products.

Your skin care should be as unique as you are—designed specifically to address your concerns while accentuating your best features, and you can only get that level of care from true experts like our licensed and experienced aestheticians at Laser Lights. To get started on your summer makeover, schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. For our other upcoming specials as well as skin care tips and other helpful information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

June 8, 2017

How to Repair Sun Damage to Your Skin

Uncategorized chemical peels atlanta, facial rejuvenation atlanta, microdermabrasion Atlanta, photofacial Atlanta, skin care atlanta

Our summer may still be young, but we’re willing to bet that you’ve already spent some time basking in it, whether it was at the beach, strolling through a park, or cheering on your favorite teams. But as much as we all enjoy soaking up some sun, the reality is that every time you do, it’s doing more and more damage to your skin. Even small bits of sun exposure add up over your lifetime, and leave behind those tell-tale brown spots (“age spots,” as most people call them, even though they happen to young people, too). But here’s the good news: those spots don’t have to last forever. In fact, we offer seven different ways to repair your sun damage right here at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center.

SilkPeel® Microdermabrasion

As our gentlest way to even out your complexion, SilkPeel® combines three unique processes: microdermabrasion to exfoliate away damaged surface skin, gentle suction to extract any pore-clogging debris, and immediate application of customized, high-quality topical medication. While one treatment offers a clearer and more refreshed complexion, a series of sessions will be able to produce a noticeable improvement in sun spots.

Fire and Ice Facial

Day spas sometimes use the term “facial” to describe something as simple as a little bit of cleanser and a skin care product or two. But at Laser Lights, the facial we provide can produce real results. The Fire and Ice Facial was developed by iS Clinical®, and by starting with an exfoliating mask (similar to an extremely mild chemical peel) and following it with a rejuvenating mask to hydrate and nourish the skin, this procedure gradually produces gentle results for reducing sun damage.

Laser Age Spot Removal

All of the other treatments on this list address the full face (or hands, chest, or whatever area you want to reduce sun damage on). However, if you don’t have concerns about fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, or other cosmetic skin issues, we also provide laser treatments that solely treat brown spots. The laser is drawn to the color in the excess pigment, and it breaks down the pigment cells so your body can absorb and remove them, all without affecting any other areas of skin.

Photo Rejuvenation

As a particularly gentle type of laser treatment, photo rejuvenation fights back against brown spots in a non-ablative way. That means that it breaks up excess pigment without actually piercing or removing any damaged skin. For most patients, a series of four to six photofacial sessions can produce excellent results.

Micro Fractionated CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

Unlike photo rejuvenation, micro fractionated laser skin resurfacing (also known as a micro laser peel) is ablative, but in a minimally invasive way. By treating small areas of skin at a time while leaving untouched skin between each spot, this method not only reduces age spots but also treats fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots, too.

Chemical Peels

The basic premise of a chemical peel is using a customized solution to penetrate to a certain depth of the skin. This triggers your body’s natural healing process to exfoliate away the damaged surface skin while also stimulating collagen production. The end result is a significant improvement in age spots, wrinkles, lines, age spots, and skin laxity. Chemical peels are tailored to the strength and depth you need, and can be performed as a series of treatments or as a single procedure.

Fractionated CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

As our most comprehensive skin rejuvenation treatment, fractionated laser skin resurfacing uses an advanced method that is similar to the micro fractionated laser resurfacing, although reaching deeper into the skin and producing more comprehensive and impressive results. This means that, on top of sun spots, fractional laser resurfacing also tightens the skin and improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and more.

Sun damage can really do a number on your skin, from brown spots to premature wrinkles, and even posing serious risks to your health in the form of skin cancer. But by treating the damage you already have and committing to protecting your skin in the future, you can get your skin back to its natural beauty and keep it that way. To discuss which skin rejuvenation methods may be best for you, schedule your FREE consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Or, for more skin care tips as well as our latest special offers, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

May 18, 2017

What is the Difference between a Fire and Ice Facial, SilkPeel®, and a Chemical Peel?

Uncategorized Atlanta microdermabrasion, chemical peels atlanta, facial rejuvenation atlanta, facials Atlanta, Vi Peel Atlanta

In this age of modern medicine, researchers have developed countless cosmetic treatments that can address nearly any aesthetic concern, from helping to reduce wrinkles to minimizing excess fat. But as much as our patients at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center love having options, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, and to struggle to understand the differences between them. That’s where we come in. Our licensed and experienced medical aestheticians know everything there is to know about the procedures we offer, and they’re here to recommend the ideal treatment for your specific needs. To give you a little extra help, we’re breaking down the similarities and differences between three commonly confused procedures: chemical peels, the Fire and Ice Facial, and SilkPeel® microdermabrasion.

What They Do

The largest similarity between these three procedures is actually what aesthetic concerns they treat. Primarily, they target common problems like fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, acne scars, and general issues with skin texture or overall complexion. In some cases, they can actually help to manage acne as well.

How They Work

All three of these treatments use exfoliation (removing damaged surface skin cells), but they all do it in a slightly different way. Vi Peel® and other chemical peels do exactly what their name suggests—a specific chemical is applied to the skin to reach a specified depth, signaling your body’s healing process to get rid of the damaged surface skin (which also rebuilds skin-firming collagen, too). The actual exfoliation happens in the form of peeling over the course of a few days after your treatment. Depending on the results you want to achieve, we’ll customize the intensity of your chemical peel.

SilkPeel®, on the other hand, gets rid of damaged skin using manual exfoliation instead—but there’s a twist. The treatment combines microdermabrasion (“buffing away” damaged skin cells) with gentle suction (to remove dead skin cells and pore-clogging debris). At the same time, it’s applying a customized topical solution tailored to your desired results. This unique process, called Dermalinfusion®, allows the topical medication to reach deeper into the skin for highly effective results.

Last but not least, the Fire and Ice Facial is a specialized process developed by esteemed skin care line iS Clinical®. It uses two distinct masks—the Intensive Resurfacing Masque (to exfoliate) followed by the Rejuvenating Masque (to hydrate and enhance your results).

How Intense They Are

SilkPeel® microdermabrasion in particular is a very gentle, easy procedure. The Fire and Ice Facial and chemical peels, uniquely, can be tailored to the mildness or effectiveness that you need. Our licensed and experienced aestheticians can adjust the specific formulas they use and the amount of time they allow the formula to exfoliate based on your aesthetic goals. As a result, all of these treatments involve little or no recovery time.

Who They Can Help

With their gentleness and customizability, these three procedures can be a great fit for nearly any patient. Because they do not involve lasers, they don’t carry as many risks for patients with darker skin as lasers do (although you do need to be cautious to protect your refreshed skin from the sun). Even those with sensitive skin may be able to receive SilkPeel®, the Fire and Ice Facial, or a chemical peel if our aesthetician adjusts their procedure accordingly.

It goes without saying that everyone wants to get the best results they can out of their cosmetic treatments. After all, if you’re taking the time to have the procedure, you might as well get as much from it as you can, right? And the first step toward loving your results is actually figuring out the right treatment in the first place. To get started, schedule a free consultation at Laser Lights Cosmetic Laser Center. Or, for more skin care tips and special offers, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.

1 2 3 4 ›»