Are there any conditions that this treatment won't help? It won't treat frown lines, sometimes known as lines of expression on the face, especially the forehead and between the brows.
The procedure is not a substitute for a face-lift and will not help baggy or sagging skin. The procedure won't cure the puffiness around the eyes for which blepharoplasty surgery is needed. It is not a treatment for skin cancer, but can treat pre cancers called actinic keratosis. It won't remove bumpy moles, but can remove their pigment. It will remove, however, acquired freckling. Genetic freckles usually return after treatment.
The procedure won't remove those strands of deep parallel blood vessels occasionally seen on the lower cheeks, which can be removed in other ways. It will not remove seborrrheic keratosis including the tiny genetic ones on the upper cheeks and around the eyes sometimes called dermatosis papulosa nigra. It also won't remove sebaceous hyperplasias a benign growth of some oil glands in mid life.
Are there any contraindications to this procedure? Yes, it is not indicated in patients with connective tissue disease or auto immune disorders. It cannot be done during pregnancy, nor can it be done on recently sun-tanned skin or in those who may receive excess sun exposure for a few weeks following treatment.
The procedure cannot be used on patients taking Accutane or for six months after stopping Accutane, and is not usually done on patients with active acne cysts and large pustules. The same is true for highly active rosacea. Most photosensitive medications such as antibiotics, anti anxiety, sulfa drugs, birth control pills and anti-hypertensive medications are not a contraindication. Care must be taken in patients who get fever blister attacks on the face. An anti-herpes medication can be taken thus avoiding the problem.
Are there any side effects? Yes. Most side effects are mild and of short duration. These can consist of short-term discomfort during the actual treatment. There is usually additional redness immediately following treatment, lasting less than 24 hours in most people, on rare occasions it may last up to three days. Mild blistering and bruising is possible but in our experience occur in less than 1% and usually clear very quickly. Post treatment pigmentation has been noted on occasion, but is highly treatable and fortunately very rare.
Even more rare is a decrease in pigmentation of the skin after treatments. This also clears in time as well. We have never seen a scar or an infection of the skin after treatment but it can occur. Swelling of the face for 3-5 days occasionally occurs and is most common in severely sun-damaged skin due to reduced quality of connective tissue around the blood vessels.
What are the requirements to having this procedure? All patients must have a consultation prior to the procedure. They must complete a general medical questionnaire on the nature of their skin. At the time of the first treatment, each patient will be tested to properly evaluate the correct settings for the patient's skin condition and skin type.
These parameters will then be stored in a database and in the patients chart for future reference. Pre-treatment, mid-treatment and post-treatment photos will be taken. An informed consent sheet and photographic permit form must be signed. All questions must be asked and answered by the patient prior to treatment.
What if I have a low pain threshold or sensitive skin can I still be treated? Yes, most patients need no pre-treatment anesthesia, but a topical cream can be applied 30-60 minutes prior to the treatment eliminating most discomfort. We have extensive experience with patients who have sensitive skin, always listen to their concerns, and treat accordingly so that the most sensitive skin type is treated safely.
Author Resource:-
Dave Stringham, the President of LookingYourBest.com writes about plastic surgery in Long Beach, California and plastic surgery procedures such as long beach photo facial, rhytidectomy, breast augmentation, rhinoplasty, abdominoplasty, and liposuction.
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