Rosacea Laser Treatment
Long-pulsed Nd:YAG laser (VersaPulse®)
VersaPulse laser is used to treat vascular lesions, facial flushing or redness, telangiectasia which is purple or blue veins on the face, broken capillaries, and hemangiomas.
XTRAC™ or Eximer laser
The XTRAC™ or Eximer laser is the first laser approved by the FDA for treating psoriasis and vitiligo. Depending on the severity of your condition it may require up to 30 treatments to see results.
Long-pulsed Alexandrite Laser Apogee 9300®
The Long-pulsed Alexandrite Laser Apogee 9300® is designed for the removal of unwanted hair on the neck, face and elsewhere on the body. It typically requires 10 to 15 treatments to achieve permanent results on the face and neck. It will not permanently remove unwanted hair form the back or legs.
Laser resurfacing is not recommended for everyone. The laser is a type of burn that literally evaporates the top layers of skin to reveal younger-looking, less damaged skin. Avoid laser if your skin is prone to keloids or if you experience excessive scarring due to minor cuts or abrasions. If you scar badly from burns, laser resurfacing could produce permanent damage to the skin. Also, if you have ethnicity (i.e. Greek, Italian or African-American, etc.) in your biological family, you may be prone to hypo or hyperpigmentation resulting from the procedure.
There is also a possibility you may experience a skin infection, form bullae or blisters on the skin, or a thickening of scar tissue in the area treated. Inform your doctor if you have taken Accutane within the previous year and a half (12-18 months) as this may cause dermal thickening and can result in increased scarring.
Communication between you and the surgeon is essential in achieving realistic goals with laser surgery. The surgeon needs to understand what you are hoping to accomplish and you need to understand what can actually be achieved.
Prior to laser surgery, you need to understand all details of the procedure, as well as any possible complications and risks. Some laser procedures can be done with topical numbing medications while others involve general sedation. All this should be discussed prior to the procedure. You should also receive a pre-op packet with information on what you need to do and medications to avoid prior to the surgery. You will also be advised of any medications you will need to take post-surgery.
Be sure that your surgeon is aware of any history of herpes, viral infections or cold sores you may have. Viral and bacterial anomalies can easily spread and result in severe scarring and disfigurement of the area to be treated.
Once the treatment has been performed, the treated surface is covered with a thin film of an antibiotic burn cream and a layer of bandages. Follow the directions provided by your surgeon for care and replacement of the bandages during the healing process.
Post-surgery you may feel groggy, disoriented or even depressed. Your face will appear more swollen, redder, and painful and bruised during the first one to two weeks. Full recovery can take up to five months.
Utilizing Light Rather Than Lasers
High Intensity Pulsed Light first pioneered by Dr. Patrick Bitter Jr. is a less aggressive option with a shorter recovery period. Pulsed Light Therapy is marketed under the names: Photo Laser, Light Laser, PhotoFacial, MultiLight, PlasmaLight, EpiLight, PhotoDerm, VascuLight, and Fraxel with more progressive types of lasers coming on the market every day. This type of laser therapy can be beneficial in improving the appearance or diminishing the signs of liver spots, broken capillaries, fine wrinkles, scar tissue, freckles, flat birth marks, spider veins, varicose veins, port wine stains, minor sun damage, purple or blue veins on the face also known as telangiectasia, strawberry hemangiomas or areas of purplish, reddish, or bluish blood vessels resembling a blister, hair removal, tattoos, and hypo-pigmentation with minimal down time.
Laser light therapy uses high intensity pulses of light to heat and penetrate the upper layers of skin. These pulses of light can be adjusted in strength and intensity based on the area being treated and desired outcome. The side effects which can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks include skin redness, burning or pain at the site of treatment, swelling , skin dryness, skin crusting or blistering and in some cases a temporary change in skin tone or color which may persist for several months.
Photoderm, PhotoDerm VL for vascular lesions and PhotoDerm PL for pigmented lesions
PhotoDerm is recommended for the treatment of varicose veins, vascular birth marks, spider veins on the legs and face, as well as other vascular conditions. Photoderm directs light pulses on the skin's surface to address surface skin concerns. PhotoDerm VL directs pulses of light energy to the blood vessels targeting the hemoglobin in the blood to seal off or destroy the blood vessel. PhotoDerm PL addresses the concerns with melanin the source of darker pigmentation in the skin. The laser light pulses are directed at the melanin to super heat and destroy the pigmented area.
PhotoFacial, photo facial, or fotofacial
PhotoFacial, photo facial, or fotofacial laser light therapy penetrates deeply into the skin to promote the production of collagen to stimulate the skin into produces smoother healthier skin. Photofacial is recommended for use on wrinkles, age spots, facial veins, sun damaged skin, mild rosacea, and large pores. The light beam directed onto the skin has been described as feeling like a rubber band being snapped against the skin.