Cosmetic Laser Treatment

Lasers

Today, lasers and other light/energy-based devices have dozens of cosmetic applications. From hair to brown spots to wrinkles and much more, demand for non-invasive (non-surgical) procedures has exploded as the baby boomers have aged.

Brown Spots

All brown spots are not created equal! Some are sun damage, some are genetic. Some are superficial, some deep. Some are from hormones, some from acne or trauma. But all brown spots are universally despised. Lasers can help some, not all, brown spots. Lasers can darken brown spots from hormones (melasma).

Hair Reduction

The most common use of cosmetic laser therapy today is hair reduction. Dark hair in light skin can be treated effectively. Unfortunately, light hair does not have a “chromophore” to attract a laser, and dark hair in dark skin cannot be “seen” by the laser. Hair reduction wavelengths are commonly 810 in lighter skin, 1064 in darker skin. IPL is used for hair reduction but with a higher risk of hyperpigmentation and blistering due to multiple wavelengths hitting unintended targets.

Skin Texture, Wrinkles and Collagen Refreshment

Aging, primarily sun damage, causes large pores, wrinkles/crinkles and droopy skin. Compare the skin on your lower abdomen or buttocks (which typically has less sun damage) to that of your hands or face. A biopsy of 60-year-old sun-damaged skin compared to young sun-protected skin shows frayed, crinkled collagen and increased elastin. Anyone can tell the difference.

Skin Tightening

Radiofrequency and ultrasound are now used to tighten skin without surgery. Both go through the epidermis into the dermis without damaging the skin, so they have no downtime. Radiofrequency heat contracts dermal collagen while ultrasound focuses on lower levels of the dermis. Some devices add microneedles to wound the epidermis and deliver focused radiofrequency waves deeper in the skin to tighten both epidermis and dermis.