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Summertime Laser Treatments
2007-06-09
Dear Dr. Proskiw;
I’m a 43-year-old female teacher and I’ve been thinking of having some laser treatments this summer. I would like to have laser hair removal and a facial laser rejuvenation procedure to get rid of some uneven pigment, spider veins, and fine lines on my face. My girlfriend tells me that laser treatments are not recommended during the summer months. Can you clear this up for us?
Answer:
Your friend is partially right, but today’s lasers offer a lot more flexibility than in the past. Now you can have laser treatments with only a few restrictions. Laser hair removal on tanned skin requires caution, however experienced practitioners can usually treat areas such as underarms and bikini lines. Because hair removal lasers target melanin or pigment in the hair follicle, a high level of expertise is needed for treatments when there is more melanin present in the skin due to tanning. The same is true when treating facial spider veins. Since sun exposed skin is usually tanned in the summer, melanin and hemoglobin in the spider veins compete with and absorb the laser light during treatments. Failure to perform a proper skin evaluation and provide adequate skin protection during a laser procedure can result in serious skin burns. Fortunately the newer lasers, such as the Apogee Elite allow precise adjustments and wavelengths to safely remove specific targets, whether it is for hair or spider veins.
Question:
Are there specific questions I should ask when booking a treatment, and what hair removal and pigment removal devices should I be cautious of?
Answer:
In my opinion, intense pulsed light devices are the most likely to cause skin burns in tanned skin and should therefore be avoided if you have any evidence of a tan. Hair removal lasers that have only fixed pulse widths or one wavelength have treatment limitations, and therefore require expertise and caution to avoid skin burns.
Question:
Is facial rejuvenation with lasers possible during the summer?
Answer:
Yes. Facial rejuvenation with non-ablative lasers is very effective for skin tightening and removing fine lines and wrinkles. The Affirm laser by Cynosure with CAP technology is one example of a ‘no-down time’ skin rejuvenating laser. Facial resurfacing with erbium, CO2 and dermabrasion are procedures that are very sensitive to sun exposure in the postoperative months following these procedures. They are usually performed in the cooler months of the year.
Question:
In general, what procedures I can consider for my face this summer?
Answer:
Tissue fillers, Botox, microdermabrasion, mesotherapy (lipodissolve), rejuvenating facials, Thermage, and Accent skin tightening are examples of the procedures you will find are safe and effective for facial rejuvenation during the summer.
Question:
How can I find out what procedures are right for me?
Answer:
I would suggest facial skin analysis by a physician specializing in laser surgery and skin care. UV Facial Analysis and photographs are also very helpful in assessing what is best for you.
Have a great summer and remember the SUN SCREEN.
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