Laser surgery of skin conditions having cosmetic implications have exposed the outstanding psychological advantages which are unequaled by any other technique of treatment method either with or without a knife. A progressively advanced knowing of the biophysics of laser-tissue interactions has led to a more effective utilization of the present technology on the medical side and at the same time is supporting the physicists to include more and more highly selective laser systems in the armamentarium of aesthetic laser surgeons. BYou Laser Clinic is offering this treatment system here in Brooklyn, NYC.
Ablative and Non-ablative Lasers
Even though both ablative and non-ablative lasers are applied to deal with sun damage, lines, wrinkles, and acne scars, they are significantly different. Ablative lasers eliminate tissue by vaporizing it. Non-ablative lasers utilize different wavelengths of light to affect numerous targets, creating non-vaporized channels of warmed tissue.
Carbon Dioxide Laser
The old fashioned CO2 laser was related with an aggressive treatment; the risk included with it was the possibility of scarring and hypo- or hyper-pigmentation. Newer, fractionated CO2 technology is considerably safer. The cosmetic result of fractionated CO2 laser treatment is fantastic and there is much less downtime for the patient than with the traditional CO2 laser.
Laser Treatment
The term laser is an acronym. An abbreviation which uses the first letter of each word in an explanation to make a term. Laser (L-A-S-E-R) stands for light amplification by activated emission of radiation. In easier terms, a laser is a single-wavelength (one color of light) source of high-energy light, which can be precisely focused to transmit that light onto a very small spot.
Ablative vs. Non-ablative Lasers
There are two basic kinds of lasers utilized for cosmetic purposes: ablative and non-ablative. Basically, Ablative lasers basically vaporize the top layers of broken skin, while non-ablative lasers perform deeper in the skin without eliminating or otherwise damaging the top layers. This is why, there is no actual patient downtime connected with cosmetic processes that employ exclusively non-ablative laser technology.
How Lasers Work?
Lasers are monochromatic (mono indicates one and chromo refers to color), which signifies that a given laser produces light of only one wavelength or color of light. The Lasers perform in cosmetic applications through a procedure known as “selective photothermolysis.” When broken down, this very fancy word indicates that it modulates the frequency of light (photo) to generate heat (thermo) in the particular location of the related thing you want to destroy (lysis). To do this, the wavelength of the light beam has to be in sync with the color of the target which is to be addressed, whether that be brown spots, unattractive red damaged capillaries or some other unfavorable skin condition.
Why So Many Different Types of Lasers?
The two basic kinds of lasers can be further broken down into numerous subcategories of laser types and into actually hundreds of variations and brand names which fit into these sub-classifications.
Variations
The main variations between the kinds of lasers have to do with wavelength. In other words, different laser wavelengths (colors of light) focus on different skin problems. Consequently, a variety of lasers are required to deal with a variety of skin issues. This is why; a combination of several different lasers may be suggested by your surgeon to deal with all of the issues that you may have. An clarification of the variations between these various laser types could get very lengthy, technical and rather complicated, so we will certainly focus here on what kinds of cosmetic issues are finest treated by the numerous laser types.
Laser Types for Different Cosmetic Uses
Lasers are used for treating lines, wrinkles and also for skin tightening.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
For treating lines and wrinkles, a combination of skin resurfacing and skin-tightening processes can be utilized or both can be achieved with a more aggressive ablative laser, like as a CO2 -carbon dioxide laser or Erbium laser. The CO2 laser is also frequently utilized for the elimination of warts and skin tags and for cutting skin in laser-assisted surgery. The Pulsed dye lasers have also revealed some achievement, along with less aggressive non-laser, light-based treatments, such as IPL and LED photo facials.
Skin Tightening
Most cosmetic laser processes offer at least some level of superficial tightening simply because they produce a controlled injury of the skin area, which stimulates improved collagen production. For a lot more significant tightening outcomes, nevertheless, CO2 lasers are the laser of preference. In addition, there has been much achievement utilizing non-laser, light-based treatment options, such as Titan infrared devices and Thermage radio-frequency centered systems.
Pigmented Lesions
The most frequently used lasers for the treatment of pigmented lesions, such as sunlight spots, age spots, melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation are the pulsed dye,Nd:YAG, and the fractional (Fraxel) lasers, along with non-laser, light-based treatments, such as IPL.
Precancerous Lesions
Nearly all surgeons agree with the fact that cancerous lesions should be eliminated via scalpel (with a knife during surgery) to assure clear borders and complete removal. In addition to making sure a skin cancer has “clear margins,” this ensures that there is a sample for a pathologist to look at to figure out exactly what the lesion was. By eliminating precancerous growths, such as actinic keratosis, before they have a chance to turn into malignant (squamous cell skin cancers), though, lasers are now regularly being used as a preventative measure. Ablative lasers, such as the CO2 and erbium:YAG, are usually selected to eliminate these lesions.
Vascular Lesions
Vascular lesions include broken blood vessels on the face, unattractive spider veins on the legs, spider nevi, hemangiomas, and certain birthmarks such as port wine stains. For these kinds of skin problems, IPL is a popular option, as it is minimally invasive. Also well-known for dealing with these lesions is the pulsed dye, Nd:YAG and diode lasers.
Tattoos
The quality-switched laser and Nd:YAG keeps on being famous for tattoo removal, although some achievement can also be had with the use of IPL.
Hair Removal
The achievements and safety of laser hair removal is extremely dependent on the pigment existing in both the skin area and the hair of the patient being treated. For darker-skinned patients, the Nd:YAG and diode lasers are usually the lasers of choice, and for lighter-skinned patients, IPL has proved successful.
Acne and Acne Scars
- For deeper acne scars, the CO2 laser remains to be the gold standard.
- Even though more recent advancements such as the erbium:YAG, fractional laser.
- Certain non-ablative lasers have established significant success with superficial acne scarring.
- For the treatment of active acne, LED technology has confirmed to be quite useful.
Other Light-Based Cosmetic Applications
There are many various methods of light-based technology currently being used in the world of cosmetic surgery today. Although these techniques are usually referred to as “laser” processes, the devices being used are not basically true lasers. These technologies may include IPL, LED treatment options, Titan and very similar infrared energy-based technologies and radio-frequency based processes, such as Thermage. Our Clinic is offering actual treatment system also here in Manhattan and Park Slope.
