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Microdermabrasion	Laser Hair Reduction

Microdermabrasion
…for smoother, softer, healthier looking skin

       As we age, this process begins to slow down. Dark blotches and other signs of aging and sun damage begin to appear. Our skin may become dull and begin to form wrinkles.

Microdermabrasion
       If you are unhappy with age spots, acne scars, stretch marks, fine wrinkles or flaking skin, you might want to consider Microdermabrasion. Microdermabrasion has been used in Europe for years. Now this exciting procedure is the number two non-surgical cosmetic procedure in the United States. It is helping men and women everywhere experience remarkable improvements in skin texture regardless of skin color. Microdermabrasion treatments combined with our skin care products are a safe, comprehensive approach to skin care.

Is Microdermabrasion safe?
       Yes. Microdermabrasion is non-invasive. The procedure only removes the outermost layer of dead skin cells to reveal the fresher, younger cells beneath. Regardless of your skin’s condition, fine lines and age spots may be erased and acne scars and stretch marks will become less obvious.
What is the treatment like?

       Microdermabrasion treatments are not aggressive; they are slow and progressive, and best of all, they work! Most patients find Microdermabrasion treatments to be quite relaxing. The treatment is like a “superficial skin polishing” using micro-crystals vacuumed through a delicate hand piece. In as little as thirty-five minutes, this gentle, abrasive technique efficiently produces satisfying results. Following the treatment, we may treat your skin with specially formulated creams to further soften and moisturize your skin. Treatments are applied through a course of weekly or bi-weekly sessions, ranging from 2 –12 weeks.

How soon will I see results?
Immediately! After your first treatment your skin will have a fresh pink glow. It will look healthier and feel smoother and softer. Your improvement will continue throughout your treatment program.

Why choose Microdermabrasion?
· Microdermabrasion takes less time than other more invasive procedures.
· There is no recovery period.
· No discomfort.
· You can resume normal activities immediately.

Who are the best candidates for Microdermabrasion?

The best candidates for Microdermabrasion are those patients that:
· Cannot afford to take time off for healing from a chemical peel or laser procedure.
· Don’t want to put off their outdoor activities like golf, tennis, or skiing.
· Have skin sensitivities to chemicals or makeup.
· Have acne-prone skin that has not responded well to other acne remedies.
· Are younger and whose shin is showing early signs of aging.

Maintaining the results
       Maintaining healthy looking skin is a daily task. Always wear a SPF of at least 15 to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays. Keep your skin moist and fresh with daily cleansing and moisturizing using specifically formulated skin care products. Ask us about our recommendations for your skin care program today! We recommend a monthly touch up treatment to help maintain your best results.

Laser Hair Reduction

       Millions of men and women with unwanted body hair spend countless hours on temporary hair removal methods -- including shaving, waxing, applying chemical depilatories, and tweezing. A traditional semi-permanent method, electrolysis, cauterizes and destroys each individual hair follicle, but this procedure is quite time-consuming.

       Laser hair reduction is a promising new treatment. The laser works by sending energy into the pigment of the hair shaft, which is absorbed by the surrounding follicle. The heat generated by this process damages the follicle and stops hair production. If the bulb is not destroyed, then it shrinks in size and produces a much finer hair that is destroyed on subsequent treatments.

       Laser hair reduction is appropriate for any area where there is excess hair, with the important exception of the eye area. Since the laser works on more than one follicle at a time, larger areas like the back, arms or legs are just as easily treatable as smaller areas like the upper lip or bikini line. However, because the hair is targeted on the basis of color, blonde and gray hair should not be treated.

       Although the FDA has approved several types of laser for permanent hair reduction, results can vary. Each individual has a different metabolism, hormonal level, hair quality and number of hair follicles, all of which can influence the outcome. Moreover, normal hair goes through a growth cycle in three stages: the anagen, or growing phase; the telogen, or resting phase; and the catagen, or transitional phase. During the anagen phase, hair is susceptible to the lasers energy, but during the telogen and catagen phases, it is resistant. At any one time, various percentages of body hair will be in each of these phases, making complete removal unlikely without multiple sessions.

       If you're considering laser hair reduction, then the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the procedure. For more detailed information about how this procedure could work for you a call to our nurse or an office consultation is available.

       The initial consultation: Your doctor/nurse will advise you on what to expect from laser treatment. He/she will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and its risks and limitations. Test patches may be performed to determine whether your hair will respond favorably to the laser. If you have dark skin, you may be asked to use a bleaching cream on the area to be treated to help focus the laser's energy on the hair follicle instead of on your skin.

       The treatment: The area to be treated will be shaved clean and a thick cold gel will be applied to minimize discomfort. During the procedure you'll feel intense emissions of light on the skin as the laser is absorbed by the hair follicles. Each pulse of the laser lasts a fraction of a second and treats an area of approximately = inch.

       The treatment time can vary considerably depending on the size of the area treated, and the particular technique used. A small area such as the upper lip may take only five minutes, while a larger area like the back or legs may take up to one hour.

       Since the laser affects only those hairs in the growing stage, and not all hairs will be in this stage at the same time, several treatments will be needed to effectively remove all the hair from one area. Subsequent sessions will be scheduled at least a month apart, when you will probably begin to notice the re-growth of hairs that were previously in the resting stage.

       Laser treatment is usually performed in a doctor's office, and a hospital stay is not necessary. You should expect some discomfort during the treatment. This is most often described as a burning or stinging sensation, and varies from one individual to the next. A numbing cream can be applied to the skin prior to treatment to minimize pain. Any discomfort is over as soon as the flash is completed and is not lingering.

       Following the procedure the area may be red or swollen, as if mildly sunburned. Your doctor may prescribe a topical cream to soothe the skin. Occasionally, the skin in the treated area becomes slightly crusty, but this reaction should fade within a few days and rarely happens. Usually the skin looks normal but may have a wind chapped feel to it.

       Although you can resume your normal activities, you should avoid exposing the treated area to the sun. Clean the area with mild soap and water and do not use any products that may irritate the skin (such as Retin-A or astringents).

       You'll notice hair "growing" in the area within ten days of your treatment. This is actually the damaged hair falling out, rather than re-growth. You may shave these hairs if they bother you, but do not wax, tweeze, or bleach hairs between sessions.

       If you have a dark complexion, you may notice a temporary lightening of the skin in the area. Although most patients are satisfied with the results of laser hair removal, it is impossible to predict the success of the treatment for each individual. The resiliency of hair follicles in different parts of the body and in different individuals can vary widely. Multiple treatments are needed to reduce hair production and in some cases complete hair removal is never achieved. However, even in these cases, you should have fewer hairs in the treated area than you would have had if you hadnt had the procedure. The actual success rate is 90% reduction overall.

In general, the best candidates for laser hair removal:

• Are physically healthy
• Are psychologically stable
• Are light skinned with dark hair
• Do not have blonde, gray, or red hair
• Do not have a recent tan
• Have coarse hair
• Want to change their appearance
• Are willing to commit a substantial amount of time to the process
• Are well informed about the procedure
• Hold realistic expectations about the outcome..

       The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your doctor will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you.

       Laser hair reduction is more effective on people with light skin and dark hair because dark hair absorbs the lasers energy more efficiently. People with dark skin can be treated, as long as their hair is darker than their skin. Light hair is very difficult to treat on all skin types. Your physician can advise you on what to expect based on your particular skin and hair type.