F.A.Q.'s

A: The fractional infrared method delivers infrared light deep into the dermis. This light causes soft tissue coagulation which leads to remodeling of the collagen with-in the dermis. The remodeled collagen fills in wrinkles and sagging, for overall skin tightening. You may experience lingering warmth, tightness, or redness in the treated area, which fades within a few hours of treatment. Because so much of the skin is unaffected by the light pulses, there is a quick healing process. Generally, you can receive a treatment and go back to work or to other activities without any recovery time. A series of treatments at 4-6 week intervals may be required to achieve the desired result of smoother, tighter skin in the face, arms, abdomen & other areas.

A: Rather than using one large beam to deliver infrared light into the skin, we uses the "fractional" approach: delivering an array of small beams. Each beam creates a heated column in the dermis, which is surrounded by an unaffected area. The unaffected tissue stimulates quicker collagen remodeling, and faster healing.

A: The fractional method is much safer and more comfortable then the bulk heating approach of many other systems because it leaves so much of the skin unaffected by the light pulses. This method also uses 3-stage cooling. It cools the skin before, during, and after each light pulse, so you feel little discomfort during treatment.

A: We use specialized handpieces which filter light from different parts of the spectrum. Each band of the spectrum has a wavelength that is ideal for different treatments, such as hair reduction, sunspot removal, and acne treatment. The hair removal handpieces emit pulses of light into the hair follicles. The light is absorbed by the pigment in the follicles and converted to heat. The heat then loosens the hair and disables the cells responsible for growing new hair.

A: Pulsed light systems and lasers are very similar, but our pulsed light systems use a much larger treatment window than most lasers. This spreads light over a wide area of skin and allows faster coverage of the skin and quicker treatments as a result.

A: Your treatment provider will move the handpiece over your skin, pulsing it all the while. Each pulse will send a beam of light through the skin. A flashing light, an audible tone, and a mild sensation on the skin will tell you when the handpiece is being pulsed. Immediately after treatment, you can expect a mild sunburn-like sensation, possibly accompanied by some minor swelling. This usually last 2-24 hours, and can be soothed with cold gel or ice packs. The treated hair will continue to appear for 7-30 days post-treatment. This is not new hair growth, but the treated hairs being expelled from the skin. At any given time, some of your hair is not in a phase of active growth. Hence, you will need more than one treatment to affect the growth of all your unwanted hair.

A: We use specialized handpieces which filter light from different parts of the spectrum. Each band of the spectrum has a wavelength that is ideal for different treatments, such as hair reduction, sunspot removal, or leg vein clearance. The handpiece filters light into a band of the spectrum to affect acne. It concentrates the light into individual pulses targeting acne-causing bacteria. Pulsed light systems and lasers are very similar, but our pulsed light systems use a much larger treatment window than most lasers. This spreads light over a wide area of skin and allows faster coverage of the skin and quicker treatments as a result.

A: Your treatment provider will move the handpiece over the skin, pulsing it all the while. Each pulse will sends beams of light through the skin. A flashing light, an audible tone and a mild sensation will tell you when the handpiece is being pulsed. This sensation produces little to no discomfort. You can expect a mild sunburn-like sensation, possibly accompanied by minor swelling. This usually lasts 2-24 hours and can be soothed. There may be an initial flare-up of acne, similar to the kind seen after a peel or the beginning of a new topical or oral acne medication. Some of the blemishes may appear redder. They will then fade after 2-3 weeks. A reduction in the number of lesions and the prevention of new lesions formation can be expected following your treatment course.

A: Lasers deliver concentrated light in a specific wavelength of the spectrum. Each wavelength is absorbed by a different target, such as pigment, blood, or water. The handpiece delivers light pulses which are ideal for targeting leg veins. The light pulses heat the blood within the leg vein. The heat of the blood affects the vessel lining, which causes the vessel to constrict and fade from view.

Immediately after treatment you will see any of these three possible outcomes: the vessels will disappear, the vessels will darken, or the vessels will shrink. The surrounding skinmay turn pink and be slightly swollen for up to 24 hours. Often more than one treatment is necessary to achieve full clearance of leg veins.

A: Your provider will go over the risks and benefits of treatment with you. Leg vein treatments are skin-safe & comfortable. The handpiece delivers its energy in one smooth, gentle pulse, to protect the skin from a sharp rise in temperature. In addition, a chilled water supply runs through the handpiece, down to its tip. Since the handpiece tip is in contact with the skin during treatment, your skin is continually cooled, so that you feel little heat from the laser pulses.

A: We use specialized handpieces which filter light from different parts of the spectrum. Each band of the spectrum. Each band of the spectrum has a wavelength that is ideal for different treatments, such as sunspot removal and vessel clearance. These handpieces emit pulses of light into the skin. The light is absorbed by the pigment in sunspots and the blood in visible vessels, and converted to heat. The heat dissolves the cells that create the pigment and shrinks the vessels. Pulsed light systems and lasers are very similar, but our pulsed light systems use a much larger treatment window than most lasers. This spreads light over a wide area of skin and allows faster coverage of the skin and quicker treatments as a result.

A: Your treatment provider will move the handpiece over your skin, pulsing it all the while. Each pulse will send a beam of light through the skin. A flashing light, an audible tone, and a mild sensation on the skin will tell you when the handpiece is being pulsed. Immediately after treatment, you can expect a mild sunburn-like sensation, possibly accompanied by some minor swelling. This usually lasts 2-24 hours, and can be soothed with cold gel or ice packs. Sunspots/Sun Damage will darken and be naturally shed from the skin within 1-2 weeks. Rosacea will be less pronounced redness and skin will be normal with a week of treatment.

A: Results vary depending on skin and hair type. Studies have shown many patients can achieve permanent hair loss of up to 85-90% and remaining hair returns lighter and softer.

This varies depending on the area of the body. Treatments on the body or legs can take up to one hour. After the treatment you may experience a slight reddening of the skin similar to sunburn that will resolve within few hours to days. In certain instances (especially with darker skin) temporary pigment changes may occur, but disappear within a month.

A: Yes, the hair removal laser has been safely and effectively used for thousands of treatments with no complications. It is FDA approved for the treatment of razor bumps, commonly seen in dark skin types and African –Americans. Many hair removal lasers effectively treat patients with dark hair and light skin, but the Palomar is a laser that is effective for hair removal for patients with sun-tanned skin or naturally dark skin tones. This laser has revolutionized hair removal and the treatment of razor bumps in patients with all skin types, such as African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and those of Mediterranean descent, as well as sun-tanned patients.