Cosmetic Medicine by Dr Eddie Roos

COSMETIC MEDICINE
WHAT IS A
TARGET TISSUE?
Different wavelengths allow delivery
of energy to different structures.
These structures are target tissues
known as chromophores and for
cutaneous laser therapy these
are: haemoglobin (blood both
oxygenated and de-oxygenated),
water, melanin (pigment in hair and
brown spots) and ink (tattoos).
As each chromophore absorbs
different wavelengths of light,
different lasers are used for different
treatments. The treatments usually
fall into four categories:
1. Resurfacing the skin, minimising
wrinkles and scars (chromophore
is water)
2. Vascular lesions such as
spider veins (chromophore is
haemoglobin)
3. Pigmented lesions such as
brown spots and unwanted hair
(chromophore is melanin)
4. Tattoos (chromophore is protein).
FRACTIONAL LASER THERAPY
The advent of fractionated laser, where microscopic columns of skin are treated
while surrounding skin is left intact, has made it possible to achieve results
comparable to traditional laser resurfacing with fewer side effects and profoundly
less downtime.
Fractional skin resurfacing can utilise both non-ablative and ablative lasers
– the breakthrough difference of this technology is the fractionated delivery
system of light. Fractional laser technologies break up light beams to allow
columns of untreated tissue to activate healing mechanisms beneath the skin’s
surface, treating skin conditions ranging from scars and birthmarks to wrinkles.
These lasers work by creating microscopic thermal injuries that trigger
collagen production, stimulating cell renewal and plumping out the tissues. In
other words, the laser works by creating tiny holes, or ‘dots’, in the skin’s surface,
penetrating deep into the dermis which triggers the body’s natural healing
responses. It leaves the skin around each dot intact, enabling the surrounding
tissue to heal these microscopic thermal injuries by stimulating the production
of new collagen.
The anti-ageing benefits of fractional laser technology include improving
evenness of skin tone and texture, reducing pore size and the appearance of
lines and wrinkles, and helping to reverse the effects of sun damage. A more mild
treatment may take several sessions, while one procedure is usually sufficient for
a more aggressive treatment.
Because laser treatments use heat, a mild to moderate burning sensation
is experienced during treatment and slight swelling, redness and bronzing
afterwards. This can be covered with makeup and normally subsides after a few
days, however full healing can take several weeks, depending on the intensity of
treatment and the areas targeted.
Results of light-based therapies vary, depending on the technique and
experience of the practitioner and the individual patient. Patients should always
ask their practitioner how new the laser or IPL machine is. Recent models are
far superior to earlier ones in terms of achieving predictable and precise results.
PORTRAIT PLASMA TREATMENT
While not a form of light therapy, Portrait Plasma is also a highly effective
skin rejuvenation and resurfacing treatment. Instead of using laser, light or
radiofrequency energy, Portrait Plasma uses energised nitrogen gas to improve
skin tone, minimise lines and wrinkles and boost the production of collagen to
improve skin laxity and overall texture.
The Portrait Plasma treatment involves a computer-controlled hand piece
delivering the nitrogen plasma energy onto the skin to cause a controlled thermal
injury. This “thermal zone” does not damage or disrupt the surface of the skin – in
fact, the stratum corneum remains intact and acts as a biological dressing after
treatment so that no bandages or dressings are typically required after treatment
– and results in the emergence of “new” skin.
The Portrait Plasma has been shown to alter structures below the surface of
the skin, inducing continuing regeneration of skin cells. Working below the surface
of the skin, the treatment creates the right conditions and natural growth factors
for generating new skin and creating new collagen for cumulative improvement
in wrinkles and skin tone, texture and discolouration, as well as diminishing pore
size and acne scarring.
The non-invasive treatment usually takes about 30 to 40 minutes, with
a downtime of around five to 10 days. Importantly, collagen remodelling can
continue up to a year after treatment, offering long-lasting and natural-looking
rejuvenation results.
DR EDDIE ROOS WWW.COSMETICELEGANCE.COM.AU // 27