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THECLASSROOMTHECLASSROOMTHECLASSROOMTHECLASSROOMLaserTreatmentsq&aBy Jason Hancey, MDtoday’s society is fascinated with new technology.Lasers are generally thought of as state-ofthe-artor cutting-edge technology. The useof lasers in medicine, however, is not a newphenomenon. Physicians have used lasers forsurgical incisions, tumor resection, eye surgery,and dentistry. Cosmetic surgery is by far themost common application of lasers in medicine.Recently, there has been renewed interest in laser treatmentsfor brown spots, wrinkles, and other signs of aging.Older laser treatments were often ablative, meaning theyremoved the entire upper layers of skin, resulting in sore,open wounds that often took weeks to heal and resultedin months of skin redness. Those who underwent thistreatment often had good results, but at too high a costduring the healing phase. New laser treatments result in afew days of skin redness, no wounds, and rapid return tonormal activities.Laser FacialRejuvenationWrinkle Treatment, Brown Spots,DiscolorationLaser treatments can dramaticallyimprove wrinkles and scars with verylittle down time. In studies, laser hasbeen shown to stimulate and remodelthe collagen in the dermis as well astighten the skin. This is very helpfulfor wrinkles as well as acne scars.Brown spots and discoloration canbe treated at the same time, in onesession. Most people experience slightredness and a mild burning sensationin the first day or two after eachtreatment. Patients often say it feelssimilar to the snap of a rubber band.The treatment causes only minimaldiscomfort, and any initial soreness iseasily alleviated with a cold air coolingsystem. We are happy to provide localanesthesia for your comfort; however,most patients require no anesthesia fortheir treatments.How does it work?Laser treatment works by directinga beam of light into the skin at aspecific target (chromophore), suchas a pigment spot or small bloodvessel. Through non-selective tissuecoagulation it stimulates collagenproduction to smooth and tightenthe surrounding tissue, resulting inimproved skin texture.Am I a candidate?Your doctor can help you determineyour specific needs. Your entire facecan be treated, you can select certainareas like crow’s feet or the upper lips.Are there any side effectsto treatment?Anti-aging treatment should causeonly minimal discomfort. Anyredness, swelling, or puffiness thatoccurs can be gone within a few days,if not a few hours.How many treatmentsare required?Most people require anywhere fromtwo to six treatments to achieve desiredresults. Each session will last from 15 to30 minutes.Laser Hair RemovalMany different types of lasers arecurrently being used for laser hairremoval. The best results are seen inpatients with dark brown or black hair.How does it work?To eliminate hair, the laser emits gentlepulses of energy that pass through theskin to the hair follicle. This energy isthen absorbed into the hair follicle todestroy it so that hair can never growthere again.Am I a candidate for laser hairremoval?Laser hair removal can be applied to allareas of the body and on all types of skin(even tanned or dark skin).How many treatmentsare required?Typically patients see excellent resultsin four to six treatments, though thisnumber will vary based upon skin tone,hair color, and several other factors.Laser Treatment ofUnwanted Facial andLeg veinsUsually found near the nose or cheekand on the lower extremities, leg andfacial veins can be very bothersome. Lasertreatments focus their energy directly atthe unwanted vessel,coagulating the vessel,and, in many cases,erasing it completely.The outer skin itself isnot damaged.What causes unwantedblood vessels?Red, blue, or purple leg and facialveins can result from sun exposure,use of oral contraception, rosacea,hormone therapy, age, or genetics.How many treatmentsare required?Typically several sessions are neededfor full-face treatment. Leg veinstypically require only one or twotreatments. The treatments can beperformed in a relaxed, comfortablemanner without the use of topicalanesthetics or gel.How long does recoverytake?You’ll be able to return to normalactivities immediately. As with alllaser treatments, sunscreen should beregularly applied as a post-treatmentprecaution.In SummaryRemember, no one treatment fitsall conditions. When searchingfor treatment options, you mayconsider a physician who is able tooffer you many treatment options(surgical, laser, topical, medical). Afterdiscussing which option is best foryour condition, you will be better ableto make an informed decision abouthow to proceed.To make an appointment witha plastic surgeon near you, weinvite you to visit the index atthe back of this publication orintermountainmedicalgroup.org.M. Jason Hancey, MDBoard-Certified Plastic SurgeonAlta View Plastic Surgery Specialists801.501.6250altaviewplasticsurgery.orgfacebook.com/altaviewplasticsurgerySouthridge Plastic Surgery801.285.4616SouthridgeClinic.org16 INTERMOUNTAIN MEDICAL GROUP IntermountainMedicalGroup.org SPRING/SUMMER 2011 17