Laser Resurfacing

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Laser Skin Resurfacing

Skin resurfacing is an effective and exciting procedure that employs an Erbium (YAG) laser to remove areas of your damaged or wrinkled skin. Resurfacing is often used to improve or eliminate the wrinkles around your mouth and eyes and tighten loose skin, but it is also very effective in treating facial scars, age spots or areas of uneven pigmentation.

Ideal candidates for skin resurfacing are:

     1.  People with wrinkled or sun-damaged skin on the face
     2. Brown spots or blotchy skin coloring
     3.  Fine wrinkles on the lower eyelids and crows feet
     4.  Acne or other facial scars
     5.  Certain benign skin growths
     6.  Vertical (smoker) wrinkles around the mouth
     7.  Crows feet or superficial facial scars

Dr. Heidari recommends patients undergoing the laser resurfacing to be on glycolic acid peels and some bleaching agents for a few weeks following the laser treatment. This regimen provides you with a better and more even healing, with much less chance of hyper-pigmentation.

Dr. Heidari often treats the full face; however, focus areas of your face can be treated in conjunction with other procedures like a facelift or eyelid surgery. Erbium (YAG) Laser resurfacing has been shown to produce less bleeding, bruising or post-procedure discomfort than other resurfacing methods. During recovery, overall this laser resurfacing method has much less downtime for you.

The procedure is relatively quick, and ranges in length anywhere from a few minutes to 1 1/2 hours depending on the area being covered. This procedure can be performed under general or local anesthetic.

Recovery

After resurfacing, the facial skin has a look of a second-degree burn, which is a normal response to the laser treatment. Post-laser ointment and a gentle spray wash are used to care for the treated area during this sensitive period. Most of the laser-treated areas are fully healed after 6-9 days after the laser treatment. The patient might also have mild redness on their skin for an additional 1-2 weeks.

Acne Treatment

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Acne Treatment

Acne Vulgaris (common acne and often referred to as zits or pimples) is the single most troublesome skin disease for teens and young adults. Acne begins when the sebaceous glands become clogged and there is a build-up of acne bacteria called P. acnes. This bacteria build-up causes inflammation and formation of acne.  Fortunately, it is also one of the most manageable chronic skin problems. Acne problems can begin early, even before preteen years and can continue for some all through middle adulthood. For many years, acne sufferers have been forced to rely on topical and oral medications to treat their blemishes, cysts and inflammation. These medications, such as Accutane and long-term antibiotic therapy tend to have inconsistent results and many side effects. Early effective skin care and laser treatments can prevent long term problems such as scarring and discoloration of your skin.

 Dr. Heidari uses the most advanced laser and light-based treatments to treat and control your acne.

Everyone has different responses to acne inflammation. Some people scar deeply and others experience only faint scars that are more easily treated. Early treatment of acne will help prevent scarring. Persistent redness caused by chronic acne can be treated with photo-rejuvenation and maintained by a specific skin care regimen. Dr. Heidari will recommend specific laser treatments and closely monitor your progress with you, using the most effective treatment plan with the best possible response, creating healthy, beautiful skin you can live with.

Blue Light

Certain light spectrums activate bacteria-fighting agents produced by your body called porphyrins. Blue Light is a high-intensity blue-violet light that activates these porphyrins and starts a chemical reaction that destroys the P. acnes bacteria (the root cause of inflamed blemishes). This process treats and controls the acne. Blue Light treatments are usually done in multiple sessions of 6-8 and can be performed 2-3 times per week. Maintenance Blue Light therapy is also recommended monthly.

Laser/ Photo-rejuvenation

Dr. Heidari uses ThermaScan’s infrared energy at a 1319 nm wavelength from Sciton. These lasers allow controlled heating of sub-epidermal layers of your skin which will lead to collagen remodeling, proliferation of active fibroblasts, and treating over-acting sebaceous glands that result in the reduction of acne and improve your acne scarring.

BBL’s 420 nm Photo-rejuvenation is also an effective way to shrink acne vesicles and kill the bacteria responsible for acne formation. These treatments are more aggressive than Blue Light therapy and require less number of treatments with quicker response and clearing of your skin. For moderate to severe and cystic acne, this is used as a more aggressive treatment.

Photo-Dynamic Therapy

For the most aggressive treatment of stubborn acne, Dr. Heidari uses Photo-Dynamic Therapy. This treatment uses Levulonic acid 20% as an added agent when photo-rejuvenation is used. The Levulonic acid is absorbed by active cells, like acne sebaceous glands, making the targeted acne cells more sensitive to the light. This combined interaction of the solution and the light is what gives rise to the term “photodynamic therapy.” Levulonic acid will also target sebaceous hyperplasia (which are those small (1-3mm), benign bumps under your skin) and the papules of acne rosacea. Levulonic acid, which is a clear painless solution, is applied to your skin and left on for 60 minutes. It is then activated with a specific wavelength of light Blue Light or the more aggressive BBL. This second phase takes about 8-10 minutes.

Recovery

Depending on the type of acne treatment, recovery varies from no recovery usually, to 2-3 days recovery with the Photodynamic Therapy. Although the laser system is very powerful, most patients describe the light pulses as a ‘snapping’ sensation, which causes mild discomfort at most. After the treatment, you may have some redness for about a week, but that quickly fades and you can enjoy the effects of much improved skin and significantly lower blemish count.

Hair Removal

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Laser Hair removal

Can you imagine not having to shave, tweeze, wax, or go through electrolysis again! Millions of men and women spend thousands of dollars each year attempting to get rid of unwanted hair. Unwanted hair is a problem shared by both men and women. Some people experience excess hair from the time they reach puberty; others find it to be a condition that worsens with age, menopause, or pregnancy.Men often wish to rid themselves of hair on the back or chest, while women are bothered by hair on their face, underarms, arms, legs and bikini areas. While unwanted or excess hair is primarily a cosmetic concern, it can be very distressing to those who suffer its effects. Unwanted hair can be a source of considerable embarrassment, limiting people’s activities and lifestyles.

For both men and women, shaving, waxing, chemical depilatories and other temporary hair removal methods have been known to cause irritations, folliculitis, and in some cases, scarring.
Hair can grow in different density, color and thickness.

Dr. Heidari uses the latest in laser and light-based techniques for the safest and most permanent hair removal results.

ClearScan 1064

ClearScan employs laser energy that can selectively target melanin in the hair follicles. This powerful laser treats all skin types. However, it specifically and safely targets the hair only in sun-tanned and dark skin individuals. Unlike other treatments, the laser beam treats many hairs at once, making treatment of large areas practical. The ClearScan utilizes a unique computer-guided scanning system that automates the treatment, ensuring that your skin is rapidly and evenly treated. Intense pulse light (BBL) hair removal is also used for lighter skin patients or for thinner hair for more rapid and effective results. Dr. Heidari will adjust your treatment regimen accordingly to give you the safest and most effective hair removal experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hair laser removal hurt?

In general, during laser hair removal, the patient experiences mild to moderate discomfort similar to the feeling of a rubber band hitting the skin. The amount of discomfort varies depending upon the areas that are treated. For example, Brazilian bikini hair removal may be more tender than hair removal on the legs.

Can all types of hair be treated?
Any hair with at least some pigment in it can be treated. The darker the hair, the better response there will be. Lighter brown hair and red hair may respond better to intense pulse light hair removal (BBL).

Is Laser Light safe for all skin types?
Dr. Heidari specifically uses the 1064 laser for dark-skinned individuals such as those of Black, Hispanic, Indian, and Asian decent. This laser is very safe and effective in these individuals. Lighter-skinned individuals can benefit from BBL or the 1064 laser for hair removal, depending upon the density, color and thickness of the hair.

Are there side effects?
Side effects are rare. You may experience some slight reddening or local swelling, but this typically goes away within a few hours. Also, skin can become darker or lighter following treatment, but will generally return to normal in a few weeks. Careful evaluation of the patient by Dr. Heidari can minimize side effects. He will fully explain the instructions before and after laser treatments.

What kind of results can I expect?
You will need multiple treatments. Laser technology has been proven to offer long-term effective hair reduction. The number of treatments required depends on several factors related to your specific kind of hair, skin and ethnicity. Dr. Heidari will design the particular laser treatment package to meet your particular needs.

Vein Treatment

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Laser Vein treatment

Spider veins are unsightly small blood vessels beneath the skin’s surface that appear blue or purple-ish in hue. They provide no function to the body, so their removal is harmless.
Dr. Heidari uses the most advanced 1064 YAG laser to safely treat the appearance of unsightly spider veins in the legs or the face. Spider veins can also be removed through the use of intense pulse light, directed at the vein, where it gently heats the blood vessels without affecting any surrounding tissue. This heat causes the blood to clot and the blood vessel lining to deteriorate and shrink, while your body naturally reabsorbs it and heals itself.

Dr. Heidari effectively treats spider veins in just a few minutes. There is some discomfort with the laser vein treatments, but it is well tolerated. Satisfactory treatment of spider veins usually takes one session on the face, but may take 2-3 sessions on the legs. Treatments are usually spaced about 6-8 weeks apart.

Recovery
Laser vein treatment is noninvasive, so it has minimal impact on your skin. There is no bandage, and no real “healing” time required. Some redness or slight swelling may occur, but usually fades within just a few hours. Most patients can return to their normal routine right away.

Photo Rejuvenation

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Photo Rejuvenation

Clearer, smoother skin is now possible with minimal downtime with the use of BBL (Broad Band Light). BBL is an innovative technology that sets new standards for skin conditions associated with aging, active lifestyles and sun damage. Dr. Heidari uses BBL to precisely treat age and sunspots, small facial veins, and many other skin conditions. Your treatment will be tailored to match your skin type and your desired results.

The light energy delivered by the BBL will gently heat the upper layers of your skin. The heat absorbed by the targeted areas will stimulate your skin cells to regenerate new collagen. This process will restore your skin to its natural beauty, blending its natural colors and making it smoother, vibrant and younger looking. In addition, BBL can help eliminate fine vessels that cause redness and reduce unwanted melanin that produces pigmented lesions. Any area of your body can be treated. The most common areas are those most exposed to the damaging effects of sunlight. The most popular treatments are on your face, neck, back of the hands, chest and shoulders.

Frequently Asked Questions 

What skin conditions can be treated by BBL?

1.   Rosacea

2.   Acne

3.   Broken Capillaries

4.   Large Pores

5.   Dark Under eye Circles

6.   Age Spots

7.   Wrinkles

8.   Sun Damage & Freckles on the Face, Hands, Chest, Shoulders

9.   Undesirable Skin Texture

How many treatments will I need?

The number of treatments needed will vary from patient to patient. Also depending on the severity of the sun damage. Dr. Heidari will personalize a treatment plan based on the level of improvement you desire. He may also combine your treatment with other popular aesthetic procedures, such as cosmetic fillers or neurotoxins (BOTOX®, Dysport®), to further personalize your treatment and improve your results. Dr. Heidari recommends that patients follow up their initial BBL package with a yearly touch-up.

What will happen during the procedure?

Your eyes will be protected with safety shields or glasses. You may briefly feel a warm or “rubber band snap”sensation as the light is absorbed by the targeted areas. Your procedure may take a few minutes to half an hour depending on the size of the area to be treated and the type of procedure performed. You may be given some skin care products and instructions on how to use them.

Will it be uncomfortable?

The procedure is gentle, noninvasive and safe. Generally, there is no need for a topical anesthetic; however, Dr. Heidari may choose to use it on more sensitive areas.

What should I expect after the treatment?

You may experience some redness that should resolve within a few hours. For some pigmented lesions, you will see a darkening of the treated areas followed by fading and flaking off within 7-10 days. Your treated skin will feel smoother, fine lines and pores will be less noticeable, and sunspots or uneven pigmentation will fade. Results depend on your condition, the number of treatments, and the area treated. Dr. Heidari will provide you with complete information about the post treatment care and results.

Recovery
It is rare to experience side effects or discomfort after a BBL treatment. Minor redness and swelling may occur temporarily, as is the case after any laser treatment. In most cases, you are able to return to work, apply makeup, and resume most of your activities immediately. Any pigmented spots that were treated may initially appear darker after the procedure. This is normal and also temporary; the color will quickly fade and blend, revealing a younger, smoother complexion. While good hygiene should not be compromised, after photofacial, you should avoid scrubbing or using abrasive cleansers for the first several days after treatment. And, as always, your skin should be protected from UV rays with SPF 30 or higher sun block.

Laser Scar Treatment

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Laser scar treatment

Reducing the appearance of scars has always been difficult. Acne scarring is a result of tissue destruction. Infection that causes inflamed acne destroys that area of skin.  Prior to advances in laser scar treatments, the available choices were mechanical dermabrasion (a wire brush which removes the top layers of skin) or deep chemical peels. These older methods of scar improvement were less accurate and unpredictable than the new laser technology today.

 Dr. Heidari uses a combination of Erbium laser resurfacing and Profractional resurfacing to improve the appearance of your scars. Depending upon the downtime tolerated by the patient, Dr. Heidari can perform deep resurfacing versus 2-3 profractional treatments for optimal results.

Profractional laser treatments create precise channels in the acne-scarred skin leaving untouched surrounding tissues to heal over quickly and tighten the surface of the skin. This innovative technique in turn improves the irregular appearance of your scars. After laser scar treatments there are some immediate improvements that you can see. However, further improvements are often seen in the next few months after treatment due to collagen remodeling of the deep section of your skin called dermis.

Recovery

Depending on the types of laser acne treatments, recovery ranges from 3-7 days. During this time sun exposure is avoided and a gentle soothing ointment is applied to help heal the treated skin. Patients usually return to work in 3-7 days.