Laser Skin Resurfacing
If aging, acne, or too much time in the sun has left your face with blotches, scars, wrinkles, or lines, laser skin resurfacing may help your skin look younger and healthier.
Laser skin resurfacing removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during healing give the skin a tighter, younger looking surface. The procedure can be done alone or with other cosmetic surgeries on the face.
Take a look at some of our treatments by clicking one of the links.
Vascular Skin Treatments
Westside Dermatology uses the ExcelV for pigmentation and other vascular skin treatments. The Excel V laser is the newest, most advanced laser for treating vascular skin conditions. It combines two different wave lengths to make it the most effective, versatile and powerful vascular laser available.
The Excel V Laser System uses a high power green laser to target abnormal blood vessels and pigment in the skin. As these vessels or pigment cells are targeted, they are eliminated and skin is returned to it’s natural color and tone. Excel V is can be altered to be compatible with each patient’s skin condition. Excel V also has an adjustable spot size which allows for precise and effective treatment from both superficial and deeper problems. To ensure patient comfort, Excel V uses new cooling technologies which produce continuous cooling before, during and after the laser pulse.
Traditional approaches to treating these conditions are largely limited to electrosurgery, sclerotherapy and surgical destruction of veins and vessels, each of which pose significant disadvantages. For example, electrosurgery, a procedure in which an electrode needle is used to destroy skin lesions, is rather painful and may cause craters in the skin. Similarly, sclerotherapy, commonly used to treat spider veins, is an invasive procedure that requires patients to wear compression stockings after treatment and includes an injection.
Common conditions treated by the Excel V Laser:
Facial Telangiectasia: These are dilated blood vessels that range between .1 to 1.0 mm in diameter. These are often small capillaries in the skin of the face. They are most commonly seen on the face around the nose, on the cheeks and on the chin. They are a cosmetic concern for many people and easily treated with the Excel V laser.
Rosacea: A chronic skin condition that often presents as facial redness. It is characterized by facial redness in the area of the cheeks, nose and forehead. It can also affect other areas of the head, neck and body. The redness is caused by small dilated blood vessels that are difficult to see individually with the human eye. Occasionally, larger dilated blood vessels are noticeable. The Excel V is one of the best laser treatments for Rosacea.
Venous Lake: large dilated veins that can be up to 1 cm in size. They are commonly seen on the lips but can also been seen on the face and on the ears. Laser treatment with Excel V for venous lakes is highly effective with most people only needing one treatment.
Angioma: Cherry angiomas are small red papules (raised dots) on the surface of the skin. The are usually 1-3 mm in diameter. They start small and can grow in size with time. Cherry angiomas can be located anywhere on the body and usually form in the middle ages and beyond. They commonly proliferate and are present all over the body. Laser treatment for cherry angiomas is the main stay of therapy.
Port Wine Stains: Also known as nevus flammeus, port wine stains are birthmarks that are vascular in origin. They range in color from a light pink to a dark purple. They can occur anywhere on the body, but are most common on the face.
• Facial Redness: There are many causes for facial redness and this is commonly related to Rosacea. Excel V is an excellent laser treatment for facial redness.
Poikiloderma: Poikiloderma is characterized by red and brown pigmentation of the neck skin and chest skin. It is often a result of sun exposure and sun damage. Laser treatment for Poikiloderma can take several treatment sessions.
• Leg Veins: A result of dilated blood vessels in the legs and range in size from varicose veins to smaller telangiectasias that are also known as spider veins. These dilated blood vessels are seen in the lower extremities because of dependent flow abnormalities. It is much more commonly seen in woman then in men. Smaller leg veins are treated with the Excel V laser. These generally takes several or more sessions and results in significant improvement in the appearance of the legs.
• Scars: Generally noticeable when they have a different coloration from the skin of the surrounding areas. Scare are often more red compared to the surrounding skin. The Excel V is specifically helpful for these red scars. The Excel V laser is of the best lasers for red scars and helps diminish the noticeability of them.
• Bruising: One added bonus of the Excel V laser is that it helps reduce the appearance of bruising and helps your body get rid of bruising faster then it normally will. Dr. Steiger often uses the Excel V laser after surgical procedures in order to minimize downtime for his patients. Results can be seen immediately and bruises can be gone as soon as the next day after Excel V laser treatment for bruising.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Excel V work?
Excel V, which was developed by Cutera, is a new laser system for providing treatment of a variety of vascular skin conditions. Many skin conditions manifest in the form of broken or abnormal blood vessels in the skin, such is the case with rosacea, in which the facial blood vessels dilate excessively causing redness and flushing. Excel V treats these conditions by administering a unique high power green laser that is absorbed by the abnormal blood vessels in the skin. The laser heats the abnormal vessels until they are removed. At the end of treatment, the patient’s natural skin tone and color are restored.
What are the benefits of Excel V compared with other treatment options?
The benefit of Excel V is that the treatment can be highly adjusted to ensure that the physician is delivering a level of treatment that specifically matches the patient’s skin condition. The system contains various wavelength modes, allowing the delivery of both short pulses for superficial blemishes, such as small lesions and skin discoloration, and longer pulses for deeper vascular conditions, such as leg veins and nodular port wine stains. It also offers a wide range of laser spot sizes to ensure that small treatment areas can be targeted at greater precision and larger areas can be treated in a shorter period. This high level of customization is what makes Excel V so effective at treating, often in one session, so many different conditions, which, in the past, would have required several different systems or procedures.
Are there other laser treatment options available for these skin conditions?
Yes, there are other laser treatment options available for skin conditions. The challenge usually associated with laser treatment is tailoring the treatment to precisely match the patient’s unique skin condition. Some existing lasers may be effective for treating a condition at one size and depth, but may not work effectively on conditions that affect a larger area.
How is the procedure performed?
After an initial consultation with the patient, the physician determines if treatment with the Excel V is appropriate. Unlike other procedures, injections or topical anesthesia are not required throughout the duration of the 15 – 30 minute procedure. Depending on the condition, the physician places the Excel V hand piece over the affected areas of the skin until the abnormal vessels diminish. To minimize discomfort and protect the patient’s skin, the Excel V uses a proprietary cooling mechanism.
How many treatments are needed?
The number of sessions depends on various parameters, including the size, thickness and color of the vascular lesion. Superficial vascular lesions such as small telangiectasia and diffused redness are easiest to treat; some patients might see significant improvement after just one treatment.
How long will my appointment be?
For most procedures, excel V provides quick treatments with best results within just a few days. Most procedures only take 5 to 10 minutes but some may take up to 45 minutes.
Are there any side effects or downtime?
IPL Photo Rejuvenation
Enjoy smoother skin with a more even tone and resume regular activities immediately.
IPL is a series of Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments that improve the appearance of rosacea, redness, broken capillaries, sun damaged skin, uneven pigmentation, dull complexions, age spots, skin texture, and photo aging. Treatment can also reduce fine lines. Treatments are especially effective for improving the appearance of the face, neck, chest, and hands. This exciting treatment involves little or no down time. You can resume normal activities immediately. An intense light is applied in a series of gentle pulses over the treatment area. Without damaging the skin, the light penetrates through the skin and is absorbed by the abnormally dilated vessels or pigmentation. The heat causes damage to the vessel or lesion, and the body begins its natural healing process. The lesion (brown spot) will darken before it flakes off or the body absorbs it. Treatment can be given as frequently as every three weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need 1 or 3 treatments of IPL Photo Rejuvenation?
A single treatment of IPL Photo Rejuvenation will reduce pigmentation and redness on the face. Three treatments will increase results, creating a more even skin tone and texture.
Is IPL Photo Rejuvenation painful?
We us a topical anesthetic to numb the treated area. The pain sensation associated with this treatment has been likened to a rubber band snap.
Can IPL Photo Rejuvenation help with wrinkles and not just pigmentation?
While IPL Photo Rejuvenation has been used in the past to treat wrinkles, and wrinkles may be reduced or diminished, we recommend treatment with the Aluma Skin Renewal System if wrinkles are your primary concern.
Who provides IPL Photorejuvenation?
Dr. Kelli Arntzen.
Dermaplaning
Dermaplaning was once an aesthetic trade secret in the modeling industry. Excellent on its own or combined with a medical facial, chemical peel or rejuvenating laser treatment, dermaplaning gently removes the outer most layer of dead skin cells on the face. One of our highly trained Medical Aestheticians will manually exfoliate the treatment area using a 10 gauge scalpel. Vellus hair, also referred to as peach fuzz, is also removed during the treatment. The immediate result is fresh, bright skin revealed and a smoother look and feel to the skin. This treatment is recommended for all skin types with the exception of those who suffer from acne. This treatment is safe and effective for pregnant or nursing women..