Upland Laser Dermatology

Fractional CO2 Laser Therapy

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Fractional CO2 laser therapy is a type of skin resurfacing treatment that uses carbon dioxide lasers to create controlled micro-injuries in the skin. This promotes the skin’s natural healing process and stimulates the production of collagen, leading to improved skin texture and appearance. Unlike traditional CO2 lasers, which remove the entire surface layer of the skin, fractional CO2 lasers target only a fraction of the skin at a time, leaving the surrounding tissue intact for faster healing.

Key Features and Uses:

  1. Skin Resurfacing:
    • Wrinkles and Fine Lines: Reduces the appearance of fine lines and deeper wrinkles.
    • Sun Damage: Treats sunspots and photodamage.
  2. Scarring:
    • Acne Scars: Improves the texture and appearance of acne scars.
    • Surgical Scars: Reduces the visibility of surgical scars.
  3. Skin Texture and Tone:
    • Pore Size: Can help minimize the appearance of large pores.
    • Skin Tightening: Promotes collagen production, leading to tighter, more youthful-looking skin.
  4. Stretch Marks:
    • Effective in improving the appearance of stretch marks.

Procedure:

  1. Pre-Treatment:
    • The skin is typically cleansed, and a topical anesthetic may be applied to minimize discomfort.
    • Patients may be advised to avoid sun exposure and certain medications or skincare products before the procedure.
  2. Laser Application:
    • The fractional CO2 laser is passed over the targeted areas, creating thousands of microscopic treatment zones in the skin.
    • The depth and intensity of the laser can be adjusted based on the specific condition being treated and the patient’s skin type.
  3. Post-Treatment Care:
    • Patients may experience redness, swelling, and a sunburn-like sensation immediately after the procedure.
    • Skin care post-treatment typically involves keeping the skin moisturized, avoiding direct sun exposure, and using sun protection.
    • Recovery time can vary, but patients often see significant improvements within a few days to weeks.

Benefits:

  • Effective and Long-Lasting Results: Significant improvements in skin texture, tone, and appearance.
  • Minimal Downtime Compared to Traditional Methods: Faster healing due to the fractional approach.
  • Versatile: Can be used on various areas of the body and for a range of skin concerns.

Candela Vbeam Perfecta

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The Candela Vbeam Perfecta is a pulsed dye laser (PDL) system used in dermatology for treating various vascular skin conditions and improving skin tone and texture. It operates at a wavelength of 595 nm, which is specifically absorbed by the hemoglobin in blood vessels, making it highly effective for vascular lesions and redness.

Key Features and Uses:

  1. Vascular Lesions:
    • Rosacea: Effectively reduces redness and visible blood vessels associated with rosacea.
    • Spider Veins: Treats small spider veins and other superficial vascular lesions.
    • Port-Wine Stains: Used for the treatment of port-wine stains, a type of birthmark.
  2. Skin Rejuvenation:
    • Pigmentation: Can address certain types of pigmentation issues, improving overall skin tone.
    • Wrinkles and Fine Lines: Stimulates collagen production, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
  3. Scar Treatment:
    • Acne Scars: Improves the appearance of red and hypertrophic acne scars.
    • Surgical Scars: Reduces redness and improves texture of surgical scars.
  4. Non-Ablative and Gentle:
    • The Vbeam Perfecta is a non-ablative laser, meaning it doesn’t remove the top layer of skin, resulting in minimal downtime.
    • It features a dynamic cooling device (DCD) that sprays a cooling burst of cryogen onto the skin before each laser pulse, enhancing comfort and protecting the skin.

Procedure:

  • Pre-Treatment: The area to be treated is cleaned, and eye protection is provided.
  • Laser Application: The Vbeam Perfecta laser is applied to the targeted areas. The dynamic cooling device ensures patient comfort by cooling the skin before each pulse.
  • Post-Treatment Care: Patients may experience temporary redness, swelling, or bruising. It’s crucial to avoid sun exposure and use sun protection to help the skin heal and prevent complications.

Benefits:

  • Minimal Downtime: Patients can usually return to normal activities shortly after treatment.
  • Safety and Efficacy: Suitable for a wide range of skin types and effective for various conditions.
  • Comfort: The dynamic cooling device significantly reduces discomfort during the procedure.

Candela Smoothbeem Laser

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The Candela Smoothbeam Laser is a dermatological laser treatment used primarily for skin rejuvenation and acne treatment. It employs a 1450 nm diode laser, which is particularly effective for targeting the sebaceous (oil) glands in the skin, helping to reduce acne and improve overall skin texture.

Key Features and Uses:

  1. Acne Treatment:
    • Sebaceous Gland Targeting: The laser heats the sebaceous glands, reducing their activity and thus minimizing acne breakouts.
    • Inflammation Reduction: Helps decrease the inflammation associated with acne.
  2. Skin Rejuvenation:
    • Collagen Stimulation: Promotes collagen production, which can improve skin texture and elasticity.
    • Wrinkle Reduction: Effective in reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
    • Scar Treatment: Can improve the appearance of acne scars and other skin imperfections.
  3. Non-Ablative:
    • The Smoothbeam is a non-ablative laser, meaning it does not remove the outer layer of skin, resulting in minimal downtime and a lower risk of complications compared to ablative lasers.

Procedure:

  • Pre-Treatment: The skin is cleaned, and sometimes a topical anesthetic is applied to enhance comfort.
  • Laser Application: The laser is applied to the targeted areas, with the heat penetrating the skin to affect the sebaceous glands and stimulate collagen production.
  • Post-Treatment Care: Patients may experience mild redness or swelling, but these effects are typically short-lived. Sun protection is important after the treatment to protect the skin.

Benefits:

  • Minimal Downtime: Patients can usually resume normal activities shortly after the procedure.
  • Long-Lasting Results: With a series of treatments, patients often see significant and lasting improvements in skin condition.
  • Versatility: Suitable for various skin types and can address multiple skin concerns simultaneously.

Eczema

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Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by inflammation, redness, itching, and sometimes blistering or oozing of the skin. It can occur anywhere on the body but is most commonly found on the face, hands, feet, elbows, and behind the knees. Eczema is often itchy and can be quite uncomfortable, sometimes leading to skin infections if scratched excessively.

The exact cause of eczema is not fully understood, but it’s believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. People with eczema often have a hypersensitive immune system that reacts to certain triggers such as irritants, allergens, dry skin, stress, or changes in temperature.

Acrochordons(Skin Tag Removal)

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Acrochordons, commonly known as skin tags, are small, benign growths that typically occur in areas where the skin folds or rubs together, such as the neck, armpits, groin, or under the breasts. They are composed of loose collagen fibers and blood vessels covered by a layer of skin. Skin tags are usually flesh-colored or slightly darker and can vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters.

The exact cause of skin tags is not fully understood, but they are thought to develop due to friction or rubbing between the skin surfaces. Factors such as obesity, genetics, hormonal changes (such as during pregnancy), and age may also contribute to their formation.

Skin tags are generally harmless and painless, although they may become irritated if they rub against clothing or jewelry. While skin tags can be bothersome from a cosmetic perspective, they do not typically require medical treatment unless they cause discomfort or are cosmetically undesirable.

Before and After

Chemical Peels

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Chemical peels are cosmetic treatments used to improve the appearance and texture of the skin by applying a chemical solution to the skin’s surface. This solution causes the outer layers of the skin to exfoliate and eventually peel off, revealing smoother, more youthful-looking skin underneath. Chemical peels can address various skin concerns, including:

  1. Fine lines and wrinkles
  2. Uneven skin tone and texture
  3. Sun damage and hyperpigmentation
  4. Acne and acne scars
  5. Enlarged pores
  6. Rough or dull skin

Chemical peels are classified based on the depth of penetration into the skin:

  1. Superficial peels: Also known as light peels, these peels only affect the outermost layer of the skin (epidermis). They typically use mild acids such as alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta hydroxy acids (BHAs), including glycolic acid, lactic acid, or salicylic acid. Superficial peels require little to no downtime, and the skin usually recovers within a few days.
  2. Medium peels: These peels penetrate deeper into the skin, reaching the middle layer (dermis). They often use stronger acids such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA) or a combination of acids. Medium peels may result in more significant peeling and redness, and the skin may take up to a week to heal.
  3. Deep peels: Deep peels penetrate the deepest layers of the skin and typically use phenol or high concentrations of TCA. They provide more dramatic results but also carry a higher risk of complications and require a more extended recovery period, often several weeks.

Spider Vein Treatments

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Spider vein treatments encompass various procedures aimed at reducing or eliminating the appearance of spider veins, which are small, dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin that often appear red, blue, or purple and resemble spider webs or tree branches. Spider veins commonly occur on the legs, although they can appear on other parts of the body as well.

Some common spider vein treatments include:

  1. Sclerotherapy: This is one of the most common treatments for spider veins. It involves injecting a solution directly into the affected veins, causing them to collapse and fade over time. Sclerotherapy is typically performed in a doctor’s office and may require multiple sessions for optimal results.
  2. Laser therapy: Laser treatment uses focused light energy to heat and destroy the spider veins. Laser therapy is non-invasive and may be a preferred option for smaller spider veins or for individuals who prefer to avoid injections. Multiple sessions may be needed for best results.
  3. Vein stripping: This surgical procedure involves removing the affected veins through small incisions. Vein stripping is usually reserved for larger or more severe spider veins that have not responded to other treatments.
  4. Vein ablation: This procedure uses heat or laser energy to destroy the affected veins from the inside. It is often used for larger veins or for individuals with underlying venous insufficiency.
  5. Radiofrequency ablation: Similar to vein ablation, radiofrequency ablation uses radiofrequency energy to heat and close off the affected veins. It is a minimally invasive procedure that can be performed in a doctor’s office.

Sculptra

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Sculptra is an injectable dermal filler that contains poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a biocompatible and biodegradable synthetic material that has been used in various medical applications for many years. Unlike other dermal fillers, Sculptra works differently as it doesn’t provide immediate results by adding volume directly; instead, it stimulates the body’s natural collagen production over time.

Sculptra is primarily used for:

  1. Treating facial volume loss: It can restore lost volume in areas such as the cheeks, temples, and chin, providing a more youthful appearance.
  2. Improving skin texture and quality: By promoting collagen production, Sculptra can help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Juvéderm

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Juvéderm is a popular brand of hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler used for cosmetic purposes. It is manufactured by Allergan, the same company that produces Botox. Juvéderm is used to add volume and fullness to the skin, which can help smooth out wrinkles and lines, enhance lips, and contour facial features.

Juvéderm fillers come in various formulations, each designed for specific areas of the face and different cosmetic concerns. Some common types of Juvéderm fillers include:

  1. Juvéderm XC: Used to smooth moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds (the lines that run from the nose to the corners of the mouth).
  2. Juvéderm Ultra XC: Designed to add fullness and plumpness to the lips.
  3. Juvéderm Voluma XC: Specifically formulated to add volume to the cheeks and correct age-related volume loss in the midface.
  4. Juvéderm Volbella XC: Used for lip augmentation and to smooth vertical lip lines (perioral lines).
  5. Juvéderm Vollure XC: Designed to address moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds, with a focus on providing long-lasting results.

Perlane

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Perlane is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler, similar to Restylane, but with a thicker gel consistency. It is also manufactured by the same company that produces Restylane, Galderma. Like Restylane, Perlane is primarily used to add volume and fullness to the skin to smooth out wrinkles and lines, enhance lips, and contour facial features.

Perlane is typically used for deeper facial wrinkles and folds, as well as for adding volume to areas such as the cheeks and chin. Its thicker gel consistency makes it particularly suitable for treating deeper wrinkles and areas where more volume is needed.