Surgical Dermatology

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.

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.

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.

About Mohs Micrographic Surgery

What is it?

Developed in the 1930s by Dr. Frederick Mohs, Mohs micrographic surgery is an extremely effective treatment for a variety of skin cancers. Due to its accuracy, high success rate, and cosmetically appropriate outcomes, Mohs remains the gold standard for skin cancer removal. The surgical specialists at our center are highly trained to perform this precise surgery with skill and technique refined through years of experience and study.

What to expect

We are fortunate to have a large team of Mohs surgeons on our staff who have devoted all their attention to treating skin cancer patients. These specialists can remove all vestiges of the tumor so you can have your life back and live it to the fullest. With Mohs, elimination of a tumor is precise and success is immediate and long-lasting. Under the expert guidance of our surgeons, Mohs surgery can provide complete tumor removal, including cancerous cells that are unseen (and therefore left behind) during other skin cancer removal procedures. Once skin cancer has been eliminated from your tissues, treatment is complete and you’ll be 100% cancer-free, with no estimation or uncertainty.

After the procedure

The Mohs procedure has a proven high success rate (studies have shown 5-year cure rates of over 99% for new cancers) and grants patients quicker recovery times (2-4 weeks) than other skin cancer procedures.

Our approach & expertise