FACIAL SKIN THERAPY (COOLGLIDE® XEO LASER)

Donna West Dermatology features the innovative new CoolGlide® XEO laser, which is a versatile and non-ablative laser that is utilized for skin therapy, hair reduction, and treatment of facial and leg veins.

In facial-skin therapy, the CoolGlide XEO encourages new collagen growth beneath the skin surface without the temporary skin redness and discomfort that result from conventional laser and chemical treatments.

This laser works by stimulating new collagen production within the skin (rather than vaporizing superficial skin as in a laser resurfacing procedure). The CoolGlide XEO laser is a Q-switched Neodymium YAG laser. It uses infrared light to penetrate the skin (the epidermis) and then be absorbed beneath the surface layer (dermis), where it stimulates the production of new collagen for smoother, healthier skin. Results appear over a period of weeks to months, and treatments may be repeated as needed.

This innovative infrared laser provides good results in reducing facial wrinkles, Rosacea, diffuse redness, Poikiloderma, and minor scarring.

The CoolGlide XEO is a non-ablative laser, meaning that it does not wound the surface of the skin. Therefore, treated areas exhibit only minor surface redness that typically disappears after a few days. Skin-care products and make-up can be applied immediately after the procedures, and no added sensitivity to sunlight occurs (as is frequently the case in CO2 laser resurfacings). The CoolGlide XEO laser is an especially good option for those patients who want facial-skin therapy but cannot afford down time from their careers or other obligations.

FAQs:

• Are the CoolGlide® XEO laser treatments painful?
  No. There is no pain associated with the treatments. Some patients comment on a feeling of warmth in the area being treated, but there is no real discomfort. No local anesthetic is required, so no injections are involved in treatment. The clinic has nitrous oxide available for patients who find the laser sensation discomforting.
  
  
• Are the results comparable with CO2 laser resurfacing?
  For deeper wrinkles and lines, CO2 laser resurfacing provides more dramatic results. However, CO2 procedures are much more invasive, require weeks of pre-procedure preparation, and months of follow-up and healing. Additionally, CO2 procedures are substantially more expensive than non-ablative laser treatments.
  
  
• What kind of results will I see with the CoolGlide treatments?
  Results will emerge over a period of months following treatment as new collegan from beneath begins to soften and smooth the skin’s surface. CoolGlide XEO laser treatments can provide significant improvement in wrinkle and line reductions in many patients, and treatments can be repeated over time for on-going improvements.

  
  

LASER RESURFACING

Laser resurfacing is, for many patients, the procedure of choice for smoother facial skin and a more youthful appearance. The treatment vaporizes old surface skin cells and promotes the growth of new, healthy cells. The technique is also beneficial in minimizing spider veins and removing pigment lesions. While some redness and irritation result initially, there are real long-term benefits achieved in smoother, healthier facial skin.

Laser Resurfacing FAQs:

• How do CO₂ lasers work?
  Carbon dioxide lasers use a very high energy beam of light to vaporize scars, lines, wrinkles and other skin defects. The laser is adjustable to accomplish a variety of cosmetic and surgical dermatology procedures. In the rapid-pulse settings, CO2 lasers can be utilized to gently vaporize the outer layer of sun-damaged or acne-scarred skin, allowing smooth, fresh skin to appear from beneath the surface. In other settings, the CO2 laser is utilized to remove warts, pigmented lesions, precancerous growths and shallow tumors, and other skin defects.
  
  
• What facial conditions respond to CO₂ laser treatment?
  Carbon dioxide lasers are very effective in removing wrinkles around the eyes, lips, forehead, and cheeks that are caused by aging and/or sun-damaged skin. Frown lines and deeper grooves can be significantly softened. Once the outer layer of skin has been removed, the skin beneath emerges with a softer, smoother and more youthful appearance as new collagen growth is stimulated below the surface. The procedure works best on light-skinned individuals with minimal suntanning. Prior to treatment, the patient will be asked to utilize Retin-A and other skin-care products for up to six weeks to prepare the skin for laser resurfacing.
  
  
• How long does the healing process take?
  Usually, a full laser resurfacing procedure is performed in a single appointment taking about an hour. Local anesthesia is typically used if the treatment is for limited areas; total anesthesia is more usual for full-face resurfacing procedures. Following the treatment, some weeping and crusting will occur on treated areas, and most patients will require ointments and bandages for two or more days following the procedure. Once initial healing is completed, the new skin will typically display redness for a period from several weeks to several months following treatment. The true benefits of laser resurfacing will emerge fully in the months following the procedure and can be expected to last for several years.
  

VASCULAR LASER TREATMENTS (DIOLITE™ LASER)

The clinic offers the Iridex DioLite™ laser for treating a variety of vascular and pigmented lesions. Facial spider veins (facial telangiectasia), age spots, red lesions, rosacea, freckles, Keratoses (pigmented spots often found on the back and hands), and leg veins, all can be reduced and removed by this non-ablative laser, often in a single treatment session.

The DioLite laser provides state-of-the-art results in a non-invasive procedure that is safe and effective. The adjustable beam of the laser allows precise targeting and accurate infrared laser delivery.

FAQs:

• How many treatments are necessary?
  It depends upon the size, location and specific type of lesion being treated. Usually only one or two treatments are needed; sometimes additional sessions are required. In some cases, new spider veins may appear in a treated area and additional treatments will be necessary.
  
  
• Is this treatment effective for varicose veins?
  No. Laser treatments are most effective for reduction of spider vein appearance and minor vascular lesions. Varicose vein reductions are best handled by surgical specialists.
  
  
• Is the treatment painful?
  No. Some patients report a stinging sensation during treatment, followed by some redness that goes away in 2 - 4 hours. The clinic offers nitrous oxide for those patients who find the laser sensation to be too discomforting.
  

  
  

LASER HAIR REMOVAL (COOLGLIDE™ XEO LASER)

Laser hair removal eliminates unwanted hair in a simple, non-invasive procedure that uses pulsed light to treat hundreds of hair follicles simultaneously. The system is effective in removing hair from the face, legs, arms and underarms, and also sensitive areas such as the nose, chest and bikini line. The results are long-lasting, and the procedure is faster and causes far less discomfort than electrolysis.

Donna West Dermatology utilizes the new CoolGlide® XEO laser for most hair-removal and permanent hair reduction procedures. This new long-pulse ND:YAG laser is the first such system to receive clearance from the FDA to claim permanent hair reduction.

FAQs:

• How does laser hair removal work?
  The adjustable CoolGlide XEO hand piece delivers long-pulsed laser light to disable pigmented hair follicles beneath the skin’s surface, impairing their growth. Because hundreds of follicles are treated simultaneously, large surface areas — back, legs, chest — can be treated in a single session (contrasted with electrolysis, where each hair follicle must be treated individually).
  
  Over a course of sessions, hair follicles are selectively disabled by the CoolGlide XEO, and the result for the patient is hair removal and permanent hair reduction in the targeted area.
  
  
• Do all skin types and hair colors respond to this procedure?
  Yes. Skin color, or tanned skin, does not impede results of the treatment. Concerning hair type, results will vary according to hair thickness and coloration. Dark hair responds best. People with light hair may see only moderate improvement and may need a larger number of treatments. White hair does not respond to treatment with this laser.
  
  
• How many treatments are necessary?
  Three to four treatments are usually necessary, depending upon location of hair to be removed, hair color, hair thickness, and other factors. More treatments tend to increase the permanence of hair reduction in the target areas.
  
  
• Are there any side effects?
  In some cases there is slight reddening of the skin and/or swelling, which disappears within a few days. The treatment has been widely used for several years now and has been shown to be both safe and highly effective.
  

BOTOX® and COLLAGEN INJECTIONS

Facial wrinkles and creases are an inevitable part of the aging process, but BOTOX® and/or collagen treatments offer two options to reduce facial lines and wrinkles and produce smoother skin and a more youthful appearance.

BOTOX®, a proven treatment used worldwide for more than ten years, relaxes facial muscles, which allows the skin to relax and wrinkles and lines to disappear.

Collagen injections offer another way of achieving smoother skin appearance and fuller lips. Collagen acts as a filling agent to smooth out lines and wrinkles.

Both techniques provide significant temporary improvements, and both can be repeated at approximately three-month intervals.

FAQs:

• Is BOTOX® a safe procedure for me to consider?
  Yes. Although BOTOX® is derived from a potent toxin, it is administered in small dosages and has been shown to be safe and effective in treatments used worldwide for more than a decade now.
  
  
• Are BOTOX® or collagen injections a permanent treatment?
  Neither treatment is permanent, but both can provide beneficial improvements for a period of months. Improvements diminish within a month or two, but additional treatments can be administered to provide continuous benefits to skin appearance.
  
  
• Are these procedures painful?
  No. Both procedures involve injections beneath the skin surface, so there is minor discomfort as the needle is inserted into the skin. BOTOX® injections induce a feeling of numbness at the injection site, but this feeling is temporary and quickly disappears. If the patient is made nervous by injections, the clinic has nitrous oxide available for use as a mild, temporary anaesthetic.
  

  
  

CUSTOMIZED ABRASION and PEEL PROGRAMS

The clinic also offers a full range of chemical peel programs that are customized to the needs of each individual patient. Also available is DiamondTone™ microdermabrasion, an innovative medical technique which removes the topmost layer of skin and vacuums away dead skin cells to produce softer, cleaner and smoother skin without redness or irritation.

Abrasion and Peel FAQs:

• What are the advantages of DiamondTone™ microdermabrasion?
  DiamondTone™ microdermabrasion is a non-invasive, non-surgical procedure that avoids the redness and irritation that result from chemical treatments. Patients can resume normal activities with no downtime from the treatment. The skin looks slightly flushed in the initial half hour after treatment but quickly returns to its normal coloration. Improvements occur in the first treatment, and subsequent treatments continue the progress of improvements.
  
  
• How many treatments are required?
  The number of treatments varies depending upon patient skin type and the condition being treated. DiamondTone™ microdermabrasion typically involves four to eight or more sessions and is especially effective in rejuvenating sun-damaged skin on the face, neck, and shoulders and minimizing age spots on the face, neck, hands and arms. It also is effective in reducing acne scarring and aging lines near the eyes and on the forehead,
  
  
• How do I know whether chemical treatment or DiamondTone™ microdermabrasion is the right choice for me?
  Chemical peels are by far the more invasive of the two procedures and require considerable downtime for patients and a lengthy healing process. Yet, these peels may be the best choice in instances of heavily damaged skin and certain skin conditions. Consultation with your dermatologist will give you full information to provide you with your choice of the optimal treatment and procedures.
  

  
  

SCLEROTHERAPY

Sclerotherapy is a non-surgical procedure that reduces spider veins, using medicated injections that shrivel the selected veins, which are then absorbed by the body. These vessels are not necessary for normal circulation. The result of the treatment is significant reduction of vein appearance on legs, groin, breast, and other areas.

Sclerotherapy FAQs:

• How many treatments are required?
  Typically, three to four treatments are required to produce the desired reduction in vein appearance. Once completed, the results are permanent and no additional treatment is required.
  
  
• Is the treatment painful?
  No. The medication is injected locally into the target area and generally causes minimal discomfort.