A photo facial is a light based skin treatment to revitalize your skin! It can be performed with a variety of lasers or IPL (intense pulsed light) systems. The goal of the treatment may vary based on what issues you are concerned about. Light therapy can be used to reduce redness of the cheeks in patients with rosacea , decrease sun damage, eliminate facial veins and pigment, reduce wrinkles and scars, and decrease pore size.
Lasers produce a single wavelength of light while an IPL uses a number of different wavelengths of light across a specific range. There are advantages and disadvantages to each system. Sometimes, they both may be used during a treatment.
The most gentle type of photo facial performed at NJ VeinCare and Aesthetic Center is done using a Cynosure Elite+ Nd:YAG laser. This laser is safe for all Fitzpatrick skin types. Laser energy is used to revitalize the skin, making it look healthier, smoother, reduce pore size with minimal down time, usually less than half a day of mild redness, easily covered by makeup. It is commonly done a day or two before a prom, a wedding or another event. If you have a special occasion coming up, it is a great way to make sure you look your best! This laser can also be used to treat unwanted red and blue facial and leg veins.
The small capillary blood vessels and diffuse red cheeks in people with sun damage or rosacea responds well to IPL. Using advanced technology, the Cynosure Icon delivers optimized light pulses to target unwanted sun damage, small red blood vessels and facial redness. The light energy activates the body’s healing response to naturally improve skin imperfections without harming the surrounding skin. Over time, the immune system will work to reduce the appearance of brown spots and veins on the area treated to reveal your beautiful skin. Icon IPL light therapy treatments are safe for most skin types, but works best in people with lighter skin tones, Fitzpatrick types I-IV. There is minimal down time after a treatment. No swelling, but some mild redness for a couple of days.
Some patients have severe problems with sun damaged skin, age spots, freckles and birth marks. These skin issues can be significantly improved with the Elite+ Alexandrite laser. The wavelength of high energy light emitted by the laser is converted to heat energy and this damages the targeted skin. Alexandrite lasers cause precise destruction of the lesion and leave tissue in the surrounding area undamaged. This laser technique can be used most anywhere on the body, not just the face.
Fractional non-ablative lasers are extremely effective advanced technology and an aggressive form of skin resurfacing. The ICON 1540 laser can address acne scars, surgical scars, stretch marks, pigment problems, wrinkles and even melasma (facial pigment problem following pregnancy). It is safe for all skin types. Fractional non-ablative resurfacing differs from the older ablative carbon dioxide lasers that were traditionally used. There are fewer skin side effects and less down time with the newer technology. No skin is actually destroyed. In non-ablative resurfacing, fractional lasers deliver heat into the skin through thousands of narrow, deep columns. The treatment eliminates old epidermal pigmented cells and deposits heat deep into the dermis to tighten skin and stimulate collagen remodeling reducing the presence of scars, wrinkles and stretch marks. Surrounding tissue is unaffected. The fractional approach allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area was treated. With the fractional non-ablative approach, there is more downtime than the other methods listed here. There can be some swelling for a couple of days and redness of the area treated for 5 to 7 days.
Some patients do best with a combined method of skin revitalization. The Elite+ Alexandrite laser can first be used to eliminate pigmented spots, the ICON IPL with the MaxG treatment head then applied to reduce the small red blood vessels and sun damage, and finally the 1540 Laser to further reduce pigment, wrinkles and scars in one setting.
If you are not sure that a photo facial is right for you, please call 973-778-2222 for a no-cost consultation to discuss possible treatment options.
