IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) or Fotofacial This procedure is not done with a laser, but instead involves a process called photo-rejuvenation. It is a safe, non-invasive procedure that uses a broadband of intense light pulses to help correct facial skin imperfections from chronic sun exposure (sun damage). The dermis is gently heated to stimulate fibroblasts, which generates more collagen. Existing collagen becomes remodeled so that the skin feels and appears smoother after treatments. Dr. Christine Brown, a board-certified dermatologist in Dallas, TX, uses the Lumenis One IPL device, which is considered the most advanced IPL system on the market. The Lumenis One was invented by the company that invented IPL. The utilized software system was derived from a clinical database of over 4,000 patients who were treated safely and effectively with this device. Treatments are quick and relatively painless, owing to the incorporation of a sapphire chilled tip. In addition, a Zimmer Cryo 5 is used along with the Lumenis IPL device to apply super-chilled air across the skin during treatments. This provides cryoanesthesia, making treatments more comfortable and safe.
IPL can treat the entire face and other body surfaces (not just small areas)
It causes little discomfort
Patients can return immediately to normal activities
It provides gradual, natural-looking improvement
It provides long-lasting results
Dr. Brown uses Lumenis One IPL to treat a variety of skin conditions in her Dallas, TX office, such as sun damage, brown spots, dilated vessels, fine wrinkles, large pores, rough textured skin, rosacea, flushing and ruddiness.
You may need four to six treatments to treat your specific skin condition. Each treatment lasts approximately 20 minutes. The benefit of IPL is that it treats skin damage without disrupting the skin’s surface, so there is no downtime! Treated skin appears lighter, brighter and more luminous, because more light is reflected from the surface of even, smoother skin. If you are interested in more information regarding this procedure, please call Dr. Brown’s office in Dallas, TX to schedule a consultation.
PDT (Photodynamic Therapy) The combination of a light source, such as IPL or a blue light (Blu U, Clearlight), and 5-ALA, a topical photosensitizer, constitutes photodynamic therapy. This procedure is a highly effective treatment for acne, rosacea and actinic damage (sun damage). It is considered a method of chemoprevention because pre-cancers are removed and skin cancer may be prevented. Also, rejuvenation of background sundamaged skin occurs and results in clearer, smoother, brighter and more even skin. Because this treatment is so powerful, fewer treatments are required to rejuvenate sundamaged skin when compared to IPL used alone.
Fraxel The Fraxel SR laser is a fractionated 1550nm fiber laser that is FDA approved for treatment of sun damage, wrinkles, both acne and surgical scars, pigmented lesions and conditions like melasma. The Fraxel laser is the first and only FDA-approved non-ablative laser for skin resurfacing. The Fraxel laser’s breakthrough microthermal technology targets and treats precise areas of the skin while promoting fast and natural healing. Damaged skin is repaired pixel by pixel, spot by spot with minimal downtime. There is simply nothing else like it in aesthetic medicine. Patients experience some redness and swelling for a few days but can wear makeup immediately after a treatment session. Several sessions are required to achieve the desired effect. All skin types and any surface area, including nonfacial areas, may be treated safely and effectively using Fraxel technology when performed by a board-certified dermatologist, such as Dr. Christine Brown in Dallas, Texas.
Ablative Resurfacing For more severely sun-damaged and wrinkled skin, the CO2 and/or the Erbium YAG laser is used for skin resurfacing. Severe acne scarring may also be treated in this manner. These modalities produce impressive and dramatic results; however, the trade-off is that this involves more downtime compared to non-ablative techniques such as Fraxel and PDT (photodynamic therapy). Patient selection by a trained expert (such as Dr. Christine Brown) is imperative when it comes to ablative resurfacing. Extensive training and expertise in laser surgery is an absolute necessity to optimize the cosmetic outcome and avoid potential complications.
LightSheer Diode LASER This laser is used to remove unwanted hair anywhere on your body. It removes hair faster and with less discomfort than virtually any other method. Also, it can be safely used on all skin types. This procedure uses the laser to heat up the hair, which impedes the ability for regrowth after a series of three to six treatments. Long-term hair reduction is commonly achieved with Light Sheer. Multiple hair follicles are treated at the same time, so it is able to treat large areas of the body. Depending on the size of the area you would like treated, each treatment can last from a few minutes to an hour (or more). Typically, multiple treatments are necessary for best results. The treatment produces minimal discomfort, and there may be some mild temporary swelling and redness around the area. You will be able to return to normal activities immediately after the treatment. If you are interested in this procedure and live in the Dallas area, please call Dr. Brown’s office to schedule a consultation.
MEDLITE LASER This is a Q switched YAG, which is highly effective for the removal of pigmented lesions and tattoos. Depending upon the tattoo pigment, significant fading is attainable with five to 10 treatments without the risk of scarring. Sessions are spaced eight weeks apart to allow for maximal fading between treatments. There can be temporary skin lightening at the treatment site, but this resolves within a few months. Treatments are fast, and they create minimal discomfort. Most treatments can be performed without anesthesia or under only topical anesthesia. The YAG laser is also used for removal of brown, age, liver or sun spots, freckles, birthmarks and more. Usually only one treatment is required. This procedure can be performed without or only topical anesthesia. Redness is produced, which lasts from one to two weeks.
1064 Nd YAG LASER This laser is used to treat dilated blood vessels or telangiectasias on the face and body as well as benign vascular growths like hemangiomas. It can also be used to treat small spider veins on the legs that are resistant to sclerotherapy or can be used with needle phobic patients. The procedure is quick and relatively painless, and it can be performed without or under topical anesthesia. Downtime is minimal, as there is only transient redness at the treatment site.
Chemical Peels There are a variety of different peeling agents with different concentrations that Dr. Christine Brown uses in her Dallas dermatology practice to correct a variety of skin problems including melasma, sun damage, poor skin tone and texture, fine lines, acne and mild acne scarring. These may include glycolic acid, salicylic acid, Jessners or trichloracetic acid peels. It is best to have a consultation with Dr. Brown in order to determine which type of peel is most suitable.
Microdermabrasion This procedure is performed in Dr. Brown’s Dallas dermatology practice utilizing a medical grade microdermabrasion system known as the Dermagenesis Particle Skin System. Aluminum oxide crystals are applied to the skin surface under high pressure to remove the dead outer skin cell layer. The debris is then evacuated by negative pressure. This process stimulates wound repair mechanisms in the dermis, enhancing replacement of important constituents such as collagen, elastin and glycosaminoglycans. The net effect is smoother, brighter, younger appearing skin. It is useful for treatment of acne, mild acne scars, sun damage, photoaged skin and as an adjunctive procedure to photodynamic therapy. Many patients undergo serial microdermabrasions to enhance the effectiveness of their topical skin care regimens.
SCLEROTHERAPY
Sclerotherapy is the treatment of choice, preferred even over laser surgery for the removal of leg veins. This procedure entails an injection of superficial leg veins with a sclerosant. Fibrosis gradually develops and obliterates the lumen of the vessel. The needle used is small, and there is little pain involved. Several veins can be treated per visit. After treatment, there may be some transient bruising and/or discoloration. Compression stockings are recommended for a 72-hour period. Approximately 25% of the veins injected will require additional treatments; these can be done at four-week intervals. Very tiny and/or resistant veins as well as veins around the ankles are usually amenable to YAG laser surgery.
BOTOX This is an FDA-approved treatment by injection of a small amount of botulinum toxin into the muscles underneath wrinkles or frown lines. This procedure weakens and relaxes the muscle so that hyperdynamic or functional lines and wrinkles gradually resolve. The procedure takes effect after about three to seven days. The improvement then lasts for about three to six months. Eventually after multiple treatments, longer-lasting results will remain, requiring fewer treatments to maintain results. The net effect is a more youthful, rested and relaxed appearance. It is possible to accomplish a brow lift with the use of Botox. Also, glabella and forehead lines and crow’s feet respond very well to Botox injections, as do lines around the mouth and drooping mouth corners. The procedure takes only a few minutes and requires little to no downtime. Dr. Christine Brown is a board-certified dermatologist trained to administer Botox in her practice in Dallas, TX.
COSMODERM / COSMOPLAST This is a FDA-approved filler material that is used to replace natural collagen that have been diminished from sunlight, natural aging and different lifestyle factors. It consists of human collagen derived from a human fibroblast cell culture line; thus, skin testing for possible allergies is not required. It is used as a filler for depressed scars, lines, folds and wrinkles, and for defining and augmenting lips. There is minimal pain because the filler contains an anesthetic, although when treating lips, mini blocks are normally used to ensure pain-free treatment. This procedure is quick and produces minimal downtime and usually transient redness, swelling and occasionally bruising. Depending upon the area treated, this product may last from three to six months.
RESTYLANE This is an FDA-approved non-animal derived hyaluronic acid filler substance. It is also used for treatment of lines, folds, wrinkles, scars and lip augmentation. Since hyaluronic acid is a normal constituent of our bodies, it is a very safe, non-allergenic filler. It is more painful to inject than other treatments, because there is no anesthetic in this product. It also causes more swelling and bruising with injection. One advantage of this product is that is attracts water molecules, which not only augments but also prolongs the desired effect. Restylane can last from three to eight months, depending upon where it is injected.
SCULPTRA This is technically not a filler substance, but it is frequently included in the filler category. It is an FDA-approved material that consists of polylactic acid beads that become resorbed, but while present in the skin, induce collagenesis or the development of new collagen surrounding them. The collagen produced typically lasts one to two years after a series of three to six injection sessions spaced a month apart. The effects are delayed, because they depend on the development of collagen but can be appreciated from one to three months after starting treatment. Sculptra is easy and relatively painless to inject, requiring just topical or local anesthesia. It is especially useful in correcting deep nasolabial folds around the mouth and hollows in the cheeks, temples and under the eyes. Sculptra can also be effective in other areas, such as the back of the hands. In some cases, due to skin tightening, cheek jowls may be improved as well.
RADIESSE
Radiesse is another type of long lasting filler used for soft tissue augmentation. The main ingredient of Radiesse is artificial calcium hydroxylapatite, a biomaterial used in orthopedics, neurosurgery, dentistry, otolaryngology and ophthalmology. Results may last one to two years. The correction obtained immediately follows the injection of this substance. It may be used to augment depressions, such as acne scars, other scars, deep folds and lines and areas of the face, such as the cheeks.
ARTEFILL®
ArteFill® is a safe and permanent injectable wrinkle filler for the correction of smile lines. Most people get the results they want with one or two treatments (depending on the depth of their wrinkles and folds). Dr. Brown can tailor a treatment program to meet your individual needs. This personalized approach helps to ensure you get the results you desire.
