Laser skin treatment

Many different types of Lasers are used to treat the skin, the appropriate one being selected depending upon whether the aim is to treat wrinkles, pigmentation, scarring, loose skin or dilated blood vessels. Dr Lotz can advise you which Laser would be the most appropriate for your condition. Laser is a non-surgical treatment that can be performed in the Mosman rooms .

If you are planning on Laser treatment to improve your skin then it important to consider your ongoing skin care after the treatment in order to maintain as much of the benefit as possible. Avoiding further sun damage will help avoid further pigmentation and damage to your skin.

Fraxel laser

The Fraxel is the latest anti-ageing treatment. It has become very popular due to its excellent results, minimal downtime, and low rate of side effects. It can be used in people with all types of skin, whereas traditional Lasers had risks of increasing or decreasing pigmentation particularly when used on patients with darker skin types.

Treatment with Fraxel Laser causes injury to the dermis (a deeper layer in the skin) which then results in increased formation of new collagen.

Fraxel is performed by a nurse in the rooms after applying a topical anaesthetic cream. The treatment takes around 30 minutes, depending on the area being treated. Three to five treatments spaced 2-4 weeks apart are required for optimal benefit, depending upon how much improvement is desired.

The Fraxel is good for:

1. Acne scars and other scars (not keloids).
2. Improving texture on the neck, décolletage and hands.
3. Melasma (pigmentation of the skin).

Fraxel will also give some improvement in fine wrinkles.

Following treatment with the Fraxel laser the treated area looks like it has been sunburned, with this redness and swelling lasting 2-3 days usually. Applying cold packs to the area can help to reduce this.

Titan Laser

The Titan Laser uses infrared light to tone, lift and tighten loose skin. It is very useful for patients with early laxity of the skin who do not require more invasive surgical procedures such as a face lift. It is commonly used to obtain a smoother more toned look around the jowls and neck, but can also be used on the abdomen, arms and other areas.

The Titan Laser also targets the collagen in the skin, causing immediate shrinkage of the collagen (immediate result) and longer term deposition of new collagen (continued improvement). The effects will continue to improve for 2-3 months after treatment.

Titan Laser is a pain-free procedure which is performed in the rooms with minimal downtime consisting of some redness for 2 hours at most. Three treatments are required initially, with most patients having a repeat treatment every 12 months after this to maintain the effects.

Around 10% of patients treated with Titan Laser will have minimal improvement. Aside from this the Titan laser is very safe with no other risks.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

IPL works by intense pulses of light applied to the skin surface. It is performed in the rooms and has minimal downtime. Three treatments one month apart are usually required.

IPL is good for:

1. Pigmented spots, freckles and sun damaged skin
2. Unsightly small veins and capillaries
3. Open pores and improving skin texture
4. Rosacea and other diffuse redness.

Fraxel Laser has shown better results than IPL for pigmentation, but IPL is a reasonable cheaper alternative.

Vascular Laser

The Vascular Laser targets enlarged blood vessels in the skin that appear as red spots (telangiectasia). The blood vessels are coagulated which results in the vessel either disappearing immediately of turning into a small bruise which disappears over several days.

This procedure is quick and relatively inexpensive. Often a second treatment is required to completely remove the vessel.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is a quick and effective way to permanently remove unwanted hairs. It works best for dark hairs and can be used on any part of the body.

This Laser uses a light source that targets and destroys the hair follicles that are actively growing. As not all hairs are in the active growth phase at the same time, 4-6 treatments spaced 6 weeks apart are usually required.