Dr. Silbret and Dr. Schechter use the IRIDERM DioLite TM Laser System for the treatment of:
- Iriderm Diolite laser for blood vessels.
- Alma Q-Switch laser for brown spots and cherry hemangiomas.
- Pixel laser for facial wrinkles and resurfacing.
- Dye-VL laser for brown spots, hyperpigmentation, and blood vessels.
- Clear Lyft laser for facial tightening, neck tightening, and improvement of pore size and complextion.
- Alma Accent laser for radiofrequency treatment without down time for neck tightening.
- Dye-VL for hair removal on face, chin, neck and bikini area.
The IRIDERM Laser works by the process of selective photothermolysis. The principle of selective photothermolysis is that it acts on the blood vessel in a way that thermal destruction can be predicted by the appropriate wavelength, pulse duration, and pulse energy for a particular target. In the case of a small capillary, the target is hemoglobin or in a pigmented lesion the target is melanin. Because the wavelength is specific for these targets, there is virtually no damage to minimal reaction to other parts of the skin.
The IRIDERM DioLite 532 Laser System is not used to treat acne scarring, wrinkles, stretch marks, or varicose veins. Other cosmetic therapies in our office are available to treat these dermatological conditions should you be interested.
WHAT DOES THE LASER FEEL LIKE?
During the procedure, you may feel a slight stinging sensation. Some parts of the body like around the nose are more sensitive than others and topical anesthetics can be used prior to the procedure to help minimize any discomfort.
RISKS AND POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS:
- Sometimes, you may develop small scabs within the first week. These usually resolve with the application of a topical antibiotic or healing ointment.
- The most common side effect is mild redness or swelling immediately following the procedure. Depending on the sensitivity of the patient, these symptoms may be transient, lasting 1-2 days or up to a week.
- If you have a history of cold sores, it is important to tell your doctor as procedures such as laser may potentiate the recurrence and antivirals may be administered prior to the procedure to minimize developing a cold sore also known as Herpes Simplex virus.
- Bruising is an unusual adverse effect and is more commonly seen with other types of vascular lasers which is another advantage to the IRIDERM laser in that there is virtually no downtime or need to go into hiding after treatment.
- Recurrence or persistence of larger caliber vessels heavily pigmented lesions may require additional treatments. This laser treatment does not prevent the formation of new blood vessels or pigmented lesions. Dr. Schechter and Dr. Silbret will be happy to discuss preventative therapies and medicines with you.
- Rare adverse events include pigmentary changes and scarring, but this is generally not observed for these conditions treated as noted above.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT? AND HOW DO I TAKE CARE OF MY SKIN AFTER MY LASER TREATMENT?
Usually, immediately after treatment you will see redness at the treated sites. This redness, again depending on your skin's sensitivity will go away in 1-2 hours. Rarely it can last longer from 24 hours up to a week. Make-up can be applied over these areas to camouflage any discoloration. Over the course of the week, you may also see small scabs or crusts form. Gently, washing the face with a mild, non-soap based cleanser and applying a topical antibiotic and/or healing agent usually softens the scabs allowing them to fall off. Once the scabs fall off, you may continue to apply the healing ointment for up to 3 weeks and make-up can be applied directly over it. You will notice the disappearance of small blood vessels immediately and as the pigmented lesions fall off, new pink skin will emerge. Applying a daily sunscreen with SPF 30 daily and frequently (every 2 hours) is crucial to assuring that the treated areas do not darken in the sun. For this reason, our physicians recommend that you do not plan your laser treatment before going on a beach or ski vacation where the sun is strong. Our physicians also recommend a "sunblock" of SPF 30 or higher and one that contains the physical block titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These sunblocks are not only very effective by reflecting light away from your skin, but also are the least irritating to the skin post procedure.
Follow up is around 4-6 weeks after your first treatment. At that time, Dr. Schechter or Dr. Silbret will discuss with you if another treatment would be helpful or unnecessary given your response. At our office, we will never "lock" you into a certain number of treatments. You will always have a voice in any procedure that is discussed.
Once you have completed your laser treatment, your skill will have a more even tone and your complexion will not be disturbed by unnecessary road maps of capillaries or unwanted age spots. Your skin's true beauty will be appreciated by you and others. "I find that by even doing something as simple as clearing up tiny facial blood vessels and age spots, 'background noise,' through laser therapy, you can change a person's whole appearance. You begin to focus on their true attributes, a great smile or high cheekbones, and not their discolorations that can deter from their own aesthetic qualities," says Dr. Silbret.
