FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These are some real-life qurestions that we received. The names of the individuals are withheld for confidentiality purpose.
Q: I have acne on both cheeks. I try antibiotics and found out I was allergic. Can laser help in my case? I have redness and discoloration as well.
A: Thank you for the inquiry. Laser is an option for acne treatment but it is not the only option. It is very good for acne redness and acne scar. Hyperpigmentation from acne can be treated by chemical peels, microdermabrasion, Obagi, bleaching medication or Q-S Yag laser/IPL. Active acne requires a combination of treatment along with laser. Antibiotics can be avoided if you have an allergy issue.
Q. I would like to know more about fractional laser treatment. is the treatment somewhat like IPL? I would also like to know if the face gets red afterwards, because my skin? is dry and it is also sensitive?
A. I have performed our fractional laser treatment on atopic skin, rosacea skin, dry skin, oily skin, young skin, old skin etc. with no great side effect. I have treated Caucasian to East Indian skin with no problem whatsoever. I have also performed the procdure on a patient on low dose Accutane. We can also do PRP (platelet rich plasma) before the laser. Our fractional device is very safe in darker skin types. Like other lasers, this device produces even better result in fair skinned individuals.
Depending on the scar, you will need anywhere from 4-6 sessions. Deeper scars will need
minor acne surgery. The downtime is about 1-3 days. 90% of my patients return to their normal activities the very next day. There is some burning sensation lasting 30 minutes after the treatment. After that, there is no need for any fancy aftercare. It is also a great procedure for enlarged pores and fine wrinkles. You will see improvement in these 2 problems within a week after treatment.
Q: I am 27 yrs old guy and I have pigmentation marks on both of my cheeks above the shaving area. I have taken treatment from the skin specialist from last one year but no satisfaction is there. So I would like to take the laser treatment but can you please tell me the approximately cost, treatment duration, side effect and assurance of the treatment. Please reply soon.
A: It is difficult to diagnose the problem without first looking at the area. I could be melasma if you are in the darker ethnic group and have a history of excessive sun exposure. It also could be hyperpigmentation due to some contact eczema or other skin conditions. Although it sounds less likely, café-au-lait macules are congenital patches that can occur on the face. Treatment has to be directed towards the underlying cause before treating the pigmentation issue.
Q. Do you do partial removal of eyebrow tattoo? Mine were done recently and they are too thick - I am wanting to have them sculpted thinner. Is this possible?
A: It might be difficult. However,, we can see how it is put on and see if I might be able to do it. It will cost more than simply taking it off completely as it takes me more time to do it. It's always easier and you'll probably be happier if you just take the whole thing off and start all over again.
Q: Is laser tattoo removal safe? Does it leave any scar?
A: Laser tattoo reomoval is safe and effective. Post-treatment you only need one day of rest, if desired. We will apply a dressing you leave. At home, you only have to apply polysporin twice daily for another 2-3 days. There is very little scabbing with our high power laser. Small blisters might occur but most will settle within 24-48 hours without intervention. You will feel some burning at the area for a few hours. The risk of scarring after treatment is negligible.
Q: I have some red marks on my face after a recent bout of acne breakout. Can you remove them?
A: Red acne marks usually diminish and resolve with time over weeks and months. However, deep acne scar usually stays red for a long time. In this case, we can treat the redness with laser or IPL.. Occasionally, chemical peel also works well, although more treatment sessions may be needed.
Q: hi, i am a very dark skinned girl and my sister and i wanted to lightenour complexion is there anyway that the laser treatment will allow us to do so? Or what method should you suggest.. Thanks much,
A: I suspect and assume some of the dark complexion is secondary to excessive sun exposure. Depending on your ethnic background and skin type, different lasers or IPL can help to lighten the complexion and reverse the sun damage. Sun avoidance is crucial to prevent further darkening of the skin. I have not found OTC lightening cream that effective. Our practice mainly deals with individuals of darker skinned types and this is one of the main things we treat.in my practice.
Q: I have read about your clinic on the internet and I am very much interested with your service. I have an acne scars, a bad one and I need help. I have tried lots of ointments and other commercial products but it does not work. I would like to get some information about laser treatment for scars removal and how does it work. Your response is appreciated.
A: I tailor the treatment to the type, extent and severity of scarring. The process involves minor acne surgery, chemical peel, laser resurfacing, PRP , vascular laser and non-ablative fractional laser. Home care products include dermaroller is also available. The cost varies depend on the procedure. If you have only a small area to worry about, the cost can be less. We have very satisfied patients for acne scar treatment. The result is very consistent in most cases.
Q: What is the difference between IPL hair removal and laser hair removal?
A: We use both technology in our facility to preform hair removal. IPL is generally good for thicker hair and lighter skin types. IPL causes more burns and skin darkening than laser. Laser, on the other hand, can be used to treat all skin types and all hair colors except blond and white. We have 2 different hair remvoal lasers. One is for lighter skin and the other for darker skin types. Most spas are using smaller IPL devices because it is cheaper to acquire. However, there is little question that laser is more effective and require much fewer sessions for hair removal.
Q: Do you offer tattoo removal using IPL technology? Laser tattoo removal did not work well for me.
A: What is the colour of your tattoo and how many times have you had laser done? There are differnt tattoo lasers. Do you remember the name of the device?
We have 3 different IPL devices. However, I would not use IPL for tattoo removal because of high risk of scarring and hyperpigmentation. I have come across a few places who claim to use IPL for tattoo removal. I believe this is not safe at all. If I encounter stubborn color and resistent tattoo, I usually combine laser treatment with lasers of different wavelengths. Recently, I have been using fractional laser for recalcitrant colors. This modality is supported by recent study published in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and a abstract submitted by Dr. Vasily in the US. Also, erbium Yag laser can be another option for some colors that are not responsive to pigment lasers at all.
Q: I have some deep ice pick scars on jaw.Can they be cut out?
A: Deep ice-pick scars can be excised selectively if they are small. If there are many and they are close together, a series of fractional laser treatment is another viable option. TCA Cross is also a good treatment option.
Q: I was wondering if removing permanent pigmentation from the eyelid margin is safe. I mean the tattoo is right where the eyelashes are located. Is there are a risk that the laser might accidentally hit the eyeball?
A: I have removed many eyeliner permanent makeups with laser. I use the proper eye protection and adequate anesthesia before lasering. It takes 2-3 treatments to get complete removal. This is an area where the ink can be removed almost 100% as long as it is black. We have no incidence of scarring and pigmentary change with this procedure.
Q: Can you treat white stretch marks?
A: There is no really effective treatment to eradicate white stretch marks. If they are narrow and shallow, they will respond to some extent to fractional laser, non-ablative laser or low level laser light. Multiple sessions are needed and the response is usually not complete. Microdermabrasion has been shown to be helpful but I have not seen it works in my clinic. I am not aware of any topical cream/lotion that is effective to treat or prevent stretch marks.
