from the Winter 2005 issue
At The Center for Cosmetic Dermatology, we are very excited about the latest addition to our arsenal in the fight against aging skin. It’s the Galaxy™ from Syneron, the same company that makes the Aurora and VelaSmooth devices that we use. What’s unique about all these devices is that they utilize a concept called elos (electro-optical energy) – a combination of bi-polar radio frequency energy and either laser or intense pulsed-light energy. This combination makes treatments more effective and safer.
The Galaxy™ is used to perform a skin-rejuvenation procedure called FotoFirm™. Two leaders in the field of skin rejuvenation, Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr., and Dr. Stephen Mulholland, coined this term. They were also the inventors of our most popular skin-rejuvenation procedure, the FotoFacial™.
The FotoFirm takes the FotoFacial to the next level. It provides all the benefits of the FotoFacial and more. The FotoFacial and the FotoFirm both help to reduce red capillaries, brown spots, enlarged pores and fine wrinkles. However, the FotoFirm uses a diode laser combined with radio frequency energy to rebuild additional collagen and provide more wrinkle improvement.
Just like the FotoFacial, the FotoFirm requires a series of five treatments, spaced no closer than three weeks apart. With both FotoFacial and FotoFirm, a topical anesthetic is applied one hour before the treatment. After effects are the same with both. There may be some mild redness and swelling which usually dissipates in hours to a few days. Brown spots may get darker, and then exfoliate in seven to 10 days. Makeup and sunscreen may be worn as usual afterwards, and you may resume your normal activities immediately.
The FotoFirm procedure is like combining a FotoFacial and a CoolTouch® treatment. The CoolTouch is a laser used to improve wrinkles by stimulating the production of new collagen (see separate article). The FotoFacial uses an intense pulsed light (IPL) device to reduce capillaries, brown spots and fine wrinkles. The FotoFirm uses laser, IPL and radio frequency energy to achieve skin rejuvenation. The CoolTouch will continue to be available for treating acne, acne scars and wrinkles for people who have wrinkles but either don’t have or are not bothered by capillaries and brown spots. The FotoFacial will continue to be available for people with rosacea, red acne scars, brown spots and sun damage, and who either don’t have much wrinkling or are not bothered by the wrinkles they have.
For those who want an all-in-one skin rejuvenation procedure, which addresses red capillaries, brown spots, texture and wrinkles, we recommend our new FotoFirm procedure.
If you have questions or want to schedule a consultation with one of our dermatologists, call 713.850.0240.
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