from the Fall 2005 issue
At The Center for Cosmetic Dermatology, we are always looking for a better way to solve our patients’ skin-care problems. To that end, we are proud to have acquired a new laser to treat some of our clients’ most common concerns. The Cutera™ Coolglide Vantage laser is like having three lasers in one. We can use it for hair removal, facial skin rejuvenation and facial and leg vein treatments.
We have been performing permanent hair reduction treatments utilizing intense pulsed light (IPL) since the inception of our cosmetic practice in 1997. IPL works most effectively on light-colored, untanned skin where the light energy can target the dark hair shaft rather than the melanin in the skin. However, here in Houston we have a large population of olive and other darker-skinned people. The CoolGlide Vantage, an Nd YAG laser, is one of the best ones to use on tanned or dark skin because of its longer wavelength compared to other hair removal lasers. With shorter wavelength lasers, there is a greater risk of burning darker skin. Just like our other hair removal devices, a series of treatment sessions is required to achieve permanent hair reduction.
The 1064nm wavelength also makes the Vantage laser a great option for non-ablative skin rejuvenation. We call this procedure Laser Genesis. The term “non-ablative” refers to the fact that the laser doesn’t burn, or “ablate” the top layer of the skin. The laser light penetrates below the surface of the skin down to the dermis where the collagen resides. The heat generated by the laser stimulates the cells that make collagen to start producing collagen. This new collagen plumps out wrinkles and improves the texture and appearance of aging skin. Treatments are performed every three weeks for a series of five treatments. Full-face treatments are the most popular, but treatments can also be done on partial faces, such as wrinkles around the mouth or eyes.
The third use of the Vantage laser is to treat spider veins on the face or legs. The hemoglobin in blood absorbs the laser’s light energy. The heat destroys the blood vessel and the spider vein then shrinks up and disappears.
For more information, see:
EpiLight™: New Remedy
for Stubble Trouble
Summer 1999
Remove Unwanted Facial Hair: New Treatments
Winter 2001
Permanent Hair Reduction
Winter 2006
If you have problems with unwanted hair, facial wrinkles or spider veins, call our office at 713.850.0240 to make an appointment to see if you are a candidate for the Vantage laser.
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