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WHAT IS PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY?
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), is the interaction of ultraviolet light and a photo sensitizer. The topical photo sensitizing agent, amino levulinic acid (ALA) is first applied to the skin. When ALA is then exposed to the appropriate ultraviolet light source, it is activated.
PDT treatments work by ultraviolet light activation of ALA and result in the reduction of all manifestations of sun damage, including blotchy pigmentation, rough spots (actinic keratosis), brown spots (lentigos), as well as reducing redness and eliminating blood vessels. PDT treatments are being used as an effective treatment for acne and rosacea, as well as for oily skin due to enlarged sebaceous glands.
PDT using ALA and ultraviolet light in the blue range is an FDA approved treatment for precancerous growths commonly called actinic keratoses.
Photodynamic Skin Rejuvenation is a cosmetic procedure that utilizes ALA and an intense pulse light ( IPL) source to reduce sun damage, rosacea, and superficial wrinkling.
HOW MUCH IMPROVEMENT CAN I EXPECT?
Patients can expect see approximately 40-60% improvement after 2-3 treatments.
HOW ARE THE TREATMENTS DONE?
ALA is applied to the skin in conjunction with a topical anesthetic to reduce mild discomfort accompanying the procedure. After washing off the anesthetic and ALA, the IPL photofacial treatment is administered over the entire area to be treated. Additional treatments are repeated at one month intervals.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF COMBINING PDT WITH IPL?
For patients seeking photorejuvenation for sun damage and/or sun spots as well as rosacea-like redness and dilated blood vessels, adding ALA to the photofacial treatment enhanced the treatment and reduces the number of sessions, from five to three, while at the same time, increasing the reduction of sundamage.
PDT is often easier for patients with multiple actinic keratoses then repeated treatment with liquid nitrogen or topically applied therapeutic agents such as Efudex or Aldara. In addition to a reduction in sun spots, blood vessels, redness, and pigment spots, there is an overall improvement in the skin’s quality and texture. The risks of scarring are reduced as compared with liquid nitrogen therapy, surgery, or Efudex. The treatment is usually well tolerated with minimal to no discomfort.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?
Following PDT, the treated areas can appear red with peeling and occasionally crusting; this rarely lasts longer than one week. In addition, a very small percentage of patients may also experience swelling of the skin, lasting for up to 2 weeks. Lastly, a small percentage of patients have experience significant redness following treatment that is prominent the first week, but fades over the next several weeks.
All patients will notice their sun spots and keratoses darkening and eventually flaking off, leaving normal skin. Repeated treatments may be necessary for the more sun-damaged patient.
PDT also requires avoidance of direct light sources for 40 hours after the application of ALA. This includes both sunlight and direct reading light. Patients are required to leave the office after treatment with a broad-brimmed hat and scarf or physical block; sunscreens alone are not sufficient. Exposure to additional sunlight immediately following the treatments can result in a more exaggerated severe reaction with the most severe cases resulting in blistering.
The FotoFacial ™- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
What are FotoFacial ™ Treatments?
FotoFacial ™ treatments are full face, neck, hands or body treatments
using Intense Pulsed Light and Radio frequency energy combined in the
same pulse.
These gentle, no-downtime treatments are used to improve the cosmetic
appearance of the face, neck or body. The original FotoFacial™ procedure
was co-developed by a dermatologist and a plastic surgeon, bringing together
the best of aesthetic dermatologic skin care and cosmetic plastic surgery
into one non-invasive procedure. The FotoFacial™ procedure has increased
in popularity and recognition to the point where it is now one of the
most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in North America. The procedure
has been featured in Allure, Cosmopolitan, In Style, Vogue, USA today
and numerous national and regional Television shows. Many Hollywood stars
and TV personalities rave about the FotoFacial™ and credit this
procedure for the renewed health and vitality in their skin. The FotoFacial ™ is the next generation in high-tech skin enhancement.
Are you a good Candidate for the FotoFacial™ Treatments?
FotoFacial™ treatments are beneficial in the treatment of the
following cosmetic skin concerns for the face and body (also known as
FotoBody ™ treatments):
- Rosacea, flushing, redness, ruddy complexion, broken capillaries
and spider veins of the face. All these "Pink" vascular based
conditions of the skin improve on average between 50-75% percent with
FotoFacial treatments.
- Sun spot, age spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, cholasma, mask of
Pregnancy, multiple freckles. All these "Brown", melanin based
conditions of the skin improve, on average, 50-75% with FotoFacial ™
treatments.
- Chronic sundamage and photoaging improves with FotoFacial™
by 50-75 with FotoFacial ™ treatments.
- SunDamage and aging signs of the Hands Neck (Poikioderma) and Chest
skin can be improved by 50-75% percent with FotoBody RF™ treatments
(FotoFacials™ for the skin of the body)
- Wrinkles and Skin Laxity. Unlike other more basic forms of Photo
rejuvenation, the FotoFacial , with its synergy of simultaneous
Intense Pulsed Light and powerful Radio frequency energy produces industry
leading non-ablative wrinkle and skin laxity improvements of up to 70%
without downtime; a claim that no other device or procedure has been
able to boast.
What results might I expect from the FotoFacial ™
treatments?
All patients notice a consistent improvement in the appearance of their
skin. The degree of improvement is gradual and persistent over the 15-18
week program and 5-6 FotoFacial ™ treatments. The noticeable and
significant changes that have been reported include: Improvement in pink
and brown discoloration, spider veins, pink and brown blemishes, sundamage,
age spots, pore size, acne scarring and wrinkles. The degree of improvement
can vary but averages 50-75% improvement in anything that is Pink and
Vascular or Brown and Melanin in nature. The improvement in fine to moderate
wrinkles, acne scarring, skin texture irregularities, laxity and smoothness
is 50-75%.
How does the FotoFacial differ from other Photo rejuvenation procedures?
In marrying Intense Pulsed Light and Radio Frequency energy into one treatment,
FotoFacial™ treatments offer the very latest and most effective
high-tech, non-invasive form of non-invasive skin enhancement. Many other
lasers and devices, such as N-lite®, Gooltouoh®, SmoothBeam®,
V-Beam®, IPL photo rejuvenation or Intense Pulsed Light systems with
the Quatum® or Vasculighl®, claim to deliver state-of-the-art
photo rejuvenation. With these basic Photo rejuvenation procedures you
may notice a degree of improvement in the appearance of some aspects of
your skin. However, by combining Radio Frequency and Intense Pulsed Light
into one FotoFacial™ treatment, you will achieve the optimal
degree of enhancement to all components of your skin. By adding the Radio
Frequency to the Intense Pulsed light, the FotoFacial" procedure
can no boast excellent, no downtime wrinkle improvements together with
the significant improvement in redness, rosacea, pinkness, spider veins,
pores and texture.
How are the FotoFacial™ treatments performed?
The FotoFacial" treatments are simple, office based treatments.
The patient is covered with a thin layer of cooling gel and the entire
face, chest, hands or arms are treated with a gentle pulse of light and
Radio frequency energy. Each treatment takes about 30 minutes and involves
pulses of bright visible light and Radio frequency energy that are passed
into the skin.
Because each FotoFacial™ treatment is gentle, most patients require
5 or 6 FotoFacial(tm) treatments to see the desired results and they are
performed every 3 weeks. In certain skin types, a microdermabrasion is
performed between FotoFacial(tm) treatments to enhance the penetration
of the light and Radio frequency energy.
How does the FotoFacial™ work to improve
the appearance of the skin?
Each pulse of the FotoFacial™ device sends two types of energy into
your skin. Intense Pulsed Visible Light and Radio Frequency energy, that
act synergistically to enhance the skin. Energy is given up to brown spots,
blood vessels, and redness to gradually and gently lessen or eliminate
these blemishes. The Radio Frequency energy also produces significant
amounts of collagen, elastin and ground substances, the thick undercarpet
of the skin, resulting in a noticeable and significant smoothening of
fine to moderate wrinkles and textural irregularities of the skin.
Will the FotoFacial™ treatment hurt and will
I have to miss work?
The FotoFacial™ treatments have a tolerable level of discomfort.
The discomfort can be greatly reduced, or even eliminated by the use of
a topical anesthetic cream applied to the skin 30 minutes prior to the
scheduled FotoFacial™. After each treatment, patients can apply
makeup and return to normal activities. The FotoFacial™ treatments
have proven to be low risk, are associated with few complications and
patients rarely have downtime or have to miss work or regular activities.
How long will the Skin enhancement effects of the
FotoFacial™ last?
At the completion of the FotoFacial™ program the skin will have
achieved a noticeable and consistent degree of improvement that the majority
of patients are very happy with. Occasionally, some patients desire an
even greater degree of improvement and these patients will sign up for
additional procedures. Most FotoFacial™ patients will just desire
to maintain the nice skin enhancements they achieved from the program
and, for these satisfied patients, a single maintenance FotoFacial™
treatment is recommended every 4 months to keep the skin looking vital,
even, smooth and youthful.
Patient results may vary. Each set of photos reflects the benefit realized by the person in that set of photos, and not necessarily the viewers final results.
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