One 4-in-1 laser system, four treatments: hair reduction, tattoo removal, resurfacing, and IPL
Rachel offers laser hair reduction, laser tattoo removal, and erbium resurfacing for skin texture and fine lines at her Moneta practice, along with IPL photofacials, a light-based treatment for sun spots and uneven tone. Rachel only offers treatments she has personally tried. Each one starts with a complimentary consultation, where she looks at your skin, explains what treatment and recovery involve, and helps you decide whether it fits your goals.
What lasers do you use?
We use Rohrer Aesthetics’ innovative Spectrum platform, which is like having four different lasers in one. It features an 810 Diode laser for permanent hair reduction and removal, an Erbium YAG laser for skin resurfacing (as a “laser-assisted peel”), a Long Pulsed YAG to remove small, red, raised spots or cherry angiomas, and a Q-Switched 1064nm/532nm laser to gradually fade unwanted tattoos.
How do lasers treat all of these different conditions?
Laser technologies fundamentally work by delivering different wavelengths of light to targeted tissues and other areas within the body. The energy generated by the laser can accomplish many remarkable things, from removing damaged tissue to stimulating structural changes deep within the skin. Of course, the exact way lasers effectively treat conditions depends on the type of condition being treated, as well as the laser used to get results. For instance, how the 810 Diode reduces excess and unwanted hair for good differs from how the Q-Switched 1064nm/532nm fades the pigmented inks used in tattoos over time. Even those lasers that may be used to treat skin conditions (like the Erbium YAG and Long Pulsed YAG) can differ in how they affect tissues and repair damage.
How does the 810 Diode get rid of hair for good?
We like to say that the treatment reduces hair permanently. In fact, the FDA reports that lasers support a 70% reduction in unwanted hair after the first series of treatments are completed. Due to how the laser treats the hair follicles, this reduction is permanent. The laser gets sustained results by seeking the melanin pigment that provides color to our hair, eyes, and skin. Heat or thermal energy is generated as the light from the laser passes through the treated follicles. It is this powerful energy that then destroys or inactivates the hair follicle. Once this damage has occurred, hair can no longer grow through those treated follicles again.
And how do lasers treat stubborn tattoos?
Yes, even newer and lighter-colored tattoos can be treated effectively with lasers. Some types of tattoos may require more treatment sessions than others, though. The idea with the Q-Switched laser is to deliver an ultra-short pulse of high-energy light to the particles within the tattoo ink/pigment. As these particles absorb the light, the pigments heat up and shatter into smaller pieces. This process makes it easier for the body to metabolize or flush the damaged, downsized particles from the body.
How do lasers treat signs of aging and sun damage?
In numerous ways, lasers are generally characterized as either non-ablative or ablative. The latter type of laser promotes healing and structural changes deep within the skin by removing or ablating the outermost layers. The earlier type of laser facilitates healing and skin rejuvenation while preserving the surrounding tissue. The laser energy penetrates deeply while keeping the skin intact. As the underlying tissues are heated, the non-ablative laser stimulates collagen and elastin production.
There have traditionally been trade-offs; the ablative laser gets dramatic results in fewer treatment sessions but requires a potentially intense healing period. The non-ablative laser may require several treatment sessions to get results, but it is a “no-downtime” process. Thanks to technological advancements, you can get big results in less time and with comparatively minimal risks of complications and downtime versus older laser systems.
As you can see, the office of Andromeda Aesthetics offers a whole universe of different laser treatment options. Our team in Moneta, VA, encourages you to share your concerns with us. To schedule your complimentary consultation, call us today at (540) 488-2675.
