Since the damage comes from sun exposure strict sun protection is necessary. Additionally a skin rejuvenation cream such as Neocutis Journee or SkinMedica TNS complex is recommended to continue the rejuvenation process. A maintenance IPL treatment once or twice a year can also be helpful.
The IPL is a complex machine and if used incorrectly can cause adverse effects. In skilled hands the IPL treatment is very safe. All IPL treatments at Advanced Specialty Care are evaluated by a physician and are performed under physician supervision.
First a cool gel is applied to the skin. Then there is a series of light pulses that feel like a mild heating of the skin. The treatment takes 15- 20 minutes. Afterwards there is often a mild redness of the skin that lasts for a few hours. Discomfort is minimal and patients return to their daily activities immediately. The treated blood vessels and brown spots may appear temporarily darker and will fade over 1-2 weeks. Sun protection before and after the treatment is very important.
The IPL targets the enlarged blood vessels and abnormal brown pigment in the skin. It can destroy this damage gradually reducing it over a series of 3-4 treatments. Patients see a 70-90% improvement in redness, brown color and skin tone.
As we age, the effects of sun damage become more apparent. People get red and brown blotches on their skin. The skin becomes rough and develops uneven skin tones. We all associate this with “looking older”. Using the lumenis M22 IPL machine much of this sun damage can be reversed. The intense pulsed light (IPL) targets this damage and can restore a more youthful skin appearance. This treatment is often called a photofacial.
Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery services are available at our Danbury, New Milford, Norwalk, Ridgefield and Soutbury offices.
Your skin may become red and swollen. This may be a normal reaction and can last from an hour to several hours to a few days following treatment. Application of cold compress or ice for the first 24 hours will help minimize swelling. Freckles and sunspots may turn darker initially and then flake off eventually. This is normal and expected. Light scabbing or crusting may occur and is normal. Apply a topical antibiotic ointment as directed. If your skin blisters or becomes painful, please call the Advanced Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery office:
(203) 438-5080.
IPL technology helps to reverse the sign of aging creating smoother looking skin, it evens out the skin tone and texture. After a series of treatments, you will see a reduction of unwanted pigmentation and broken capillaries. The same treatment can be used effectively to treat the face, neck, chest, arms and hands; and also non-facial spider veins.
While there are many laser treatments, most will address either brown pigmentation or broken capillaries. IPL technology allows both vascular and benign pigmented lesions to be addressed in a single treatment without interruption in your busy lifestyle.
Depending on the number of conditions you are treating, and the severity of the individual problems, you may need multiple treatments that can be done four to six weeks apart. Treatment with IPL can create a marked difference in your skin that can continue to improve for weeks after the IPL treatment. You are usually able to resume your normal activities immediately after the treatment.
Intense Pulse Light (IPL) is a treatment that addresses a variety of benign skin conditions such as photo damage, broken blood vessels, pigmentation and other blemishes. It is a safe, noninvasive treatment that can be tailored to meet your particular needs.
Many people report seeing visible skin refinement and an even, radiant skin tone after just one treatment. The smooth results and hydration may last five to seven days or even longer. A series of six treatments are recommended for improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne and oily skin. After your first series of treatments, you may want to maintain your results with a HydraFacial treatment every two to four weeks.
The HydraFacial treatment is a fast, efficient treatment that takes as little as 15 minutes. The treatment is often described as a feeling like “a cool paintbrush moving over the face”. You may put on make-up and return to your normal activities right after the treatment since there is no downtime.
The HydraFacial treatment is designed for all skin types. Even the most sensitive skin easily tolerates the HydraFacial treatment. Your physician or skincare professional may choose specific treatment serums and/or customize the treatment for your unique skin conditions and needs. Consult your physician or skincare professional for a skin evaluation and sensitivity test.
Hydration is the foundation of healthy, radiant skin. Irritation of the skin has been proven to increase signs of aging. The HydraFacial is a hydrating and non-irritating treatment.
The HydraFacial™ treatment is a new breakthrough in aesthetic technology. It takes its name from the root word Hydrate: to cause to take up moisture. This ability to moisturize the skin separates the HydraFacial from all other skin resurfacing procedures. The HydraFacial™ treatment uses an abrasive tip to remove dead skin cells and extracts impurities while simultaneously bathing the new skin with cleansing, hydrating and moisturizing serums. The treatment is soothing, refreshing, non-irritating and immediately effective.
Eye itching may occur immediately after use, but should usually last only for a short period of time (one to two weeks during initial use). Eye itching alone is not an allergic reaction, and does not mean that your eyes are being harmed. Consult your doctor if the itching persists or you notice other symptoms as well.
Eye redness may occur immediately after use, but should usually last only for a short period of time. Eye redness alone is not an allergic reaction or inflammation, and does not mean that your eyes are being harmed. Please use the LATISSE applicators as instructed to help to minimize the occurrence of eye redness.
There is a potential for increased brown iris pigmentation that is likely to be permanent.
This is a condition where the pressure inside the eye is higher than normal. LATISSE may decrease IOP. So talk to your doctor if you are using IOP-lowering medications. Concurrent administration of LATISSE and certain IOP-lowering medications in ocular hypertensive patients should be closely monitored for changes in intraocular pressure.
This is a common, usually harmless condition in which areas of skin become darker than the surrounding skin color. This occurs when there is an increase in the melanin, the brown pigmentation that produces normal skin color, in the skin. Skin hyperpigmentation is a possible side effect of LATISSE but may be reversible after discontinuation of the product.
Active ingredient: bimatoprost
Inactive ingredients: benzalkonium chloride; sodium chloride; sodium phosphate, dibasic; citric acid; and purified water. Sodium hydroxide and/or hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust pH. The pH during its shelf life ranges from 6.8-7.8
Do not use LATISSE solution if you are allergic to one of its ingredients.
LATISSE solution is an ophthalmic drug product. If any gets into the eye, it is not expected to cause harm. They eye should not be rinsed.
The most common side effects after using LATISSE solution are an itching sensation in the eyes and/or eye redness. This was reported in approximately 4% of patients. The solution may cause other less common side effects, which typically occur on the skin close to where it is applied, or in the eyes. These include skin darkening, eye irritation, dryness of the eyes, and redness of the eyelids.
If you stop using LATISSE your eyelashes are expected to return to their previous appearance over several weeks to moths.
If you miss an application or a few, don’t try to catch up. Just apply the LATISSE treatment the next evening and stay on schedule.
LATISSE solution is the first and only prescription treatment approved by the FDA for inadequate or not having enough eyelashes, growing them longer, fuller and darker.
No, LATISSE does not work in place of mascaras. It is a solution treatment for inadequate or not enough lashes and requires a prescription from a doctor. However, mascara can be used on your eyelashes in addition to LATISSE.
LATISSE users may see results starting at 8 weeks with full results at 12 to 16 weeks. The growth is gradual overnight, over time.
A clinical trial of LATISSE was conducted on patients who applied the product to the base of their upper lashes only. Applied nightly, the transfer of LATISSE solution from the upper to lower eyelid may occur naturally because the eyelids are closed and the eyelashes touch each other. Over application may increase the chance of experiencing side effects. To ensure safety and maximize effectiveness, please follow the directions provided.
You should always only use the FDA-approved sterile applicators to apply LATISSE solution directly to the base of your upper eyelashes. The applicators have been specially designed and manufactured to meet FDA standards, and ensure that the correct dose of LATISSE is applied.
LATISSE solution is a once-a-day treatment you apply yourself each evening to the base of the upper eyelashes. You should always only use the FDA-approved sterile applicators to apply LATISSE directly to the base of your upper eyelashes. The applicators have been specially designed and manufactured to meet FDA standards.
LATISSE is believed to affect the growth phase of the eyelash hair cycle in two ways: first, it increases the length of this phase; and second, it increases the number of hairs in this growth phase. The exact way it works is unknown.
LATISSE solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker and darker.
Depending on the area of treatment and your tolerance, you may be able to use an anesthetic cream. Your practitioner will discuss this with you at the time of consultation.
You should take gentle care of the lasered area with mild soaps, non-abrasive cleansers. Cooled aloe is calming to the area.
Typically, you will feel warmth on your skin and another sensation, which feels much like a soft rubber-band snap. This second sensation is the absorption of the laser energy by the follicle. Your practitioner will explain these sensations in detail during your consultation and throughout your treatment sessions.
During the laser treatment your skin is cooled with a chilled gel to release the heat from the laser. After treatment your skin is cooled with a cold compress or towel and chilled Aloe Vera gel is applied. Some patients have redness that lasts for a short time after their treatment. Most of the time the redness is gone within an hour or even less.
You should not wax, use electrolysis or lightening products for at least one month prior to consult or treatment. Depending on the treatment area, you may shave or clip the hair a day or two before your first treatment. You cannot be tan during any phase of treatment; this includes usage of tanning products as well.
This is dependent on your skin type, hair color and hair growth phase. The laser will destroy the hair follicle during a certain phase of the hair growth cycle. Typically, 20% of your hair will be in the phase during your treatment. Treatments are scheduled 4-6 weeks apart in order to treat the follicles accordingly. Your practitioner will discuss in detail during your consultation and throughout your treatment.
Cost of treatment depends on size of surface area and amount of treatment time. Hair removal on a man’s back, for example, takes considerably more time than hair removal on a woman’s upper lip. We invite you to call us at (203) 791-9661 and ask for laser hair removal pricing. Just let us know which area(s) you’re interested in and whether the service is for a woman or a man.
A skin test is performed on all patients in order to determine your therapeutic dosage and treatment range. Your laser practitioner will discuss all elements of what to expect with you prior, during and after the skin test. Typically, you will return in 2-4 weeks to evaluate the results of the skin test and administer the first treatment.
The laser selectively targets the melanin (pigment) in your hair, which will absorb the energy and destroy the follicle. The laser does not affect follicles without hair. The strength of the laser treatment is customized for each patient to assure effective exfoliation with minimal skin effects.
Our practitioners are Registered Nurses in conjunction with an attending Plastic Surgeon.
All of our chemical peels are performed in our office by our Board Certified Plastic Surgeons (TCA Peel) or by our aestheticians at the Skincare & Laser Clinic.
If you would like to improve the overall smoothness of your skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, you are a candidate for one of the many peels that we offer.
Chemical peels are performed on the face, neck or hands. They can be used to:
- Reduce fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth
- Treat wrinkles caused by sun damage, aging and hereditary factors
- Improve the appearance of mild scarring
- Treat certain types of acne
- Reduce age spots, freckles and dark patches (melasma) due to pregnancy or taking birth control pills
- Improve the look and feel of skin that is dull in texture and color