Everyone’s pain threshold is different. Some people say it feels like a slight sting and others say the sensation is more pronounced. That feeling is only evident at the time we are pulsing the laser. Once the technician stops pulsing the laser, the sensation stops. For those individuals that experience significant discomfort, a topical anesthetic can be used. Compared to electrolysis and waxing, most clients should find our process tolerable.

After treatment, there may be some redness which usually lasts only a couple of hours but can last up to 48 hours. This is comparable to very mild sunburn. Some aloe vera lotion or hydrocortisone cream can be used in these cases.

The treatments start at about a few hundred dollars and go up depending on the body area being treated. Clients can pay for the treatments as they are performed or they can take advantage of our monthly specials and package discounts to save money.

The laser emits a very specific light beam that is absorbed by the pigment located in the hair follicle. The laser is pulsed, or “turned on,” for a fraction of a second.The duration of the pulses have been carefully determined so that enough energy is absorbed by the hair follicle to disable it but not so much that excess heat is transferred to the surrounding skin, resulting in safe and effective hair removal.

Lasers are precise instruments that can be adjusted to the exact parameters that will specifically disable the hair follicle. The laser uses a wide beam that treats hundreds of hair follicles at once instead of treating hair-by-hair like electrolysis. Because of this, large areas such as legs, arms, or a back can be treated in a short amount of time. You will see results that last far longer than tweezing, waxing, shaving, chemical depilation, or other temporary treatments.

Because the laser treats many hair follicles at a time, facial areas (lip, chin, etc.) can be treated in five to ten minutes. Small body areas (underarms, bikini, etc.) take less than 15-20 minutes. Larger body areas (full back, legs, arms, etc.) usually take about 30 minutes to an hour or more, depending on the size of the area and the density of the hair.

Within several minutes of the treatment, the treated area may become slightly red. Some experience a sensation similar to mild sunburn. This reaction subsides within a few minutes to a few hours and the area returns to normal. Since the laser does not burn or cut the skin in any way, no bandages are necessary. You are able to reapply your make-up, return to work, and continue with your normal daily activities. It is recommended that you apply sunblock to treated areas for several days following treatment.

The laser works by disabling hairs in the active growth cycle at the time of treatment. Since most hair will be in the dormant stage during treatment, an average of five treatments is usually necessary to disable a majority of the follicles. Because everyone is different and we all have different hormone levels and medical influences, some people may need additional treatments to reach their desired goals.

The lasers we use have received FDA approval for “permanent hair reduction.” Once we disable the blood supply feeding the hair follicles, those particular follicles are permanently destroyed and will not grow back. However, not all of the hair follicles on our body are active and as we get older, inactive hairs will become active. The laser will not keep those hairs from becoming active but once they are, we can treat them successfully with the laser.

Depending on the area treated, there will be a series of five initial treatments that are spaced about 2 to 3 weeks apart. Treatments usually take from 20 to 30 minutes. After the initial series of treatments, depending on clinical result, other follow-up treatments may be recommended. Often patients will want a single follow-up treatment at six month intervals to keep their skin looking its best thereby maintaining a more youthful appearance. Clinical studies suggest that several treatments are needed to stimulate new collagen growth. Regular touch up treatments are recommended to sustain the continued growth of new collagen.

The best candidates usually will have: wrinkles and fine lines, red flushed faces, or fine blood vessels, sun-damaged skin, hyperpigmentation, including age spots, melasma, and enlarged pores.

Yes. Advanced light systems have been used safely for millions of treatments worldwide. These systems treat only the targeted tissues, leaving the surrounding tissue intact.

The TLC Medispa Laser Skin Rejuvenation treatment is unlike any other skin resurfacing treatment. Your skin is not subjected to harsh chemicals or the intense after-care of other facial rejuvenation procedures. Patented technology protects the sensitive surface layers of your skin, allowing the laser light to penetrate to a deeper level and stimulate new collagen growth.

The TLC Medispa Laser Skin Rejuvenation treatment can be performed on any facial area – around the eyes, mouth cheeks, chin, but also can be used on neck, arms, hands, and chest.

Pigmented lesions, birthmarks, brown spots, and age spots are created from an excessive concentration of melanin in the skin. Melanin is what gives our skin its color. Everyone has different amounts of melanin in their skin. High concentrations of melanin can be due to various factors. Some types are present at birth, but most occur with age or because of overexposure to the sun’s damaging rays.

The most commonly treated conditions are solar lentigines, also known as “age spots,” “liver spots” or “sun spots;” café’ au lait birthmarks; and freckles. These benign pigmented lesions are due to an excess of pigment in the skin, usually due to sunlight exposure and congenital factors. Age spots may appear as enlarged light freckles on the face and hands. Café’ au lait birthmarks may appear as light brown markings anywhere on the body and can be quite large.

Pigmented lesions and age spots are cosmetic problems that do not require treatments for medical reasons. Topical therapies include the use of tretinoin (Retin-A), topical vitamin-C or fade creams. These topical therapies are an option, but the results are unpredictable and the response time is 6 months or more for improvement. Make-up is also an option. Cryotherapy can improve pigmented lesions, but often leaves white unpigmented area or small scars.

Most pigmented lesions if completely removed will not return. At times, however, sun exposure may cause café;-au-lait spots to return. Permanence cannot be guaranteed. You will also continue to develop more age spots and freckles with time, and the appearance of these new lesions should not be confused with recurrence.

There is a high possibility of hair removal in the treatment area. This is caused by uptake of light by melanin in the hair. A normal reaction is that the skin becomes darker immediately after treatment. Crusting of the lesion can be expected. This will clear 1-2 weeks after treatment. In rare cases, temporary pigment changes in the skin might occur, but most patients experience few problems than after laser treatment.

Yes if there are hairs present, these can absorb some of the light energy.

The number of treatments depends on the lesion being treated. Solar lentigines require one to three treatments whereas café’ au lait spots take up to twelve treatments. Recommended treatment intervals are one month.

Patients with sensitive skin may benefit from a single application of glucocorticoid cream immediately after treatment and antiseptic cream (chlorhexidine 1%) for a few days. Patients should avoid sun for a month or so after treatment and should use a sunscreen (SPF 30) during this period.

The laser is efficient in treatment of epidermal lesions such as solar lentigines, sunspots, age spots, and café’au lait spots. It is extremely important to ensure that the lesion is benign, and to take specialist advice from your doctor if unsure.

Red, blue or purple leg and facial veins can be a result of sun exposure, use of oral contraception, hormone therapy, age or genetics.

With a beam of light, the laser can deliver a prescribed dose of energy to the spider veins. The laser “selectively” coagulates the problem veins while sparing surrounding areas. After treatment, the vessel slowly and naturally disappears.

Results are seen within three to four weeks. Typically, one to two treatments are recommended.

This is something that must be determined with each patient individually, but the majority of patients will benefit from this treatment.

No. This non-invasive treatment process takes between 10 and 20 minutes, depending on the nature and extent of your spider veins. After treatment, there is no down time – you can resume all of your normal activities immediately afterward.

The treatment causes only minimal discomfort. Any redness or swelling should be gone within a day and you will be able to resume normal activities immediately.

Current laser treatments for varicose veins and spider veins have very high success rates compared to traditional surgical treatments. Over a period of years, however, additional abnormal veins can develop. The major reason for this is that there is no cure for weak vein valves. With time, pressure gradually builds up in the leg veins. Ultrasound can be used to keep track of how badly the valves are leaking (venous insufficiency). Ongoing treatment can help keep this problem under control. The single most important thing a person can do to slow down the development of new varicose veins is to wear graduated compression support stockings as much as possible during the day.

• Your doctor will administer several tiny injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic directly into the muscles that cause those moderate to severe frown lines between the brows.
  
• Your doctor will determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The location, size, and use of the muscles that create a furrowed brow vary markedly among individuals.
  
• No anesthesia is required, although your doctor may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief.
  
• You can expect to be in and out of the physician’s office without downtime. You may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows within days. Improvement may continue for as long as a month, and could last up to 4 months.
  

The lines that appear between your brows actually result from muscle movement and the passage of time. Two muscles are largely responsible for frown lines between the brows. When those muscles contract they draw the brows together. As skin becomes less elastic over time, repeated frowning can result in those moderate to severe lines between the brows.

Those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows form over time as the result of muscle activity. BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscles between your brows. It works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those persistent lines to form.

Within days, you may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows. Lines continue to improve for up to a month, and results can last for up to 4 months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated the improvement in their appearance as moderate to better 1 month after treatment. Results may vary.

Results from treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic can last for up to 4 months. If you discontinue treatment, the frown lines between your brows gradually will look like they did before treatment.

Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, your physician may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people are in and out of the physician’s office without downtime following BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.

BOTOX® Cosmetic should not be used in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation. Patients with neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

The most common side effects following injection include temporary eyelid droop and nausea. Localized pain, infection, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising may be associated with the injection. Patients with certain neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at increased risk of serious side effects.

Although the results are visible, a treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic will not radically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you "had work done." The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases between your brows.

If you do not continue treatments, the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows will gradually look like they did before treatment.

When considering your facial aesthetic options, BOTOX® Cosmetic is quite affordable. According to an American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery survey, BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the low-entry-cost facial aesthetic procedures in the United States. Like other appearance-related investments, such as hair coloring and cuts, teeth whitening, and chemical peels, the cost must be weighed relative to your expectations. Consult your doctor for further information.

Although Restylane requires no pretesting, there are a few precautions you should take before being treated. Avoid using aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, St. John’s Wort, or high doses of Vitamin E supplements prior to treatment, because these may increase bruising or bleeding at the injection site. Also, if you have previously suffered from facial cold sores, discuss this with your doctor, who may prescribe a medication to minimize recurrence.

Restylane is administered by injection to the treatment site. Before treatment talk to your doctor about pain management.

No. Over time, Restylane is broken down and eliminated by the body – unlike permanent fillers.

Restylane is injected directly into the skin in small amounts by an ultrafine needle. As with all injections, some patients may experience discomfort. To increase your comfort, your doctor will assess your need for pain management and determine what technique is right for you.

How long the aesthetic correction lasts is very individual. Talk to your doctor about the benefits of scheduling a follow-up appointment in about six months.

BOTOX® Cosmetic and Restylane are used to correct wrinkles in different ways. Restylane products are natural cosmetic fillers injected into the skin, adding volume to smooth wrinkles such as the lines from your nose to the corners of your mouth (nasolabial folds.) In contrast, BOTOX® relaxes the muschles that cause frown lines between your eyebrows.

After your treatment , you might have some swelling, redness, pain, bruising, and tenderness. This will normally last less than seven days. Although rare, red or swollen small bumps may occur. If you have had facial cold sores before, an injection can cause another outbreak. In rare circumstances, the doctor may inject into a blood vessel, which can damage the skin.

To avoid bruising and bleeding, you should not use Restylane if you have recently used drugs that thin your blood or prevent clotting. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding or under 18 years of age you should not use Restylane. Restylane should not be used by people with previous bad allergies, particularly to certain microorganisms known as gram positive bacteria, or by people with previous bad allergies to drugs that have required in-hospital treatment. The use of Restylane at the site of skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infection should be postponed until healing is complete.