laser Archives | The Aesthetic Clinique

Bellafill is a Unique, Safe, Long Lasting Filler

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Bellafill is a one of a kind dermal filler. What makes it unique is its longevity, composition, and FDA approved indications. Although FDA approved in 2006 for improving the nasolabial folds, there have been 2 recent studies that have expanding its indications. These are the use of Bellafill for acne scars and data which shows at least 5 years of correction from a Bellafill treatment. Both of these studies are ground breaking, with no other fillers able to make these claims.

Bellafill is a mixture of 20% PMMA (Poly Methyl Methacrylate) and 80% Bovine Collagen. PMMA has been used medically for over 50 years as an implant. The PMMA in Bellafill is uniform smooth spheres of 40 micron diameter. The spheres elicit an inflammatory response, which stimulates the body to create a collagen capsule around these spheres. The size of the spheres is important, because at 40 microns, the body is unable to phagocytize the PMMA (digest), leading to the prolonged longevity of the product. Being smooth, the inflammatory response is subdued, minimizing the uncontrolled inflammation found in granulomas. Prior to Bellafill injection, a dermal test is needed to see if the patient is allergic to the Bovine collagen and this takes 28 days to determine the results. The Bovine collagen in Bellafill provides a temporary correction for about 2-3 months, until the body’s own collagen is created.

Acne scarring causes significant psychosocial problems for millions of Americans. Isolation, depression, suicidal thoughts, and poor self-esteem are just some of the many issues these individuals suffer from. Bellafill is used to improve the appearance of the rolling type (scars that flatten when stretched) of acne scars. It is injected into the dermis, to elevate the scar. The results are immediate, but improvement is noted over the next 12 months. The FDA study showed that approximately 0.1cc was needed per scar, and most patients required 2 treatment sessions. There were no major complications noted and everyone was followed for 12 months. Satisfaction rated by the patients was over 90% at 12 months.

No filler on the market has published data showing persistent corrections at the 5 year mark. Bellafill studied 1008 patients for 5 years. Retention rate was 87%. Satisfaction rates at every year including the 5^th year was 80% or higher. The granuloma complication rate was 1.7%, which is comparable or better than all other fillers. With treatment, the granuloma rate was less than 1%. With corrections lasting at least 5 years, it is easy to see how Bellafill is actually a very economical filler as well.

Bellafill truly is unique amongst the dermal filler in regards to its longevity and use for acne scars. It is currently only available from a select group of physicians who have been trained by the company. Dr. Weiner is a physician trainer, lecturer, Key Opinion Leader (KOL) and on the physician advisory board for Bellafill. Dr. Weiner is actually a Bellafill patient as well, having been recently injected with 8 syringes of the product.

Various Acne Treatments offered by Dr. Steven Weiner

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Blog: http://stevenfweinermd.wordpress.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenFWeinerFacial

Website: http://www.theclinique.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheAestheticClinique/

Fractional Coagulation is in, Bulk Heating is out for Radiofrequency (RF) Skin Tightening

Ever since Rox Anderson suggested that treating a portion (fraction) of skin while leaving untreated healthy tissue behind as the basis for the Fraxel Skin resurfacing laser over 10 years ago, patients have been having less downtime, less risk, and less discomfort with their laser procedures. Healing is dramatically improved because the adjacent nontreated dermis is able to provide the needed blood supply, nutrients, and local immune response much faster than the traditional treatments and results have been shown to be very similar in efficacy.

Until recently, all RF devices have applied heat to the skin/dermis in a nonfractionated approach, called “Bulk Heating”. Whether the RF device is Bipolar or Monopolar, if the heating element does not penetrate the skin, the energy is pushed into the deeper layers using this method. The implication of bulk heating is that all precision is lost. Exact placement of the heat is impossible, with large opportunities for errors in depth of penetration and/or temperature control. When treating skin, heat from the RF device using bulk heating can be placed too superficial, leading to burns or pigmentation changes, or too deep, leading to fat loss. The dermis needs to be heated to 42 degrees C for 3 minutes to affect collagen stimulation. Only if skin temperature is measured can the operator be sure that the 42 degrees is reached with bulk heating, which is not the case for most bulk heating devices. One last temperature issue is that bulk heating devices are unable to obtain coagulation of the tissue, which occurs at about 67 degrees C, which is needed for maximal tissue contraction and collagen stimulation.

The Infini uses microneedles to deliver the radiofrequency energy IN A FRACTIONAL manner. Its unique array of needles allows the energy to flow between the needles, creating 49 coagulation points AT A SPECIFIED DEPTH in the dermis. Surrounding tissue is sparred, which makes for very little downtime. The superficial layer of skin is spared (because the needles are insulated), leading to no wound care, and markedly reduced risk of burns and pigmentation issues affecting the epidermis. The temperature created in the areas between the needle is enough to create coagulation, for maximal tissue contraction and collagen stimulation.

(Not all microneedling RF devices are fractional. Fractora uses microneedles, but because the energy is directed from the needles to the skin surface, the heating is in a fashion similar to bulk heating devices. Also, because more tissue is affected using this heating method, discomfort is much higher and local anesthetic needs to be injected in most cases.)

It has taken a long time for RF devices to catch on to the fractional technology revolution. The Infini has created much more precision in the delivery of RF energy to the dermis, allowing for higher degrees of skin tightening, while affording the safety and quick recovery time that fractional technology has created.

VBeam (for Rosacea, Redness, Vessels) questions answered by Dr. Steve Weiner, Facial Plastic Surgeon

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Q: Is it safe to use V-Beam laser on the face if Juvederm has been injected into the cheek area?

A: VBeam will not affect Juvederm or other fillers

There have been numerous studies showing no affect of lasers on any of the dermal fillers. The VBeam is actually a fairly superficial laser as well.

Q: Will the vbeam be a good recommendation for me?

A: Redness after acne eruption, VBeam is a perfect solution

The VBeam is made to improve redness. State of the art. It is also good to improve acne. So in your case you will get a double benefit: acne and redness improvement. There is minimal downtime, just some redness for a few hours. You will need 2-3 treatments

Q: Is the Vbeam Perfecta Laser Good to Get Rid of Red Marks Left from Acne? (photo)

A: VBeam is the go to laser for redness after acne

The VBeam is tried and true for this particular problem. It takes about 3 sessions to get the improvement but everyone is different. It also helps with ongoing acne. Steve Weiner, MD, Destin, Panama City Beach, FL

Q: Has Anyone Used the V Beam to Treat Redness from a Chemical Peel? I’m 20 Weeks Post Peel (40% TCA Done by a Plastic Surgeon).

A: VBeam will work for post peel, post laser resurfacing redness

The VBeam is very well suited for treating your condition. Usually 2-3 are needed to decrease the redness. It’s about a 10 minute procedure with no downtime, no topical, and nearly painless.

Q: How Many V Beam Treatments Needed for Broken/dilated Capillaries?

A: Vessels and Redness need 2-3 treatments with the VBeam

In general, 2-3 treatments with the VBeam can improve enlarged vessels and redness. Over time, these can return. Some people this is a year, some a few years. There is no major side effects other than slight redness and maybe some swelling which lasts a couple hours, at most, overnight.

Q: Perfecta V Beam Okay for Asian Skin Type?

A: VBeam on Asian Skin is ok if skin is not too dark

There are studies treating Asians with the VBeam showing it’s safe and effective. It treats all vascular lesions such as hemangiomas, telangietasias, Portwine stains, rosacea, red scars, agiomas, and can treat acne.

Q: Will VBeam Treat White Stretch Marks?

A: VBeam for stretch marks works only in they are red

If the stretch marks are mature and white, the VBeam will not work. Stretch marks are tough to treat and you can only expect mild but real improvement with the Fraxel Dual. I don’t think using the CO2 laser on your skin type is a good idea but it is also used for stretch marks. I don’t think pigmentation should be a problem it you treat with hydroquinones before and after.

Q: Can I V-Beam my Ears?

A: VBeam can be used on ears to treat small vessels (telangiectasias)

Yes, the VBeam is excellent for treatment of vessels on the ears. The only place it doesn’t work well is on the legs because the pressure in these vessels is higher and the vessels are deeper.

Q: How Soon Can I Fly After Recieving a Vbeam Procedure?

A: Flying immediately after VBeam is perfectly ok

I have the VBeam Perfecta, the top of the line, latest version. It’s algorithms are set so there is very little chance of bruising. The most I see is usually only mild redness and occasional swelling. Flying afterwards will not affect your outcome at all.

Q: Can V-beam Perfecta Effect Hair Growth After Treatment Like Cause Hair Loss on the Body Where It is Used

A: VBeam should not affect hair growth in area treated.

A VBeam may temporarily remove hair in the area treated but there is no long term hair removal by the VBeam. It can vaporize the hair but not get deep enough to affect the hair follicle.

Q: V-beam Recovery, Is Delayed Pinkness Common?

A: Redness after VBeam is normal

After having a VBeam, it is not uncommon to have some redness which can last up to about a week. You can have some bruising as well. In general though, the redness is very mild, and the social downtime in minimal after having a VBeam.

Q: Will V Beam Help with Acne?

A: VBeam good for both acne and redness associated with it

The VBeam is a rather easily tolerated laser for treatment of redness associated with acne. It also helps improve the acne. It is usually done in a series of 3-4 treatments separated by about 3-4 weeks. Of course, topical medications are needed to treat acne as well.

Q: Can V Beam Help Diffused Redness if IPL Didnt Help?

A: VBeam is better than the IPL for redness

The VBeam was specifically designed to take care of redness. It’s actually safer than the IPL because it has DCD cooling which keeps the skin cooler than an IPL and because it is more specific for the redness than the IPL is. As far as discomfort, the VBeam is extremely comfortable too. It can take more than one treatment to get optimal results.

Q: Is V-Beam Good for Facial Erythema / Ruddy Complexion?

A: VBeam is great for Facial Erythema and Ruddy Complexion

The VBeam laser is the gold standard for treatment anything that is vascular or red. It is great for treating generalized redness, enlarged vessels (telangiectasias), rosacea, hemangiomas, vascular lakes, poikiloderma, and port wine stains, You must make sure that the ruddy complexion is not a cummulation of actinic keratosis, which would be best treat, in my opinion, with Levulan followed by activation with the VBeam.

How to Treat Acne in 2014 – Spectra Laser Acne Peel with No Downtime or Discomfort

Acne is a fairly universal problem, affecting 80% of the population at some point of their lives. A subset of people suffer from moderate to severe forms of the disease and seek medical attention. It’s the number one reason that people seek out a dermatologist. Treatment options consist of topical medications, oral medications, life style and diet changes, chemical peels, and laser treatments. There is a growing concern regarding long term affects of antibiotics and the potential for resistance as well as the very well known side effects of Isotretinoin. A very effective treatment gaining popularity has been off label use of Levulan. The downside with Levulan is that for 36 hours, the patient must completely protect from all sunlight exposure to avoid getting over treated, called “phototoxicity”. The Spectra Laser Peel offers a no downtime, painfree solution to acne. It can immediately help control active acne, as well as help prevent future outbreaks. It leads to decrease sebaceous gland production of sebum (shown in clinical studies), and excessive sebum is the primary reason an individual gets acne. The heat from the laser dries up the ongoing outbreaks and helps kill active infections. The Spectra Laser Peel begins with placement of a charcoal liquid on the skin. It is allowed to absorb for about 10 minutes into the superficial skin layers and the sebaceous glands. After the 10 minutes, the procedure starts using the laser to gently heat the skin and anywhere where the charcoal absorbed. The next pass with the laser causes vaporization of the charcoal and in doing so, about 20 microns of the epidermis is removed. This creates a nice superficial peel of the skin, leaving it with a clean, fresh appearance and glow. The active acne and sebaceous glands are further heated on this pass and subsequent 3 passes with the laser. The last pass with the laser just targets any ongoing acne with even more heat. Throughout the procedure, the patient experiences only a mild heat sensation. Immediately afterwards, they can go in public. Follow up treatments are scheduled at 1-2 week intervals until the acne is controlled.

A presentation at the annual meeting for the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) 2014, showed prolonged (up to 3 years) acne control with treatments similar to the Spectra laser peel. An average of 8 treatments was needed for the study group, with some requiring as few as 3 and others requiring up to 16.

In patients without acne as their primary concern, the procedure has been called the “Hollywood Peel” because it has been used frequently on stars just before their red carpet appearance. It gives them a refreshed look with no downtime. Dr. Steven Weiner is a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon practicing in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, between Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida. After laying down his scalpel in 2005 he has devoted his practice to Lasers and Injectables. Blog: http://stevenfweinermd.wordpress.com/ YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenFWeinerFacial Website: http://www.theclinique.net Press Release about Spectra Laser Acne Peel

How to Score Some Points with Your Plastic Surgeon/Aesthetic Physician

Getting on the good side of the doctor that makes you look better can definitely have its benefits. Following these suggestions can get you some brownie points.

Stay well informed. Search out your Doctor’s website, Facebook Page, Blog, and YouTube Channel to learn about the procedures that are offered. This can make the initial consultation go more smoothly. You can narrow the options before the office visit according to your lifestyle and concerns. Watching videos of the procedure being performed can greatly improve your comfort level by knowing what to expect.
Be Nice and Smile. Smiles are contagious. We are all here to make you look good and feel better about yourself.
If you have a budget, let us know. It’s very important that everyone is on the same page when deciding on a particular treatment. For example, lasers are usually more expensive for treating certain skin conditions (sun damage), but they get faster and better results than the less expensive options (chemical peels). Treatment plans can be tailored to meet all budgets.
Try to stay with one physician. The lure of a “Groupon Special” on Botox or fillers is enticing. However, pricing should not be the primary motivation for choosing where you go. Qualifications, experience, and customer service should be much more important factors in your decision-making. It’s often hard to piece together what was done if you have gone to several different physicians.
If you have a social event, try to get treated a week or two in advance. Waiting too close to an event can cause undue anxiety when there is some minor bruising or swelling. Give us doctors a little leeway (a week) so that everything can settle down from your filler administration. Even though Dysport may kick in faster than Botox, it still needs 3-5 days to see its full effect.
Try to hold off the blood thinners when coming in for injections. If you take herbal supplements, aspirin, anti-inflammatories, vitamin E, or fish oil, the chance of having bruising is much higher than if they were held for a few days (aspirin needs about 12 days). Even a physician with the most delicate touch and technique can’t always avoid bruising when injecting someone who has “thinner blood”. Of course, if the thinners are medical necessary, you must continue their use.
Don’t ask your doctor to make your lips too big. Remember, every patient is a walking billboard for the doctor’s practice. Most doctors want to be known for natural looking enhancements. There needs to be dialog between the patient and doctor when the patient’s wishes are beyond the realm of what is naturally appearing.
Don’t tan or use sunless tanners before laser procedures. The risk of pigmentary issue goes way up when lasers are used on tan skin. Usually at least 3 weeks are needed to be out of the sun for laser work. The problem with sunless tanners is that the pigment in the product can absorb or reflect the laser and cause potentially even more damage to the skin than a tan would.
Follow the recommended post treatment instructions. To get the maximum benefit with the least amount of side effects, there are certain do’s and don’ts after all procedures. Most physicians will either give a printed instruction sheet or will have them on their website.
Don’t use grandma’s homeopathic remedy on your skin after peels or lasers. After a laser resurfacing, the skin is 50 times more sensitive to topicals creams. Please use the skincare regime outlined by your physician.
If there is some issue after a procedure, LET US KNOW! Almost always, there are minor little adjustments which can be made to your Botox or filler treatment that can correct an undesired result. From a doctor’s perspective, we want to have happy clients. We would much rather have you call or come in for any issue rather than lament at home.
Give us a shout out. If you are extremely pleased with how you look and feel after a treatment, tell your friends. In fact, bring your friend(s) with you to your next visit. Write a review on Facebook, Yelp, or Google Plus.

Dr. Steven Weiner is a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon practicing in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, between Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida. After laying down his scalpel in 2005 he has devoted his practice to Lasers and Injectables.

Blog: http://stevenfweinermd.wordpress.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenFWeinerFacial

Website: http://www.theclinique.net

Are superficial chemical peels obsolete? The Spectra Laser Peel (“Hollywood Peel”) might make that happen.

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Chemical peels have been a staple for skin care for decades. There are dozens of different types treating various skin conditions. This blog will be directed at the superficial chemical peels used to treat: fines lines, pigmentation, sun damage, acne, large pores, and to rejuvenate the skin. These peels are usually placed by an aesthetician in a spa or physician’s office. After about 2-3 days, the peeling starts and lasts for a couple of days and sometimes up to 5 days. During the peeling phase, there’s various amounts of flaky skin, treated with moisturizer. The skin eventually looks great, 3-7 days after the initial placement of the peel.

Let’s turn to the Spectra Laser Peel. The Spectra Laser is a Q switched 1064 laser that has a tremendous affinity to pigment. It is designed for (and state of the art for) tattoo removal and treating various pigmented lesions (freckles, seborrheic keratosis, lentigos, cafe au lait, nevi, post inflammatory hyperpigmenation, and melasma). The laser peel begins by placing a carbon liquid on the skin for about 10-15 minutes. The carbon is absorb superficially in the skin. This liquid is essentially tricking the laser into thinking its attacking pigment when it is applied to the face. As the laser is first passed over the skin, the carbon absorbs some heat which is passed to the underlying skin. The next several passes cause vaporization of the carbon as well as a very superficial layer of the skin – 15-30 microns. What’s better is that there is no discomfort during the procedure!

The end result is a glowing and radiant skin tone with NO associated peeling or recovery time.

I believe the effectiveness for the various skin condition (acne, pores size, fine lines, pigmentation, melasma) is marked better with the Spectra Peel than with traditional chemical peels. Active acne outbreaks seem to resolve within days. Just like other laser procedures, the Spectra Peel can’t be performed on tan or recently sun exposed skin, or people on Accutane. It can not be done on darker skin types as well.

If you’re looking for a quick skin rejuvenation with essentially no downtime, do what they are doing in Hollywood just before they hit the red carpet, The Spectra Laser Peel.

Blog: http://stevenfweinermd.wordpress.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenFWeinerFacial

Website: http://www.theclinique.net

Don’t Forget The Hands and Decolletage When Thinking About Your Cosmetic Refinements!

Before and after hand volumization with Radiesse.

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Most of the procedures advertised and touted have to do with rejuvenating and beautifying the aging face and neck. This blog is to bring attention to the often ignored areas: The Decolletage (chest) and The Hands. There are some simple, quick, and little to no downtime procedures that can be performed to bring these areas up to speed with your face and neck cosmetic improvements.

Just as the other parts of the body, the hands and chest lose volume from fat loss, and thinning of the skin. In the hands, the vessels and tendons become more apparent, and in the decollete, wrinkles form the “cleavage” area. The easiest way to improve this problem is with filler. Using micro blunt cannulas, the procedure becomes nearly painless and without any downtime. Filler of choice for the hands would be Radiesse, and for the chest, Sculptra. For the Sculptra treatment, it will take 2-3 sessions, but this will give 2 or more years of improvement. It thickens the skin by stimulating the skin to produce collagen.

Most people these days protect their face from the sun, but the chest and hands are neglected. Sunscreen is important fo r these areas as well. Sun damage on these areas presents as:

Hyperpigmentation, “sun spots”, lentigos
Wrinkles
Thinning of the skin
Skin cancers and pre cancerous lesions

Hyperpigmentation is treated with skin care, peels, and lasers. Proper skin care can include: Sunscreen, Retin A or Retinol (for the chest), Growth factors like TNS Essential Serum (for the chest), and body skin care like Environ which exfoliates and hydrates. For more extensive damage chemical peels can be done, or laser procedures. If just wanting a few spots removed, the Spectra Q-Switched Laser is state of the art to remove individual spots. They will darken and then flake off over 2-3 weeks. If the skin is covered with pigmented lesions, the Fraxel Dual 1927 is required. This will require 2-3 treatments and is a nice laser peel that rejuvenates the underlying skin as well and thickens the dermis. Peeling from the 1927 takes about 2 weeks to resolve. Subsequent treatments can be done after 1 month. The Fraxel Dual is also a great tool to remove and prevent pre cancerous skin lesions called actinic keratosis. It is FDA approved for this purpose and is equal in efficacy to the topicals used for this like: Aldera, Efudex, and Carac.

There are 2 technologies which have yet to be used extensively in the chest and hands but offer promise. Ulthera (Ultherapy) and Infini. These devices create small injuries in the dermis which lead to the body tightening the overlying skin, laying down collagen, and thickening the skin. There are already FDA trials of the Ulthera on the chest. Infini is a very new technology and Dr. Weiner is one of the first in the country to have it. Soon hands will be done with the Infini at The Aesthetic Clinique and results will be posted.

Often people who look much younger than their stated age, the truth is seen in their hands. Don’t ignore this area, as well as the chest! There are several easy ways to get them to match your youthful facial appearance.

Blog: http://stevenfweinermd.wordpress.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenFWeinerFacial

Website: http://www.theclinique.net

Fastest way to get Tattoo removal – R0 protocol, at The Aesthetic Clinique

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The frustration with typical tattoo removal has been that it can take up to 10-15 treatments to remove that unwanted ink from your skin. With the recommended 2 month interval between treatments, this can take over a year to get to your final results.

The limiting factor when treating a tattoo has been that white gas bubbles develop under the skin which inhibit the laser from being effective. Physicians noted though, that after 20 minutes, the bubbles were gone, allowing for another treatment. This waiting 20 minutes and repeating the treatment is called the R20 protocol, and allows for 4 treatments in one day. The downside is that it requires over an hour of being in the doctor’s office and can be longer if the laser or doctor is busy when the 20 minutes are up. It was consistently reported by the patients that the subsequent treatments on the same day after the first one were much more comfortable.

An exciting new protocol, called the RO protocol, now eliminates the 20 minute wait between treatments. By placing a fluid on the skin, perfluorodecalin, the white gas bubbles are eliminated almost instantly, thereby allowing the 4 treatments to be performed in rapid succession. A study showed this treatment was safe and that the tattoos were removed faster than with the one treatment per session standard protocol.

So now, tattoo removal is faster with only 2-4 sessions, and more comfortable with the RO protocol. Please call the Aesthetic Clinique for your tattoo removal evaluation. We use the Spectra Q switched laser which is, in our opinion, the safest laser for tattoo removal on the market.

Blog: http://stevenfweinermd.wordpress.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/StevenFWeinerFacial

Website: http://www.theclinique.net

How to improve your melasma

Melasma is skin pigment disorder (hyperpigmentation) which occurs in patches, which is often caused by fluctuations in hormones. It occurs mostly in females, most commonly affects the cheeks, forehead, nose, jawline, and upper lip. When associated with pregnancy it is called Chloasma, “mask of pregnancy”. It is exacerbated by oral contraceptives and exposure to sunlight and heat. Most people have fluctuations in their pigmentation, with the summer months being the worst.

There still is no consensus as to the exact etiology of the disorder. It seems that the melanocytes, the cells which produce pigment (melanin), are abnormally hyperactive. There are 3 forms of the disease: epidermal (superficial), dermal(deep), and mixed. It is often a frustrating disease for both patients and physicians because there is no easy cure. Recurrences are the rule. Often after taking months to improve, one or two sun exposures will reverse the disorder to it’s original state.

The first steps to improve melasma are:

Limit sun exposure. Use hats, suncreens, and sunglasses daily! Physical sunscreens are better because they also reduce the skin temperature.
Try to reduce the hormones in your BCP’s or use another form of birth control
Even if you are fully protected from the sun, heat can exacerbate the pigment, so try to limit outdoor exposure.
Even visible light has been shown to exacerbate melasma. We now recommend daily use of Heliocare to combat this.

If simple measures don’t improve melasma to your satisfaction, then try these measures from your Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon:

Begin Retin A or Retinol. This suppresses the melanocyte and increases cellular turnover thereby decreasing pigmentation.
Hydroquinone 4%. This is a cream which suppresses the pigmentation production from the melanocyte. Although some physicians go to higher strengths, there are more risks of getting complications and rebound hyperpigmentation. (Please see the link, hydroquinones are on the way out.)
Lytera from SkinMedica. This is a new product that attacks pigmentation at 4 different levels.
Chemical Peels. Regular chemical peels seem to help control melasma and are the mainstay of therapy at The Aesthetic Clinique. It seems the consensus among Dermatologists as well.

After exhausting all the above measures and your melasma is still a concern, it’s time to consider using lasers. Only as a last resort are laser used because there are risks of making melasma worse. There are 2 lasers FDA approved for melasma and The Aesthetic Clinique has both of them. The Fraxel Dual is a resurfacing laser and treats the superficial epidermal form of melasma. Usually one to three treatments are needed and there are a few days of downtime. The other laser is the Lutronic Spectra Q switched laser. This is used for all types of melasma and there is no downtime. The Spectra can require 5 to 10 treatments with 1-2 touch ups per year. This laser might give a longer term solution to the problem because it actually causes permanent change to the melanocyte whereas the Fraxel Dual affects the pigmentation secreted from the melanocyte.

Although melasma can be a frustrating stubborn disease, there are many treatment options available. The Aesthetic Clinique has the 2 lasers which are FDA approved for treating melasma.

Please call our office to see what treatment options are available for you melasma. 850.622.1214. The Aesthetic Clinique, Steve Weiner, MD, Facial Plastic Surgeon, between Destin and Panama City Beach, Florida.

Bellafill is a Unique, Safe, Long Lasting Filler

Various Acne Treatments offered by Dr. Steven Weiner

Fractional Coagulation is in, Bulk Heating is out for Radiofrequency (RF) Skin Tightening

VBeam (for Rosacea, Redness, Vessels) questions answered by Dr. Steve Weiner, Facial Plastic Surgeon

How to Treat Acne in 2014 – Spectra Laser Acne Peel with No Downtime or Discomfort

How to Score Some Points with Your Plastic Surgeon/Aesthetic Physician

Are superficial chemical peels obsolete? The Spectra Laser Peel (“Hollywood Peel”) might make that happen.

Don’t Forget The Hands and Decolletage When Thinking About Your Cosmetic Refinements!

Fastest way to get Tattoo removal – R0 protocol, at The Aesthetic Clinique

How to improve your melasma

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