Laser Skin Resurfacing
Conveniently Located to serve Cincinnati, Dayton, Centerville, and Louisville
History of Skin
This cross – section of skin shows the epidermis on top. Underneath is the dermis with thick, well organized collagen fibers. As the skin ages, sun exposure, and heredity, the collagen becomes thinned and less organized. This creates wrinkles and furrows. Lasers and radiofrequency devices like Venus Legacy help slough the outer skin layer and stimute new collagen. Underneath the dermis is the subcutaneous or fatty layer. The Venus Legacy can help shrink this layer through heat and radio frequency waves.
About Laser Skin Resurfacing
Dayton, Cincinnati, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky patients can easily access the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center for laser skin resurfacing. Plastic Surgeons now have many tools to improve the skin from aging wrinkles, acne scars, and pigmentation changes.
There are many technologies available, but Dr Mark Mandell-Brown, has selected the Matrix Fractional C02 Laser for treating mild to severe wrinkles and scars. The high speed Ultrafine scanner directs a grid pattern of tiny light pulses at the skin. Each pulse delivers a column of energy that can reach the skin’s dermal layer. This helps remove the wrinkled layer on the surface or epidermis and stimulates collagen formation at the dermal or under skin layer. Since the laser beam is fractionated (in columns) there is micro-sized untreated skin that will promote faster healing.
Historically, dermabrasion using a wire brush or diamond burr was used to sand the skin and improve wrinkles and acne scars. With the development of the Carbon Dioxide (C02) laser —traditional dermabrasion lost its popularity. The early C02 laser treatments in the 1990s were very effective but patients would have skin redness or erythema for up to 3 months. Typically female patients could use water based make up to cover the redness after one week.
In the past 20 years, several advances have been made. Instead of using light (laser) energy, radio waves or radiofrequency was utilized to improve the skin wrinkles and tighten the skin. One of the first, Thermage, was approved by the FDA for crows feet or wrinkles around the eyes. In Dr Mandell-Brown’s opinion, this device was over marketed to promise non surgical facelifts. Many patients were disenchanted with the results.
Another advance, Fraxel an erbyium laser (instead of the carbon dioxide laser) was introduced. The patient typically underwent 4 to 6 treatments. The patients did not have the down-time or recovery of the carbon dioxide lasers but they also did not get the improvements they desired.
Recently, technology advanced the tradition C02 lasers so that columns of laser energy or fractions of laser energy could be used to leave microscopic areas of intact skin to allow faster healing. These lasers like the Matrix C02 laser are Fractionated Lasers.
The Matrix C02 Resurfacing Laser : This laser takes fractional resurfacing to the next level. This laser features the traditional laser treatment for deep facial wrinkles combined with the fractional treatment for milder wrinkles and brown spots. Now available at the Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center, the laser can be adjusted to suit your needs and reduce your recovery.
According to Top Doc in Cincinnati and Dayton, Dr Mandell-Brown, the Matrix laser can be adjusted for the patient’s goal and recovery time. At milder settings, the laser penetrates less deep and 3 to 4 sessions may be required. Recovery can be 4 or 5 days to a week. Stronger settings can be used to blast the acne scars or deep wrinkles in a one time treatment, but redness may last several months. Consultation with Dr Mandell-Brown can help develop an individualized treatment plan for you.
The Mandell-Brown Plastic Surgery Center is pleased to announce the Cincinnati, Ohio’s first Venus Legacy Radiofrequency treatment. The Venus Legacy uses radiofrequency to contour unwanted fatty areas, tighten skin and improve mild wrinkles. Through thermal heating and radio waves, the fat cells are dissolved and sun damaged collagen is restored.
The Venus Legacy treatments take 30 minutes and are described by patients as a warm massage. Skin may be red for one or two days. Four to six treatment sessions are required. To determine which treatment option is best for you contact us or call us at 513 984-4700 .