Skin Rejuvination Laser Lift Instructions

Before Treatment

1. The area to be treated with the laser should NOT have been exposed to the sun or the tanning booth for at least 4-6 weeks prior to treatment. If sun exposure has occurred, your skin will be more susceptible to side effects from the treatment including blistering and discoloration.
   
2. Stop the use of tanning creams one week prior to treatment.
   
3. If you are taking high doses of iron, or if you have an olive complexion, you may need a test spot to see if you are susceptible to developing dark spots after treatment. You may also need to begin using a bleaching cream one-month prior to your first treatment.
   
4. Please arrive at your appointment with clean, dry skin. Be sure to remove all lotions, perfumes or other skin care products prior to your treatment. You may use all of your usual skin care regimen right up until the night before treatment unless otherwise instructed.
   
5. EMLA or ELA-MAX may be prescribed to decrease pain. Also, if you have a history of cold sores, an antibiotic will be prescribed for the day of treatment.

During Treatment

1. You will need to wear opaque goggles to protect your eyes. When we are treating the cheek skin near the eye, you will “see” light, this is okay.
   
2. A puff of cold air will precede and follow the laser pulse. This helps to protect the surface of the skin while the deeper collagen layer is being stimulated.
   
3. The laser makes a knocking sound when it is being calibrated and with each laser pulse. Over the years, they have been able to shrink the size of the Alexandrite laser and with the decreased size, it has become louder!
   
4. Immediately following your treatment, a cool, wet cloth will be placed over the area to help reduce redness. After some of the redness has subsided, a moisturizer and sunscreen will be applied.

After Treatment

1. Sun avoidance is still crucial. Sunscreen with good UVA coverage containing zinc, Parsol 1789 (avobenzone) or titanium dioxide is required every morning (“THINK ZINC”) for at least a month post treatment. Ideally, you will use sunscreen daily throughout your lifetime.
   
2. A gentle cleanser followed by a moisturizer and sunscreen daily is recommended. A specific regimen may be recommended for you. This should be continued until all redness has subsided. Then you may return to your pre-treatment regimen.
   
3. It is normal to be red for one to several days after treatment. Please do not apply cortisone creams unless instructed as they may decrease the positive benefits of treatment. Broken capillaries may become smudgy in appearance and gradually disappear over the next couple of days.
   
4. It is normal for skin to become flaky where you have sunspots or freckles. However, call the office immediately if you notice any fluid-filled blisters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I expect from a series of Laser Lift Treatments?

Reasonable expectations include some tightening and lifting of the skin over the treated area. We cannot predict the extent of your improvement. Usually, persons with the most damage experience the most improvement. However, the Laser Lift does not cause dramatic change and is not a replacement for a face-lift.

How does the Laser Lift work?

The laser energy passes into the dermis, the supporting layer of the skin, to stimulate collagen remodeling and new collagen development.

Will anyone know that I had a “Laser Lift?”

The beneficial changes in the skin are typically gradual and subtle. Because the laser stimulates your own skin to remodel and produce new collagen, your results will typically look more natural than a surgical procedure.

How will I look when I leave your office?

Immediately following a treatment session, you will most likely be red and “blotchy,” as if you had a sunburn. Moisturizer, sunscreen and makeup may be applied. You may also experience temporary darkening and flaking of sunspots that can last for several days.

What are the risks involved?

The number one risk is damage to your skin related to sun exposure pre or post treatment. You must be committed to avoiding sun exposure and to applying sunscreen with good UVA coverage every day. Ingredients to look for are zinc (“think zinc”), Parsol 1789 (avobenzone) and/or titanium dioxide. Sun exposure could cause blistering of the skin with resultant skin discoloration or even scarring. Persons with dark or olive skin should have a test spot done before their first treatment and may require bleaching creams before and after treatment.

The laser could activate the cold sore virus. An antibiotic will be prescribed in persons susceptible to cold sores to prevent a flare with treatment.

How many treatments will I need?

A treatment package includes three sessions at approximately one-month intervals. Improvement should continue for three months after your last treatment. If you are happy with your results but desire more improvement, you may be able to repeat the treatment package as soon as six months after your first session.

Do the results last?

You should expect any improvement seen three months after your last treatment to persist. However, time does not stand still. The sun and other stressors will continue to cause your skin to age. You can “set back the clock” but it will still keep ticking!

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Our practice is committed to providing the highest quality care for our patients. We offer personalized attention in a friendly, courteous environment.

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230 W. Maple Rd. Suite 200 Troy, MI 48084 248-362-3500 248-362-1941(FAX)