Aging occurs in the cells of the skin and other parts of the body. However, where we tend to see biological changes first is in our skin. The uppermost layers of skin tissue, the dermis and epidermis, begin to display concerns such as spots, roughness, fine lines, and laxity, all of which are related to cellular changes such as a slow-down in collagen production. We used to wait until the indications of aging were bad enough before treating them with facial cosmetic surgery. Not anymore. Now, adults of all ages are turning to laser treatments to support aging skin naturally.

What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Several laser treatments have been developed in recent years. The term laser skin resurfacing may be used somewhat as a blanket to describe all of them. But there are differences between the various laser techniques used today. Here, we want to focus on true laser skin resurfacing and what it can do for you.

The point of laser skin resurfacing is to remove the damaged skin of the epidermis. Doing this, the treatment paves the way for tissue regeneration at a deeper level. The results of laser skin resurfacing tend to be pretty remarkable due to the extensive collagen remodeling that takes place in response to controlled tissue damage. While resurfacing can achieve significant results, it is gentle enough for patients to combine this technique with others, like Botox or dermal fillers for deeper lines and creases.

Just as different laser devices are used for a wide range of problems, various devices are used for the purpose of laser skin resurfacing, as well. Each may use a particular wavelength or strength of energy based on the problems being addressed as well as skin type and tone. Some resurfacing techniques are fully ablative, covering the entire surface of the epidermis, while others emit light in a fractional grid-like pattern. The varying modalities allow us to meet each patient’s needs and preferences for results and downtime.

Why Now is a Great Time for Laser Treatments

There are two reasons to consider laser skin resurfacing or any other type of laser treatment right now. One is that we all like to look and feel our best for those holiday photos. Laser treatment can brighten and revive the appearance of your skin with little to no downtime whatsoever.

Laser treatments can address:

• Dark patches of skin
• Broken blood vessels and visible capillaries
• Fine wrinkles
• Large pore size
• Deeper wrinkles and creases
• Unwanted hair
• Acne
• Rosacea
• Melasma
• Acne scars

Another reason laser treatment is ideal for the winter months is that doctors recommend that patients avoid sun exposure after laser resurfacing. With the temperatures dropping, there’s no time like the present to cozy up to a warm fire while your skin regenerates itself after laser treatment.

Explore your laser treatment options in our Denver office by calling (303) 839-1616.

We aren’t brought up to understand the vital role our skin plays in our appearance and overall well-being. It’s fascinating to even think of the skin being the body’s largest organ! Because it is constantly exposed to both internal and external stressors, the skin can fall short of displaying the true vitality we feel on the inside. We know this as the various signs of aging that occur at some point. While we used to rely solely on surgical procedures to refresh the face, there are now numerous other options. Laser treatment is one of them.

New research from Johns Hopkins physicians demonstrates that laser treatments provide a natural pathway toward tissue regeneration by creating a small amount of controlled damage in the epidermis and dermis. This damage stimulates change at a cellular level, creating new processes for the skin to refresh itself. This particular bit of research confirms why laser treatments are so efficient at correcting problems like tissue laxity, sunspots and other pigment concerns, fine lines, deep creases, and textural irregularities.

In our Denver medical spa and plastic surgery office lasers fill an important role in helping our patients manage their aging process gracefully. If the concerns we’ve mentioned are a problem for you or you simply want to postpone cosmetic aging as long as possible, now is a great time to begin laser treatments of your own. The timing couldn’t be better because:

Collagen remodeling takes time.

We may be fortunate enough to enjoy sunny days throughout the year, but the dropping temperatures may cause us to be more drawn to indoor activities for a few months.

Scheduling laser treatments over the wintertime means that, come Spring, your skin will have a more radiant glow and also more resiliency to face the time when outdoor activities come calling.

Laser treatments like limited sun exposure.

Staying indoors is not an absolute must after laser treatments. The devices that are commonly used today are much gentler on the skin; they do not obliterate multiple layers of tissue in one fell swoop. That being said, sun exposure is one of the primary factors that contribute to the signs of aging. UV light degrades collagen and elastin, two vital chemicals that keep the skin firm and supple. After laser treatments, when the body is flooding tissue with new collagen and elastin, it’s best to not fight against it by spending days in the sun.

We’ve got several laser and light treatments to complement cosmetic surgery or use as an alternative to surgical lifts. To learn more about our devices and which may be ideal for you, call (303) 839-1616.

We often talk about the signs of aging such as lines and wrinkles, creases around the nose and mouth, and a droopy brow line. Over the years, numerous techniques have been developed to correct these complaints. Though they can be effective, many of the common treatments patients seek only address the end-result of aging, not the source.

As we age, most of the skin on the body loosens. It becomes a little less resilient and radiant, too. The reason this happens is that the body slacks off on its collagen-producing activity quite early during adulthood. Without sufficient collagen, tissues all throughout the body have a harder time sustaining strength and structure. By age 40, many people see this in the form of sagging jowls, flat cheeks, and, yes, lines and wrinkles on the face and neck. In our Denver office, we offer several ways to reduce the signs of aging. Additionally, we conduct treatments that are intended to draw more collagen to the skin. SkinTyte™ is one such treatment.

What is SkinTyte?

SkinTyte is a laser device developed by Sciton®, a leading manufacturer of laser devices. This particular laser platform utilizes both broadband light (BBL) and infrared energy to affect change at a cellular level. Energy is delivered in a sequence of gentle, rapid pulses as a small handpiece passes over the skin. The infrared and broadband light penetrate the uppermost layers of tissue to reach the dermis, where fibroblast cells that produce collagen have largely gone dormant.

In the dermis, these forms of light transfer to heat. The thermal energy causes immediate constriction in collagen strands in the upper, middle, and deep dermis. Coagulation in soft tissue within these upper layers of the skin also occurs, enhancing the collagen remodeling that will occur over several months after treatment.

Benefits of SkinTyte

Aside from addressing the core problem of aging, collagen loss, SkinTyte treatment offers benefits that are unmatched by many other skin-tightening treatments. Some of the improvements that patients see after just one treatment include:

• Softening of lines on the forehead, face, and neck.
• Additional volume in the mid-face area.
• Increased definition in the cheeks and jawline.
• Reduction in cellulite after body treatment.
• Reduction in stretch marks.

Historically, it has taken a combination of treatments to achieve this variety of improvements. SkinTyte is designed to achieve this in a single appointment.

Rejuvenate your appearance by targeting the source of aging. Contact our Denver office today to schedule your SkinTyte consultation.

Historically, there has been a virtual line in the sand between men and cosmetic treatments. Procedures like facelifts, liposuction, and just about everything else that the average woman was able to obtain were off-limits to men; not a “manly” thing to do. Fortunately, our perception of male grooming and what that can entail has changed dramatically over time.

Laser Hair Removal for Men

Since the onset of injectable solutions several years ago, we have witnessed an ongoing increase in the number of men obtaining cosmetic treatments. One of the procedures we cannot overlook is laser hair removal.

The fact that hairiness is a typical male trait does not mean all men appreciate this aspect of their biology. Truth be told, the women in their lives may not appreciate it all that much either. Laser hair removal allows a man more freedom in his grooming. It also allows him to feel much more comfortable in his own skin.

How Laser Hair Removal Works

The usual male grooming technique is to shave away unwanted hair. A few brave souls may undergo waxing on certain parts of the body. Each of these methods of hair removal is efficient, but not ideal. Shaving is something a man may have to do daily to maintain smooth skin; and, at that, he may still struggle with razor bumps. Waxing may lengthen the time in between grooming sessions, but not by much. A man may have to wax every few weeks. This is not only expensive but also uncomfortable. This is why laser hair removal makes sense for men.

Laser Hair Removal vs Shaving or Waxing

Laser hair removal differs from shaving and waxing because it neither cuts hair nor pulls it from the follicle, it vaporizes it. More than that, each laser hair removal session disables part of the hair follicle. This happens through the absorption of laser light. When specific wavelengths are directed toward the skin, light hits strands of hair and gets transferred as heat. This thermal energy immediately travels down the hair shaft into the follicle, where heat penetrates the tissue, causing controlled damage. Instantly, the hair that was at the surface disappears.

Results of Male Laser Hair Removal

To achieve the long-term results of up to 95% hair reduction, between 6 and ten laser hair removal sessions are usually necessary. Stopping after one or a few sessions will halt the progress of disabling hair follicles, and hair growth will continue as usual. The full course of treatment is scheduled in intervals that target each new active phase of hair growth. This is how we achieve permanent hair reduction.

Schedule a Consultation

Do you know a man who is troubled by unwanted hair? Contact our Denver office at (303) 839-1616 to learn more about laser hair removal for men.