More Comfortable and Less Down Time!

This is a great article on something we offer at Las Vegas Laser and Lipo for resurfacing instead of high energy CO2 because it is more comfortable and has less down time. 

Article: Beauty Tech Review: Skin Resurfacing - Portrait Plasma Skin Rejuvenation

The Portrait Plasma Skin Rejuvenation (PSR) provides dramatic overall skin rejuvenation without harsh healing typically associated with lasers.

There are a variety of devices in the market that use different energies to rejuvenate skin: fractional lasers, radiofrequency (RF), intense pulsed light (IPL) and that's just to name a few. And while each procedure is well suited to treat many skin issues, they all differ in technology, downtimes and efficacy. The Portrait Plasma Skin Rejuvenation (PSR) uses plasma kinetic energy to provide skin tightening and treat wrinkles.

The Portrait Plasma Skin Rejuvenation (PSR) has 3 levels to treat different skin issues, based on levels of severity. Acclaimed dermatologist Dr. Christopher Zachary says, "If you use the high energies with this device, you can get very nice skin tightening, excellent reduction in pre-cancers and very nice color and texture and tone."

 Actual Portrait Plasma Skin Rejuvenation (PSR) Results of Dr. Suzanne Kilmer
Full face skin regeneration with rhytide reduction and marked improvement is tone, texture and elasticity (Images Courtesy of The Energist Group)

World renowned leader in the field of dermatology, Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick notes the Portrait PSR is ideal due its ability to deliver an overall peel. For patients who may suffer from an abundance of dyschromia or precancers, Dr. Fitzpatrick says, "The Portrait has an advantage because it gets a 100% peel across the surface."

Portrait PSR uses a highly energized gaseous state known as plasma to produce a unique thermal profile to penetrate the superficial and deeper levels of the dermis to replace damaged collagen and encourage new collagen growth for new skin. Dr. Zachary comments, "The plasma kinetic device actually energizes nitrogen which then produces plasma, a form of heat which rapidly causes heating - elevation of the temperature in the epidermis and the superficial dermis and it very rapidly becomes cool again."

After which, the outer layer of skin actually dies off, similar to a Chemical Peel. New skin that is beneath the uniform injury created by the treatment begins to grow thicker, pushing off the superficial dead skin, without the bleeding and oozing typically associated with other skin rejuvenation procedures, such as CO2 lasers.

According to Dr. Zachary, "The Portrait PSR creates its own dry membrane on the surface of the skin which would peel off after a number of days. In fact, when the patients went home, unless treated with the higher energies, they just look a bit red and swollen. Two or three days later, that skin darkens and actually starts to peel off. The natural dressing is of huge importance when it comes to allowing the new skin underneath, to grow with minimal post inflammatory hyper pigmentation, reduced infection, and reduced redness."

Actual Portrait Plasma Skin Rejuvenation (PSR) Results of Dr. Brian Biesman
Portrait periorbital skin regeneration with rhytide reduction and pronounced tightening of the eyelid
(Images Courtesy of The Energist Group)

 The downtime associated with the procedure is dependent on the severity of wrinkles and loose skin being treated and which treatment depth level used. Dr. Fitzpatrick recommends a 7-10 days of downtime after performing this procedure. Dr. Zachary states, "The healing characteristics with this device are somewhat different. With fractionated CO2 lasers, there will be oozing and bleeding for the first 48 hours. The opposite is true with the PSR, when patients go home they’re a little bit red and swollen but it’s really on day 3, 4 and 5 when the skin darkens and peels, without bleeding and oozing."

Original Post: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 2:35 PM

Dr. Richard Fitzpatrick and Dr. Christopher Zachary

Men's Facelifts Surge in 2010

Arlington Heights, Ill. — Men’s cosmetic/plastic surgery procedures grew 2 percent in 2010, with some — particularly facelifts — showing a dramatic increase, Medical News today reports.

Facelifts rose 14 percent among men in 2010, while male liposuction increased 7 percent, according to newly released statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Interestingly, the majority of the 10 fastest-growing cosmetic procedures among males are surgical, going against the growth trend in minimally invasive procedures over recent years, ASPS reports.

In 2010, men underwent more than 1.1 million cosmetic procedures, both surgical and minimally invasive.
Following are the top 10 fastest-growing procedures, by percentage increase. The only criterion for inclusion is that the procedures were performed on at least 1,000 men in 2010:

Facelift — 14 percent increase
Otoplasty — 11 percent
Soft-tissue fillers — 10 percent
Botulinum toxin type A — 9 percent
Liposuction — 7 percent
Breast reduction — 6 percent
Eyelid surgery — 4 percent
Dermabrasion — 4 percent
Laser hair removal — 4 percent
Laser treatment of leg veins — 4 percent

Plastic surgeons say they also are noticing a shift in the type of patient seeking their services. Medical News Today quotes Stephen Baker, M.D., an ASPS member in Washington, as saying, “Typically people think of celebrities and high-profile men going under the knife. And while that may be true, the typical male cosmetic surgery patient that I see is an average guy who wants to look as good as he feels. Most of my patients are ‘men’s men,’ the kind of guy you might not think would have plastic surgery.”

In an ASPS statement, society President Phillip Haeck, M.D., says, “The growth in cosmetic surgical procedures for men may be a product of our aging baby boomers who are now ready to have plastic surgery. Minimally invasive procedures such as Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA, Allergan) and soft-tissue fillers work to a point. However, as you age and gravity takes over, surgical procedures that lift the skin are necessary in order to show significant improvement.”
 

Mar 24, 2011
By: Bill Gillette
Cosmetic Surgery Times E-News

Risky Combo: Tanning Beds, Meds

Bloomington, Ind. — A new study suggests that self-treating skin eruptions by using a tanning bed may cause more problems than it solves, ScienceDaily.com reports. 

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine’s department of dermatology randomly surveyed 1,200 people and found that nearly 10 percent of those who frequented tanning salons did so in response to treatment of skin disease — and that only 5 percent did so on the advice of a physician. 

“There is an increasing trend for patients to seek tanning bed radiation exposure as a means of self-treatment because, among much of the general public, the perceived benefits of tanning bed radiation include its ability to treat rashes,” the study notes. 

The study reports on an individual who went to a tanning bed to self-treat a mild skin rash caused by an allergy to ibuprofen. Following exposure, the patient’s skin developed toxic epidermal necrolysis with severe blistering. Her blood pressure dropped significantly and her rash spread. High levels of a protein responsible for inflammation were found in the patient’s skin. 

The researchers used laboratory studies to show that normal skin cells, when exposed to UV radiation of the type found in tanning beds, produced very large amounts of protein responsible for inflammation and cell death. According to the researchers, these studies demonstrate that patients with rashes caused by allergic reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory or prescription drugs can experience severe reactions following exposure to tanning bed radiation. 

ScienceDaily.com quotes study author Jeffrey B. Travers, M.D., as saying, “There are many reasons to be cautious of tanning bed radiation, but some people use tanning beds to self-treat skin eruptions. If the skin eruption is eczema or even psoriasis, a tanning bed might help. However, if the eruption is caused by a drug reaction, then (use of a tanning bed) can be dangerous.” 

Mar 23, 2011
By: Bill Gillette
Dermatology Times E-News

Did You Know? Finasteride May Impair Sex Drive

Washington — Results of a new study suggest that men who take the drug finasteride to halt male pattern hair loss may experience an ongoing reduction in sex drive and, in some cases, prolonged periods of erectile dysfunction even after they stop using the drug, Medical News Today reports.

 Researchers at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences looked at the reported types and duration of persistent sexual side effects in otherwise healthy men who took finasteride — commonly marketed by Merck under the names Propecia and Proscar — for male pattern hair loss. Michael Irwig, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, conducted standardized interviews with 71 men ages 21 to 46 who reported they were in otherwise good health and claimed they experienced the onset of sexual side effects after they began finasteride.

Of the men studied, 94 percent said they developed low sexual desire, 92 percent said they developed erectile dysfunction, 92 percent said they developed decreased arousal and 69 percent said they developed problems with orgasm.

The men reported using finasteride for an average of 28 months and stated that from the time of stopping finasteride to the interview date, the average duration of persistent sexual side effects was 40 months.
Medical News Today quotes Dr. Irwig as saying, “While finasteride has been associated with reversible adverse sexual side effects in multiple randomized, placebo-controlled trials, this is the first series to find that symptoms persisted for at least three months despite stopping finasteride.”

He said the study underscores the importance of physicians discussing the potential risk of persistent sexual side effects with their patients.

Mar 23, 2011
By: Bill Gillette

Fibrin Matrix Yields Good Results

New York — A new study suggests that the use of autologous platelet-rich fibrin matrix (PRFM) yields good results in facial plastic surgery procedures, Reuters Health reports. 

Study author Anthony Sclafani, M.D., director of facial plastic surgery at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, conducted a chart review of 50 patients who had undergone aesthetic facial procedures with autologous PRFM. The most common indications for treatment were nasolabial folds, facial volumization, superficial wrinkles and acne scars. 

According to Dr. Sclafani, most patients were satisfied with the treatments and noted improvement within seven days. Five of the patients were dissatisfied with their results and underwent a second PRFM treatment. One of these patients remained dissatisfied with results following the second PRFM procedure. 

In his study, published online Feb. 21 in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Sclafani writes, “Autologous tissue would be the ideal material choice for soft-tissue augmentation in the face if it could be provided in a simple process with good predictability.” 

Publish date: Mar 10, 2011
By:  Bill Gillette

When Should Aesthetic Interventions be Initiated?

Question:

At what point in the aging process should aesthetic interventions be initiated?

Answer:

As we learn more about the long, slow process that is aging, perhaps the most sophisticated way to treat the aging face would be to initiate treatment when only the professional eye of the physician can see aging-associated changes. The face loses a little volume across the entire face as aging progresses, so why not replace a little volume as soon as possible after it is lost rather than waiting until all the changes associated with aging have taken their toll? Doesn't a stitch in time save nine? In addition, because loss of integrity in one tissue influences loss of integrity in another tissue, it is possible that fixing a few small things early might slow down the aging process to some degree. I think there is a lot to be gained by starting interventions earlier.

-Response from Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD; Clinical Instructor, University of California Los Angeles

Real Results with the PureGraft Fat Transfer!

Dr. Zimmerman is the first doctor in the state of Nevada to complete a PureGraft Fat Transfer! PureGraft is redesigning natural beauty!

Here are some real Before and After photos of patients that have had the PureGraft FatTransfer:

 These photos are actual patients and surgeries performed by Dr. Zimmerman at Las Vegas Laser and Lipo.