Arizona Trends
Seeing the Light (continued)
Lasers - the Future of Skin Care
by Marnie McGann and Leslie McCarver

The same procedure was repeated on my face. After my first face treatment I noticed my skin seemed less ruddy, major broken capillaries were gone, my pores were tighter and the surface of my skin was smoother.

Microdermabrasion is an interesting sensation — very much like a super-fine sander brushing over the skin. It is an exfoliating process which pounds aluminum oxide crystals onto the surface of the skin. Other layers of the peel may include a topical vitamin C or a pigment type product, depending on the patient's skin type and goal for their skin. Within two days after this treatment skin usually begins to peel, revealing smaller pores and a brighter, softer complexion.

As I approached deadline for this article, I had almost completed the recommended series of treatments recommended my face, neck and hands. Did my expectations exceed the results? No, in fact, I continue to be delighted after each visit. My skin is noticeably less red, smoother and clearer. I intend to maintain my new collagen-stimulated complexion with a yearly visits for foto facialing. It is no wonder that Dr. Nicholas Perricone, the noted dermatologist, is more keen on lasers than conventional plastic surgery.

Leslie and the Laser Vein Removal:
Several years ago I mustered all my courage to present myself at a local plastic surgeon's office for injections to collapse the little tiny spider veins on my outer thighs, shins and inside of my knees. I stood there and shook with the pain of numerous pinpricks as the doctor pushed the saline solution into these veins. Afterwards, I needed to go to bed to recover from the trauma. I could almost have endured this procedure if it had been in the least bit effective. Alas — it did not work and it seemed the veins were even more prominent thereafter. So, when Fashionality Darlene Keller-Price introduced us to Dermacare, after her positive experience, I decided to gird up my resolve and see if the laser worked any better on my spider veins.

Laser vein removal uses a Yag laser with a pulse length just long enough to coagulate the vein without damaging the skin or surrounding normal tissue. It works best on superficial red or red/blue veins, especially those that are clustered or matted together.

Unlike Marnie, I was told not to put any numbing agents on my legs as they might make the veins inaccessible to the laser. The physician's assistant began the process by rubbing a clear gel on my skin as she started up the Yag. It was a little nerve-wracking at first as she touched each vein with the laser, but I soon got used to it. There was only a brief moment of mild discomfort, mostly on the very deep larger veins.

As she worked, the PA blew a cold air stream over the area, which kept the laser performing correctly and maintained the gel on the skin which acted like an ice pack. After each 30-minute visit I saw that the laser had worked its magic. The veins were substantially reduced in color and size, and, according to the information given to me, within the next three to four weeks all of the treated veins would disappear. It was important, however, that I kept my feet elevated for several hours after the treatment and wore support hose and didn't exercise for two days.

I, like Marnie, am completely delighted with the results so far. I have started on the Obagi line of skin care products from Dermacare to prepare me better for the foto facialing, which is on my agenda, for both myself and my husband, this summer.

Dermacare is located at 10214 N. Tatum Blvd., Ste. B-300, Phoenix, AZ 85028 (480) 607-0600.

<< Go Back to Page 1