AESTHETIC TREATMENTS
Laser skin treatments
Laser targets skin structures to improve both medical and aesthetic skin concerns.
- Fading of pigmentation, sun spots and unwanted capillaries
- Improvement of skin health and texture
- Treatment of dermatological conditions, reduction of skin cancer risk
Laser is a versatile skin treatment with a wide range of applications. It’s best known for its effects on skin texture and appearance but increasingly has a role in the management of pre-cancerous sun damage and skin cancer prevention.
It works by damaging specific structures in the skin: red haemoglobin molecules, brown melanin pigment particles and water molecules. Targeting red and brown structures can treat unwanted pigmentation and blood vessels. Targeting water molecules can have a more general effect on the skin, useful for skin rejuvenation, resurfacing, and the destruction of skin lesions such as moles and solar keratoses.
At Spot Check, we use the Fotona Starwalker Nd:YAG laser which has a wide range of treatment modes for multiple skin conditions and lesions.
All laser treatments at Spot Check Clinic are administered by our doctors and nurses. All have training and certification in laser treatment and safety.
Benefits of laser skin treatments
Laser skin treatments reduce pigmentation, fade unwanted blood vessels and redness, and stimulate the production of collagen and new skin cells.
Results of laser skin treatments can include:
- Lightening of dark spots such as freckles (“age spots”) and brown patches caused by sun exposure or melasma.
- Fading of redness and capillaries.
- Reduction of wrinkles and skin tightening.
- Flattening and softening of raised and overgrown scars.
- Levelling of some types of acne scars.
- Improvement of acne symptoms.
- Controlling fungal infections of nails.
Before and after laser treatment
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
Before and after laser treatment of lentigo (“age spot”). Outcome is specific to this particular patient and may not reflect the results experienced by other individuals.
Before and after one laser treatment of telangiectasia (capillaries) on the nose. Outcome is specific to this particular patient and may not reflect the results experienced by other individuals.
Before and 1 month after laser mole removal. Outcome is specific to this particular patient and may not reflect the results experienced by other individuals.
Types of laser treatment
- Green Toning and Angel Brightening: Laser pigmentation treatments.
- MaQX Clear: laser for melasma.
- FracRevive and FRAC3: laser skin rejuvenation.
- Fractional laser for wrinkles and sun damage.
- Fractional laser for solar keratoses and field cancerisation.
- IPL and laser treatment for rosacea.
- Laser scar remodelling.
- Laser mole removal.
- ClearSteps: Laser nail fungal treatment.
What are Q-switched and pico lasers?
Q-switched and pico lasers use extremely brief pulses of light – so brief that the skin doesn’t have time to warm. Instead, pigment particles are shattered by sound waves, known as a photoacoustic effect.
In some people, especially those with darker skin types or with melasma, heat can cause increased pigmentation. Because pico and Q-switched lasers (such as the model we use at Spot Check Clinic) don’t produce heat, they are ideal for the treatment of:
- Melasma.
- Unwanted moles, pigmentation and small vessels in people with darker skin types.
What is fractional laser?
Fractional laser therapy is a mode of treatment in which laser energy is delivered in a grid pattern of multiple points.
Instead of the entire skin surface, a fraction – approximately 3% – of the skin is treated.
Our laser treats a grid of 9 × 9 pixels. We often treat the same area two or three times, resulting in treatment coverage of approximately 10 per cent.
Fractional treatment results in hundreds or thousands of tiny cavities in the skin. Depending on the intensity of the treatment, this may cause pinpoint bleeding over the treatment area.
Fractional laser stimulates the development of new skin cells and collagen in the treatment area, resulting in smoother, healthier skin. There is some evidence that fractional laser could reduce the incidence of skin cancer in the treatment area.
Learn more at DermNet NZ.
How to prepare
Get better result and reduce downtime by following these steps.
Avoid unprotected sun exposure on the area to be treated. Wear sunscreen and a hat if your face will be treated.
Don’t apply fake tan or take supplements that promote tanning.
Don’t apply any of the following to your face (or other treatment area):
- Tinted make-up, moisturiser or sunscreen.
- Topical products containing retinoids, tretinoin, vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs.
- Perfume or essential oils.
If you are taking medication, check the list at Dermnet and if you are taking any of these medications, ask your prescribing doctor if it’s safe to stop taking it for 2-3 days before your laser procedure. If not, contact us, and our doctor or registered nurse will provide advice.
In the morning, wash your skin using a gentle, non-soap cleanser.
Don’t apply any skin products to the area other than low-irritant sunscreen with no pigment.
Please don’t apply make-up on the day of treatment.
Side effects and warnings
Intense treatments can cause skin irritation and redness, bleeding, burns, blisters or bruising. Before administering a treatment likely to cause such side effects, we will advise what to expect and provide information about aftercare.
Cold sores are a known side effect of surgical, laser and IPL treatments. You can reduce the risk by taking antiviral medication before treatment, or immediately if you notice the onset of cold sore symptoms after your treatment.
More infoRedness, swelling, blisters and sores are often a common result of aesthetic and skin cancer treatments. In most cases, they can be managed easily and settle gradually over the following weeks. However, it’s important to notify the clinic if you are very uncomfortable or concerned about your reaction being abnormal.
More infoBruising is common after procedures involving bleeding. It appears as a blue or purple patch under the skin and gradually changes colour and fades over 1-2 weeks.
More info
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