Cosmetic Dermatology of Orange County

Products And Services

• Laser Acne Treatment

  WHAT IS LASER ACNE TREATMENT? Acne is generally successfully treated with a variety of topical and oral medications. Inflammatory acne often requires the chronic use of oral antibiotics but laser treatment usually curbs the required amount of antibiotics. Laser treatment can improve not only the inflamed acne, but also leads to improvement in acne scars. Most patients stay on their topical medications while undergoing laser treatments. Often microdermabrasion and chemical peeling, when combined with acne laser treatment, leads to even better results. HOW DOES LASER ACNE TREATMENT WORK? The laser shrinks the sebaceous oil glands that play a pivotal role in acne. These approaches can also improve the quality of acne scars. We will often use more than one laser or light based system to optimize the acne clearing benefits of these devices. Because we have multiple different acne improving systems, we will use those technologies we feel most appropriate for the particular patient’s condition. RESULTS: HOW MANY LASER ACNE TREATMENTS TO SEE RESULTS? Most patients require approximately three to seven monthly laser acne treatments to see the desired improvement. Periodic re-treatments will be required as acne flares.

  Link: Laser Acne Treatment

• Fillers & Injectables

  BOTOX® When BOTOX® is injected in small amounts into the appropriate muscle, it causes the muscle to relax and thus diminish or eliminate dynamic line or furrow. Find out more about BOTOX® JUVÉDERM Juvéderm works by temporarily adding volume to the facial tissues and providing a smoother appearance to the face. Results are immediate and there is little or no down time. Find out more about Juvéderm JUVEDERM VOLUMA™ Juvederm Voluma™ is a new, FDA-approved dermal filler formulated specifically to add volume to the face around the cheeks and chin. Find out more about Juvederm Voluma™ BELOTERO BALANCE® Belotero Balance® Dermal Filler is an injectable filler that quickly integrates into your skin filling in facial wrinkles. Find out more on Belotero Balance® RESTYLANE ® SILK & LYFT RESTYLANE® SILK is the first and only FDA-approved product specifically designed for lip enhancement and the smoothing of wrinkles around the mouth. Find out more on Restylane ® Silk & Lyft SCULPTRA AESTHETIC® Sculptra Aesthetic® is different from other fillers in that it gradually replaces lost collagen. Find out more on Sculptra Aesthetic® BELLAFILL® Introducing the only dermal filler on the market approved for the correction of moderate to severe, atrophic, distensible facial acne scars on the cheek in patients over the age of 21 years. Find out more on Bellafill® KYBELLA® KYBELLA® (deoxycholic acid) injection is the first and only FDA-approved injectable treatment that is used in adults to improve the appearance and profile of moderate to severe fat below the chin (submental fat), also called, “double chin.” Find out more on KYBELLA®

  Link: Fillers & Injectables

• Chemical Peels

  WHAT ARE THE VARIOUS TYPES OF PEELS AND HOW DOES IT WORK? Salicylic acid and glycolic acid peels are gentle acids used to exfoliate the skin. These peels rejuvenate, hydrate, balance oil production and eliminate debris from pores and control acne. Salicylic Acid peels are the lightest form of peel application and glycolic acid peels are considered medium in strength. Medium peels are known to stimulate collagen renewal, resulting in firmer skin and a reduction in fine wrinkles. For enhanced results, try Dr. Effron’s Combo Peel, which utilizes microdermabrasion and a glycolic acid peel. There is little to no down time with this procedure. For moderate peels try our enhanced Jessners Peel. For less downtime try our “CDOC Peel” which has two to four day peeling. TCA peels are the deepest form of peel using chemicals to exfoliate the skin. This peel has been shown to improve fine lines and wrinkles, smooth mild acne scars, reduce the appearance of light brown spots and give a refreshing glow to your skin. This peel does require some down time. RESULTS: HOW MANY CHEMICAL PEEL TREATMENTS WILL I NEED? A light peel typically requires repeated applications. For a medium or deep peel, one treatment usually suffices. In general, the deeper the peel, the longer the effect. A light peel must be repeated regularly, while a medium peel will last up to a year. A deep peel will create permanent results, although new wrinkles may form.

  Link: Chemical Peels

• Laser Skin Rejuvenation

  With the advancement of laser technology, cosmetic laser treatments have become increasingly popular in the US. Because lasers can target very specific areas of the skin and typically have little to zero downtime following the procedure, it’s a perfect option for many of those who are looking to improve their skin’s appearance. There are a number of cosmetic procedures that lasers can be used for, including skin rejuvenation, red and brown spot removal, tattoo removal, hair removal, vessel removal, and skin rejuvenation and tightening. LASER VESSEL REMOVAL Laser treatments are an effective means of removing undesirable blood vessels. Some people suffer from spider veins and other small visible vessels on their face, neck, and body often making them feel self-conscious. Through use of a laser, these unwanted blood vessels are targeted and destroyed without damaging the surrounding skin and tissues. The destroyed blood vessels become reabsorbed by the body, after which blood flow is directed away from the skin surface into deeper vessels. This procedure typically contains little or no downtime. LASER BROWN SPOTS REMOVAL When one area of the skin contains high concentration of melanin in one area, the area becomes darker in color. These areas are commonly referred to as brown spots. Laser treatments are one of the ways to address a brown spot problem. So how does it work? A laser delivers short bursts of light that break up melanin in the areas that are affected, and fades out the brown spot. The treatment leads to an improved skin complexion and more even skin tone. SKIN REJUVENATION Age spots, fine lines, and wrinkles are all common signs of aging. Fortunately, the aging process can also be mitigated through the use of laser treatment. In fact, laser treatments can dramatically lessen noticeable fine lines around the mouth, cheeks, and eyes. Skin rejuvenation lasers also assist in the production of new collagen, resulting in healthier, smoother skin. This leaves the patient with more youthful looking skin. Age spots can often be reduced by 50% or greater with just a single treatment and often completely with a series of treatments. One of the advantage of laser treatments is reduction of side effects and minimizing potential of infection. Several applications of laser treatments are often needed to show highly effective results for some of these cosmetic procedures.

  Link: Laser Skin Rejuvenation

• Laser Hair Removal Surgery

  WHAT IS LASER HAIR REMOVAL? Imagine a day when you no longer need razors, waxing or painful electrolysis to get rid of unwanted body hair. At Cosmetic Dermatology of Orange County, we offer the latest, state-of-the-art laser technology that awards patients with a safe, fast and effective alternative to dealing with unwanted or disliked body hair. It is affordable, fast, safe and there is no down time. Laser hair removal can be done on almost all parts of the body. Some parts include the face, back, bikini lines, legs, arms and underarms. HOW DOES LASER HAIR REMOVAL WORK? Lasers work by emitting a specialized light that is passed through the skin and preferentially absorbed by its target, be it an unwanted blood vessel, birthmark, tattoo or in this case, hair. The laser used for hair removal targets the melanin, or color, in the hair follicle, damaging the follicle and removing the hair. RESULTS: HOW MANY LASER HAIR REMOVAL TREATMENTS DO I NEED? Hair grows in a cycle that spans six to twelve weeks. This is the amount of time that it takes hair to grow from the base of the follicle to the surface of the skin. Because hair does grow in these cycles, only a portion of your hair is being treated in the proper state with each laser treatment. Initially, it is recommended that you undergo a series of four to eight treatments at three to eight week intervals to treat all the hair. These treatments will be followed up by a period of evaluation to determine how much hair will regrow and how fast the hair will return. This can be followed up with periodic “touch-up” visits.

  Link: Laser Hair Removal Surgery

• Laser Tattoo Removal

  WHAT IS PICOSURE™ LASER TATTOO REMOVAL? PicoSure™ is the world’s first effective and safe picosecond aesthetic laser for laser tattoo removal. This breakthrough in laser technology is unlike any other, it delivers ultra-short pulses of energy to the skin in trillionths of a second, speed that has never been used before. The pulse width from a Picosecond laser is 100 times shorter than nanosecond technology, which in turn creates a photomechanical impact resulting in better clearance and less treatments. HOW DOES PICOSURE™ LASER TATTOO REMOVAL WORK? PicoSure’s ultra-short pulses are so advanced that it goes further than photothermal action by creating a powerful photomechanical impact, patented PressureWave™, making way for greater breakdown of the ink and pigment for clearance with fewer treatments, less fluence and leaving the surrounding skin unharmed. Dark blue and green inks that were not able to be treated before are now able to be cleared, as well as previously-treated, recalcitrant tattoos, sometime in as few as three treatments. The laser energy is distributed to the tattoo with such force that the energy is absorbed by the ink shattering it into tiny particles. The particles are absorbed by the body and eliminated by the body’s natural process, in turn, fading the tattoo ink with every treatment. Check out PICOSURE on CBS news – CLICK HERE IS LASER TATTOO REMOVAL PAINFUL? For the average patient, laser tattoo removal has been compared similarly to the feeling of getting a tattoo, however the removal process pulses are much faster. Your practitioner will give you options as to the best comfort option is for your individual situation. HOW MANY LASER TATTOO REMOVAL TREATMENTS ARE NEEDED? The tattoo removal process is different for everyone. The number of laser treatments required for tattoo removal is depends on numerous factors such as size of the tattoo, ink type, location on the body, lifestyle habits, type of laser used and much more. During your consultation, a practitioner will evaluate your tattoo and gauge a realistic treatment process for your individual needs, to achieve the best results possible. HOW OFTEN WILL I NEED TATTOO REMOVAL TREATMENTS? While the typical laser tattoo removal process takes about 4-8 weeks for the body to absorb the ink particles, each patient and tattoo responds differently. There are ways that may possibly speed up the removal process that include following the recommended post treatment protocol. HOW WILL MY SKIN LOOK AFTER THE LASER TREATMENT? Immediately following a laser treatment a patient will see an initial slight whitening or “frosting” effect of the skin underneath the tattoo, however, this frosting will dissipate immediately after the removal treatment is complete. Mild swelling, blistering and redness are expected to last for up to a week after the treatment. Your practitioner will go over with you aftercare of the removal process and how to best keep the area moist. PICOSURE™ TREATMENT VS. CONVENTIONAL LASER TREATMENTS Before the advanced technology of PicoSure, Q-Switched lasers had been considered the gold standard for removing tattoos. Unlike PicoSure, Q-Switched lasers use thermal energy to heat up and breakdown ink into particles. When using thermal energy to break apart ink particles, the breakdown process is limited and can only breakdown the ink into pebble-like sizes. Now with PicoSure, ultra-short pulses hit the ink particle with a pressure so great, the ink shatters into tiny dust-like particles. Since the particles are so tiny, the ink is more rapidly absorbed and eliminated by the body. PicoSure has confirmed success in treating even dark, hard to clear green and blue inks, as well as previously-treated, stubborn tattoos that were not successfully cleared in the past. CAN I LIGHTEN THE TATTOO WITH PICOSURE™ TO HAVE ANOTHER ONE PUT ON TOP? Tattoos cannot only be cleared with PicoSure treatments, but lightened in preparation for a cover-up tattoo. Your practitioner may have you wait six weeks between your last treatment and when you have the new tattoo completed. COST OF LASER TATTOO REMOVAL The cost of laser tattoo removal is dependent upon several factors, including the size of the tattoo and the number of treatments it may require. Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of laser tattoo removal, since it’s considered an elective cosmetic procedure. After your consultation, your practitioner will provide you a price estimate for your individual treatment plan.

  Link: Laser Tattoo Removal

• PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ REJUVENATION

  REFRESH YOUR SKIN WITH PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ Gaining a fresh, more youthful look without the typical discomfort and downtime of invasive cosmetic treatments is now possible with PicoSure® Focus. Cosmetic Dermatology of Orange County now offers this advanced technology that can remove unwanted pigment, as well as reduce the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars. This unmatched breakthrough in laser technology delivers ultra-short pulse bursts of energy to the skin in trillionths of a second to gently target and eliminate pigment without harming the surrounding skin. WHAT IS PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ REJUVENATION? PicoSure Focus takes a unique approach of action that has presented patients with results similar to non-ablative and even ablative lasers, without the patient discomfort, downtime or prep time. Patients appreciate the quick treatments, and typically the only downtime seen is an hour of redness, allowing them to quickly return to work and their regular daily activities. HOW DOES PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ REJUVENATION WORK? The FOCUS tip magnifies the PicoSure laser pulse 20X, which in turn creates laser induced optical breakdown (LIOB) in the epidermis. Studies have reviled the production of new collagen and elastin without the downtime and and side effects of traditional fractional and ablative lasers. FOCUS can effectively treat unwanted pigmented, acne scars and fine lines and wrinkles with great results. PicoSure is a fast and easy non-surgical, non-invasive laser skin treatment that concentrations on problem areas whether it’s age spots, freckles, sun damage, pigmented lesions, fine lines and wrinkles or acne scars. This treatment may also be used to treat several areas on the body including the chest or décolleté, face, legs and hand. Unlike past laser technology that relied solely on concentrated heat energy, which caused patient discomfort and substantial skin redness, swelling and downtime, this gentler approach provides amazing results, minus the discomfort and downtime associated with traditional, heat based lasers. Rejuvenate and refresh your skin today with PicoSure’s breakthrough technology and receive noticeably clearer skin quicker, and with fewer treatments. WHAT CAUSES UNWANTED PIGMENT? Skin color is based off the amount melanin in the skin. Age spots, sun spots, brown patches and other pigmented lesions, are darker in color as compared to other parts of the skin because the melanin is more concentrated in that specific area. A majority of pigmented lesions come from sun exposure, while some patients are born with them. Another cause of concentrated melanin can come from hormonal changes. WHAT TYPES OF PIGMENTED LESIONS CAN PICOSURE FOCUS REMOVE? Lasers treatment eliminates multiple types of unwanted pigment. Age spots, freckles, and brown patches can all be removed with PicoSure Focus. During your cosmetic consultation, your practitioner will put together a personalized treatment regime to help you achieve pigment-free skin fast. HOW MANY PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ TREATMENT SESSIONS WILL IT TAKE? Everyone requires a customized treatment plan. This plan varies between individuals, and leads to an improved, more youthful look by removing pigmented lesions. With that being said, every patients treatment regime will be different, but will typically require only a few treatments. The darker, larger and deeper pigmented lesions typically involve additional treatments; however during your cosmetic consultation, your practitioner will make sure to emphasize realistic treatment expectations with you. WHAT DOES PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ TREATMENT FEEL LIKE? A majority of patients find the procedure very tolerable with minor discomfort and require no numbing cream or anesthesia. PicoSure Focus delivers energy in ultra-short bursts, and patients often compare the laser pulse similarly to a snap of a thin rubber band. WHAT TYPE OF POST TREATMENT CARE IS NECESSARY FOR PICOSURE™ FOCUS™? After the procedure, the treatment area may be a bit tender. It’s important to keep the area clean and to avoid any irritation. Your practitioner will provided additional after care instructions as needed to ensure a quick recovery. HOW DOES PICOSURE FOCUS WORK FOR LASER SCAR TREATMENTS? Unlike a surgical treatment, a laser acne scar treatment uses ultra-short pulses of laser light to reach deeply into the skin’s sub-layers, which treats the support structure. Once the deep layers of the skin are reached, the body’s natural healing process kicks in to rid away older, damaged tissue and rebuilds fresh, new collagen and elastin—the crucial building blocks of normal-looking, smoother skin. A laser treatment with PicoSure Focus for acne scars is a quick and simple treatment that’s comfortable and requires little-to-no downtime. WHAT TYPES OF SCARS CAN BE TREATED? Laser acne scar treatment is FDA-cleared for acne scars on any area of the body, including the face.

  Link: PICOSURE™ FOCUS™ REJUVENATION