Posts Tagged ‘C02 laser’

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Dear PDCC;

I have a couple of scars around my mouth that are getting deeper as I age. I’m wondering about fat injections vs. a dermal filler, both in terms of lasting effect and cost. Can you tell me how the two compare? K.

Dear K.

Thank you for your inquiry. The most important idea is for you to come in and we can do a consultation face to face to look at your scars. However, I can give you some information vial email. When working around the mouth (with wrinkles, or with scars), I am more likely to recommend a dermal filler (such as Restylane or Juvederm) over fat injections. Fat is a wonderful “volumizer” for the face. Non of the other fillers even come close to giving the results of a fat transfer when someone has lost volume in the upper face, or has dark circles or grooves under the eyes.

However, around the mouth, fat often is too bulky, and it does not have the ability to fill in fine lines or fine scars. The hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Restylane and Juvederm, can be placed very superficially under the skin to really fill in finer lines, or to fill in scar lines. There are other options for scar treatments – so we don’t want to rule those out until I see you in person.

Please call my office at your earliest convenience, 206.859.5777, either Melissa or Sara can schedule an appointment for you.

Thank you for the email. I look forward to seeing you.

Dr. Jennifer Reichel Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center in Seattle

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Dear Doctor,

I have Xanthelasma and have read that TCA peels are great for treating it, would you agree? Or can you recommend other treatment options for me.

Thank you. D

Dear D:

I have not had great luck with TCA for xanthelasma, but it can be an option, I do have high % TCA available . I also have a Total FX Lumenis CO2 laser I have used with good success on Xanthelasma. Or as another option I have also had really good luck with surgical removal. I would like to see you in consultation first and then decide, together, on the best treatment options.

Please call 206.859.5777 to schedule a consultation with me, either Melissa or Sara can set that up for you. I look forward to meeting with you to discuss your treatment options.
Thanks
Dr. Jennifer Reichel of Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center

Can you treat a darker complexion with CO2?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Dear Doctor

I am interested in setting up an appointment for a consultation for Co2 laser resurfacing to reduce acne scars and fine lines from sun damage. How much is the consultation? Also I have a dark complexion, would this be appropriate for me?

Thank you for the email inquiry. I would be very happy to see you in consultation for acne scarring. I treat a lot of acne scarring on all types of skin. It is possible, if you have a dark complexion, that the CO2 may not work for you, however, the Fraxel laser may be a great option. We can discuss it in consultation. I do very comprehensive consultations and spend time talking about ALL options for whatever your condition or concern is. I feel that, from a laser standpoint, Pacific Dermatology and Cosmetic Center has all of the very best lasers for acne scarring. There are many other lasers out there, but many of them are not as good as the real Fraxel Restore and the Total FX Lumenis Fractional CO2 laser. We can also consider other options if they are right for you (such as fillers, surgical excision, scar subcision and face lift (not done here, but I have great recommendations for fabulous plastic surgeons in Seattle)

As far as cost, we charge 80$ for the cosmetic consultation. Again, I will personally spend 30 minutes with you discussing the options and writing out a plan to take home with you. We will give you brochures and personally written information on the different options – it’s a great starting point to know what is best for you.

Thanks again for the email, and I look forward to seeing you.

Dr. Jennifer Reichel of Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center in Seattle

How do I get rid of those “pucker” lines around my mouth?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Dear Dr. Reichel

I am interested in co2 resurfacing for perioral wrinkles and that “puckered” look. Part of it is that my family has a puckering habit. I swear it is genetic. Also, I did smoke. So I would like that look GONE. But I certainly am not rich. Thank you. K.R.

Dear K.R.

This is a very common occurrence both from genetics as well as smoking. I can absolutely treat this area using the Co2 for approximately $1,500-2,000. Of course it is best that I see you in consult first to give you a more accurate fee estimate and assessment of this area. Please call my office at your earliest convenience, I look forward to meeting with you.

Dr. Reichel

What’s News at Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Liposuction and Bizymoms.com

Check out the interview that Dr. Reichel did for bizymoms.com on liposuction treatment. Go to http://www.bizymoms.com/seattle/dermatologist/seattle-liposuction.php

As a busy mom myself, I was honored to do an interview for this fabulous site. It can be hard to get your shape back after having babies. As I am busy working and running around after my twin one year old daughters and my three year old son, it reminds me of how important it is to take time for you (and how hard it can be to find that time).

Just last week I did liposuction on a young woman who just couldn’t get her tummy back into shape after giving birth to a 9 lb baby boy last year. We did the procedure on a Friday morning and she’ll be up and ready to go by Monday (She still needs to be careful lifting andwill be sore for a couple of weeks). When she came back in on Monday she was so happy with how flat her stomach was – and she was only 3 days out from her liposuction procedure. I really love being able to give women the wonderful flat tummy or hips they had before pregnancy – or, for that matter, that they never really had. Liposuction is such a great way to remove unwanted areas of fat – Permanently.

Eye Bag Laser Treatment

Dr. Reichel is excited about a segment on the Dr. Oz show called The Fix: Plastic Surgery (aired February 9, 2011). They talked about revolutionary plastic surgery procedures including under-eye bag treatment. Dr. Reichel performs the exact same surgery for under-eye bags. She performs lower eyelid blepharoplasty and Festoon Laser treatment for these dark, unwanted under-eye bags and circles.

At the end of February, 2011, Dr. Reichel treated a patient, Lori, whom she had seen in consultation earlier in the month. Lori had unwanted under-eye circles, swollen bags, and crepe-like changes to the skin around her eyes. She also had festoons. A Festoon is a swollen mound that forms on your cheek under your lower eye bag, and like Under-Eye bags can make you look tired and unhealthy.

On the Dr. Oz show, they treated an avocado to show what happens during the Eye Bag Laser Treatment. “The laser takes off the top layer of the avocado and the color starts to change and the skin looks a bit smoother. They then went through the middle layer of the avocado’s skin to get to the deeper layer which is a lime green color. In relation to your under-eye area, this is where your skin will create new elastic collagen fibers. From this point, a person will grow new skin all over again from the bottom layer up”.

For Lori, Dr. Reichel made an incision to take out the lower level of fat (this is called a trans-conjunctival blepharoplasty). She then used the Total FX fractional CO2 laser to resurface the skin. You can actually see the skin tightening as the laser goes over the area. After just 2 weeks, Lori looked fabulous. Her skin was smooth, and best of all, the festoons were gone.

BOGO Radiesse Special A Huge Success

We would like to thank MerzAesthetics for helping us with the buy one, get one free on Radiesse wrinkle correction filler. It is great to be able to do just the right amount of filler for cheek volume, and other facial lines and wrinkles. Dr. Laurie Jacobson will feature this special again on Tuesday, March 22nd. Call today 206.859.5777 to book your appointment and receive this extra special savings.

Skin Cancer Awareness

The providers at Pacific Dermatology and Cosmetic Center are joining with the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS). We will be offering FREE skin cancer screening exams the afternoons of May 3rd and 19th. Please call our office 206.859.5777 to schedule your appointment.

Dark Circles Under My Eyes

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Hello, my dermatologist at Group Health referred me to Dr.Reichel for this but wanted to find out some information. I’m 29 years old and have dark circles and bags under my eyes. It doesn’t matter how much sleep i get, they never seem to go away. I have been trying to cover them up but that doesn’t help very much. My dad had the same thing. I was wondering if there is anything that can be done to make them go away. What are my options and how much would it cost? I have group health coverage but I’m sure since it’s cosmetic, insurance wouldn’t cover it anyways. Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!

Answered by Dr. Jennifer Reichel of Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center:

Thank you for the email. We do have some options for treatment for under eye “dark circles” and bags. First of all, are you using an eye-cream? Although an eye-cream will not erase the under eye circles or completely heal the bags, it is important to add extra moisture to the eye area every night before you go to bed. We carry an eye cream here called A.G.E. Eye Complex from Skinceuticals. I really like it and do think it helps to firm the skin around the eyes.

On treatments – the first step is to come in for a consultation. I can personally go over options and also do an examination to determine what will be the best treatment. Sometimes using just a touch of Botox under each eye can make a big difference in a young person. We may want to consider using filler, such as Juvederm or Restylane to fill in the “groove” or dark circle. Finally, even at a young age, sometimes the best answer is a laser treatment or a lower eyelid surgical rejuvenation procedure called “blepharoplasty”. For more information on under-eye treatment, please visit the section on our website (pacificdermcenter.com) and go to cosmetic procedures and then “under eye treatments”.

I look forward to seeing you for a consultation.

Aging skin, Sun Damage and Leg Veins

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

Hello~ I am 33 years old (female) with considerable sun damage, some facial scarring and other skin issues as well as leg veins. I am interested in getting some procedures done now to correct or improve my issues so they will be more easily managed as I continue to age. Botox/Radiesse, laser treatments and Juvederm are all very intriguing to me and I would like to learn more about them. I am interested in a consult to see what Dr Reichel would recommend. Thank you.

MG, Seattle Washington

Dear MG,

I like that you are looking into the future as a young female and wanting to address issues so they are more easy to manage as you age. For sun damage and facial (?acne) scarring, we have several laser or chemical peel options. We have added the new FRAXEL DUAL to our laser suite – and can now treat lines, scarring, and pigmentation better than ever before. For young women, it may also be the right time to start thinking about using Botox Cosmetic. Botox Cosmetic is the best way to prevent and improve wrinkles on the forehead, and around the eyes. We also carry Dysport, a newly approved agent for lines that is similar to Botox.

For leg veins, the FDA has now approved ASCLERA, a sclerotherapy agent that works really well for small and medium sized leg veins. Sclerotherapy is an injection treatment that may permanently shut down the unwanted broken vessels on your legs. Remember that it is never to late to protect your skin from sun damage. Always wear sunscreen on your face, neck and chest if you are going to be out in the sun, and cover these areas with hats and light clothing.

Thanks for your great questions, I look forward to meeting with you.

Jennifer Reichel MD

CO2 Laser Treatment for Acne Scarring

Friday, August 20th, 2010

Q: I am interested in Fractional CO2 Laser treatment for my acne scars on my cheeks and chin. I would love more information, pricing and to find out about scheduling a consultation. I am likely to be a candidate for 1-2 treatments I presume.

Dr. Reichel Answers: I would love to see you in consultation for acne scarring. Fractional CO2 resurfacing can be one of the best options for acne scars. It is best for people with lighter skin. Most patients need one or two treatments. If a second treatment is needed, we usually wait six months or more for the skin to heal. In most cases we will do a treatment of the whole face, especially the first time, but for some patients we may be able to treat just the areas that are involved.

The current cost of the Fractional CO2 for the full face is $3900. The cost might be lower if we treat only certain areas. The cost for the second procedure is usually between $600 and $1000.

Our fractional CO2 is the state-of-the-art Lumenis Total FX. We treat deeper scars with the Deep FX hand piece and more superficial scars with the Active FX hand piece. We usually use both hand pieces on acne scarring in one treatment.

I have been doing CO2 resurfacing for 10 years, and have had the Fractional CO2 for 2 years. It is my favorite laser and I am very happy with its versatility and the excellent results. Of course, I am the one that you will see for your consultation and I will personally do your treatment. Please call 206-859-5777 to set up your consultation.

One note: If you still have active acne outbreaks, we may want to clear these up before we do the laser treatment. That’s one of the nice points with coming to a medical dermatology office; we can treat all aspects of skin care.

Are Wrinkles Around My Mouth Treatable?

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

Q: Is there a successful treatment for perioral wrinkles? I’m 46 years old and the collagen between my mouth and nose has diminished and now I have these wrinkles that are especially visible when I talk and chew.

A: A great treatment option for perioral wrinkles is the CO2 laser. We offer free cosmetic consultations to discuss the best course of treatment for you. Give our office a call at your convenience 206-859-5777.

Is There Help for Acne Scarring?

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Q: I have some acne scarring on my face and legs and was wondering if I would be a good candidate for CO2 laser. I was also wondering about what the costs of such a procedure would typically cost, and if multiple sessions were required in order to see results.

A: We use both Fraxel and Fractional CO2 (the Lumines Total FX) for acne scarring of the face and have seen very good results. Which laser we choose depends on your condition and skin type. At your consultation, we will also talk about whether you still have ongoing acne – as we would want to treat that first. The cost of lasers for acne scarring is about $3000 to $4000. For the CO2, some patients do need a second treatment. This would be at a reduced charge, and is not done until about six months after the first treatment.

For legs, the CO2 is probably too strong, but we could evaluate your legs to see if you are a candidate for the Fraxel. There are some other options for scarring on the legs. Please call 206-859-5777 to make a cosmetic consultation appointment. There is no charge for cosmetic consultations.