Recent posts

Welcome the New Halo Laser!

Welcome the Halo Laser to our Renton Clinic!
Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center is happy to announce the newest arrival to our state-of-art laser suite. 

Limited Time...Pick one of the packages below for an exclusive offer that ends June 15 and be the first to get your Halo Glow!


Package 1: Purchase one treatment area of your choice and receive the second treatment 50% OFF

 

(Savings of up to $750) 

Package 2: Purchase any treatment area and receive chest, neck or hands for FREE 

(Savings of up to $750) 

RESTORE YOUR GLOW WITH HALO 

Over time, your skin can lose its youthful glow. Halo eliminates years of damage by precisely targeting the right depth. Halo restores the luminous glow you had when you were younger with minimal downtime.

Halo precisely targets years of damage to your skin, including: Discoloration, Sun damage, Visible signs of aging, Uneven skin tone, Enlarged pores, Poor texture, Fine lines, Scar revision 

BE YOUR OWN KIND OF BEAUTIFUL
Everyone's skin is different. Everyone's needs are different. Halo allows Dr. Erica Linnell to customize your treatment to the downtime you have available and the results you want. Need to be back at work tomorrow? A light treatment creates silky smooth, vibrant skin that's ready for makeup the next day. Want to wow them? A more aggressive treatment will give your skin a deep youthful glow with just a few days of downtime. Ask Dr. Linnell today about the Halo Glow.
BEFORE & AFTER

Acne Scarring

Hi there Victoria.

Thank you for sending in a consultation request about treating acne scarring on your cheeks.

Acne Scarring affects so many people. I would love to be able to tell you that there a magic bullet that will cure scars - especially acne scars - since they affect so many people. Even I have dealt with them (on my temples). Maybe some day we will be able to completely erase them - with each decade (THAT'S A LOT OF TIME) we have improved options to help smooth acne scars.

I would love to see you in consultation to look at your skin and make a plan tailored just for you. There are many different safe and effective treatment options. We have treated so many patients in the past 12 years (1000's). I always sit down and talk with every patient in consultation to discuss what is right for you as an individual and to address your specific concerns and options.

Please call 206-859-5777 to make a cosmetic consultation appointment. I can also have my receptionist, Melissa, call you to book an appointment.

Thank you for your inquiry - please remember to say you found us on Realself, as the $80 consultation fee is then waived.

Thanks again.

Dr. Reichel
Jennifer Reichel MD
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center


Removal of Raised Chest Scar

I would be interested in getting a consultation for the removal of a small (just smaller than a penny), raised scar on my chest (a few inches above the nipple line). Is there any way you could give me a price estimate without a visit to the office? - M 

Hi M. Thank you for the inquiry.
I would be happy to see you in consultation to look at the scar – and could remove it at the same time if that is feasible. Maybe you could send me a photo of it?
Cost would likely be around $300 depending on how difficult the case is.
There is one problem with scar removal on the chest – first, understand that in order to remove a scar, we are creating another scar in its place – so you will have to want to trade whatever the current scar looks like into one that looks like a surgical scar. The other issue, is that scars on the chest can turn into keloids. A keloid occurs when a scar decides to become “active” and will grow outside the boundary of the initial excision. They can be unattractive, and can get very big. SO – we would want to evaluate your scar and make sure that removal will be feasible and also see what the chances are for a possible keloid. Knowing what caused the scar in the first place would be helpful.
Thank you again for the inquiry. Please call 206-859-5777 to set up your appointment. Be sure to mention realself as the consult fee of $80 will be waived. Also, I will have my receptionist, Melissa, call you.
Dr. Reichel
Jennifer Reichel MD
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
pacificderm.wpengine.com 

11011 Meridian Avenue N Suite 102
Seattle WA 98133
phone: 206-859-5777
fax: 206-859-5776


Acne Scar Revision Treatment

Hi, I am a 38yr old Asian origin woman with deep acne scarring. Have had taken accutane 2 yrs before and now looking for the various options to treat the acne scarring effectively. I have been using obagi for my routine skin regimen. Any guidance or advice will sincerely appreciate . Thanks.

Thank you for your inquiry. There are a few ways to treat acne scarring. The right treatment depends on how bad your scars are, as well as your skin type. That is great that you are using Obagi – it is a great skin care line for pigment, acne, and to use on darker skin before treating acne scarring.

For someone of Asian decent, I usually recommend laser resurfacing with the Fraxel Restore laser. It is a great laser and is safe on all skin types. Many of my colleagues and I agree that the Fraxel laser is the Gold Standard for non-ablative resurfacing and works really well on acne scarring. It takes more than one treatment, however. But more aggressive lasers, like the CO2 laser, are not safe on Asian skin.

Please call my office at 206-859-5777 to schedule a cosmetic consultation with me - we can go over everything and make a good plan for you.

Thank you again. Dr. Reichel

Jennifer Reichel MD
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
pacificderm.wpengine.com


Acne Scarring: CO2 vs Fraxel Restore

Having performed traditional CO2 treatments and both fractional CO2 (Lumenis, Total FX) and Fraxel Restore for over 10 years, I have noticed positives and negatives about Fraxel vs the CO2 laser. I have asked colleagues around the country what their impressions are, and, for the most part, we agree. Doing one fractional CO2 laser treatment for acne scarring is often times NOT ENOUGH to achive really good results. Most patients need at least 2 treatments with the CO2 laser for acne scarring, and sometimes more than that. The bummer about that is the long down-time and intensity of the treatment.
I have performed hundreds of Fraxel laser treatments for acne scarring, and really feel like we get very good results. It does take a series of treatments (at least 4). They need to be spaced about 4-6 weeks apart for optimal results. This is almost always what I recommend for patients. The down-time is only a few days, you can drive yourself home from the appointment, and you don't have raw skin. What I usually tell patients, is that we should start with a series of Fraxel Restore treatments and then we will evaluate their skin and might decide to follow the Fraxel series with one CO2 treatment. This has given really good results. Now, I realize that it is a major project to undergo so many treatments, but it seems, in my hands, to be the best.
Dr. Jennifer Reichel
Seattle and Renton Dermatologic Surgeon
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
pacificderm.wpengine.com

Laser treatment for acne scarring

I just want to ask for the percentage of getting rid of acne and acne scars. In addition, I also want to ask for the cost of the treatments.
-V

Hi V,
Thank you for the inquiry from RealSelf. The most important thing would be for you to come in for a consultation so that we can look at your acne scarring together. There are different types of scarring. Some types respond better to treatment than others. The most common treatment for acne scarring is using a laser to resurface the area and try to make the scars more even with the surrounding normal skin. Sadly, it is impossible to completely get rid of the scarring – it is, as you asked, a matter of “how much better” can we get the scarring. The two most common lasers that I use for acne scarring are the Fraxel Restore, and the Fractional CO2 laser (Total FX). I usually tell people that we are aiming for a 40% improvement. Sometimes my patients will say that they feel 80% better, and sometimes (uncommon) they say that they only feel 10% better. Some of this is that different people have different opinions on what the percentage is.
For the Fraxel Restore, it takes multiple treatments. Usually 4 to 6 treatments spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart. For cost, it depends on what we decide to do. It is usually around $2000 to $4000 total.

I would be happy to see you for a free consultation. Please call 206-859-5777. Make sure to ask for Dr. Reichel and tell the receptionist that we communicated by email and that you found me on RealSelf.

Thanks.

Dr. Reichel

Jennifer Reichel MD
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
11011 Meridian Ave N Ste 102
Seattle WA, 98133

206-859-5777
pacificderm.wpengine.com


Keloid Scar Treatment

Dear Dr Reichel,
I have two keloid scars on my chest. The first is a flat keloid just below my neck. The second is about 3 inches below that and raised and is very sensitive and looks much worse. I am wondering if you have a way to diminish or remove these scars without making them worse. Please contact me back when you have a free moment. Thank you for you time. - JE
 
Dear JE - thank you for your question.
There are definitely ways to help keloid scars. The most common treatment for keloids on the chest, neck, or back, is to use a combination of a laser treatment and injections. The laser that we use is a pulsed dye laser, called the Vbeam Perfecta. It is the best laser for treating keloid scars. The injection that we use is a steriod called kenalog (triamcinolone). Sometimes I will mix the kenalog with another medicine called 5-fluorouricil (5-FU). The treatment does cause a bit of discomfort, but it is not too bad.
It is always a series of treatments. We usually plan on 4 to 8 treatments. We space them about 4-6 weeks apart. Sadly, there is no way to make keloid scars go completely away. But, we can lighten them, make them flatter, and help with the symptoms of pain and itching. We can almost always do a treatment at the consultation appointment if you would like. Also, sometimes insurance will pay for all, or a portion, of the treatment.
Please call our office in Seattle – 206-859-5777 to set up an appointment. Thank you for the inquiry.
Dr R
Jennifer Reichel MD
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
pacificderm.wpengine.com

Lasers for Stretch Marks

Dr Reichel, I am interested in treatment for white stretch marks. I heard that a CO2 laser is the gold standard for treatment. What is the difference between the Fraxel Repair, Fraxel Restore, and the Total FX lasers? Also, I understand that the dermis is made of 70% collagen, what is the other 30% made of?

MW

Dear MW,
Both the Fraxel Repair and the Total FX lasers are ablative fractional CO2 lasers. Fraxel Restore is a non-ablative fractional Erbium laser.
Sadly, once they turn white, stretch marks are very hard to treat (with anything). They are best treated when they are new, and are still red. I have very good luck treating red stretch marks with the Vbeam Perfecta laser (pulsed dye laser). It takes a series of treatments, but can basically make the stretch marks 80% better.
For white stretch marks, what I always recommend, is doing a “test patch”. We choose an area that is a couple of inches in size, and do either one or maybe two fractional CO2 treatments. I use the Lumenis Total FX CO2 laser. For me, I consider this laser to be the gold standard for CO2 lasers. CO2 lasers are more risky when you are treating areas that are off of the face (the face has a lot of sebaceous glands – which makes healing much easier). Since stretch marks are off of the face, you have to turn the energy down. That is why we often need to treat them more than once. The other option is to use the Fraxel Restore laser. I do a series of 4 treatments on the test patch. I would say that about 30% of patients feel that there is enough improvement to treat larger areas. So, as I said, it is hard to treat white stretch marks. I make the test treatments very affordable, and I will bundle the payment into the cost of the whole treatment if a patient decides to go on to treat a larger area. I have had very good luck with treating other types of scars with the Fraxel Restore (surgical, injury, acne).
About the dermis: The dermis is the 2nd layer of skin. It provides pliability and elasticity. The main cell type in the dermis is called a fibroblast. Fibroblasts make the matrix of the dermis. Collagen accounts for 75% of the dermis. Elastin, 5%. The rest is Hyaluronic acid, cells, vessels, nerves and hair follicles.

About the lasers: Fraxel Restore and Fraxel Repair. Fraxel Repair and Total FX are fractional CO2 lasers. Fraxel Restore is a fractional Erbium laser. Both Fraxels are made by Solta (originally made by Reliant). Ablative lasers (CO2) completely destroy the tissue that is treated (the skin literally goes "up in smoke"). However, since they are "fractionated", they only treat a percentage of the area. This is done by laying down columns of laser light, rather than a "sheet" of laser light.
Fraxel Restore causes coagulation, rather than ablation. So, while it also knocks out tiny columns of skin, the top layer is left intact. If you were to look at a biopsy of skin after treatment with the Fraxel Restore, you would see columns of dead tissue surrounded by areas of live tissue. The live tissue begins to regenerate the dead tissue columns - making new collagen, elastin, and new cells. This regeneration process is what causes visible improvement in texture, lines, and pigment.

Jennifer Reichel MD
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
pacificderm.wpengine.com

11011 Meridian Avenue N Suite 102
Seattle WA 98133
phone: 206-859-5777

Treating Acne Scars with Dr. Reichel

I'm currently suffering from acne scars on my cheeks.I've undergone 2 treatments with fraxel laser but am still not satisfied with the result. Can you give me your opinion?

 

Hi MB,

Thank you for your question.

Treating Acne scars can be difficult, and definitely requires some persistence. I would be so happy to see you to evaluate your cheeks, give you my opinion, and help make a plan for you.

The Fraxel Restore resurfacing laser is a great laser for acne scarring on the face. It does take more than one treatment. I tell most patients that it will be at least a series of 4 treatments.  I have some patients that we have done 8 or more Fraxel treatments for acne scarring. Other options can include chemical peels, or other resurfacing lasers (such as the fractional CO2 laser). I usually reserve chemical peels for patients with mild scarring that are willing to come in every 2-3 months for treatment. The chemical peels that we use here at Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center are superficial to medium depth.

The fractional CO2 laser (Total FX by Lumenis) can be a great option for acne scarring, but there is increased risk if you have a darker skin type. There is also more down-time with the CO2 laser.

For some patients, we will also do filler (such as Restylane) under the scars to help decrease the depth of the scars.

Again – I would be very happy to see you. Please schedule a consultation – 206-859-5777.
Thank you.

Jennifer Reichel MD
Director, Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center
11011 Meridian Avenue N Ste 102
Seattle, WA 98133
ph 206.859.5777

 


Scars? We can help you......

 

Good News For Future Scars

Scars are often thought of as battle wounds—reminders of a time and place when the body was put to the test and survived with a story. Anyone who has had a C-section can attest to this. After all, a scar—the fibrous tissue that replaces normal skin after injury—is your body's way of repairing itself and is a natural part of the healing process.

For instance, while a healthy baby is a good trade out for a C-section scar, some scars, especially those from cosmetic surgery, are not typically ones women want to show off. This explains why so much research continues to be done to improve the look of post-surgery scars. New strategies are constantly being developed and tested and now, scientists at New York University have found a new treatment to reduce or in some cases, stop scars from forming on the skin. Researchers found that applying agents that block certain receptors in healing skin can greatly reduce the scar, producing skin that feels more like the original, unscarred skin. Research is still in the beginning stages, but it could mean that post-operative scar care could be greatly improved.

At this time, there are some good options already available for scars. Nonablative lasers can stimulate the production of collagen from within the body to improve texture and tone on the surface of the skin. "In the past, the go-to in-office treatment for treating scars was cortisone injections and silicone-based sheeting, but today the trend is to use laser devices," says Seattle dermatologist Jennifer Reichel. "They are more predictable, offer better results in many (but not all) patients, and are especially effective at treating raised, red scars. Plus, they can safely be used on facial scars." I generally recommend the Fraxel DUAL or the Vbeam Perfecta, both are excellent options and offer a gold-standard of treatment.  Injectable fillers can also be used with success to treat deep facial scars, especially those caused by acne.

Most doctors agree that it is also important to continue to treat your scars at home in conjunction with any in-office scar treatment. There are also over-the-counter options like Mederma. The good news is, much time and research is going into scar treatment, so hopefully one day, they really will be a thing of the past.

The physicians at Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center would like to consult with you concerning your scars, whether they are acne-related, pregnancy related, or from auto accident.  Call our office to schedule your consultation with Dr. Jennifer Reichel or Dr. Laurie Jacobson.


Request an appointment

Thank you for choosing Pacific Dermatology & Cosmetic Center, we look forward to providing you with the very best skin care.