A lot of us are uncomfortable in our aging skin – at least the appearance of it. Various life factors and environmental elements can cause those not so fine lines stretching across our foreheads and the other dreaded signs of aging that appear on our faces. The good news is that’s why we have things like Botox, Dermal Fillers and professional skin rejuvenation treatments, to help keep your skin looking fresh as it ages.your skin gets older.
There are a number of products and treatments on the market that promise to eliminate scarring or combat the signs of aging or even improve the appearance of dull, lackluster skin. Customized facials and microdermabrasion can improve your skin’s appearance, but one newer laser skin treatment, in particular, is delivering noticeable results with no real downtime.
PicoSure is an FDA-approved laser technology that originally gained notoriety as one of the safest, fastest, and most affordable methods of tattoo removal. When it was first introduced doctors and patients raved that tired tattoos could be lightened or removed entirely in less than half the time than the past methods – and with minimal discomfort. Today, doctors and patients are raving about the laser treatment’s ability to improve general pigmentation and its efficacy in reducing wrinkles, especially when used in combination with other services.
“It’s the perfect skin rejuvenation procedure,” says Dr. Stephen Mulholland of SpaMedica in Toronto. SpaMedica offers a range of non-surgical skin rejuvenation procedures, including PicoSure, to both men and women. “All anyone will notice is how good your skin looks.”
How does it work?
PicoSure uses ultra-short bursts of energy to activate the body’s own collagen and elastin production mechanisms, which in turn helps with the disappearance of acne scars, age spots and helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles. It can take years off your appearance and is much less invasive and expensive than surgery.
“The ultra-short pulse duration stimulates the skin through a photo-acousitic effect,” says Dr. Mullholland. “The non-thermal mechanical effect creates collagen and elastin with minimal to no downtime. This allows patients to see quick benefits.”
In fact, most patients notice a considerable change in the appearance of their skin after three sessions. (Note: individual PicoSure sessions are generally spread two weeks apart to ensure proper healing of the skin)
Does it hurt?
No, it doesn’t. PicoSure laser treatments are relatively painless, with most patients comparing the laser pulses to the light snap of a thin rubber band. Those extra sensitive patients who are feeling nervous about the procedure can request to have a numbing cream applied to the face before a treatment, but it’s not necessary.
During the treatment, protective goggles are placed over the eyes.
How long does it take?
Individual treatments are quick and easy and generally take about 15 to 20 minutes.
Are there any side effects?
“The Pico-facial is essentially painless and can be performed during the lunch hour with an immediate return to work,” assures Dr. Mullholland.
Some patients may see some redness or minor swelling, but the majority of patients can typically resume their normal activities immediately following treatment. In fact, most lunch hour patients won’t show any signs of redness by the time they arrive back at the office.
Dr. Mulholland does, however, advise patients to lay off the gym for the rest of the day and drink plenty of water.
How long does it last?
“The effects of one to two PicoFacials can last many months,” says Dr. Mullholland.
He also notes that the treatment can easily be combined with a little Botox for some really optimal, very natural results.
