Laser Treatments

Laser Hair Removal

Hair removal is a constant annoyance for many men and women alike. For patients who are tired of shaving, waxing, threading, and other temporary hair removal techniques, laser hair reduction may be the solution. Laser hair therapy exposes specific areas of the body to beams of laser light that disable active hair follicles and delay or prevent re-growth.

Laser hair reduction is ideal for patients with dark hair and light skin, although medium skin toned patients with unwanted facial or body hair can also benefit from laser therapy. At the current time, laser light is not effective on grey, white, blond, or red hair. This procedure can be performed on the lip, chin, neck, back, arms, legs, bikini area and more.

After laser hair reduction, patients may experience redness, puffiness and sunburn sensations for the first few days. We recommend strict sun protection of treatment sites before and after laser therapy. You may return to work and other regular activities immediately after your visit. Three to seven days after treatment, patients may notice what appears to be a re-growth of hair, but is actually a shedding of the treated hair, which will fall out and not grow back.

Since individual hairs grow at different times, multiple treatments will be needed for all patients at intervals of four to six weeks. The number of sessions depends on several factors, including your hair and skin color, age, hormone levels, and hair follicle size. The average patient sees up to a 48% reduction in hair growth after three treatments, and up to 80% after six to eight treatments.

Photos provided by http://www.candelalaser.com

Please call our office at (650) 325-1511 to schedule a consultation.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Intense Pulsed Light Photofacials are designed to treat flat brown spots due to sun exposure called lentigines, rosacea, and facial capillaries. At Menlo Dermatology Medical Group & Laser Center, Inc., we use a Palomar Pulsed Light System which emits pulses of light into the skin. The light is absorbed by the pigment in sunspots and by hemoglobin within blood inside the capillaries. The face, neck, chest, arms, back and legs can all be treated. All skin types can be treated, and there are no age limitations. The IPL treatment is comfortable with just a mild prickling sensation on the skin as the hand piece is pulsed. Immediately after treatment, there may be a mild sunburn-like sensation which can last about 2-24 hours. The sunspots will darken after treatment and will then shed in about a week. Blood vessels and redness will fade in 1-2 weeks. Typically 2-4 treatments are necessary for optimal results; we will advise you how many treatments are appropriate during your consultation. This photo rejuvenation process is safe and comfortable, with little or no downtime. The outcome is an even, smooth skin tone that looks refreshed and more youthful.

Please call our office at (650) 325-1511 to schedule a consultation.

Fractional Ablative Laser Resurfacing

Menlo Dermatology offers CO2 fractional ablative laser resurfacing using the Ultrapulse Encore by Lumenis, Ltd. Only a fraction of total skin surface is treated by placing pulses in a preprogrammed sequence that minimizes heat build up and maximizes healing. The system employs two handpieces, the Active Fx penetrates the epidermis, reducing fine lines and excess pigmentation; while the Deep Fx energy extends to the dermis and vaporizes damaged collagen or acne scars, which is replaced by healthy new collagen. The Total Fx protocol combines both handpieces in sequence with varied energy settings for a customized approach yielding remarkable results in only one treatment. This fractional approach avoids the risks of loss of pigment associated with original CO2 laser resurfacing, is significantly less painful, and heals far more rapidly.

Fractional Ablative Laser Resurfacing | Palo Alto | Redwood City | San Mateo

Please call our office at (650) 325-1511 to schedule a consultation.

Fractional Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing

Fractional non-ablative laser resurfacing is used to rejuvenate skin by improving texture, tone, and firmness; reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and scars; and providing an overall younger, more refreshed appearance. At Menlo Dermatology we use the Palomar Lux 1540 Fractional Non-Ablative Laser to deliver light in an array of narrow, focused "microbeams" to create columns of coagulation within the skin. These columns initiate a natural healing process that forms new, healthy tissue. Using this process of patterned coagulation allows for a quick recovery. You may experience warmth, swelling or tightness but this typically fades within a few hours. A pinkish tone may be present up to one week but generally you can resume regular activities in 1-2 days. A series of 4-5 treatments is required for desired results and treatments usually occur at monthly intervals.

Please call our office at (650) 325-1511 to schedule a consultation.

Laser for Pigmented Lesions and Tattoos

Menlo Dermatology uses a Spectra Q switched laser system to remove pigmented lesions commonly known as age spots or sun spots, freckles, and certain birthmarks. These pigmented lesions contain abnormally high concentrations of melanin. Melanin is the pigment in our skin which determines skin color. Some pigmented lesions are present at birth or shortly thereafter, such as café-au-lait lesions. Most commonly, dark lesions occur as an indicator of sun damage. The energy from the Spectra Q switched laser system is carefully directed onto the skin and patients experience a sensation similar to the snap of a rubber band. Usually one or two treatments suffice, afterwards there is a silver color and mild bruise which resolves in 1 to 2 weeks. The same laser can also be employed for tattoo removal. The number of tattoo removal treatments can vary from 6 to 10 or more, usually administered at 6 week intervals. The cost and number of treatments are dictated by the individual tattoo.

Please call our office at (650) 325-1511 to schedule a consultation.

Lasers and Vascular Lesions (Spider Veins)

Telangiectasias are small thin blood vessels visible beneath the skin. They are commonly known as “broken capillaries on the face, and as “spider veins” on the legs. These blood vessels on the face are acquired over time as a result of sun exposure, genetic factors, and the common disease rosacea. Certain patients experience stinging and burning on the face, others are discomfited by their complexion. Blood vessels on the legs are caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, hormonal influences, pregnancy and weight gain, and are estimated to affect nearly half of all adult women in the US. Some people experience painful symptoms such as aching, burning, swelling and cramping from larger leg veins, while others are bothered by their appearance.

Laser Spider Veins Treatment | Palo Alto | Redwood City | San Mateo

The pulse dye laser was approved by the FDA in 1988, and has been an enormous advance in dermatology, treating port-wine stains and other birthmarks that were previously considered disfiguring. Menlo Dermatology uses the V-Beam laser manufactured by Candela Lasers. The pulsed dye laser delivers a particular wavelength of light in short bursts that are absorbed by targets within blood vessels. The top layer of the skin, the epidermis, is protected from excessive heat by an integrated cooling device built into the laser; this cooling also provides an anesthetic effect. Many conditions which have excess blood vessels can be corrected, such as broken capillaries on the face, rosacea, port-wine stains, and cherry angiomas. Pink scars, stretch marks, and warts all respond very well. The treatment is tolerable, producing a brief stinging sensation. Special eye goggles are worn by both the patient and the treating provider. Depending on the type of lesion being treated and the settings of laser energy employed, temporary swelling may occur, and bruising can result which may persist for several days. Bruising is aggravated by aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil and Aleve, and therefore those items should be avoided for 1 week prior to appointments.

Conventional treatment for spider veins is sclerotherapy, please see that section of our website. For veins that do not respond to sclerotherapy or for very fine, matted spider veins, we use the pulse dye laser which has the advantage of avoiding injections. Bruising and discoloration can occur, and take several months to resolve. For larger varicose veins, we refer patients to a vascular surgeon for treatment with endovenous laser therapy, which treats large veins by passing a laser fiber through a catheter directly into the vein. Your physician will discuss the options with you after examination.

Please call our office at (650) 325-1511 to schedule a consultation.