All About Lasers
The possibility of harnessing light for controlled use was theorized by Albert Einstein in 1917; however this theory was not put into practice until the 1960’s. Since the inception of lasers, many advances have been made, most of them in the last ten years.
There are numerous lasers now used for correcting skin problems, and more are continuously coming to market.
Laser light is pure and of one specific wavelength. The wavelength determines what can be treated. This pure light acts by transferring its energy to a specific target (chromophore) in the skin causing its destruction by heat. The three main targets in the skin are water, blood (hemoglobin), and color/pigment (melanin). Tattoo inks are another target as well. Because different targets require different wavelengths of light, there is no one laser that can “do it all”.
Similar to lasers is Intensed Pulsed Light (IPL). IPL also harnesses light energy of specific wavelengths which then act on the same targets (Melanin & hemoglobin) as laser.
Treatment with a laser requires use of special goggles for the patient and the physician. Sometimes a topical anesthetic is applied to the area to be treated to ‘numb’ it. and often a Zimmer Chiller is used for cryoanesthesia. The sensation felt with laser pulses is likened to that of the snap of a rubber band on the skin. Treatment is fairly quick, and the healing phase is normally uneventful.
At the Randali Centre, we use laser technology to treat:
- Age spots
- Unwanted hair
- Sagging skin on the face or body
- Flat brown moles or birthmarks
- Rosacea
Click here for more information:
Services: Laser Hair Removal
Services: Laser Photorejuvenation
Services: Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing
Services: Laser Tattoo and Pigmented Lesion Removal
Services: Exilis Skin Tightening