The Photoderm VL/PL is a unique light source that is used to treat blood vessels on various parts of the body including the face, neck, trunk and legs. It can also be used to treat red birthmarks, scars, tattoos, brown spots and stretch marks. It uses different wavelengths of light to preferentially heat up certain targets within the skin. This is what allows this particular machine to have such versatility.

VASCULAR LESIONS

The Photoderm can be used to treat blood vessels on various parts of the body. It uses light to target the red blood cells within the vessels and essentially heats them up. This then causes injury to the blood vessel wall and causes the blood vessel to close down. After the initial injury, it then takes several weeks for the blood vessel to reach its final result.

This is the latest generation of light sources to treat blood vessels. The advantage to this treatment is that it usually does not leave the gray-purple discoloration of the pulse dye laser. It does not usually leave the scabbing associated with continuous wave lasers. It may take several treatments for the area to resolve, however with each treatment significant improvement should be noted. Some vessels, no matter how many times they are treated, will not go away completely. They should however, be improved. Also, while those vessels that are treated will go away, the body will probably continue to make blood vessels and new ones will appear over time.

There is a small risk [less than 5%] of a scab or a bruise resulting from the treatment, but this should resolve over 3-5 days. There have been rare reports of blisters and scars, but having personally performed over several thousand treatments, I have not seen this happen. The skin will be slightly pink when you leave, which is easily covered with makeup. The pinkness will resolve over several hours.

When treating blood vessels on the legs, it is important to pick vessels that respond well to this type of treatment. Some blood vessels will respond better to injections of special solutions.

PHOTOFACIALS

The Photoderm is used to rejuvenate the skin. This typically requires a series of 5-7 treatments, and will remove red blotchiness, blood vessels, irregular pigmentation and fine lines from the skin. Some studies indicate it may also reduce pore size. These treatments can also be used to treat sun damage on the neck and chest. Occasionally brown spots or freckles may appear temporarily darker, but this will fade over 10 days with a resulting reduction of the pigmentation. This application can also be used to treat melasma, or the brown pigment that women can get from elevated estrogens.

SCARS

The Photoderm is an integral part of our scar treatment program. It has been used to take the red out of scars, as well as to soften them and to decrease the size. It is possible that the scar itself will become bruised during the treatment, but this will fade. The Photoderm may also be used to stimulate collagen growth in depressed scars.

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