Many
men and women seek treatment for scars, blemishes, hyper and
hypopiginentation,
acne, acne scars, prominent veins and other venous and
vascular
conditions of the face, as well as, age spots and -wrinkle lines.
Many modalities
are used to treat these conditions including chemicals, intense
light sources
(IPL), microdermabrasion, facial peels and other hypopigmented
agents.
PhotoRejuvenation
is a combination of the best of these techniques and has been
proven
by several investigators to relieve the vast majority of abnormalities
that people
seek treatment for. The treatment all patients are placed on is
Tretinoin Emollient
Cream (Renova) on a daily basis.
PhotoDynmaic IPL
is then applied to the whole face
with the
same discipline as one would use to treat the stretch marks or
stria. One week
later, microdermabrasion is utilized. We wait two weeks and then
do this again.
Photoderm and microdermabrasion one -week apart. This is done
for a total of
five times.
The
skin softening comes from the change that the Photoderm makes
on the collagen
layer which promotes a softness of the skin. The rnicrodermabraslon
plus the
Photoderm brings together the pores and gives a smoother feel
to the skin, as
well as
a smoother appearance.
The treatment must be within the
time period recommended so that the protocol
can be followed. Deviation from the protocol will give
results that aren't predictable.
| Microdermabrasion
is done first: |
6 Treatments for $2150 |
| PhotoRejuvenation system using
Levulan - after microdermabrasion : |
3 treatments for $2500.00 |
What is the Levulan Kerastick
PDT system?
The Levulan PDT system is an advanced 2-step treatment for minimally
to moderately thick Actinic keratoses (AKs) that have not yet
become enlarged and thick - of the face or scalp. The system is
unique because it’s the only one that uses light to destroy
AKs. Also used for ROSACEA and aging brown spots, acne scars and
active acne - it also helps regenerate collagen.
How does the Levulan PDT
system work?
Step 1
The first step in the Levulan PDT system is when your doctor applies
Levulan® Kerastick® (aminolevulinic acid HCI) for Topical
Solution, 20% to individual AKs on your skin. This unique solution
is an acid that occurs naturally in your body; it makes the
AKs more sensitive to light. This application prepares them for
step 2 in the Levulan treatment.
Step 2
After waiting 14 to 18 hours, you return to your doctor's office.
The doctor then exposes the AKs treated in step 1 to a special
blue light. This light then destroys these AKs, whether they are
precancerous or not.
Are there any precautions
I should take during the treatment?
Because step 1 makes the treated areas more sensitive to light,
it is important that you avoid bright light during the 14 to 18
hours between step 1 and step 2. Sunscreens will
not protect these treated areas. Stay out of sunlight or bright
indoor light, and wear light-protecting clothing such as a wide-brimmed
hat.
What will I experience during
treatment?
During step 2 (the blue light therapy), at least half of the patients
in the clinical studies felt a stinging and/or burning in the
treated areas. Usually, this improved immediately after treatment
and ended within 24 hours. (Less than 3% of patients discontinued
therapy because of this discomfort.) After treatment, a small
number of patients experienced some temporary reddening and swelling
of the AKs and surrounding skin, which generally was completely
gone by 4 weeks after treatment.
How effective is it?
The Levulan PDT system has been proven effective in clinical testing.
Eight weeks after treatment, it had cleared 100% of AKs in about
2/3 patients. The system more
effectively cleared AKs of the face than those of the scalp. Clinical
studies did not examine what happened to completely cleared AKs
more than 12 weeks after treatment.
Actinic keratoses (AKs) are rough, scaly patches
on the skin, caused by excessive exposure to the sun, that can
sometimes progress into dangerous skin cancers. More than 5 million
Americans live with these lesions, and far too many people ignore
them, leaving them untreated. This can have serious consequences.
Doctors estimate that 40% of squamous cell carcinomas, the second
leading cause of skin cancer deaths in the United States, begin
as AKs. And without performing a skin biopsy, it can be almost
impossible for a doctor to distinguish an AK from a squamous cell
carcinoma.
For this reason, 3 major medical groups— the American
Cancer Society, The Skin Cancer Foundation, and the American Academy
of Dermatology—all recommend that people with AKs seek treatment
for them immediately. How do AKs become squamous cell carcinomas?
AKs sometimes can become larger and thicker. Doctors call this
“hyperkeratotic.” These enlarged lesions may then progress to
squamous cell carcinomas. Patients may notice increased redness,
tenderness, itching, and burning. However, these symptoms can
be the same for either AKs or squamous cell carcinomas. This is
what makes distinguishing between the two so difficult without
a biopsy. Left untreated, squamous cell carcinomas may become
larger, go deeper into the skin, and eventually spread to other
parts of the body. This results in thousands of skin cancer deaths
each year, many of which could be prevented.
If you have questions
about the Levulan® Kerastick® PhotoDynmaic Therapy system,
you are not alone. Here are some of the questions other patients
commonly ask about this advanced new treatment.
Will
I feel any discomfort during the treatment with the Levulan®
PDT system?
Probably some. Although the Levulan® PDT system has been designed
for less patient discomfort, many patients do report some:
• Stinging and burning
–At least 50% of patients experienced significant stinging
and burning during the light treatment, usually plateauing in
intensity at about 6 minutes
• Swelling and temporary reddening
–Almost all patients experienced this immediately following
light treatment
This discomfort usually occurs immediately following treatment,
rather than in the weeks following. Any swelling and redness will
begin to subside soon after treatment and will be gone in a few
weeks. In fact, some patients have reported that swelling is reduced
even sooner.
How
did patients feel about the Levulan® PDT system after treatment?
In clinical studies, 84% of patients who received treatment with
the Levulan® PDT system said that they would use it again.
What
happens if I feel tingling during the 14 to 18 hours between the
time Levulan® Kerastick® (aminolevulinic acid HCl) for
Topical Solution, 20% has been applied and the time I am treated
with the BLU-U® light?
This means that the treated lesions are reacting to light.
• Avoid exposure to bright light both indoors and outdoors
• If tingling feeling continues, inform your dermatologist
If I wear sunscreen, will that be sufficient
to avoid exposure to light?
No. After the application of the Levulan®
Kerastick®, you must:
• Stay out of strong, direct light
• Stay indoors as much as possible
• When outdoors, wear protective clothing and wide-brimmed
hats to avoid sunlight
• Avoid beaches, snow, or surfaces where strong light may
be reflected
After the Levulan® Kerastick®
has been applied, is there anything else I should do?
Be careful not to:
• Wash the Levulan® Kerastick® off your face or
scalp
• Rub or touch the treated area excessively before treatment
with the BLU-U® light
What should I do after the BLU-U® light treatment?
• Be careful to avoid exposure to the sun for a day
• Avoid extremes of temperature and wind (if possible)
• Avoid hot water or other potential irritants
