PicoSure SmartSkin+ CO2 Laser
Guest Contributor: Tara Roseme, Concierge at Modern Dermatology
If you’ve been to Modern Dermatology, you’ve likely encountered the smiling face of Tara Roseme. Tara can be found at check-in, check-out, or in our retail area helping patients choose the right skincare products for their needs. Tara recently experienced fantastic results from Dr. Klein’s treatment with PicoSure SmartSkin+, a revolutionary CO2 laser here at Modern Dermatology. We asked Tara to share her experience, and results, and here is what she had to say…
Why did you decide to do the treatment?
I was noticing uneven texture to the skin on the lower part of my face and looking to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. Uneven skin texture is commonly a result of excess dead skin cells that build up on the surface of the skin, making the texture rough or bumpy and dull in appearance. Dr. Klein explained to me that while I’ve had great results with Botox, dermal fillers and microneedling treatments, CO2 is really the gold standard for addressing texture issues. The PicoSure CO2 laser, which has the ability to target a number of cosmetic problems at the same time providing overall skin rejuvenation:
Wrinkles, fine lines & stretch marks
Deep creases around the mouth and lower face
Lax skin around the eyes and loose skin on the neck
Uneven pigmentation from aging and UV damage (brown/age spots)
Acne scar reduction
How does the treatment work?
The SmartSkin ™ laser applies a series of tiny pulses of laser energy to your skin. As these microscopic holes heal, new younger looking skin is revealed, and collagen is stimulated deep within your skin. Dr. Klein could customize the intensity of the treatment on different areas of my face – when deeper areas of the skin are targeted the result is more of a tightening effect, where using less heat and bringing the columns closer together targets pigment and texture.
For maximum benefit I also chose to do PRP, which can speed up healing and recovery while delivering additional skin rejuvenation benefits. PRP is when they draw your blood (usually from your arm) and separate the platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) in a centrifuge, and then spread the “liquid gold” on my face for it to sink in.
Did it hurt during the treatment?
Honestly, not much at all! About 30 minutes prior to my treatment Dr. Klein applied a topical numbing ointment to my upper face, and knowing we’d be concentrating more aggressively on the lower face, used some injectable anesthetic there. For good measure I took a few puffs of laughing gas when we were treating the more sensitive areas like around the lips. The laughing gas kind of dulls the anxiety element, when your body is relaxed the response to pain is much more manageable.
…what about afterwards?
My face did feel very tight and hot for a few minutes after the laser, but after icing it, it went away.
What is recovery like?
Of course, everyone responds differently, but overall, I found the recovery pretty quick. I used Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology® before and after my treatment. This proprietary formulation is designed to support the skin, before, during and after cosmetic procedures. It can be applied immediately post-procedure for faster recovery – the high antioxidant activity helps to calm the skin and reduce the appearance of redness.
I was swollen and red for 3 days, I mostly hung at home during this time, and applied the Alastin and Aquaphor on my face nonstop (Alastin first, then the Aquaphor overtop). On day 4 I went to work – I put makeup on to take the edge off the diminishing redness. I was still a little swollen for about 1 week, however I was able to go about my daily routine after day 4. It’s really important to avoid sun exposure after the treatment, ideally for up to 2 months, so winter is a great time to do it!
What kind of results did you see?
I saw a huge difference in the texture of my skin and would say the area around my mouth (which bothered me the most) improved 90%. I think my face looks smoother and fine lines and wrinkles decreased significantly. It’s also important to note that I only did one treatment, however based on your skin concerns your doctor may recommend a series of treatments.
In conclusion…
I am so happy with my results and highly recommend the treatment. If you’re interested in learning more call the office and set up a consultation with Dr. Klein or Dr. Mraz, and they will curate the right treatment plan for your skin.
