Dear Dr. Seckel I had a face-lift 10 months ago. The mid face-lift was done with endotines to pull the cheek areas up. I also had a phenol peel done beginning under my eyes, covering my cheeks with dermabrasion of the upper lip and Chin. about four months after the procedure, my cheeks, chin and upper lip became quite red and the pores large with some broken spider veins showing. I never had any of this before the peel and dermabrasion. My dermatologist says it is Rosacea as a result of too much “stress” to the skin. Another dermatologist says I have had Rosacea all my life and this just brought it out more. The surgeon and both dermatologist say that my only hope of getting rid of the redness, veins and large pores would be the photo facial treatments. However one of the dermatologists says these treatments could damage my skin to the extent that I could get tissue death that would be irreversible. This is very frightening to me. In addition the cost is quite high for a package of treatments. I am looking for yet another opinion, is this a procedure you perform and if so what is the cost range in your practice? Thank you. Karen, Hot Springs Village, AR
Dear Karen,
I can advise you better if you email me a confidential photo of your
face lift result-I will not publish it.
The Phenol Skin Peel thinned your skin and as a result the blood vessels now
show through-also the skin peel inflames the skin and skin inflammation causes more blood vessels to grow in the skin–as the inflammation subsides the redness will diminish.
Photo facial refers to IPL-Intense Pulsed Light. IPL can remove the vessels but there are very different machines available–I believe the safest one, the I use is the LuxGreen IPL made by Palomar Medical.
Most important is the experience and skill of the person doing the Photo Facial treatment–the operator must use the machine properly or the skin could be burned.
A safer treatment for rosacea, enlarged pores, and broken blood vessels would be LaserGenesis a laser skin rejuvenation machine made by Cutera–there is no skin contact and the treatments are mild-but LaserGenesis does close blood vessels, reduce redness and shrink pores-this might be your best option.
Visit the company websites to learn more:
http://www.cutera.com/application.asp?view=10001
http://www.palomarmedical.com/palomar.aspx?pgID=88
The IPL costs $450 a treatment-usually 4-5 is required, the lasergenesis costs $200-you would need 5-6 treatments
Thank you for your important question.
For more information on IPL, photo facial, and non-surgical facial rejuvenation read Save Your Face or contact me.
Boston, Massachusetts