Dear Dr. Seckel, My G.P.’s office is now offering Laser Genesis.The procedures are performed by technicians that are trained by the manufacturer of the laser machine, which is Cutera.I’ll turn 50 this June, and I have fine lines, mild redness, and enlarged pores, and I’m thinking of having laser genesis vein therapy and facial rejuvenation. This would be my first facial cosmetic procedure and I have two questions - Do you recommend starting with laser rejuvenation, and is it normal for ‘technicians’ to do these procedures? Sid, Atlanta, Georgia.
Dear Sid,
Board certified plastic surgeons spend 7 years after medical school and dermatologists spend 3-4 after medical school learning how to do facial rejuvenation and non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques. I am surprised that your G.P. with no board certification would feel comfortable offering you advice on laser skin rejuvenation, facial rejuvenation and laser non-surgical facial rejuvenation procedures.
My first recommendation would be to see a specialist who can give you thorough professional advice. It is your face and you want the best treatment.
Nurses, PA’s, Nurse practitioners, and medical aestheticians who are certified, trained and under the doctors supervision can perform LaserGenesis® treatments. There are specific protocols they must follow to protect your eyes.
From your description of fine lines, redness, broken blood vessels and enlarged pores, LaserGenesis® may be very helpful for you. However larger veins and vessels are not corrected with lasergenesis® but require a different laser treatment. Cutera® Coolglide® is better for larger vessels. IPL or photofacial is also excellent for broken blood vessels, skin redness, and Rosacea.
However I have not examined you and would recommend you see a specialist for evaluation.
I typically start a patient who has enlarged pores, fine lines, and skin redness on microdermabrasion and Retin A orVitamin C cream. Once they have improved I then evaluate them for futher laser therapy. If wrinkle removal and pigment removal are a major problem I often use MicroLaserPeel® and then treat the blood vessels with IPL or photofacial. Microlaserpeel® should be done before Lasergenesis® because the vessels can be more noticeable after the microlaserpeel laser skin peel.
For further information visit drseckel.com, read Save Your Face or contact me.