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Archive for January, 2006

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Thank you very much Dr. Seckel, I really appreciate it. I just was wondering if Laser Genesis is also known as Photo facial rejuvenation? I live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and some places have FotofacialRF. I’m not sure if it’s the same thing, or something a little different. As well, I was wondering if you know anything about Photodynamic Therapy to help reduce pore size? Thanks again. David, Ontario, Canada

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Dear David,
Photo facial rejuvenation is usually used to refer to IPL treatments for non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Technically all laser and IPL therapy is Phototherapy because they use light waves or photo energy to treat the skin. But common usage of Photo facial rejuvenation usually refers to IPL.
I am not familiar with FotofacialRF. But if the […]

Posted in Photo Facial (IPL) | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel, I have many enlarged pores with some pitted acne scars on the nose and inner checks of my face. My dermatologist said that microdermabrasion would be too superficial and that dermabrasion would work, but I would miss several weeks of work, due healing time. I’ve seen you mention newer technology such as Laser Genesis® that you said might work. I’ve also been told about a new treatment called Photodynamic Therapy with IPL that may work. What do you think is the best treatment that will actually work on reducing the pore size and pitted acne scars with very little or no down time? Please let me know. Thank you, David, Ontario, Canada

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Dear David,
Dermabrasion may well ENLARGE the size of your pores and I would not recommend it. IPL or photo facial combined with a photo sensitizing agent, a technique called photo dynamic therapy, can reduce the size of enlarged pores.
There are many new better methods to treat acne scarring, among them Fraxel, Lux1540 and lasergenesis. LaserGenesis® […]

Posted in Acne | Comments Off

Dr. Seckel, I have been told by my dermatologist that Fraxel® laser would help my skin. My skin has been oily for years and I have minimal acne scarring, some red scarring of minimal nature, and large pores. The large pores are my main concern. I questioned a plastic surgeon about the procedure (he does not offer it) and he did not recommend it. How effective is it in minimizing pore size? While I’d like to reduce any of the red spots I have on skin, eliminate the very tiny lines around lips; I actually have pretty good skin for a 48-year-old woman. It’s just the pores I’m really wishing to reduce. Thank You! Diana, Irvine CA

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Dear Diana,
I would not recommend Fraxel® for reducing enlarge pores. Fraxel is an ablative laser-ablative means that it removes some skin. When you remove skin, pore size can enlarge. Laser resurfacing can improve scars and wrinkles but pore size can be enlarged.
The skin pore is an opening to an oil gland deep in the […]

Posted in Acne | Comments Off

Dear Dr Seckel, I was wondering what you think of the new procedure with the Fraxil® laser? I went to a laser clinic and they said that I would be a good candidate for the procedure. I have some old acne scars on my cheeks so that is the only part I was planning on doing. My fear is that I took Accutane® about 2-3years ago and I noticed that my skin is very sensitive, for example when I went to get my eyebrows waxed some of my skin ripped off, of course not much but it never did that before. I have a fear that my skin will be a different pigmentation than the rest of my skin. Can this happen? Please let me know what you think. Thank you, Sue Colorado Springs, CO

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Dear Sue,
Thank you for an excellent and very important question about Laser Skin Rejuvenation.
With your history of Accutane® use and that your skin is fragile I would not use the Fraxel® laser or any laser skin rejuvenation procedure on your face. The Fraxel® laser is an ablative laser which means it creates a laser peel […]

Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel, I am wondering if Sciton laser resurfacing can be done again, and if so how much time in between treatments? Thank you, Mary, Peterborough, Canada

Friday, January 13th, 2006

Dear Mary,
The laser skin rejuvenation or laser skin peel called Sciton® Laser Resurfacing (a procedure which goes much deeper than the Sciton® MicroLaserPeel®) can sometimes be repeated but only if the skin has enough skin appendages (oil glands, sweat glands, and hair follicles) left after the first laser skin resurfacing to enable the skin to […]

Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel, Is the procedure for dark circles under the eyes done in the office or does it require a hospital admission? What is the recovery period? What is the approximate cost? Is there any alternative, i.e. any cream, cosmetic, or otherwise to help with this problem while still considering/awaiting this procedure? Thank you, Donna, North Chelmsford, MA.

Sunday, January 8th, 2006

Dear Donna,
There are several eyelid rejuvenation procedures to correct dark circles under the eyes and most of the these procedures are done as an outpatient either in an ambulatory surgery center or office equipped with a surgical suite. You would go home the same day. I do have a rule that after eyelid surgery a […]

Posted in Bags and Dark Circles Under The Eyes | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel, I am 17 and have noticed that I have bad purple bags under my eyes. I have noticed them since I was about 13. My mom has them too. It is a purplish color and as you have said to some people before, it is not because of shadows or anything, that is the actual color. I was wondering if there is anyway to help because nothing I have tried has worked, Thank you, Chris

Sunday, January 8th, 2006

Dear Chris,
You are correct, the purple color you see on your lower eyelids is the actual color and not due to a shadow, dark circles under the eyes, or eyelid bags.
The color is caused by the fact that the eyelid skin is so thin that the color of the eyelid muscle beneath the eyelid skin, […]

Posted in Bags and Dark Circles Under The Eyes | Comments Off

Dear Dr. Seckel, I am a 36-year-old female. I have suffered from excessive oily skin and enlarged pores over my entire face. I know this is hereditary because my mother has this problem. I want to prevent this from becoming worse. At the age of 32 I had a full face CO2 laser. This did not seem to shrink the already existing pores. This problem is getting worse as I age. I have tried IPL (3 treatments) and LED (8weeks). Is there anything that can prevent these enlarged pores and shrink the existing ones? I can’t seem to find anything. Please help me. Thank you so much for your time. Jodi, Shawnee Kansas

Sunday, January 8th, 2006

Dear Jody,
Take heart, there is newer technology that can help enlarged pores. LaserGenesis® a new product by Cutera® has been shown to reduce pore size as well as improve skin texture and reduce redness and fine lines. What I like best about LaserGenesis® is that unlike other lasers and IPL, there is no contact with […]

Posted in Acne | Comments Off

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