“You may be spending countless hours in front of the mirror trying to work magic with your makeup.”
Certified Physician Assistant
Skin Imperfections Develop Over Time
The longer we walk this earth, the more opportunity we have to collect little mementos of our journeys. Unfortunately, our faces become the scrapbook used to display all of these memories and outdoor adventures.At some point, we might look in the mirror and think, “When did my skin begin to look so blotchy and how am I going to get rid of these stubborn spots?” Some will look for a cure in a bottle, perhaps that new expensive cream you saw on television or the Internet that promises fast and miraculous results in just three easy payments.You may be spending countless hours in front of the mirror trying to work magic with your makeup. The sad truth is, once you have begun to develop issues such as freckles, sun spots, and broken blood vessels, it’s usually more than make-up or skin care products alone can manage. The good news is that Advanced Dermatology & Skin Surgery has experts and equipment to help address a variety of different skin tone imperfections.
Laser Treatments Can Safely and Effectively Correct Problem Areas
The CUTERA® excel® V™ is the gold standard for laser devices and is designed to safely treat several different conditions leading to uneven skin tone. Here are some frequently asked questions to help you learn about our excel V treatments and what all they can do for you.
How Does the excel V Work?
For sun spots, the laser heats up the pigment inside the sun spot, after which, the spot turns darker and then gently sloughs off. For blood vessels, the laser delivers pulses of light energy which cause the blood within the vein to coagulate and the wall of the vessels to collapse, destroying the vessel which is later reabsorbed by your body. Blood flow will then be redirected to veins deeper below your skin’s surface, right where it should be.
What Type of Conditions can excel V Treatments Address?
Our excel V treatments can successfully address: rosacea, broken blood vessels, angiomas, freckles, age spots, leg veins, some birthmarks, and some scarring.
What Does an excel V Treatment Feel Like?
Patients describe the treatment as feeling like a stinging sensation as the pulses of energy are delivered. The excel V uses a cooling mechanism which helps to minimize any potential patient discomfort. Following the treatment, pain is minimal to non-existent.
How Many Treatments will I Need?
Ultimately, it depends on the condition that is being treated. Some conditions such as sun spots and superficial veins can be successfully removed with one treatment. Often, for more stubborn conditions such as rosacea and prominent leg veins, patients find that between three to five treatments are sufficient. Since individual results vary we would schedule a consultation to customize a package to suit your unique needs. Treatments are performed every four to six weeks.
When Will I See Results?
For conditions such as sun spots and small vessels, improvement can be noted within weeks of the procedure. For larger vessels on the legs or for stubborn conditions such as rosacea, scars, and birthmarks, most patients find that improvement is noted within eight to twelve weeks of treatment. However, your final results may not be apparent for several months.
What are the Possible Side Effects?
Although many patients report few if any side effects, those most commonly noticed are slight reddening and local swelling of the skin. These effects typically last about 48-72 hours. We often recommend over-the-counter antihistamines, cool compresses and gentle skin care at home to reduce the swelling associated with the procedure.
Amy sees patients for both Medical and Cosmetic Dermatology at our Spokane North and Spokane Valley locations. If you have questions or to see if excel V treatments are right for you, please call us at 509.456.7414 or request an appointment online.