Total FX UltraPulse Laser Expands Into New England Market

Laser skin resurfacing treatments are among the most effective ways to get rid of fine lines, acne scars and blemishes. Some of the most innovative laser skin resurfacing techniques include the Lumenis UltraPulse C02 fractional laser, a powerful laser that can correct many imperfections, boost collagen production and tighten the skin after just a single treatment. The UltraPulse laser is available in only a few markets in the United States, but has recently been unveiled at the Cosmetic Enhancement Center of New England.

The Total FX UltraPulse treatment has been featured on The Today Show, 20/20 and other television programs as an innovative skin rejuvenation solution.  It is among the most advanced lasers on the market, and can be used to treat facial scars, fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage and loose or sagging skin. In addition to treating the face, the UltraPulse laser can be administered to the neck and chest area for enhanced results.

The Cosmetic Enhancement Center of New England is among the few aesthetic centers to acquire the UltraPulse Laser, and is adding the cosmetic treatment alongside its lineup of anti aging treatments such as injectable fillers, stretch mark reduction treatments, skin tightening procedures and Latisse eyelash enhancement.

According to Dr. Maria Atkins, owner and board certified physician at the Cosmetic Enhancement Center, “The UltraPulse TotalFX® treatment provides our clients with one of the latest advancements in minimally invasive cosmetic treatments. The procedure and recovery time with this device has been so streamlined, that we like to tell our clients, if you give us five days, we’ll give you back five years.” (Source: MedicalNewsToday.com)

The UltraPulse laser is manufactured by Lumenis, the world’s largest medical laser company. This particular laser has received FDA clearance for more than 34 indications including the treatment of fine lines, acne scars and skin burns.

Alex TriVantage Laser Receives Registration Approval for Brazil

The Alex TriVantage multi-wavelength, q-switched laser system produced by Candela Corporation has recently received registration approval from the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) to market the product throughout the country of Brazil.  Doctors in Brazil previously only had two choices for laser treatments involving the removal of pigmented lesions, tattoos, and for treating certain types of skin conditions. The Alex TriVantage system offers doctors a more technologically-advanced system that may provide better results in the long-term, and is still safe for patients of color.

Finding the right laser for ethnic skin is an ongoing challenge for many medical professionals and anti-aging specialists. Most of the laser and light energy treatments that provide exceptional results for Caucasian skin types can do more harm than good on ethnic skin. If the wrong type of laser is used on darker skin types, the result can be hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation, excessive skin irritation and severe burns.

The Alex TriVantage laser is one of the few laser systems on the market that is suitable for darker skin types. It produces three output wavelengths – 755 nm, 532 nm, and 1064 nm – so that it can be used on different types of lesions, scars and patches of pigment without causing any side effects. The Alex TriVantage system can also be used for fractional skin resurfacing treatments, fine line and wrinkle removal, and other skin rejuvenation treatments.

The Candela Corporation reports that this versatile laser can be used to remove benign pigmented lesions, freckles, sun spots, nevus of Ota/Ito, scars, certain types of birthmarks and tattoos of all colors. The system includes several different types of handpieces for easy administration, and is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types.More information and studies about the Candela laser system can be found on CandelaLaser.com website that also features clinical bulletins and procedure videos.

Skin Rejuvenation with Stem Cells Offers Promising Results

Stem cells are becoming the vital solution for many surgeries and treatments that involve the regrowth of skin tissues, and are now being studied for their effects on skin rejuvenation procedures.

Retail skin rejuvenation products typically contain a combination of liquid collagen, hyaluronic acid and other ingredients that help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and firm up the skin.

A recent study now suggests that stem cells could be a key ingredient in these topical products, and can effectively help reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while enhancing the skin’s texture and firmness.

Scientists and clinical researchers at the International Stem Cell Corporation (ISCC) recently revealed the preliminary results of Parthenogenic Stem Cells for skin rejuvenation treatments. The products made from these compounds contain a combination of stem cells and other ingredients that affect how the sin retains moisture, and how the cells turnover. Continuous use of the product may help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles, increase collagen levels, and improve the texture and tone of the skin.

Further testing is needed to determine what can be expected with long-term use of the treatments, but the preliminary data looks very promising. The Parthenogenic Stem Cell discovery is just one of several research programs underway at the research center, and the products are wholly owned by Lifeline Cell Technology. If the products do make it to the consumer market, the company plans to launch a complete skincare line that is supported by the stem cell research.

According to an article in Medical News Today, plastic surgeons are already taking note and looking forward to adding these types of products to their retail lines. Dr. Gregory Keller, a facial plastic surgeon, says that these are just the early stages of a breakthrough in skincare, and may provide some significant long-term benefits in reducing the visible signs of aging.

Trilexon Approved for Cosmetic Market

If you’ve been prescribed a topical drug or ointment to take care of burns, scars and other skin conditions, your doctor may have used laser devices and other equipment to improve the rate of absorption in the skin.

A new delivery system has become available, and was recently approved for use in the cosmetic market. Trilexon skincare products help to increase the absorption rate of various skincare products so that the skin can react almost immediately to the preparation.

Trilexon is a registered trademark of Greyson International. In a recent press release, Harvey Tauman, CEO of Greyson International explains that “This is a very important step for us as we move forward from our developmental and research stage, into the marketing and sales stage for Greyson’s products and applications.” The company makes several health and beauty products, and the Trilexon system is one of the most innovative products to date. The company makes its own line of cleansers, anti-wrinkle creams, alcohol-free skin toners and collagen creams, as well as beauty ‘kits’ and skincare regimens specifically for anti-aging customers. The Trilexon system may help to improve the effects of these products.

Many people are required to wait several weeks, and even months before they see results with standard topical applications. Even medical-grade products require several uses before any effects can be achieved, and the skin needs to undergo its usual cell turnover and renewal process before the skin really starts to ‘take’ the ointment or product. Trilexon can help to speed up the absorption rates of standard products, thereby improving the overall cell turnover and renewal process.

The Trilexon system can be used with virtually any topical application or topical drug, and may soon become available at medical spas, dermatology offices, cosmetic surgery centers, and anti-aging/wellness centers around the country.

Source: Greyson International Press Release

Laser Therapy Helps Reduce Development of Scars

Many patients who undergo cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures experience significant scarring from the incisions.  Procedures such as the tummy tuck, breast augmentation and facelift surgery typically leave behind large, noticeable scars that are difficult to cover up with makeup. Scars can take weeks, months and even years to heal completely and there are a number of topical scar gels and creams available to reduce the appearance of the traumatized skin.

However,  results from a recent study completed at the Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in Pittsburgh indicate that laser therapy may be used as an early intervention plan for scar formation.  Lasers can be used to stop the growth of scars by delivering high-energy waves to the skin and lightening any discoloration on the traumatized skin. Pulse-dyed lasers and fractionated lasers have been the most effective at reducing the appearance of scars after surgery so far, and lasers such as Fraxel may even help reduce the appearance of mature scars

Dr. Suzan Obagi, assistant clinical profesor of dermatology at UPMC explains that the best time to treat scars with this type of therpay is right when the sutures are removed.  This helps reduce the risk of dark scar formation, and may also speed up the body’s natural healing process.  Increasing collagen and elastin production helps the skin recover rapidly and restore itself to its natural state.

Younger patients tend to heal faster than older patients regardless of the type of treatment used, and overall health and diet also play a role in wound healing and scar development. Individuals who are deficient in vitamins and proteins may not be able to heal as fast or as effectively; however, laser therapy may help to reduce the risk of deep scar formation and improve the healing process overall. (Source: ModernMedicine.com)

Photodynamic Therapy Plus Laser Could Be Best Antiaging Solution

Many men and women who want to erase the signs of aging turn to powerful laser skin resurfacing devices such as Fraxel and the Erbium laser that offer lasting results.

The effects of aging are typically the result of ultraviolet damage and buildup of toxins from the environment, but there are several skin rejuvenation treatment options available that can help restore damaged cells and even reduce the risk of future damage by making the skin more resilient and increasing collagen production.

Currently, the most popular treatments include intense pulsed light therapy, photofacials, Fraxel laser and dermal fillers.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments are another option for those interested in reducing the appearance of blotchy skin or erasing acne scars since these treatments  slowly increase collagen production and improve the skin tone. However, some experts are finding that some of the most aggressive skin rejuvenation procedures may not be the only solution for combatting fine lines and wrinkles.

Researchers at the University of Michigan have been conducting several tests that combine photodynamic therapy with pulsed-dye laser treatments.   This combination treatment is designed to trigger collagen production which in turn helps the skin becomes much firmer; the lasers help break down the top layer of the skin so that the epidermal layer grows back stronger and more resilient, while light therapy helps trigger collagen production deep under the skin’s surface.

These effects and results have historically been achieved with aggressive laser resurfacing procedures, but lasers can be very damaging to the skin and some individuals need a series of treatments in order to see results.

The recent studies led by Jeffrey S. Orringer, M.D., clinical assistant professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor is designed to “to quantitatively examine the epidermal and dermal cellular and molecular changes that occur after photodynamic therapy of photodamaged human skin.”

Researchers conducting the study suggest using a powerful IPL treatment in addition to pulsed-dye laser treatments to achieve the best results.

Dr. Orringer concludes that, “Several key findings provide evidence for the validity of this clinical treatment approach, including evidence of substantial dermal remodeling, collagen production, and epidermal thickening that result from photodynamic therapy…We believe that the quantitative amount of dermal repair and regeneration induced by a specific treatment likely underlies the degree of clinical rejuvenation produced.”

(Source: Cosmetic Surgery Times)

VAVELTA® Makes Use of Baby Foreskin for Antiaging Benefits

Some of today’s top treatments that help to get rid of wrinkles and rejuvenate the appearance include dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm, and extensive surgical procedures such as the facelift.

However, a radical alternative may soon be available in the United States; a British biomedical company has developed a treatment called VAVELTA®, a set of injectable fillers made with the cells of babies’ foreskins.  The promise?  To rejuvenate the skin and reverse the signs of aging.  The injections are not made with collagen or hylauronic acid, but may help promote healthy collagen growth and encourage cellular repair.

This potent formulation is designed to populate the lower layers of skin with millions of fresh and healthy cells, allowing the body to quickly adapt the cells and help create a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance on the skin’s surface.

The makers of VAVELTA®, Intercytex, explain that the baby’s cells are some of the healthiest human cells available, and injecting these cells into the skin can help get rid of many signs of aging.  Intercytex describes the product as follows:

VAVELTA® is a skin repair and rejuvenation product.  It has been designed to improve the structure, function and appearance of skin  damaged by scarring or the aging process. VAVELTA® is a suspension of human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) in cell storage medium, for injection into the skin.  When injected into the skin, HDFs are believed to lay down collagen within the dermis which restructures and repairs the extracellular matrix. (Source: Intercytex.com)

The procedure itself falls under the minimally-invasive category, and involves the administration of several injections in key facial compartments.  A local anesthetic may be used to minimize discomfort during the treatment, and the injections can only be administered by a licensed dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

VAVELTA® is currently available only in the UK, but may soon be making its way across the ocean after FDA review and approval.

Stem Cell Facelift – The Next Anti Aging Breakthrough?

Injectable fillers, microdermabrasion and laser facial rejuvenation procedures are some of the most popular anti aging solutions on the market, but an innovative facelift procedure made with stem cells is on the horizon.

The official ‘Stem Cell Facelift’ is currently undergoing comprehensive testing by researchers and plastic surgeons around the country, and will be presented at the International Academy of Aesthetic Medicine in Miami, FL on November 2.

The treatment is one of the latest non-invasive facial procedures designed to tighten and tone the skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and improve the contours of the face.

This no-needle facelift works by injecting the patient’s own stem cells into key facial compartments so that the skin can begin to restore and repair itself naturally.

Most adults store an excess number of stem cells in the lower abdominal area, an area that is often considered to be a ‘problem area’ for men and women who want a smooth and sculpted midsection.  While this procedure won’t eliminate a large amount of fatty tissue from the abdominal region, it does involve extracting a high number of stem cells from the fat, and transplanting these cells into the face.

Dr. Vincent Giampapa, a Certified Anti-Aging Medical Physician and Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon is leading the demonstrations in Miami, and will use only local anesthesia to numb the facial tissues and extract the fat needed for the transplant.

Plasmetic.com reports that this procedure will cost approximately $5,000, and the result may be the ‘long term improvement that enhances skin quality and youthful contours of the face’, and that ‘the skin and fatty layers are induced to produce more of their own cells’ as a result of the treatment.  Downtime is just under one week, and patients can resume their makeup and skincare routine shortly after the healing period is over.

(Photo courtesy of manitou2121 via Flick’r)

Dr. Candice Lane Encourages Boomers to Try MicroLaser Peel

Fraxel laser technologies have become a popular topic in the cosmetic and aesthetic industry in recent years as the Fraxel laser has been deemed safer, more effective than traditional skin rejuvenation treatments.

Now a ProFractional treatment using the Sciton laser has entered the market, a laser peel that promises unparalleled results to even the Fraxel laser.

The MicroLaserPeel is an innovative skin rejuvenation procedure designed to reduce redness while tightening the skin for a more youthful look. Dr. Candice Lane, a leading physician who specializes in biodentical hormone and nutrient replacements, is promoting the MicroPeel as the ultimate anti-aging facial treatment, a procedure that can help reduce wrinkles and even make the skin healthier.

Dr. Lane describes the MicroLaserPeel as follows:

“It is an intra-epidermal laser peel that precisely ablates the outermost layers of the skin. The procedure is individually tailored to the nature of the condition to be corrected.Skin conditions such as: wrinkles, scars, acne scars,keratoses, or pigmentary problems have been very successfully treated with a MicroLaserPeel.” (Source: HormoneHealthMD)

The MicroLaserPeel is a step beyond the conventional chemical peel and skin exfoliating treatments such as microdermabrasion, allowing patients to achieve results similar to an often-extensive dermabrasion procedure. The procedure is now available at several anti-aging clinics and medical spas across the country.

Stem Cells Enter Cosmetics Department – Latest Anti Aging Breakthrough

Cosmeceuticals are entering the rapidly growing anti-aging market, a line of cosmetic products designed to stop the signs of aging, promote healing and stimulate healthy skin cell growth.

Researchers at Proteonomix, Inc., a company that specializes in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapeutics, has recently announced the release of its Proteoderm line of cosmetic products that, the company claims, are made with stem cells.

Stem cells are the body’s natural resources for cell rejuvenation and healthy tissue growth, but the aging process can limit the body’s ability to activate these cells on a regular basis.  Skincare products that are made with stem cells may help deliver a healthy dose of essential proteins to the skin in order to stimulate collagen production and improve cellular functioning.

The Proteoderm product line includes a night cream, day cream and intensive exfoliatior which helps buff away dead skin cells and replenishes the skin with essential proteins needed for cell regeneration.

The products will be promoted as an anti-aging skin care system through physician’s offices in 2009, and promise results in as little as one month.

The company claims that the skin care products help to:

• Reduce wrinkles and fine lines
• Enhance the skin’s natural moisture levels
• Create radiant and more youthful skin
• Smooth out rough patches
• Improve skin’s texture

More information about the product line can be found on the Proteoderm website.