Orange County Photodynamic Therapy doctors

	Harold J. Kaplan, MD Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon 23211 Hawthorne Blvd. Suite 200, Torrance		4 answers
	Jed H. Horowitz, MD Orange County Plastic Surgeon 7677 Center Avenue Suite 401, Huntington Beach
	Andrew Kaufman, MD Los Angeles Dermatologic Surgeon 267 W Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks
	Lorrie Klein, MD Laguna Niguel Dermatologic Surgeon 30201 Golden Lantern Ste B, Laguna Niguel
	Grace Liu, MD Newport Beach Dermatologic Surgeon 3991 MacArthur Blvd Suite 228 , Newport Beach

Recent Answers

Had PDT One Month Ago, Now my Pores All over my Face Are Producing Tiny White Millias. Did I have an adverse reaction to PDT? Face is very dry.

A: Side Effects with PDT

Many patients undergoing Levulan with PDT exhibit small, milia-like or closed comedones which is usually in the lower part of the face. This is so common that we speak to this in our pre and post-treatment handouts. There are a few theories as to what provokes this, but the good news is that it is generally self-resolving.

Being that it has been one month since your treatment, it would be a good time to address this with your practitiner to discuss options. The need to balance your skin care regimen with oil-free moisturizing in addition to gentle exfoliation is a must. Continue to be diligent with sunscreen protection.

The below link offers more in depth information.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Blue Light Therapy Price? Is blue light treatment ever covered by insurance?

A: Costs of treatments vary greatly

Here in California, the cost of Blu-U light treatments range from $125 to $150 per treatment when used as a stand alone treatment. In our practice, we use the Blu-U light to compliment the existing treatment plan wherein the Blu-U treatments are bonused into the care plan.

BTW, Levulan itself generates quite an expense because of the cost of the product to the practitioner. In our practice, a care plan that involves Levulan also includes Blu-U treatments and/or lasers as well as check ups.

These types of treatments are very rarely covered by insurance plans unless the patient has flex spending options.

Although cost of treatments is a big priority when looking for a treatment plan/practitioner, be also concerned with the protocols, expected outcomes, experience, after care, etc.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

What is Photodynamic Therapy? how is this used in skincare?

A: Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy is a process by which a photosensitizing drug and light device are used in combination to destroy or damage only the target cells in the skin, while preserving surrounding tissue.

It works like this. A drug that is capable of attracting light to the target cells (pre cancerous cells according to the current FDA approval) is placed on the skin. This drug (amino levulanic acid or ALA) is preferentially absorbed into the fast growing pre-cancerous cells. After an incubation period (a waiting period that allows the drug to absorb into the target cells) the excess ALA is removed from the surface of the skin.

Then, using a laser, Blu light or IPL the photosenstized drug (the ALA) is "activated". This means that the drug in the target cells absorbs more of the light from the laser, IPL or Blu-light, causing the target cells to heat up and be destroyed. This selective targeting of the precancerous cells is why this treatment is unique and the basis for how it works.

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon