Boston Laser Resurfacing doctors
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Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon
131 Old Road Nine Acre Corner - Suite 700, Concord |
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56 answers |
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Frank P. Fechner, MD
Worcester Facial Plastic Surgeon
428 Shrewsbury Street, Worcester |
2 answers | |
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Edwin Ishoo, MD
Boston Facial Plastic Surgeon
1000 Plain St First Floor , Marshfield |
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Kimberley O'Sullivan, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon
14 Denton Road, Wellesley |
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William P. Adams, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon
18 Newbury St St # 400, Boston |
Recent Answers
Hi Doc, I would like to know what is the best and safe laser to remove the lines from nose to mouth? I can't go for fillers because I bruise easily and they tend to stay for a long time. Thanks!
Are you referring to the lasolabial creases (or folds)? If these are real depressions, then these are best treated with injectable fillers such as Radiesse, Perlane or Juvederm. Laser treatments will lead to only subtle improvements.
For upper (and lower) lip wrinkles (a.k.a. "smoker's lines"), then the gold standard of laser treatments ist still the CO2 laser. Newer technologies such as fractionated lasers (i.e. "Fraxel", "Deep Fx" etc) can provide improvements but are usually less dramatic than with the full surface CO2 laser. But these technologies maybe a little safer at the same time.
At the end, always keep in mind that a laser is not a smart robot but just a tool (like a scalpel or a pair of scissors). So, it is the surgeon that needs to use the tool with expertise and respect for a safe treatment.
Can you compare Lumenis Active FX and the Fraxel Repair, Which one works better on wrinkles, brown spots, skin tightening? How about pain and recovery time? Which is easier to use and less room for error? If a fractional CO2 only treats a certain % of the skin, how can it totally remove brown spots. Can it get rid of pre cancerous spots?
Fraxel repair and ActiveFX are both fractional CO2 lasers but made by different companies. Fraxel Repair is made by Reliant, and ActiveFX is made by Lumenis.
The ActiveFX is a superficial treatment that is excellent for removing pigment and superficial sun damage, but wrinkle removal is less than with the deeper penetrating Fraxel Repair.
Lumenis, the company that makes ActiveFX also makes a laser called DeepFX which is comparable to the Fraxel Repair.
In addition to these fractional CO2 lasers there are also fractional Erbium lasers-Profractional, Lux2940, and others. Generally speaking recovery times are less and pain is less with the Erbium lasers.
Properly done by an experienced doctor, end results of the best CO2 and Erbium lasers are similar.
I am Mexican and Filipino, but the Mexican side is questionable, as I may have French roots because I'm very fair and have had freckles as a child through adulthood. When I had hyperpigmentation/melasma and fine lines under my eyes I went to get a CO2 treatment. The results were less than satisfying; I ended up having more lines on my lower lids plus hypopigmentation on the area, as well as above my upper lip. I have consulted various doctors, and I am overwhelmed with their suggested treatments: Fraxel Restore, fraxel Re:Pair, Plasma, and Cool touch, can't remember the rest. Is there anything that can help me get rid of the fine lines without causing more undesirable effects like the ones from my CO2 experience, which made me wary of laser treatments. I was told that I would have smooth skin--but I didn't. It would be two years in December since my treatment (2006) and I am still red/brown on the lower side of my lips. Thank you for any help.
Dark skinned individuals should not be treated with CO2 lasers, flat beam or fractional. The CO2 creates a thermal damage profile that always results in hyperpigmentationj and can also lead to hypopigmentation.
It sounds as though you have persistant hyperpigmentation after laser resurfacing. If you truely have melasma, it is very difficult to treat.
The Fraxel Restore (NOT Repair-it is a CO2) and the Lux1540 are both good non-ablative fractional Erbium lasers which can improve-but not cure-melasma.
They are safe to use on dark skin at lower power settings. They can improve fine lines and skin texture and reduce hyperpigmentation.
You need to find a doctor who is used to treating dark skinned patients with laser--very few know how.
