Portland Dermatologic Surgeons

What Laser Resurfacing Would Be Best for my Face?

I am a very light skinned, 46 year old caucasian female. I am wanting to get laser resurfacing done on my face to take care of wrinkles around my eyes, smile lines around my mouth and deeper lines on my forehead. I would also like to get some benefits of skin tightening around my jowls and on my eyelids. I have found a derm that uses Active FX/Deep FX for $3K, a derm that uses an Erbium laser for $1800, and a plastic surgeon that uses Erbium/fractioned CO2 combination for $3K. What is best?

Laser resurfacing is not just about smoothing our lines and wrinkles, but is all about skin surface collagen tightening.  There are no other facial treatments that show as much gain for you skin, pores, texture, acne scarring, and lines as does resurfacing,  But, what does laser resurfacing mean and which laser or surgeon to choose.  We offer our patients choices of either Fraxel Dual, for pigmentation and texture, or DOT SmartXide, our carbon dioxide laser  for lines wrinkles and acne scarring,  these are great choices, but remember laser resurfacing although a great pathway to improving you skin is stiil an art form, and the skill of your physician, is an all important choice.  

You mentioned deeper smile lines, and those jowels. well laser resurfacing although a great answer, is not the answer for everything, think of for those cheeks and jowels, Ultherapy for non-invasive lifting without any down time, going right back to work,  and fillers such as Juvederm for those deep lip or smile lines as well, and plan for your laser resurfacing when you have the time for the seven to ten day recovery

Douglas J. Key, MD

Portland Dermatologic Surgeon

Would You Recommend Bella Contour, Zerona, of Zeltiq to Reduce Abdominal Fat?

I would liek to have more information on this treatment before I feel confortable to spend some money. surgery is not an option at this time but I am very confused. too many devices out there and i don't know which one will give me the best result. i want to reduce my abdominal fat. Zerona, Zeltiq or bella contour? Thank you to anyone, who can give me some information.

First of all, as to Zerona, how come no one asks the question, "How many inchs will I loose after finishing Zerona two months later, not just two weeks, Oh, and lets leave out all the extra water, exercise, and supplements?", our answer,  none of our patients that we treated with Zerona saw a difference, thats none, if they were exercising, drinking extra ounces of water each day and all of that before Zerona.  So lets move on. 

Cool Sculpting works, and our patients can choose within our practice between, Cool Sculpting, as a non-liposuction choice, and liposuction itself, with either CoolLipo, BodyJet, or VASER, now thats a lot of choices, all of which are good choices.  But, I must say something here, which I say to all of my patients, none of these are about weight loss, that is something, as hard as it is to do, that each of you as a patients will still have to do on you own, with a little bit of help from us as well, Cool Sculpting, or if you choose liposuction in some form, is all about helping with those "stubborn areas", not weight loss.

Cool Sculpting is a great choice, you can get treated and go back to work, but Cool Sculpting only works as well as how well the cooling applicators, which we call chambers fit. so to speak its all about how well the unwanted fat will "pooch".  So we as part of our consultation will have our patients try on the Cool Sculpting first, and if the fat fits well and "poochs" well they become a good candidate for treatment, and lets them know from the beginning whether, we expect one, two, or three, treatments over time as well.

Douglas J. Key, MD

Portland Dermatologic Surgeon

Can I Use a Compression Garment After Zeltiq?

I just got my lower abs and muffin tops done (zeltiq) and I was wondering if I can use a compression garment to help the fat disolve and keep the skin tight. I know is not necessary as with liposuction but maybe I thought it could help. Thanks

Wearing a compression garmet immediately after Cool Scultping has been great for our patients!  Its sort of like asking, "why wear compression after laser assisted liposuction?", of course you would.  When we began Cool Sculpting we had heard about the discomfort, bruising, and swelling that you, the patients were talking about on Real Self, so our patients from the begining, were asked if the minded using compression, short term,  for 3 to 5 days, after their Zeltiq Cool Sculpting treatments, and no one said no.  And what a difference, just what you would expect, bruising almost none, greater comfort, less swelling, and results that look great and may even be seen sooner.

Douglas J. Key, MD

Portland Dermatologic Surgeon