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Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology
777 Knowles Dr., Ste. 16, Los Gatos, California
+14083741320
Website
3.7 | 4 Reviews
41 Questions Answered
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Before and After Photos

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How much does tattoo removal cost?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)


The cost is based on the size and the number of colors in the tattoo (as we may have to use 2 or 3 different machines at each visit to get the most possible color out). This usually runs about $50 per square inch per treatment session. Remember, multiple visits spread out over months, are required to remove most tattoos.


Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

Does laser tattoo removal leave a scar?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Dear candace19,

We truly have a state-of-the-art clinic for Laser Tattoo Removal and can treat virtually any tattoos of any color to the point where it has disappeared completely leaving no scar. This allows us to remove most tattoos in half the time of the previous technology. We use a unique combination of Q switched, Pico, and fractional lasers, used in a special sequence to get the optimal response.

The laser breaks up the ink particles, but it's your body's white blood cells that pick up the broken pieces of ink, and drag it away, that makes the tattoo disappear. That's why using the newest technology that breaks the ink up into the smallest pieces, without injuring the surrounding skin and causing less pain, is critical to long term success. Hope this helped!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

What Tattoo Ink Colors Are Easiest to Remove?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Hello,

Any color can be removed, but colors such as yellow, pink, bright sky blue and bright kelly green take
somewhat longer to respond. We have been performing Laser Tattoo Removal since 1978 and have more experience in this area than virtually anyone else performing these procedures. Using the wrong tools, lasers, light sources or chemical peels can make successful tattoo removal very difficult, sometimes impossible without leaving a scar. This is why it is so important to see the right experienced people at the right clinic right from the start! Best of luck to you!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

How Long Does Botox Last?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Hello,

Botox usually lasts around 12-16 weeks.  The loss of the Botox effect depends primarily on internal issues (the effectiveness of your immune system with specific regard to this specific chemical substance) rather than any other issues that you have control over. Hope this helps!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

Can You Exercise After Botox or Will It Decrease the Results?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Dear cory in chi town,

Since the Botox needs to be absorbed into the muscle after the injection, and since this takes about 3-4 hours, it's advisable not to spend a lot of time bending over with you head down, or exercising after your Botox injections, as this may cause the Botox to shift to the wrong area and create undesirable muscle weakness. Hope this helped!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

Laser Hair Removal Side Effects and Risks?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Hello,

The pigmentation or scarring of the skin is related to the activity of the color producing cells. Since all lasers use a form of localized heating to destroy the hair follicle (the portion that forms the new hairs) heating of the color cells is inevitable. Most patients will see some form of hyperpigmentation after treatment, but the use of the correct laser with the correct settings is important, as well as not treating tanned skin. Bleaching agents can help with any persistent pigmentation. Hope this helped!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

What's the Best Laser Hair Removal Machine?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Hello,

Thank you for asking this question because you're right, there are several options right now for patients to choose from. As practitioners, it is important to choose the best tool for each patient, skin color and location of hair, and thus, these choices must be made on an individual basis. It is for this reason

that we have 5 or 6 different lasers and light sources to choose from for every patient's needs.

Make sure to go to a reputable medical office with trained and certified technicians who know how to best work with the machines they carry. Best of luck to you!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

When to Stop Shaving Before Laser Hair Removal?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Dear meus,

Great question as the amount of hair present on the body during the laser hair removal treatment does make a difference. The laser can only target the hairs that are growing at the time of the treatment. This may only be 15% of all the hairs that are living in that area of tissue. Hairs grow about half an

inch per month. The laser needs a target to focus on, and thus some small growth of hair should be present for successful treatment (about 2 days of growth after shaving). Hope this information helps!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

Can I Have Liposuction While I'm Taking Accutane?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Dear Reetha,

Good for you for asking this question as you must be careful while on Accutane. While on Accutane and for 1 year after, you should not have any surgical procedure. Once you're safely off of it and you've waited the appropriate amount of time, it is then okay to have the liposuction treatment if your doctor recommends it. Hope this helps!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

What is the difference in results for SculpSure Laser Fat Loss vs. Coolsculpting?

Asked By:AnonymousANSWERS (1)

Dear marithon,

SculpSure is a new creative laser method using heating and cooling cycles to target specific zones of unwanted fat. The ideal person for treatment is one who is physically active and at the lower end of their desirable weight/height scale, who has localized areas of fat on the abdomen and flanks unresponsive to exercise. While invasive liposuction can create dramatic results, it carries with it all the risks of invasive surgery and the risks of skin irregularities after surgery that may be extremely difficult, if not impossible to correct. Response to all treatments vary, but in general SculpSure is safe, effective, relatively painless and only takes a brief 25 minute treatment to complete. Most people can return
to work immediately after treatment, though the treatment area will be a little sensitive.

Coolsculpting has been effective in many people, but has some drawbacks. The treatment area is sucked up into a vacuum space, like pinching a large piece of tissue. This may not always be possible in some of the desired treatment areas. The treatment takes about an hour.  Only one area can be treated at a time (about the size of an iPhone 6). The second area (or side of the body) takes another hour. After the removal of the sucking device the tissue must then be massaged and kneaded back to normal (a painful procedure taking 15 minutes). The skin may have a tingling, and painful sensation for months after treatment. The results are comparable to SculpSure, but you can understand the differences mentioned. Hope this helped!

Dr. S

provider-Bruce Saal, MD-photo

Bruce Saal, MD

Dermatologic Surgeon, Board Certified in Dermatology

3.7 | 4 reviews

Bruce Saal, MD reviews

Bruce Saal, MD

RATING DETAILS

3.7
4 reviews

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4 Results
SculpSure

Philosophical779488

Got Rid of Love Handles!! (Sculpsure Treatment)

Came in for Sculpsure treatment. I’m very pleased with the results. Recommend to have at least two treatments (you’ll be so glad with the results from the first one that you’ll want to come for more!) Staff was very professional and courteous. They made me feel comfortable and explained to me how the treatment worked. They would regularly check up on me during the treatment. Due to the way the treatment works, it can feel a bit uncomfortable the first time. But one gets used to it and by the second treatment, it’s fine. For best results, I recommend that, in addition to the treatment, to exercise and eat a healthy diet (nothing specific, just be consistent and can still have a cheat meal once or twice a week). Would definitely recommend and will come back.

$100LED Light Therapy
kendrad

kendrad

Working for Me!

My health insurance covers the procedure. It takes 10 minutes slightly and was uncomfortable the first time. I get it every 2 weeks for my acne. I love it. My skin tone has evened out. My face is hardly oily at all anymore. I used to be a walking puddle even on a cold day when wearing makeup. Now when I wear makeup hardly any oil. My acne has improved tremendously, as well. I still get breakouts when I am hormonal, but who doesn't? (Cost says $100 b/c the review said I have to put that in there, but my health insurance covered it so it's actually only a $30.00 co-pay!)

$3,000Exilis

Los Gatos Lady

A Lot of Money and Zero Result

I am 49 and have sagging neck skin just due to aging and genetics. I went for 6 treatments and had no noticeable result. Very frustrating and hugely expensive. The practitioners were nice but the actual doctor was not involved. The treatment was tolerable and even relaxing. But at the end of the day the office got $3000 result or no result, so the incentives are skewed. They never told me no result was possible. They took "before" photos and made lots of promises but there was no "after" consultation for me and the doctor was never around. There was no accountability. Extremely disappointed.

$3,000Tattoo Removal
jenamama

jenamama

Left with a Ghost of a Tattoo -San Jose, CA

Several years ago I made the mistake of getting a tattoo at a convention. Although I was pretty certain of what I wanted, I had not taken the time to size and place it properly and the end result was a tattoo that was not only too large for my small frame, but it was placed too far out on my shoulder and had mistakes that made it look ugly. After a few years I decided to get it removed. I was under the impression that it would be gone, and after a few treatments it seemed promising. However, after the later treatments made minimal change each time and I ended up giving up after between 25 and 30 treatments. (They had reduced the price with each treatment, so my later sessions only cost me $65 each. However, I still spent close to $3K for all of them.) I am now left with a ghost of my former tattoo, and every summer I dread wearing tank tops or going to the pool and fielding questions about what that strange scar on my back is. Granted, most people cannot tell that it was a tattoo, but others can see it and can tell me exactly what it was without my prompting them. I am now on a mission to get rid of it, some way. I was told by a tattoo removal doctor to try Fraxel, which costs about $1500. But, when I went to the Fraxel doctor, he said to try Excimer, which costs even more and requires 25-50 treatments. So, next on the list is Derma Needle Roller and Red LED light therapy. If these don't work, I'll get a cover up. Updated on 18 Jun 2013: I've been using the derma roller for one week, in hopes that it will help minimize the scarring or at least help blend the pigment so that the outline is not so noticeable. So far, there's no change (which I certainly didn't expect in this short amount of time.) I wanted to add this photo, since it's a of my full shoulder, so you can see more of the problem. Although nearly all the pigment is gone, you can still clearly see what was there.