What is Plasma Laser?

Portrait skin resurfacing alters structures below the surface creating unique conditions for continuing regeneration and improvements in wrinkles, tone, texture and discoloration.  The innovative Portrait technology transfers nitrogen plasma energy to the architecture of the skin using a non-contact technique producing controlled, uniform regeneration of your skin. Results are immediate and long-lasting with clinical studies showing improvements for years after treatment.

Supported by extensive research and more than 350 clinical study treatments, Portrait is the only technology delivering true skin regeneration. I use the Portrait skin resurfacing devise extensively in my practice.

The ground-breaking science behind Portrait makes it different from other treatments in several important ways. Portrait is the first and only treatment clinically proven to regenerate skin. Its unique energy-transferring mechanism initiates regeneration deep below the skin's surface, remodeling the skin's architecture. This creates dramatic results that improve over time as the new architecture progressively replaces the old.

Patients will see improvements in skin texture, tone and reduction of fine wrinkles at lower levels of treatment and reduction of deep wrinkles at higher levels of treatment. New healthier collagen growth will improve contours and enhance your overall appearance.

Your physician will recommend an appropriate treatment regimen for you. Typically this varies from 1 to 3 treatments depending upon the desired outcome, your skin condition and the level of improvement you are seeking relative to downtime. It usually takes from one or two days to under a week for your skin to appear normal with or without make-up.

You will see results soon after your treatment. However, one of the most striking and unique advantages of Portrait is that it stimulates a natural process of regeneration, producing results that progressively improve over time. Clinical studies show that this improvement progression continues for at least one year after treatment. Patients are amazed when they compare their appearances before treatment and twelve months later.

Portrait has demonstrated an excellent safety profile in clinical studies. It does not involve intense light radiation as found with ablative laser treatments, which are known to be associated with scarring and often protracted periods of downtime. It is also far easier to use and control than messy, chemical peeling agents that corrode your skin.

Portrait Skin Resurfacing is a valuable skin resurfacing option in my practice as many patients are seeking substantial resurfacing results without the downtime associated with CO2 laser.

The Rhytec Plasma Skin Regeneration Device (PSR) is a very unique tool for skin resurfacing. It allows for wonderful results which are less impressive than that of a CO2 laser, but offer much less downtime and much less risk. As previously noted, it is not a laser, but uses excited Nitrogen gas (plasma) to effect a zone of ablation and a zone of thermal modulation on the skin. The old layer of skin stays on, acting as a comforting biologic layer while the new layer of skin grows.
Unfortunately, the company that makes the device has been a victim of the economy and is in bankruptcy. However, a future supplier for the nozzles that allow this machine to operate is expected within the next few months.

Lasers utilize visible light for energy, but one and only one wavelength out of the many different wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. Plasma is a thermal energy resulting from passing radiofrequency energy, not visible light, through nitrogen gas. The plasma that is created is absorbed through the surface of the skin and heats the collagen below in the dermis. The skin peels away starting two days after the resurfacing, but not before the skin has had a chance to heal. This makes it a much more comfortable and more rapidly healing procedure compared with other invasive laser resurfacing treatments. At this time there are several physicians that still use this device for patients but there is a shortage of consumable tips that are needed for the treatment. After some time, it may not be possible for physicians to perform this treatment and this would be sad as it has produced outstanding results in some patients.

I am excited to see this topic available.  This continues to be one of my favorite resurfacing techniques as the technology mimics the tunable lasers that allow for a depth of ablation of tissue.  The most unique concept to this technology is the orientation  of the ablative force. 

Traditional lasers ablate perpendicular to the skin surface much like a sewing machine needle would pass sequentially along a surface.  Plasma is unique in the the plane of cleavage is oriented horizontal to the outside world and can be adjusted to a variety of depths to mimic superficial laser peels or deeper CO2 treatments.  By orienting the cleavage plane horizontal to the skin surface this allows the outside epidermis to remain intact and act as a biologic dressing during the healing phase. 

The technology is fully available in my office and I am happy to provide consults to the community.

Plasma or Portrait PSR is a resurfacing device. It is not actually a laser, but uses plasma energy to resurface and rejuvenate the skin. Healing times are similar to erbium or light CO2 lasers but faster than the full force CO2 laser. Results are fabulous and long lasting, just like CO2 lasers.
The company (Rhytec) filed for bankruptcy during this recent economic crisis and discontinued manufacturing of the treatment tips. Some providers, such as myself, still have some tips in inventory and are still able to provide this treatment. Whether these treatments will continue in the future is dependent upon a new source for manufacturing treatment tips.
Alternative treatments to consider include fractionated CO2 laser treatments such as the Total FX.