7 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Sydney Laser Clinic

1. What qualifications and certifications do your laser operators have? Are they doctors, nurses or estheticians?

This is the most important question you will want to ask. The Sydney laser clinic you choose should not only be certified by the device manufacturer, but should have medically trained personnel operating the equipment. An esthetician with a short weekend course on the device is not adequate. Each operator should have experience and training from the manufacturer on the specific device. During your consultation, look for certificates displayed on the walls. Ask to see them if they are not.

2. Who will perform my laser treatment?

A certified physician should be the one administering your laser treatment. Many clinics claim to have treatments supervised by physicians but the he or she is not in the office at all times.

3. What type of lasers do you have in your laser clinic and is it the most appropriate laser for the treatment I want?

Many lasers are on the market today for many different purposes. You will want to choose your Sydney laser clinic based on not only a qualified and experienced staff, but also the availability of the laser that is the best option for your treatment needs. Be certain that the type of lases that the clinic uses are suitable for you.

4. How many treatments like the one I am requesting do you do on a weekly/monthly basis?

The Sydney laser clinic you choose should be able to quickly and easily give you an estimate of how many people they see with the same characteristics as you on a regular basis. You will obviously feel more comfortable in a clinic with a good deal of experience.

5. How much does the laser treatment I am looking for cost and how many treatments will it take to get the desired results?

Most Sydney laser clinics will not be able to give you a price over the phone but rather will prefer that you come in for a consultation. It is difficult, if not almost impossible, to estimate the cost or the number of treatments needed without examining a patient. Once you are at your visit, be sure to ask this question so you can plan ahead and know what to expect. Do not be tempted to go with the lowest priced clinic. Be sure to ask about the exact price for each type of treatment on each type of laser device. This way you can accurately compare from clinic to clinic.

6. Do you charge for consultations and will you perform a patch test?

All Sydney laser clinics will offer a consultation; most are free of charge. Others may charge a fee that can then be applied to any treatment you receive. All clinics should also offer a patch test to see how a small area of your skin reacts to the laser.

7. Can you tell me about possible complications or risks associated with my laser treatment?

You may know the answer to this question if you have done research prior to your consultation, but you will feel much more confident in your choice of Sydney laser clinic if your physician is upfront about potential risks and complications. Ask about what they will do to remedy your problem if the situation arises.

Erbium Laser

The last two decades saw a rapid development of laser resurfacing technologies to treat fine lines, get rid of wrinkles, and address aging skin, with the Erbium laser resurfacing becoming a viable alternative to more traditional skin ablation methods. The biggest problems with laser skin care are that it often causes significant damage to the skin and requires downtime after the procedure to recover. Hence, the aesthetics devices industry has invested significant resources to develop less intensive solutions. For example, the Erbium Laser is a less aggressive counterpart to the more traditional CO2 laser because it creates a beam more easily absorbed by water, which is abundantly present in the human body. Its efficacy is comparable to CO2 devices, but Erbium laser resurfacing causes less damage and can be used with more precision by physicians. These devices are known for minimal burning of surrounding tissue as well as less severe and fewer side effects, and faster healing times. This makes the Erbium ablative laser resurfacing a better choice for patients with darker skin tones, who may experience discoloration with a CO2 laser.

How the Erbium Laser Works

The idea behind the Erbium laser is straightforward; damage skin in a careful manner to stimulate the body’s natural regenerative processes. This is the same approach as most other laser skin resurfacing treatments take, but big differences appear when you focus on the details. For example, unlike an Erbium laser, the CO2 laser removes dead skin cells through a thermo-mechanical reaction. Here, the CO2 machine overloads skin cells with energy, causing them to vaporize. However, in this reaction, significant amounts of heat dissipate into surrounding skin tissue, causing additional damage that gives little benefit to the patient.

The Erbium laser works in a similar manner, except that it is photomechanical in nature, meaning that when targeted cells are destroyed, significantly less heat dissipates into surrounding tissues. Less errant heat means less damage to the face, hands, neck, or any other areas being treated. Furthermore, the Erbium laser delivers energy in pulsating bursts, as opposed to earlier CO2 models, which treated skin with a continuous beam, which causes even more damage. This makes the Erbium laser a more conservative treatment option which can shorten down time.

What the Erbium Laser Treats

The Erbium laser is designed to treat a variety of skin issues, in the same way a chemical peel would. The laser resurfacing action of this device eliminates damaged cells on the surface of the skin, allowing new skin to form in its place. Therefore, problems like pigmentation issues, acne scars, wrinkles, and liver spots can all be gradually diminished with several treatments.

However, this device is less effective for natural skin tightening because it does not stimulate collagen growth, and focuses strictly on treating the epidermis, and not the deeper layers of the skin. Alternative treatments like fractional laser skin resurfacing, ultra sound therapy, and radiofrequency options are likely to work better than the Erbium laser for collagen stimulation purposes, because they penetrate deeper and heat up the dermis without damaging the upper-most layers of the skin.

It is also difficult to treat deep wrinkles with an Erbium laser because it does not remove tissue aggressively enough in such instances. Not that the laser wouldn’t necessarily work for severe facial lines, but more treatments would be required, and results would not present themselves as quickly. However, newer versions of this technology may soon provide more effective for such problems by increasing the power bursts and the depth of the penetration into the skin, although the long term effectiveness of such treatments remains to be seen.

Erbium Laser Side Effects

Treatment with an Erbium laser is considered to be less intense than a CO2 laser, but a number of side effects and the need for recovery time still persist. It is not uncommon for individuals to experience inflammation in the treatment area and highly sensitive skin for several days. In addition, anyone dealing with infection at the treatment site should avoid the procedure, or any other laser resurfacing treatment, because the micro damage creates a risk of further infection. If you are dealing with inflammation (which is often a sign of infection) the Erbium laser treatment is likely a bad idea in such cases as well.

A complete facelift is a surgical process with the objective of tightening loose facial skin caused by ageing. Facelifts cover the entire region from the upper forehead through to the base of the neck. The target areas are usually the eyes, cheeks, jaw line, jowls and neck. Deep creases below the lower eyelids, wrinkles along the nose down to the corners of the mouth, displaced facial fat, jowls, excessive fatty deposits under the lower jaw and crows’ feet near the eye are all signs of ageing that can make our faces look older than we feel. Facelift surgery removes jowls and reduces wrinkles and sagging of the skin. The procedure involves an incision usually made near the ears, separation of the skin from deeper tissues, removal of excess skin and tissue and then tightening of theses areas with stitches. The potential risks involved with facelift surgery are bleeding, infection, damage to facial nerves, nausea and scars. Many believe these effects are temporary and will heal with time. However, the final results obtained with a facelift procedure are permanent and long lasting. Many of our patients are interested in the various Facelift Sydney options. Here are some important considerations.

Should I Consider a Neck Lift Instead of a Facelift?

If the area around the eyes is the first place to show signs of ageing then the neck is definitely the next in line. Neck bands also known as platysmal bands appear when the platysma muscle becomes thick, leading to the appearance of vertical stripes and horizontal creases across the front neck. These changes can be unsightly and are common concerns for patients consulting with plastic surgeons. Excessive fat and loose skin around the neck can be corrected with a neck lift surgery. A combination of liposuction and removal of excess skin can help you get rid of the saggy neck skin. Neck lift is sometimes considered an alternative to a facelift. A neck lift alone is a procedure in which incision is made behind the ear and back into the hairline. This could benefit the neck, but the jowls are not affected as the incision ends at the earlobe. The face is not changed in this case. Unless your neck is ageing much more rapidly than the rest of your face, a neck lift alone may leave you with uneven or unsatisfactory results.

What Is a Mini Facelift and Am I a Candidate?

A mini facelift is a minor surgical procedure that helps reduce minor sagging around the cheeks, jaw line and neck. While a complete facelift surgery could take several hours, a mini facelift takes 40- 90 minutes depending on the scale of the surgery. The procedure involves three or more small incisions, removal of excessive fat and muscles and tightening of loose skin. Bandages are removed within 48 hours and stitches after a week. Mini lifts show instant results after the sutures are removed.  Patients can get back to work within a matter of 48 hours though most opt for a slightly longer recovery time. Potential risks of a mini facelift are bleeding, clotting, scars and swelling. In the mini facelift procedure incisions made behind the ear are short and the surgical process is less intensive than a full facelift. This means less impact on your body and less stress on your wallet.

What Is a Thread Lift and Am I a Candidate?

A thread lift is a unique procedure in non-surgical rejuvenation of the facial skin and the neck. Thread lifts tighten sagging tissues of the cheek and jaw line by using 4- 12 pointed sutures to lift the skin of your face. A modified suture thread is fed in under the skin and pulled up to lift the sagging area. The non- absorbable threads provide support and remain deep inside the tissues. Local anaesthesia is used for this procedure where the threads are put in with a suture needle. The thread used and the amount of pull required determines the final results of the lift. The thread lift rejuvenates the appearance of the face, restoring the youthful taut quality of the skin and reversing the signs of ageing. Jowls, upper neck, brow and cheeks are some areas where thread lift works well. Even though this procedure is considered minimally invasive, patients do report that there is some pain and discomfort associated with it. Some potential risks involved are creases showing where the stitch was pulled, visible thread through the skin and threads working their way through the skin. This technique is only recommended for a particularly mild lift; if an aggressive thread lift is attempted, the patient may be left with unsightly bunching beyond the lift area. This bunching may disappear without the removal of excessive skin but at the loss of significant lift. Moreover, the effects of a thread lift are not long lasting. Though a thread lift is not as effective as a facelift surgery, it can still give you the more youthful look you want with a smaller price tag and less downtime.

Costs Associated with Facelift Surgery

The cost of a facelift surgery can vary widely. The cost can be divided in the following categories: •    Surgeon’s fee •    Hospital facility cost •    Operating Room costs •    Anaesthesist’s fee •    Medication prescriptions required before and after surgery •    Pre-operative medical tests •    Post-surgical follow-up fees, (usually included in the surgeon’s fee) Many plastic surgeons today provide financing options and affordable payment plans to help cover the costs of a facelift surgery. This is one plastic surgery procedure that is almost never covered by health insurance. The average cost of a facelift varies from region to region. When comparing price quotes, be sure to know what you are comparing. Does your quote include hospital and other expenses? While those who get a minimal neck lift end up paying $4000- $7000, a complete facelift may be in the range of $7000- $15000. The approximate cost of a mini facelift procedure in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane is $6500- $9500. The cost of thread lift procedure in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane could range from $2600- $5000.

How Do I Know I Am Making the Right Choice?

Ultimately, the decision to undergo a facelift Sydney procedure is yours alone. However, it is important to make an informed choice. Visit several plastic surgeons, asking them a set of identical questions about their credentials, board certifications, and experience. Request before and after photos of their patients, and ask them about worst-case scenarios. Ask them what they recommend as the right option for someone with your age, skin-type, and medical history. Ensure you select the right procedure under proper medical supervision and you will have the best chance of amazing rejuvenating results.

EMERGE Fractional Laser

The EMERGE Fractional Laser is a skin resurfacing device created by Palomar Medical Technologies, a Burlington, Massachusetts company. The company introduced its first aesthetic laser device in 1997, and was acquired in mid 2013 by a rival manufacturer, Cynosure. The EMERGE  Laser was introduced to market shortly before the transaction, and was created to minimise patient down time after the procedure. The laser uses a non-ablative technique to stimulate gradual skin tightening, which causes less skin damage than an ablative laser and requires less time for the body to heal. Although the EMERGE Fractional Laser treatment is designed to minimise a variety of problems, like wrinkles and dark spots on face, it comes with its own set of drawbacks and possible side effects.

The Science behind EMERGE Fractional Laser

This Palomar Laser was designed for treatment of mild conditions like mild wrinkles, pigmentation problems and scars. The EMERGE Fractional Laser  treatment speeds up the natural skin rejuvenation process by helping the body break up old, damaged cells more quickly, but does not go so far as to destroy damaged cells and collagen fibers completely. The importance in this difference is that ablative lasers, those that vaporise cells, are more dangerous, leave more damage and require more after-care, but also produce more immediate results. A technology like the EMERGE Fractional Laser treatment, on the other hand, is thought to be less intense because it doesn’t burn off old cells, but will produce a slower improvement, while still causing discomfort and itchiness.

The Palomar EMERGE Laser’s basic function is to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. The skin goes through a natural rejuvenation all the time, where older cells are destroyed by the body and new healthy skin cells take their place. However, this process slows down significantly with ageing skin, becoming a factor in the development of lip lines, forehead wrinkles, and sagging skin. Procedures like the EMERGE laser treatment can help speed up this renewal process, especially if used on a regular basis.

Pigmentation issues can also be addressed with the EMERGE Fractional Laser treatment, by breaking down the clusters of melanin pigment to eventually reveal new layers of beautiful skin.  However, it is important to discuss the appropriateness of this treatment with your physician, because all laser skin resurfacing procedures carry risks of skin damage.

Day of the EMERGE Laser Treatment

Those who decide to undergo an EMERGE Fractional Laser treatment can expect to spend about an hour at the physician’s office. Mild pain has been reported during this procedure, and a numbing agent may be used to decrease any discomfort. However, this will largely depend on the issue being addressed and the intensity of treatment. You can usually return to daily activities after treatment, but it may be advisable to do the procedure near the end of the week, to give your skin extra time to recover.

EMERGE Fractional Laser Side Effects

Because the EMERGE Fractional Laser treatment damages the skin, patients are likely to experience pain, swelling and itchiness that are signs of the body’s immune system working to repair the damage. This can be expected to go on for the first several days, until the body has healed the treated areas, and the inflammation subsides. If the treatment is for a more difficult skin problem, like a deep scar, the physician may need to use stronger setting, which will in turn cause more damage and require more healing time. This is something that should be taken into account very seriously, especially if you are considering treatment before a major life event, like a wedding. If you do not give yourself ample time to attend multiple procedures and allow your body to heal, the EMERGE Fractional Laser treatment may not be a suitable solution.

*All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. EMERGE is the trademark of the Cynosure. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.