3 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Light & Laser Treatments
If you’re new to light and laser treatments, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. This article aims to provide an overview of the basics and help you prepare for your consultation. To help you make an informed decision, we’ve highlighted three important factors to consider when choosing a treatment: the primary areas of concern, your skin tone, and the recovery period. Keep these in mind as you explore different treatment options.
At Skin Technique, our team of experts have extensive experience in laser skin treatments, having helped many patients and regularly updating their skills through training. We tailor our recommendations to each patient’s unique skin type and concerns, based on our extensive expertise.
A Brief Explanation of the Functioning of Lasers
The word laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. To better understand this, lasers produce a very narrow beam of light that is useful in targeting issues regarding tone, texture, and coloration.
Lasers use light and heat energy to cause controlled damage to the surface of the skin – when the body reacts, new skin is created as the body begins to heal itself (aka begins producing collagen – the ultimate repairer).
As light and laser technology continues to evolve, there are now many different treatment options available to address specific concerns. In this article, we will help you navigate these options and find the best treatment match for you.
Let’s Get Started… What is your Primary Area of Concern?
Look through the images below, which image represents your skin concerns most closely?
If A, B, or C represent issues you are currently seeing in your skin, you will most likely be targeting a pigmentation issue. Skin pigmentation concerns begin deep within the skin’s barrier and are often a result of increased melanin, sun exposure, scarring, and skin injuries.
Non-ablative treatments are the most effective for addressing skin issues such as discoloration. These types of treatments require minimal or no recovery time (depending on the specific treatment), effectively target discoloration, and do not alter the texture of the skin.
Some non-ablative light & laser treatments we have to offer here at Skin Technique are:
If D, E, or F represent issues you are currently seeing in your skin, you will most likely be targeting a textural issue. Skin texture concerns present themselves closer to the surface of the skin’s barrier and are often a result of dead skin cell buildup (uneven skin), your environment (pollutants), aging, and acne scarring.
Ablative treatments are the most effective for addressing skin issues as they target the surface layer of the skin. These types of treatments have a longer recovery process, with more visible recovery, but also result in a more dramatic change to overall complexion.
Here at Skin Technique, we do not offer a fully ablative laser, but we do offer a treatment that combines both ablative & non-ablative lasers to provide a skin renewal experience:
Now that you have a clear understanding of your skin concerns, let’s now discuss your skin tone …
Light & laser treatments are not a ‘one size fit’s all’ so, knowing your skin tone is crucial.
Certain light and laser treatments can be detrimental to people with darker skin tones. Lasers that focus on reducing pigmentation, like some non-ablative treatments, can be hazardous for individuals with darker skin tones because they have a higher concentration of pigmentation that certain lasers can target.
Tools like the Fitzpatrick scale help individuals like yourself identify their skin tone. This model is frequently used within our clinic as it helps assist with treatment selection.
When selecting a skin tone, it is important to choose one that closely matches your own skin color and also identify your skin sensitivity. This is a good starting point for determining your place on the scale, but it is important to note that all necessary information will be gathered during your consultation with an expert.
Last but not least, how much downtime do you have for this procedure?
Are you looking for a lunch break treatment or can you spare 2 weeks? Time does play a role in the treatments you can select.
As previously mentioned, the recovery period for different light and laser treatments can vary greatly. Some treatments may have no downtime while others may require several weeks. It’s important to keep in mind any upcoming events, work schedules, or other potential conflicts that may impact your recovery time and communicate this to your expert during your consultation to ensure you can plan accordingly.
Book Your Light & Laser Appointment at Skin Technique!
Now that we have gone through a brief explanation on the basics of light and laser treatments it is time to take action.
We asked our light and laser experts for one final take away when it comes to our clinic’s best practices, and how we ensure you get the most from our treatments. They said:
“We ensure patients are a good candidate for their treatments. We devise the best treatment plan for patients and make sure that they’re just as committed as we are to help achieve their aesthetic goals. We also make sure everyone is up to date on training and protocols.”
We’ve only covered the basics of light and laser treatments. With this foundation of information, you’ll be able to enter your consultation with confidence and know the right questions to ask.