Birthmarks. Most of us have them, many of us love them, and all of us have seen them. These skin growths typically appear at or shortly after birth, and while they may fade over time, they often stick around for quite a while. Most birthmarks fall into one of two categories: pigmented birthmarks or vascular birthmarks. Pigmented birthmarks are caused by an excess of melanocytes (the pigment cells that give your skin its color), while vascular birthmarks occur when blood…
Scarring is a very normal part of wound healing for humans, and most of the time, any resulting scars are minor and fade over time. Some scars, though, can be incredibly bothersome, causing physical symptoms such as itching, skin tightness, and loss of motion. They can also be disfiguring and upsetting for individuals. When a scar is problematic enough that it requires intervention of some kind, laser treatments are a popular route taken. While no treatment can completely make scars…
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 15.6 million cosmetic procedures were performed in 2020 alone, and of those cosmetic procedures, 234,374 of them were facelifts. However, while there’s no questioning the popularity of facelifts, they aren’t for everyone. The recovery is long and often painful, they aren’t without their risks, and the procedure is quite expensive. The average cost of a facelift is $8,005, and that price doesn’t even include anesthesia, operating room facilities, and other related expenses. …
When cosmetic lasers for hair removal and wrinkle reduction were first approved by the FDA back in the 1990s, the devices were only safe for a small portion of the population. Just a handful of wavelengths had been approved at that time for laser hair removal, all of which worked strictly on patients with fair skin and dark hair. And when it came to wrinkle reduction, the options weren’t much better. At the time, only ablative lasers, which removed the…
When a patient wants to treat signs of aging on their face and neck such as sagging skin, the appearance of wrinkles, or excess fat, a common treatment offered to them is a facelift, otherwise known as a rhytidectomy. While a facelift can have dramatic results, it’s still a surgical procedure, and surgeries come with many risks and drawbacks such as anesthesia complications, infection, bleeding, scarring, prolonged swelling, pain, and skin irregularities. After a facelift, patients can expect several weeks…
Which treatments a patient opts to undergo is ultimately up to them, but as their trusted medical professional, your expertise will be an invaluable resource as they weigh their options. However, when patients come to you hoping to change something about their appearance, there are a multitude of directions you could lead them in. Serums, creams, and lifestyle changes can have modest effects, but if the patient is looking for more dramatic results, the best option is likely plastic surgery…
As of today, over 145 million Americans have tattoos, but not everyone remains satisfied with the finished piece. As the tattoo industry has grown, so has the need for tattoo removal. Whether it’s a poorly rendered rose or the name of an ex-lover, many tattoos wear out their welcome. In fact, the tattoo removal market is expected to hit a whopping 12.7% year-over-year growth through 2023. So, if you’re considering adding or upgrading tattoo removal services to your dermatology practice,…
In 2018, the global cosmetic laser market was valued at $1.8 billion, and by 2026, that number is expected to reach $5.4 billion, tripling in size. This growth is likely due to several reasons. To start, as we lean into technology, people are becoming increasingly concerned with their appearances, and laser treatments offer a noninvasive way to see quick, proven results without the downtime and pain associated with cosmetic surgery. There’s also been a significant increase in cases of Polycystic…
Facials are a great way to clear and refresh the skin, but with some patients, the results they deliver aren’t really worth the money. For those hoping to even out skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines and scarring, they may not even work at all. Luckily, a standard facial isn’t the only option. Diamond microdermabrasion, whether used in conjunction with a traditional facial or done on its own, is a great way to bring your clients real,…
Nearly 60 years ago, the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (nd:YAG) laser first demonstrated its effectiveness in treating pigmented and vascular lesions. This advancement laid the foundation for other treatment concepts including the helium neon, Q-switched, argon, and carbon dioxide lasers. Of all the solid-state laser crystals, nd:YAG has been the most successful in surviving the test of time. In fact, it’s still widely used to this day to treat a variety of skin conditions. If you wanted to learn more…
