Lasers

What is Fraxel?

Fraxel® is a skin resurfacing treatment that can be used to make your skin appear younger and create distinct changes in skin tone, skin texture, and overall glow. This non-surgical treatment can erase some of the signs of aging from your skin without any need for anesthesia, incisions, or lifelong scars.

How Does Fraxel Work?

By creating micro-injuries to your skin cells, Fraxel stimulates these cells to repair themselves and allows the surrounding uninjured cells to step in and help. This not only stimulates the production of new skin cells on the surface of your skin but also helps deeper skin layers create more collagen and elastin, which are necessary for reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

Fraxel helps with:

● Skin tone
● Skin texture
● Sun damage
● Scarring
● Fine lines and wrinkles
● Pigmentation
● Scars

What is Clear + Brilliant?

Clear + Brilliant® is a fractional laser treatment that reverses the early signs of aging. It helps with:

• Fine lines
• Wrinkles
• Texture
• Tone
• Pore size

Fraxel can also be used to treat scars. It can be used on surgical scars, such as those that may remain from past surgeries. It is also particularly good for mild to moderate acne scars that have not responded to creams, over-the-counter treatments, or even prescription medications.

Of course, Fraxel will most likely not be able to get rid of a scar completely. It should decrease the appearance of the scar greatly so that it is barely noticeable. You will also have to be patient with the treatment process as results will not appear immediately. As is the case with many laser treatments, you will probably need a series of treatments to see full results.

What is the downtime after Fraxel treatments?

Most individuals find that they need to wait a week before they feel that their skin has returned completely to normal. During the first few days, the skin may look and feel as if it had a bad sunburn. By the end of the week, your skin will most likely start peeling. Resisting the urge to pick at it will help it heal faster and leave you with better results. You will probably want to stay home for at least a few days and will definitely want to stay out of the sun during this time. You should also know that Fraxel treatments on your chest may take even longer to heal. 

How many treatments will I need? 

You need only one Fraxel treatment to see results in skin pigmentation, however, you will likely need 3 treatments to see results in fine lines, wrinkles, and texture. Most patients have 1-3 treatments, about 4 weeks apart.

What is Excel-V? 

Our versatile Excel-V® laser is effective in the treatment of vascular and brown-pigmented lesions, Freckles/sun/age spots, and in the treatment of superficial spider veins. Facial veins and leg veins can be treated safely with highly adaptable lasers
without affecting the surrounding skin and tissue.

Excel V® can be used to treat:

● Red birthmarks (hemangiomas and port wine stains)
● Angiomas
● Poikiloderma of Civatte (uneven coloring of the neck and chest)
● Venous lakes
● Rosacea
● Spider Veins
● Freckles/Age Spots

Depending on the extent of the condition, more than one Excel-V treatment session may be necessary. Prior to treatment, the dermatologist will examine the condition and determine the number of sessions required. Some laser procedures cause temporary redness or bruising.

What is Clear + Brilliant?

The Clear + Brilliant laser is one of the gentlest lasers currently on the market. By targeting the top layers of skin with tiny openings, your skin recognizes it has been injured and rushes healing agents into the treated area. This process helps to create newer, stronger, and healthier skin cells than before.

What does Clear + Brilliant do? 

Clear + Brilliant can noninvasively:

– Improve fine lines and skin glow
– Reduce the appearance and size of skin pores
– Change skin tone and texture

Clear + Brilliant does not increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, which may mean that it is the ideal skin treatment for you during the summer. It is also a great maintenance treatment in between more aggressive forms of laser therapy.

Clear + Brilliant can be used to treat a wide variety of skin concerns in addition to its usefulness in decreasing overall signs of aging. 

What are the types of Clear + Brilliant Lasers?   

There are two types of Clear + Brilliant lasers used today.

-Clear + Brilliant is used primarily for fine lines, skin texture, and pore reduction
-Clear + Brilliant Permea is used for melasma and other issues with hyperpigmentation and skin tone.

How many treatments are needed? 

As is the case with many forms of noninvasive laser therapy, you will need more than one Clear + Brilliant treatment in order to see the best results. However, you may be able to see some initial results within a week or two following your first session. We typically recommend that you have between three to six treatments initially before starting a maintenance plan. This will ensure that your skin is as soft, even, and wrinkle-free as possible.

To see the best results, the spacing between treatments is very important to maximize your skin’s own rejuvenation processes. It’s important to give your skin enough time to recover and heal from the laser-directed micro-injuries, but also to not wait too long.

Typically patients come in once per month for initial treatments and then 3 to 4 times a year for maintenance appointments. 

How is Clear + Brilliant different from Fraxel? 

While Clear + Brilliant uses a fractional or fractionated laser, it does not target as many skin cells as the popular Fraxel laser does. This is why it is sometimes called baby Fraxel or mini Fraxel. Fraxel Dual treats deeper levels of the skin and has more downtime. 

What is miraDry?  

miraDry® is the only laser treatment that’s FDA-cleared for the reduction of underarm sweating. The laser targets your sweat glands to harmlessly eliminate them.

Because miraDry eliminates just 2% of your total sweat glands bodywide, you can still sweat to cool your body. You’re simply reducing the underarm sweat and odor. You may need just one treatment.

The procedure involves no surgical incisions or cuts. The doctor customizes treatment for each underarm area with multiple placements of the miraDry® handpiece. Local anesthesia is administered to the underarms prior to the procedure to maintain comfort. Your office visit appointment will generally last about an hour.

Most patients report a dramatic reduction of their sweat and you should see a reduction in sweat immediately after treatment. 

How does laser hair removal work? 

Associated Skin Care Specialists uses a state-of-the-art laser hair removal system that focuses on the hair follicle itself. The laser targets the pigment in the follicle and damages the follicle walls to leave it inactive.

Laser Hair Removal system can be used on many areas of the body, including bikini areas, legs, underarms, upper lip, chest, and even the beard. Laser Hair Removal for men is popular to remove unwanted hair from the back, chest, and neck.

How many treatments are needed for Laser Hair Removal? 

Laser hair removal usually requires repeated sessions, and the dermatologist or the dermatologist’s trained laser technician determines the number of treatments needed. Patients are advised that laser hair removal is a medical procedure that requires knowledge, skill, and experience to perform, so a certified medical facility with proven equipment is strongly recommended over a non-medical spa.

After a consultation with the dermatological staff, a program of treatment is devised and laser hair removal sessions are scheduled at regular intervals in the appropriate number to achieve the desired effect.

What is Laser Genesis?

Laser Genesis is considered a “lunchtime procedure” as it has minimal to no downtime. It improves the appearance of the skin in both the short run and the long term. The procedure results in instant rejuvenation of the face, neck, hands, and décolleté because it plumps, smoothes, and clarifies the skin. Laser Genesis also promotes sub-dermal collagen production so that skin texture, color, and tone continue to improve long after your appointment.

Regular Laser Genesis treatments can decrease inflammation from acne or rosacea and can reduce the red marks following a breakout. Laser Genesis is painless, though patients may experience a sensation of heat as the laser wand passes over the skin. It can be done prior to a big event such as a pageant or wedding to give skin a healthy-looking glow! 

• Laser Genesis is ideal for patients with cosmetic concerns like fine lines and wrinkles, blotchy skin, sun damage, and acne scarring.
• Laser Genesis is safe and effective for all skin types.

Book your laser treatment at Associated Skin Care Specialists by calling 763-502-2916.
*Laser services are offered at our Eden Prairie, Linden Hills, and Maple Grove locations