The Nd:YAG Laser has been the true workhorse in removing well-defined brown spots for more than a decade. Most patients require only one treatment and the results are dramatic. Unlike the PhotoFacial treatment, there is some mild irritation to the skin which usually lasts a few days to a week. However, some patients don't mind this minor irritation, as the Nd:YAG laser saves patients the inconvenience of repeated trips to our center. Patients with melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or those with more diffuse hyperpigmentation and brown discoloration should choose other options.
- Removes brown age and liver spots (lentigines)
- Removes freckles
- Removes tattoos
- Removes brown birthmarks and Nevus of Ota
- Usually a one-time treatment
- Minor irritation to skin only
- Minimal risk
- Stimulates new collagen synthesis to improve skin tone
Chemical Peels, Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Lunchtime Laser Toning, Microdermabrasion, One-Pass CO2 Laser Resurfacing, PhotoFacial Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), and Retinoic Acid Creams.
The laser light is passed over the pigmented skin, microscopically shattering the pigment into tiny particles which are more easily processed and eliminated by the body. Most patients undergo a 10 minute treatment. Usually, a mild irritation of the overlying skin is to be expected for a few days to a week, depending on the depth and amount of pigment removed.
Most skin types except the very darkest skin. Patients with tans should wait until their tan fades before undergoing this treatment.
Reduction or removal of unsightly brown spots may greatly improve one's sense of confidence and self esteem.
This treatment has a very strong track record for safety and precision. Brown spots become slightly irritated for a few days to a week or so. Side effects are rare and generally temporary. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
Patients who have had facial areas treated may take off a few days, while those having body, hands or other areas treated usually return to their normal activity the next day.
The Nd:YAG laser treatment causes a slight sting. Anesthetics are not needed for most patients; however those with very sensitive skin may apply a numbing cream 30 minutes before the procedure if desired.
Avoid excessive sun exposure. Avoid tanning for one month before your treatment.
Wash the area with a mild soap and gently pat dry, then apply a soothing moisturizer to the skin. Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning for one week after your treatment. Consider the use of sunscreens. Patients who undergo the treatment to remove brown spots should consider the use of fading creams and sunscreen after the procedure.
Dr. Berman, Physician Assistants and Registered Nurses.
The PhotoFacial-Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is a treatment breakthrough that can correct many skin conditions without down time, creating clearer, more vibrant and youthful skin through a process called Photo-Rejuvenation. One to five sessions are recommended. Most commonly treated areas include the face, neck and chest; however, other popular areas include the back of the hands, arms, legs and even the back.
- Improves sun damage and wrinkled skin
- Removes brown age and liver spots (lentigines)
- Removes freckles
- Removes broken capillaries/redness of the face, neck and chest
- Reduces the redness of rosacea
- No down time
- Minimal risk
- Permanent reduction of unwanted hair
- Stimulates new collagen synthesis to improve skin tone
Chemical Peels, Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Lunchtime Laser Toning, Microdermabrasion, One-Pass CO2 Laser Resurfacing, Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser, and Retinoic Acid Creams.
The PhotoFacial device produces a bright beam of light which breaks up pigmented brown spots causing them to gently flake off in a few days. The device also gently coagulates and removes blood vessels below the skin surface, without the bruising associated with other laser treatments. Photons stimulate new production of collagen from fibroblast cells for improvement in fine lines and skin tone. The 15 to 30 minute treatment requires a clear gel be applied to the skin, followed by the pulsing of the bright light through a chilled sapphire crystal which is applied to the face.
Most skin types except the very darkest skin. Patients with tans should wait until their tan fades before undergoing this treatment.
Most patients note a dramatic removal of brown spots, redness, broken capillaries and improvement of fine lines and wrinkles.
This treatment has a very strong track record for safety and precision. Brown spots may turn slightly darker for a few days, and then flake off. Redness or flushing usually goes away in a few hours. Side effects are rare and generally temporary. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
You can return to work the same day and resume most of your regular activities. By dividing the full program into several treatments, the procedure provides gradual improvement with very low risk. It preserves the wonderful "down time" feature that people appreciate so much.
The PhotoFacial device has a contact cooling crystal which is applied close to the skin's surface to eliminate discomfort for most patients. Anesthetics are not needed, though patients with very sensitive skin may apply a numbing cream 30 minutes before the procedure if desired.
Avoid excessive sun exposure. Avoid tanning for one month before your treatment.
Wash the area with a mild soap and gently pat dry, then apply a soothing moisturizer to the skin. Avoid excessive sun exposure and tanning for one week after treatment. Consider the use of sunscreens. Patients who undergo the treatment to remove brown discoloration should consider the use of fading creams and sunscreen after the procedure.
Registered Nurses and Physician Assistants.
Alpha-hydroxy glycolic acid and beta-hydroxy salicylic acid are natural substances derived from fruit and sugar cane which were used by Cleopatra for beautification purposes. These agents help turn back the clock through a series of no-downtime procedures. Not all such peeling agents are the same, and it is important for patients to undergo such procedures by an experienced skin care professional to achieve optimal effects.
Factors to consider when choosing the appropriate peeling agent for a specific patient include:
- patient's skin type
- class of peeling agents
- concentration of acid
- pH (measure of acidity/alkalinity)
- application time
- buffering agent used for final rinse and neutralization of any remaining acid
Our aestheticians weigh all such variables when selecting the most appropriate peel for a given patient.
- Reduces brown age spots
- Reduces melasma/mask of pregnancy
- Reduces freckles, hyperpigmentation
- Reduces acne
- Reduces sun damage, wrinkles and fine lines
- Reduces enlarged pores, whiteheads and blackheads
- No downtime
- Minimal risk
- Stimulates new collagen growth
Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Lunchtime Laser Toning, Microdermabrasion, One-Pass CO2 Laser Resurfacing, PhotoFacial Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser, and Retinoic Acid Creams.
Glycolic acid has two direct skin rejuvenating effects:
- Exfoliation occurs as this substance dissolves the natural glue holding dead skin cells together
- Dynamic stimulation of new collagen growth
Both effects result in reduction of irregular coloration and contour, reducing lines, wrinkles, brown age spots, and improving skin luster and tone. TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peels can be performed for a more potent effect, though down time can result from the higher concentrations used.
Most skin types can undergo these procedures.
More even, glowing and smoother skin tones with less acne, lines and discoloration
This treatment has a very strong track record for safety and precision. Side effects are rare and generally temporary. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
Alpha- and beta-hydroxy acid peel patients usually require no down time. TCA is a stronger peeling agent that can deliver excellent results, though down time is possible, depending on the strength of acid used.
Slight tingle is the usual sensation
Avoid excessive sun exposure and retinoic acid creams (Retin-A, Differin, Avita) for two to three days before your treatment.
Avoid excessive sun exposure and retinoic acid creams (Retin-A, Differin, Avita) for two to three days after your treatment.
Our state-licensed medical aestheticians.
Microdermabrasion is a revolutionary, non-invasive treatment invented in Italy for skin rejuvenation. This procedure utilizes crystals to finely resurface superficial layers of the skin. Multiple articles published in dermatologic medical journals have proven that microdermabrasion exfoliates the outer dead layers of the skin and stimulates new collagen formation in the deeper dermal layers, revealing younger, fresher skin.
Microdermabrasion is right for all skin types and for anyone interested in improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne prone skin, black heads and white heads, mild acne scarring, pigmentation problems, uneven skin tones, and dull, lifeless sun-damaged skin. Microdermabrasion can even treat the neck, chest, and the hands. During your consultation, you may request a sample of the treatment on the back of your hand to sample its benefits and painlessness.
- Reduces brown age and liver spots (lentigos)
- Reduces melasma
- Reduces freckles
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
- No down time
- Minimal risk
- Other benefits include reduction in sun-damage, wrinkles and fine lines, acne, acne scars, traumatic scars, enlarged pores and collagen stimulation resulting in improvement of general skin tone
Chemical Peels, Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Lunchtime Laser Toning, One-Pass CO2 Laser Resurfacing, PhotoFacial Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser, and Retinoic Acid Creams.
Patients relax lying down. A fine mist of crystals is sprayed onto the skin's surface and gently suctioned away. The dual action of mechanical exfoliation combined with dynamic stimulatory effects of the vacuum-suction result in new collagen production and skin rejuvenation.
Most skin types can benefit from microdermabrasion.
Smoother, glowing, more even skin tones which convey a rested, youthful appearance.
This treatment has a very strong track record for safety and precision. Side effects are rare and generally temporary. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
There is no down time and individuals return to regular activities the same day.
Usually a painless procedure.
Avoid excessive sun exposure and retinoic acid creams (Retin-A, Differin, Avita) for two to three days before your treatment.
Avoid excessive sun exposure and retinoic acid creams (Retin-A, Differin, Avita) for two to three days after your treatment.
State-licensed aestheticians.
In the mid-1990's, a Palo Alto, California company pioneered the process of laser skin resurfacing by developing the first laser used for this purpose, the Ultrapulse CO2 laser. Although this laser was initially intended to remove sun damage and pre-cancerous growths of the skin, the inventors were happily surprised that it also reduced or eliminated wrinkles and scars.
The CO2 laser treatments were often associated with longer than desired healing times, and some patients noted a skin lightening effect from the laser. To overcome some of these disadvantages, a cooler Erbium laser was developed. Most Erbium lasers were limited by their depth of skin penetration and by their insufficient skin-tightening effect.
Another Palo Alto, California-based company responded to this issue by developing a more advanced Erbium laser, the "Sciton Contour" laser, with its proprietary "Optical DiaThermy Technology." With this laser, the surgeon could precisely "dial-in" the desired depth of penetration of laser light in microns (millionths of a meter), while at the same time dial-in the amount of heat necessary to tighten skin. With this technology, healing time is reduced and side effects are rare.
In order to satisfy patients' various requirements, Dr. Berman will often combine the Ultrapulse laser and the Sciton Contour laser on the same patient during one treatment, delivering the most state-of-the-art, individualized laser procedure possible.
- Usually one time procedure
- Usually more dramatic benefits compared to other procedures
- Reduces brown age and liver spots (lentigos)
- Reduces melasma
- Reduces freckles
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
- Reduces the risk of skin cancer
- Other benefits include reduction in sun-damage, wrinkles and fine lines, acne, acne scars, traumatic scars, enlarged pores and collagen stimulation resulting in tighter skin and improvement of general skin tone
Chemical Peels, Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Lunchtime Laser Toning, Microdermabrasion, One-Pass CO2 Laser Resurfacing, PhotoFacial Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser, and Retinoic Acid Creams.
In order to remove brown spots, wrinkled, aged and sun-damaged skin, a laser beam is passed over the surface of the skin, gently and precisely painting away unwanted cells, one layer at a time. Clinical investigations have consistently proven that laser skin resurfacing induces new collagen formation in the skin, resulting in the reduction or complete elimination of wrinkles. The process of eliminating sun-damaged cells greatly reduces the chance of developing pre-cancers and skin cancers in later years. The length of the procedure depends on the amount of the surface area treated. Small areas may take 15 minutes, while the entire face is completed in approximately 40 minutes. After a short recovery period, patients return home.
Most individuals except those with the darkest skin tones can undergo this treatment.
Patients note a dramatic elimination of brown age spots with refreshed, tighter skin and a more youthful glow.
Risks include scarring, infection, increase or decrease of the color of the skin. In experienced hands, these risks are minimal. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.
Approximately one week
All procedures are performed within our state-accredited outpatient surgery center. A topical anesthetic cream may be applied to the treatment areas prior to the procedure. Small regional areas are easily numbed up, while a full face procedure would require twilight local sedation, administered by our board-certified anesthetists.
Avoidance of excessive sunlight for 2 weeks before treatment
For full face resurfacing, a soothing facial mask is often applied which remains on the skin for three days, enhancing the healing process. After three days, patients return to our center and a clear dressing is applied to the skin, which remains on for two more days. With our latest techniques, most patients are healed in five to six days. Any pink areas may then be covered up with powder or makeup. We encourage all patients to use a sunscreen and avoid excessive, direct sun exposure for many weeks following this procedure.
Dr. Berman.
The "one-pass" CO2 laser resurfacing approach is ideal for those patients with brown age spots, facial wrinkles, dark under eye circles and minimal to moderate acne scars. Patients who have undergone other procedures such as standard laser resurfacing or deep chemical peels may still undergo this procedure as long as 12 to 18 months have passed since the prior treatment. One pass laser resurfacing is an ideal option for patients who desire the benefits of laser resurfacing, yet cannot afford the recovery time from their busy schedules for standard laser resurfacing.
- Usually one time procedure
- Usually more dramatic benefits compared to other procedures
- Reduces brown age and liver spots (lentigines)
- Reduces melasma
- Reduces freckles
- Reduces hyperpigmentation
- Reduces wrinkles sun damage
- Reduces acne scars, traumatic scars, enlarged pores
- Reduces the risk of skin cancer formation
- Stimulates collagen growth resulting in tighter skin and improvement of general skin tone
Chemical Peels, Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Lunchtime Laser Toning, Microdermabrasion, PhotoFacial Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser, and Retinoic Acid Creams
In order to remove skin imperfections, a laser beam is passed over the surface of the skin, gently and precisely painting away unwanted cells. Unlike standard laser resurfacing where two or three passes may be performed, this procedure entails just one pass of the CO2 laser. Clinical investigations have consistently proven that laser skin resurfacing induces new collagen formation in the skin, resulting in the reduction of brown age spots, scars and wrinkles. Importantly, the process of eliminating sun-damaged cells greatly reduces the chance of developing pre-cancers and skin cancers in later years. The length of the procedure depends on the amount of the surface area treated. Small areas may take 10 minutes, while the entire face is completed in approximately 25 minutes. After a short recovery period, patients return home.
Most individuals, except those with the darkest skin tones, can undergo this treatment.
Patients note a refreshed, tighter skin tone with reduced brown spots and a more youthful glow.
Risks include scarring, infection, increase or decrease of the color of the skin. In experienced hands, these risks are minimal. The specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.
After the first 24 hours, the recovery rapidly accelerates and the skin heals. Most patients can apply makeup by the fifth to seventh day after surgery and can easily return to normal activities. Although the recovery and post-op period is dramatically less than with standard laser resurfacing, "one-pass" laser resurfacing patients will still continue to see clinical improvement and collagen remodeling for several months after the procedure.
This procedure is still usually done under intravenous (i.v.) twilight sedation, administered by one of our board-certified anesthetists. Many patients choose no i.v. sedation however, opting for topical anesthetic creams, local injections and possibly oral pain medication. This latter approach is preferred by some patients who do not want heavy sedation and eliminates yet another part of the recovery process. All procedures are performed within our state-accredited outpatient surgery center.
Avoidance of excessive sunlight for two weeks before treatment.
For the first couple of days after surgery the patient applies topical ointments and ice packs, in addition to taking prescribed oral medication. Any pink areas may then be covered up with powder or makeup. We encourage all patients to use a sunscreen and avoid excessive, direct sun exposure for many weeks following this procedure.
Dr. Berman and Physician Assistants.
The new Fraxel Laser Treatment offers a "fractional" approach to laser skin resurfacing. This treatment represents a novel way to improve brown spots, sun-damaged, wrinkled, and scarred skin by offering patients the positive results of CO2 and Erbium:YAG laser treatments with the lunchtime elegance of no-downtime procedures. This innovative approach is specially designed to alter only fractional volumes of the skin. Similar to digital alteration of photographs and paintings, the clinical effect of this treatment technique is to alter the appearance of aging, sun-damaged and scarred skin. The creation of tiny micro-wounds results in a microscopic wound healing process and the resultant formation of new collagen fibers.
- All areas of the face, neck, hands and body can be treated
- Fraxel Laser Treatments represents an innovative approach to repairing aging and sun damaged skin
- Replaces and rebuilds damaged skin like digital modification - pixel by pixel and spot by spot
- No downtime
- Minimal risk
- Reduces brown discoloration (freckles, melasma, brown age spots)
- Reduces wrinkles, sun-damaged and scarred skin
- Reduces precancerous lesions
- No painful or lengthy recover
- No general anesthesia
- Fraxel Laser Treatment is specially designed to affect "fractional" volumes of skin tissue, providing the benefits of rapid healing without negative side effects
- Creates new epidermis in treatment zones within 24 hours in significant contrast to "non-ablative" techniques
Chemical Peels, Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Microdermabrasion, MicroLaserPeelT, One-Pass CO2 Laser Resurfacing, PhotoFacial Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser and Retinoic Acid Creams
The skin is treated fractionally with patterns of microscopic laser spots, each of which is 70-100 microns in diameter, resulting in a unique wound healing process. Each laser spot or "MicroThermal Zone," is surrounded by untreated tissue. Fractional wound healing results in both rapid replacement of the sun-damaged, surface layer of the skin, as well as collagen remodeling in the deeper dermis, to depths of 400-700 microns.
An analogy to Fraxel Laser Treatments is pixels in a newspaper photograph. If one looks at a newsprint photo closely, one will see that the image is actually comprised of thousands of tiny spots of ink. Similarly, this laser treatment produces thousands of tiny MicroThermal Zones. These zones not only penetrate deep into the dermis rejuvenating collagen and reducing wrinkles, but also resurface the uppermost portion of the skin, resulting in the formation of new epidermal cells with reduction or complete elimination of uneven pigment. Further, the intervening areas of untouched skin between these MicroThermal Zones allow the skin to heal much faster compared to conventional laser skin resurfacing.
Most skin types can undergo this treatment; however individuals with darker complexions may have an increased risk of hyperpigmentation after the procedure.
Infection, scarring, increase or decrease coloration of the skin is possible with almost any laser treatment. The Fraxel laser however provides unprecedented control in laser skin rejuvenation. Risks are minimal, though the specific risks and the suitability of these procedures for a given individual can be determined only at the time of the consultation. All procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally.
The Fraxel Laser Treatments will leave pinkness on the skin for a few days. Most patients can go back to their regular activity the next day, while some patients return the very same day. To completely cover the entire skin's surface, multiple sessions will be required to achieve the best aesthetic result.
Fraxel Laser Treatments require that the patient apply a topical anesthetic cream to the skin prior to the procedure to make this a comfortable procedure.
Avoid tanning for one month before the procedure. Apply a topical anesthetic cream to the proposed treatment area for at least 45 minutes prior to the procedure.
Avoid tanning for one month after the procedure.
Silk Peel Dermalinfusion is a uniquely advanced skin treatment. It is a non-invasive procedure that exfoliates and infuses skin-specific dermaceuticals, leaving you with fresher feeling and better looking skin.
- Patient-specific topicals to address your unique skin care needs
- Immediate skin improvement
- Simultaneous exfoliation, dermalinfusion, lymphatic, muscle and nerve point stimulation
- Soothing and massaging treatment
- Non-invasive and no down time
- Avoids the hazards associated with particulate abrasion
Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels, Clinical Facial, Fading Creams, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Lunchtime Laser Toning, One-Pass CO2 Laser Resurfacing, PhotoFacial Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), Q-Switched Nd:YAG Laser, and Retinoic Acid Creams.
Lying back comfortably, patients experience Silk Peel’s “wet abrasion.” It exfoliates the skin and simultaneously infuses a topical dermaceutical, addressing your specific skin condition and stimulating new cell growth to give your skin the revitalization you want.
Most skin types can benefit from Silk Peel Dermalinfusion. Some conditions Silk Peel treats are dry skin, fine lines, eczema, tactile roughness, acne, oily skin, redness, hyperpigmentation (brown discoloration), and sun damage.
After your Silk Peel treatment, your skin will have an immediate, radiant glow that leaves you looking healthy and renewed.
Silk Peel is a safe, comfortable treatment. Silk Peel treats the skin with crystal-free technology, offering an elegant, no-downtime approach while still an effective, exfoliating treatment.
There is no down time associated with Silk Peel treatments. Patients return to regular activity promptly the same day after treatment.
This is usually a painless procedure. The exfoliation may cause you a mild tightening of the skin. Combined with the cool, moisturizing effect of the topicals, your skin will feel healthy and smooth.
Avoid excessive exposure to the sun and avoid retinoic creams (Retin-A, Differin, Avita) two or three days prior to treatment.
Your physician or aesthetician will customize a post-care regimen, which may include moisturizers, cleansers, serums and sunscreen to enhance and maintain results.
Licensed Aestheticians
