Posts Tagged ‘RF’
About 8 of of 10 women have cellulite, even women that are thin or work out often have cellulite. Some of hottest celebrities have cellulite, Pamela Anderson, Misha Baton, Kate Moss, Lady Gaga and Beyonce have all been photographed with cellulite. Kim Kardashian has even had Velashape cellulite treatments on her show. VelaShape offers an effective solution for treating cellulite, which is probably why we have seen it on shows like Dr Phil, Rachel Ray and The Doctors.
What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is the unsightly lumpy, dimpled skin appearance, also known as the ‘cottage cheese’ or ‘orange peel’ appearance. Cellulite consists of fat deposits that appear mainly on the hips, thighs and buttocks. The skin’s connective tissue surrounds fat cells, which are arranged in chambers. The margins of these chambers contain septae. Over time, the fat cells increase in size and number. This phenomenon together with accumulation of localized edema, push the skin’s surface between the septae in an upward direction. This is what creates the lumpy and dimpled skin appearance, also known as the ‘cottage cheese’ appearance, associated with cellulite.
VelaShape™ Cellulite Treatment
VelaShape™ features the unique elōs™ technology combination of Bi-polar Radiofrequency (RF), Infrared Light Energy, plus Vacuum and Mechanical Massage to deploy targeted heat to adipose tissue. The precise heating ensures a safe, effective, fast treatment with no downtime. Vacuum and specially designed rollers for the Mechanical Massage smooth out the skin to facilitate safe and efficient heat energy delivery. The combination of these energies increases the metabolism of stored energy, increases lymphatic drainage and reduces or shrinks the size of the actual fat cells and fat chambers. The net result is gradual smoothening of skin’s surface with a noticeable reduction in cellulite. With VelaShape™ it is easy to enhance your body, improve your lifestyle and feel better about yourself!
The result:
Gradual smoothing of skin’s surface with a noticeable reduction in cellulite
Circumferential Reduction, with noticeable reshaping of the treated area
In a clinical multi-center study, 85% of the treated areas have reported Circumferential Reduction of thighs of at least 1cm; ranging up to 7.2cm in reduction.
You can schedule a Velashape treatment at Paradise Valley Skin Klinic. 480 421-1701
Shapiro Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Paradise Valley Skin Klinic
5410 N. Scottsdale Rd., Ste F-100
Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
480 421.1701
wwwshapiroplasticsurgery.com
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Achive a more youthful, toned and lifted appearance
Target signs of aging by tightening lax skin including, jowls, neck, sagging under the eyes, droopy brow, and nasolabial folds. ReFirme is a noninvasive procedure that instantly tightens skin with out any discomfort or down time, offering a fast treatment for sagging and wrinkled skin.
ReFirme is a FDA cleared non-invasive Skin Treatment procedure that enables you to comfortably achieve a more youthful, toned and lifted appearance without enduring down time.
An average treatment takes about an hour. You can see results immediately after your first treatment, however results are accumulative, so a series of treatments are recommended. A series of 5 treatments are recommended, scheduled about 3-4 weeks apart. You can expect results from a single treatment to last up to 6 weeks and after a series of 5 treatments, results last up to 6 months.
ReFirme is an ideal treatment before photo’s or special events.
There is absolutly no down time! After a treatment you look good enough for a night out, in-fact many celebrities will have a skin tightening treatment before they hit the red carpet.
ReFirme can also be used in conjunction with other skin treatments including Fotofacial, Microdermabrasion, The Oxygen Facial and Chemical Peels.
ReFirme™ is a FDA cleared non-invasive skin treatment that uses Bi-Polar Radio Frequency and Light energies to precisely heat the dermal tissue within the targeted treatment area. The precise heating ensures a safe, effective, fast treatment with no downtime. Fine wrinkles are reduced, noticeable lifting can be observed on sagging skin and the texture of your skin becomes smoother, more luminous and toned.
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Radio frequency is not the same as laser, however it is often used in conjunction with laser treatments in a clinical setting. Radio frequency (RF) usually refers to oscillations in electrical circuits. Aesthetic treatments use non-ablative (RF) energy in short intense pulses that oscillate through the skin to heat targeted tissue. Radio frequency (RF) is often used to tighten the skin. The (RF) energy penetrates the skin and stimulates the contraction of collagen and the production of new collagen for skin tightening.
[ Read more about Laser technology ]
Radio frequency devices use a variety of delivery systems and penatrate to varying depths. Radio frequency can be monopolar or bipolar. Bipolar devices are often combined with other types of technology such as infrared light.
Monopolar vs Bipolar
Monopolar
For the purpose of aesthetic treatments Monopolar radiofrequency is delivered by applying a single electrode to the treated area and an opposing electrode that is relatively far removed so that the current goes deeply through the body. Unipolar (RF) penetrates deeper and more intensely than bipolar( RF). Thermage uses monopolar radiofrequency (RF) energy to tighten and contour skin.
Bipolar
For the purpose of aesthetic treatments bipolar radiofrequency is delivered by applying two closely positioned electrodes to the treated area. The electric current travels from one electrode through the tissue and back up to the other electrode, the current that goes between the electrodes is small and shallow. As a result, the tissue in the treated area is heated less deeply and less intensely than monopolar (RF). In aesthetic treatments bipolar RF is usually combined with light or energy based sources, including lasers, intense pulsed light, infrared light, or vacuum assisted. Infrared light heats the tissue down to the deep dermis and acts to “pre-heat” tissue, for improved (RF) penatration.
Bipolar Radiofrequency used with Laser and IPL
Unlike laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) energy, radio frequency is not absorbed by a specific chromophore. When RF is combined with other energy sources such as lasers and IPL, the laser or IPL energy will be absorbed by the targeted chromophore (melanin or hemoglobin), resulting in an increased temperature in the target areas. The increases in tempeture lowers the tissue impedance to those areas and the RF energy will stream preferentially to the warmer areas with lowered impedance. Elōs is the first and only technology that simultaneously harnesses the power of bi-polar radio frequency (RF) and optical energy.
The ReFirme™ ST procedure combines safe and effective levels of infrared light and bipolar radiofrequency energies to remodel the dermal layer of the skin by stimulating new collagen growth.
Bipolar Radiofrequency(RF) used with Suction
Bipolar radiofrequency can also be combined with negative pressure ( suction), to help improve and control the absorption of the RF energy. The tissue is suctioned into the hand-piece and the RF energy passes through. The Aluma uses a vacuum-assisted and bipolar radio-frequency (RF) handpiece for skin tightening methods.
VelaShape uses a combination of Infrared light, bi-polar radio frequency (RF) and negative pressure (suction) to heat deep adipose (fat) tissue. Infrared light, tissue mobilization, and suction, all work synergistically with RF to reduce cellulite.
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Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is used in photo-rejuvenation for the skin and hair removal treatments. Broad Band Light (BBL) is essentially the same thing as IPL and is used in the same way. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is not actually a laser. IPL emits a non coherent, broad spectrum light, rather than a monochromatic single wavelength like a laser. Basically lasers have one wavelength ( for example: 800nm) with a very specific target, and IPL uses a wide spectrum of wavelengths at the same time (for example: 500nm — 1200nm) that can target any chromophore in that range. You can think of the laser like a sniper that can precisely hit a single target with one shot, and IPL is like a grenade that hits several targets at once.
IPL uses special filters that block unwanted wavelengths. The filters can be changed to “cut off” the shorter wavelengths. The appropriate filter will depend on the depth of the intended target.
intense pulsed light
The cut off for the wavelength at the deeper end is predetermined, but can vary with each devise.
For example: Lumenis One has a wavelength of 515 – 1200nm,
and has 7 filters: 515, 560, 590,615, 640,695, and 755.
The 515 filter would block out wavelengths above and below 515nm – 1200nm, while the 560 filter would block out wavelengths above and below 560 -1200nm. The deeper wavelength, in this case 1200nm remains the same, while the “cut-off” filter can be changed to block out specific shorter wavelengths.
Each devises may use different wavelengths.
Sciton BBl: 420 -1400nm
Lumenis One: 515-1200nm
iPulse 1200: 530 – 1200nm
LimeLight: 520 – 1100nm
E-Light: 470-980nm
Cynergy XPL: 560 -950nm
[ Read more about Aesthetic Lasers ]
SELECTIVE TARGET
IPL is well absorbed by chromophores that have color such as melanin, hemoglobin. The concentration of a specific chromophore peaks at different depths in the skin. The filter used in treatment is decided based on the depth of a desired target and the color of skin. A deeper cut off filter would be used for hair removal, while a shallow filter would be used when treating vascular issues such as rosacea. It is important to remember that IPL targets color in the skin, so tanning must be avoided before treatment. Patients with darker skin should seek treatment from someone experienced in treating their skin type, to avoid complications. IPL treatments can provide beautiful results, but can also cause serious burns. It is the patients responsibility to choose an experienced professional, be honest about sun exposure and follow all pre and post treatment instructions.
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There are many variables involved in aesthetic lasers, including the active laser medium, wavelength, and targeted chromophore. Aesthetic lasers can be ablative, non-ablative or fractional. There are also other (non-laser) technology based treatments used in aesthetics such as Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Radio Frequency (RF).
Lasers
The term “laser” originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser generates a beam of very intense light. The light emitted by a laser is monochromatic, coherent and collimated.
Monochromatic – the light is of a single wavelength
Coherent - the light beam waves are in the same phase
Collimated - the light beams travel in parallel, all are parallel to each other.
Active Laser Medium Types
The lasing medium is the source of optical gain within a laser. The Active Lasers Medium can be a solid crystal, liquid dye, gas, or semiconductors.
Gas Lasers
Carbon dioxide (Co2) are gas lasers that are commonly used in aesthetic treatments.
Solid State Lasers
Generally, the active medium of a solid-state laser consists of a glass or crystalline material.
Solid state lasers include Ruby, Aexandrite and Erbium.
Semiconductor
Semiconductor-based lasers are also in the solid state, but are considered as a separate class. Diode is a semiconductor based laser used in aesthetic treatments.
Dye Lasers
A dye laser is a laser which uses an organic dye as the lasing medium. A dye can usually be used for a much wider range of wavelengths which makes them suitable pulsed lasers. Pulsed Dye Lasers are used in aesthetic treatment.
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all possible wavelengths and frequencies. Wavelength is the distance over which the wave’s shape repeats ( peak to peak).Wavelenghths are measured in micrometers (microns) and nanometers (nm) Frequency is the number of oscillations per second, measured in hertz.
Energy is the amount of joules (J/cm) delivered. A laser technician adjusts the energy of each treatment, based on factors such as skin type and condition. The laser technician can also control other factors such as spot size and the length and duration of the pulse.
Selective Target
Lasers used in aesthetic treatments target a specific chromophore generally melanin, hemoglobin or water in the tissue. The targeted chromophore is determined by the wavelength. The concentration of a specific chromophore peaks at different depths in the skin. For example hemoglobin in the blood is best absorbed at a shallow wavelength and water is best absorbed at deep wavelengths. Melanin is best absorbed somewhere in the middle (500nm-1064nm), the exact depth can vary, depending on the desired target. For example if you are targeting pigment in the hair follicle a deeper wavelength (640nm-1064nm) would be used, however most lasers used for hair removal are Diodes (800nm-900nm).
Melanin and hemoglobin in blood vessels have color that absorbs the light emitted by specific lasers. Lasers that target color are usually used for hair removal, treating vascular issues such as rosacea and broken blood vessels, and skin discolorations such as freckels. Tanning is contraindicated with laser treatments that target color, tan skin will absorb more heat, increasing the probability of a burn. Tanning can also interfer with the desired results of treatment, because there is less contrast between the intended target and the surrounding tissue. Lasers that are used for hair removal target the color in the hair, so grey or blond hair will not respond well. (There are some lasers that claim to treat grey or light hair).
Water constitutes 80% or more of soft tissue, so lasers that target water are generly used for resurfacing. Lasers with deep wavelenghts such as Co2 or erbium lasers are strongly absorbed by water. The Smoothbeam laser is a 1450nm diode laser that targets water in the skin and is used to treat acne by shrinking the oil gland.
Argon 488 and 515 nm, is a gas laser that emits a blue green light which is strongly absorbed by both hemoglobin and water,used for photocoagulation. Argon lasers are rarely used for aesthetic or dermatologic treatments.
KTP 532 nm, a brilliant green light well absorbed by hemoglobin and melanin used photoablation and photocoagulation. The Iredex DioLite 532 nm KTP that is Diode Pumped, it is used to treat vascular lesions and hyperpigmentation.
Pulsed Dye: 577 -585nm, a yellow light that is well absorbed by hemoglobin in blood. Pulsed Dye Lasers (PDL) are especially useful for the treatment of vascular lesions, including spider veins, strawberry birthmarks and port wine stains.
Ruby 694 nm, uses a synthetic ruby crystal that emits red light that is strongly absorbed by blue and black pigment, and by melanin in skin and hair.
Ruby lasers are used for laser hair removal, tattoo removal and treating pigmented lesions including freckles, liver spots.
Alexandrite Laser 755nm, emits a deep red light and is absorbed by melanin. Alexandrite permits deeper penetration into skin than the ruby, and is used for Laser Hair Reduction.
Diode 800-900nm, emit near-infrared light. Diodes in the 800-900 nm range are absorbed by melanin and used for laser hair removal. The Smoothbeam uses a diode with a 1450nm, it targets water in the skin and is used to treat acne and build collagen.
Nd:YAG 1064nm, laser emits a near infrared beam that can be absorbed by all tissue chromophores, however it is strongly absorbed by hemoglobin. Nd:YAG lasers are used for photocoagulation and photoablation, commonly used to treat broken blood vessels.
Er:YAG 2940nm, emits a mid-infrared beam which has an absorption peak for water. Its used is to ablate tissue for cosmetic laser resurfacing. Also known as Erbium.
CO2 10,600nm, is a gas laser emitting a mid infrared beam which is strongly absorbed by water. Co2 lasers are capable of cutting or vaporizing tissue, and are used for deep laser resurfacing.
Ablative, Non-ablative an Fractional
Non-ablative lasers heat the layers of skin beneath the surface without removing the epidermis (top layer of skin).
Ablative procedures remove the epidermis. Carbon dioxide and Erbium lasers are ablative lasers used in aesthetic treatments. Ablative laser treatments are used for resurfacing, and leave skin raw.
Fractional lasers can be ablative or non-ablative treatments, and target only a fraction of skin at a time, leaving the surrounding tissue intact.
[ Read more on Fractional lasers ]
Some of the lasers used in aesthetic treatments:
Iredex DioLite – 532 nm KTP Diode Pumped – Non-Ablative
Candela Vbeam – 595nm Pulsed dye laser (PDL) – Non-Ablative
Candela GentleLASE – 755 nm Alexandrite – Non-Ablative
Lumenis LightSheer – 800nm Diode – Non-Ablative
Syneron eLaser / Comet – 810nm diode laser ( with RF) – Non-Ablative
Syneron Matrix IR – 915nm diode (with RF )- Non-Ablative/Fractional
Sciton Profile – Nd:YAG 1064 nm – Non-Ablative
Lumenis Multi-Spot – 1064 Nd:YAG – Non-Ablative
Candela GentleYAG – 1064nm Nd:YAG – Non-Ablative
Fraxel re:fine – 1410nm Erbium – Non-Ablative/Fractional
Cynosure Affirm – Nd:Yag 1440nm – Non-Ablative/Fractional
Candela Smoothbeam – 1450 nm diode laser – Non-Ablative
Fraxel re:store – 1500nm Erbium laser – Non-Ablative/ Fractional
Sciton Profile -2940nm Er:YAG – Ablative /(additional attachment to Profile base)
Sciton ProFractional – 2940 Er:YAG – Ablative/Fractional
Lumenis UltraPulse – 10,600nm Co2 – Ablative/ Fractional
Fraxel re:pair – 10,600nm Co2 laser – Ablative/ Fractional
Sometimes a little information can be a dangerous thing.
This is intended to help provide some very basic information of cosmetic / aesthetic lasers. There are many factors involved with laser aesthetic treatments and not everything can be included in this post. Aesthetic laser treatments can be complicated and should only be performed by a qualified and experienced technician.
Thank you for visiting Best of Both Worlds Az.
You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter,Tumblr and on our blog site
www.bestofbothworldsaz.com
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