LASERS

Nd:YAG

Nd: YAG is a laser that uses a wavelength of 1064nm to treat vascular conditions.  It has the capability to reach deeper layers of skin tissue than other types of lasers.  This laser delivers a long pulse of energy that is converted into heat in the tissue.  The heat impacts the vasculature of the lesions. 

This procedure can take 15 minutes or up to 1 hour depending on the size of the treatment area. Both our board-certified dermatologist and licensed aesthetician collaborate using this device.

Nd:YAG treats:

  • Hemangiomas

  • Angiomas

  • Telangiectasias

  • Spider veins

  • Some reticular veins

  • Vascular birthmarks

  • It can also remove hair in some cases by destroying the pigment of hair follicles.  We do not currently use this laser to remove hair at our office (please see laser hair removal laser info).

What to expect:

  • Discomfort, but a tolerable sensation during procedure. 

  • Redness, swelling and heat at treated area. 

  • Bruising or blistering may also occur. 

  • Vascular lesions will become dark or purple in color, dry to a crust, and slough off. 

  • Leg veins will shrink, turn darker red or purple and will fade away over time.  Leg veins may become itchy.  This is the body’s natural healing response.

  • Be sure to bring compression stockings to visit when treating leg veins.  Provider will go over post treatment instructions.

Contraindications:

  • Sun exposure 3-4 weeks prior and post procedure

  • Sunless tanners 2 weeks prior

  • History of Lupus

  • Pregnancy

  • Active fever blisters or open wounds at treatment site

  • Accutane within last 6 months

  • Previous vein surgery or swelling in legs

Qs-Nd:YAG

Q-switched Nd:Yag is a non-invasive laser that creates high intensity pulsed beam light.  The energy emitted from a Q-switch laser is concentrated into powerful pulses.  Q-switched lasers are able to shatter tiny fragments of pigmentation or ink and then eliminated by your body.

This procedure can take 15 minutes or up to 1 hour depending on the size of the treatment area. Both our board-certified dermatologist and licensed aesthetician collaborate using this device.

Q-switched Nd:Yag treats:

  • Brown spots

  • Melasma

  • Tattoos

  • Café au Lait spots

  • Certain birthmarks

  • Facial toning

What to expect:

  • Treated area will feel like a sunburn and may have swelling. 

  • Pigmentation becomes slightly irritated for a few days to a week or so.  Pigmentation or ink will develop a crust and then slough off. 

  • You may notice blistering or bleeding when removing tattoos. 

  • Red or lightening of the skin may develop after treating lesions, this usually fades to normal skin color.

Contraindications:

  • Sun exposure for 4-6 weeks before and after treatment

  • Avoid sunless tanners up to 2 weeks prior to procedure

  • Accutane within the last 6 months

  • Pregnancy

  • History of keloids

  • History of receiving gold salts for treatment of diseases (past or present)

  • Active fever blisters or open wounds in the treatment area

  • Inflammatory skin conditions