0
What is Laser
Skin Rejuvenation?
Lasers tackle a multitude of skin concerns like pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, blemishes and acne scars, to enlarged pores and uneven skin tone and texture for fresh and rejuvenated skin.
Lasers can also bring a glow back to dark, dull-looking skin by removing the top layer of unhealthy, dead skin cells.
How do I know which laser skin rejuvenation treatment is for me?
Lasers are effective for rejuvenating our whole face or just targeted parts of the face, like pigment spots, our eye area, and the neck. But lasers are built differently from one another, so it is important to seek a doctor’s advice for a suitable laser treatment.
A wide range of lasers from the non-ablative and ablative categories is available at Halley Medical Aesthetics that can rejuvenate the skin with no or minimal downtime.
Pico lasers or picosecond lasers are lasers that deliver ultra-short pulse bursts of energy to the skin in picoseconds, which is one trillionth (1/1,000,000,000,000) of a second. This means that pico lasers are able to emit ultra-fast flashes of laser energy to the skin with little or minimal thermal energy.
This reduces the chance of our skin heating up and minimising the risk of hyperpigmentation. Downtime is also reduced since there is little or no heat involved.
Pico lasers are used for treating pigmentation and skin discolouration but are also used for common skin concerns like smoothening fine lines and encouraging growth of new skin for skin rejuvenation, uneven skin tone, acne scars, and tattoo removal.
Examples of pico lasers include the Fotona PQX Picolaser (Fotona StarWalker PQX Pico Laser) and Cynosure’s PicoSure Laser. Different pico lasers feature different wavelengths to target different skin concerns and it is recommended for patients to consult the doctor to determine which pico laser suits their needs.
Halley Medical Aesthetics also has a Halley’s Pico Power of 3 laser programme which combines the use of two Pico lasers for a customised treatment.
Fotona PQX Picolaser
The Fotona PQX Picolaser (Fotona StarWalker PQX Pico Laser) features a short and long laser wavelength:
532nm wavelength
Shorter wavelengths are for treating sun spots and freckles.
1064nm wavelength
Penetrates the skin deeper to reach deeper-lying pigments, but is also gentle enough for delicate and Asian skin types.
What can it treat
- Rejuvenates our skin
- Reduces appearance of wrinkles
- Removes pigments (melasma, freckles, sun-spots)
- Reduces acne scars
- Improves skin texture and tone
- Remove tattoos
How does it work
Being a pico laser, the Fotona PQX Picolaser is able to deliver an intense blast of energy within a very short period of time. This allows the laser to scatter the pigmentation in our skin without producing heat that will damage the skin. This reduces downtime to close to zero.
Its versatility is also due to the handpieces of different spot sizes, allowing doctors to treat a variety of skin concerns.
The Fotona PQX Picolaser’s FracTAT® technology distributes the energy evenly across each microbeam of laser energy. This creates consistent results across the treated areas to avoid over- or under-treatment.
How does the Fotona PQX Picolaser remove tattoos
The Fotona PQX Picolaser delivers the laser energy evenly to shatter the tattoo ink pigments without damaging the skin’s surface. The shattered pigments are then removed from the body naturally.
Read more: Tattoo removal
PicoSure Laser
PicoSure laser can treat wrinkles, acne scarring, pigmentation, and blemishes with minimal or close to zero downtime.
Besides being able to lighten pigments such as freckles, age spots, and acne scars, the PicoSure Laser is also able to stimulate collagen and elastin production to rejuvenate the skin.
What can it treat
- Rejuvenates the skin
- Reduces appearance of wrinkles
- Removes pigments (melasma, freckles, sun-spots)
- Reduces acne scars
- Improves skin texture and tone
- Remove tattoos
How does it work?
The PicoSure Laser uses the 755nm wavelength and together with its PressureWave technology and Focal Lens Array lens, this pico laser delivers an intense burst of energy at the pigments, shattering them into tiny dust-like particles which are then absorbed by the lymphatic system and eliminated naturally.
It also triggers a cell signalling process in our skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production for skin rejuvenation. The PicoSure Laser is also one of the lasers used for tattoo removal.
How does the PicoSure Laser remove tattoos
This same technology is used for tattoo removal. By delivering the ideal energy to the skin, PicoSure efficiently shatters tattoo ink and allows your body to remove it naturally.
Read more: Tattoo removal
Halley’s Fotona4D Laser pairs two laser wavelengths to treat four distinct “dimensions” of the skin to rejuvenate and restore youthfulness to the skin from inside out.
It does this by using four dimensions (4D) or four steps of lifting, treating both the exterior facial skin and interior oral cavity for a natural-looking, long-lasting lift.
What can you expect from the treatment
- Skin tightening and lifting
- Reduces fine lines
- Treats dull-looking skin
- More refreshed and glowing skin
- Improved skin health and complexion
How Does It Work
Fotona 4D = Four Dimensions (4Ds) = Four Steps. The Fotona4D Laser uses four dimensions of rejuvenation or treatment modes to tighten the skin from inside out.
The four steps include:
1D Step 1: SmoothLiftinTM
The Fotona4D Laser treatment starts inside the mouth, where laser energy is used to kickstart the tightening process around the jawline and perioral region. This step will also reduce expression lines like the nasolabial folds and wrinkles.
2D Step 2: Frac3®
Next, after the intraoral treatment, deeper imperfections (like deep lines) and large pores are targeted to restore a youthful texture and more uniform overall complexion.
3D Step 3: Piano®
In step three, a brushing technique is used to safely and rapidly apply laser energy to create an overall tightening effect, resulting in more firm and lifted skin.
4D Step 4: SupErFicial MicropeelTM
Lastly, a light laser peel is done to improve the appearance of the skin and address surface-level imperfections. The result is more refreshed, tighter, and glowing skin.
There are many non-invasive alternatives to eyebag surgery, and the Fotona SmoothEye® treatment is one of them.
The Fotona SmoothEye Laser utilises the Er:YAG laser beam to tighten loose skin and wrinkles around the eye. In this treatment, the inner mucosal layer of the lower eyelid is also treated directly, thereby tightening the ligaments of the lower eyelid.
What can it treat
- Improves appearance of eyebags
- Reduces wrinkles and loose skin around the eye area
- Immediate freshness and tightness of the periocular area
- Maintenance treatment for after Ultherapy undereye and undereye dermal filler treatment.
- Brightens skin and improves skin texture around the eye area
What to expect during the Fotona SmoothEye Laser treatment
Topical anaesthetic eye drops and eye lubricant will be applied to the eyes before putting on ocular eyeshields. These opaque eyeshields are worn on the eyes for protection during treatment.
The doctor would then safely treat the inner mucosal surface of the lower eyelid with the laser to tighten the ligaments of the lower eyelid. Thereafter, the doctor would treat the skin around the eyes.
The feeling during the treatment is generally described as feeling like a gentle snapping of a rubber band on the skin. The area will feel warm during treatment.
The Fraxel Dual Laser is a non-ablative, skin resurfacing laser that targets only the deeper structures of the skin, retaining the top-most layer to keep downtime minimal or close to zero.
What can it treat
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Stimulates collagen growth to tighten saggy skin
- Reduces big pores
- Evens out skin tone and treats melasma by peeling away pigmentation
- Treats dark eye circles by promoting skin renewal to lighten pigmented skin in the undereye area
- Lightens acne scars and blemishes
How does it work
The Fraxel Dual Laser removes layers of skin tissue in a “fractionated method”, where columns of skin are removed, leaving the skin surrounding each column intact to aid in healing.
This reduces the recovery time of this non-ablative laser compared to traditional ablative lasers which remove a thin outer layer of skin to achieve the desired result.
The Fraxel Dual Laser treats the skin using two wavelengths:
1550nm erbium:glass (Er:glass) laser mode penetrates deep into the skin to address wrinkles and acne scars.
1927nm thullium laser mode addresses problems with skin tone, texture, pigmentation, and other more superficial skin growths or signs of ageing.
The Long-Pulsed Laser is a non-ablative laser that penetrates deep into the skin to target only problematic spots without harming the skin’s surface. It is also known as the laser behind the Fotona4D Laser treatment in Singapore, which treats four distinct “dimensions” of the skin for a natural-looking, long-lasting lift.
What can it treat
- Rejuvenate ageing, dull skin
- Pore reduction
- Hair removal
- Treats active acne
- Lightens acne scars
- Removes facial veins, spider veins, haemangiomas (strawberry mark), and leg veins.
How does it work
The Long-Pulsed Laser uses two complementary laser wavelengths – 1064nm and 2940nm, creating laser energy which is absorbed by our skin. This triggers our skin to react in a way we want to in order to address the problem.
This laser firms the skin through stimulation of collagen production through cells in the skin called fibroblasts. The laser also targets haemoglobin within the blood vessels, removing fine veins and redness caused by inflammation and acne.
Our skin may develop lumps, bumps, or coloured spots such as moles. It is best to have them examined by a doctor to make sure they do not require medical attention. After assessment by a doctor, lasers are one of the treatment methods used to remove skin lumps such as milia, syringoma, and moles.
The Fractional CO2 Laser is one such treatment option and can sometimes be combined with another complementary pigment laser to address the concern. It is best to consult the doctor on the most suitable treatment for you.
What to expect during laser treatments?
Numbing cream would be applied on the treatment area before the procedure.
One session could take 30 minutes to an hour to complete depending on the treatment and treatment area. The doctor may target specific areas before treating the entire face.
Post-treatment
care
Your skin may turn red but that will go away with time. You may carry on your daily activities and wear makeup if you wish.
However, avoid excessive sun exposure and always apply sunscreen before going out to protect your post-laser skin.
A cooling mask can help to cool the skin down more rapidly directly after the laser treatment, while Halley’s Brilliance Skin Barrier Defence can help dissipate the heat, soothe the skin, and reduce redness with its chamomile, witch hazel, and liquorice.
Halley’s Brilliance Super Recovery Cream can also help to speed up skin recovery with its vitamin K and arnica extract.
*The use of these treatments is dependent on the clinical assessment and judgement of a medical professional. Please consult a medical doctor for an informed discussion on the use of these treatments.
