Category: Fraxel
When Freckles Are No Longer Adorable
Despite your efforts to avoid the sun, freckles may be having a field day on your face right about now. While you may have a few here and there throughout the year, and while they may be cute, these tiny brown spots tend to flourish after repeated exposure to sunlight, particularly if your complexion is fair.
Caused by an increase in the amount of dark pigment, or melanin, freckles can have a range of colors, from red, yellow, tan, light brown, brown or black. In one person, they are generally the same tone. The two basic types of freckles–simple and sunburn–look a bit different. Simple freckles are usually tan, round and small. Sunburn freckles are darker, larger and may have irregular borders. They usually appear on the upper back and shoulders where severe sunburns often occur.
To reduce the appearance of these dark spots, we offer a variety of treatments:
Diolite: This laser generates an intense beam of light that destroys unwanted cells in the affected area, leaving only healthy cells behind. Diolite is gentle, precise and controlled. With the Diolite laser, we can direct the light to the treatment area only, which leaves the surrounding tissue intact.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light ) Treatment: This photo-rejuvenation procedure quickly, effectively and non-invasively treats skin damage. IPL is a versatile treatment that corrects all kinds of facial skin imperfections and signs of aging, such as freckles and sun spots, as well as rosacea (facial inflammation), vascular lesions and acne scarring. It can safely treat areas including the face, neck, chest, hands and legs. Photo-rejuvenation offers long-term results without any downtime, recovery time or chemicals.
LED Photomodulation: A non-thermal, low intensity light-emitting diode treatment, LED Photomodulation uses a carefully timed sequence of emissions to activate the skin’s natural rejuvenation process. Unlike laser treatments that can cause a snapping sensation, LED Photomodulation treatments are entirely painless. Youth-restoring results are gradual, and patients report noticeable changes after 5 to 7 weekly treatments.
Fraxel: A trio of laser treatments, Fraxel offers the most advanced technology for improving your skin’s radiance and youthfulness. Depending on the intensity of the treatment you need, you can choose Fraxel Repair, Fraxel DUAL or Clear & Brilliant. Each is a state-of-the-art device with its own advantages.
Call our office today to learn about your easy options for reducing the appearance of freckles and brown spots. Our consultations are complimentary. Meantime, apply that sunscreen.
See you soon.
Love Yourself First
This Valentine’s Day, you may be thinking about the people in your life whom you love. But don’t forget about you.
Being happy with ourselves is a struggle for many of us. For all sorts of reasons, we often have a hard time embracing our strengths, accepting our imperfections and knowing what to do to feel and be our best selves.
I often wonder how we fit into this landscape. We improve physical imperfections. Some might say that people should be content with what they look like, without the extra help that we offer. Over the years, we’ve found that this extra help, when you request it on your own, goes a long way to help you feel better about yourselves. And we are happy about making you happy.
So, this Valentine’s Day, take some time for yourself. If we can help you do that, let us know.
This month is an optimal time to consider our favorite mid-winter treatments, including SmartLipo Triplex, Fraxel Dual and Repair, Kybella, Thermage CPT and Laser Hair Removal.
If you’d like to talk with us about how we can help you feel and look your most happy, call our office for a complimentary consultation. We’ll help you determine what is best for you.
Meantime, Happy Valentine’s Day, and see you soon.
Sparkle This Holiday Season
This week, as the holidays approach, you might want to think about a last-minute touch-up that will have you looking and feeling your most beautiful.
Dermal fillers and other wrinkle-reducing treatments, including Botox and Dysport, are speedy ways to give your appearance a subtle refresh. Safe and effective, these treatments smooth skin and add an indefinable sparkle to your overall appearance.
Also, now is an optimal time for scheduling procedures that are good to take care of during the winter. SmartLipo and Fraxel are just two that yield results that improve over time.
Meanwhile, we wish you and your families a beautiful holiday and a safe, peaceful and happy new year. My staff and I hope that you enjoy this time with the special people in your lives.
See you soon, and all best,
Dr. Covey
Beauty Time for New Moms
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are rough on your body, causing skin and shape issues that perhaps, you’ve never experienced before. Some of you may not be feeling like your old self, which can be disconcerting. So, after you’ve settled in to this new phase of life, it could be time to correct some of these concerns.
It’s not uncommon for young mothers to notice skin and stomach issues such as acne, acne scarring, melasma (darkened facial skin), cellulite, unwanted fat, unwanted hair growth, prominent facial blood vessels, loose skin, brown spots and stretch marks.
You may feel that you don’t have the time or energy to take care of yourself, or that doing so is too indulgent. But, feeling and looking as great as you can is critical for your self-esteem and general well-being at this exciting time.
Here are conditions that new moms often face and treatments that work well to minimize then and help you feel more like yourself in the process.
- For acne: pulsed dye laser, DermaFrac, microdemabrasion
- For melasma: Fraxel DUAL laser
- For cellulite: Cellulaze, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted fat: SmartLipo TriPlex, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted hair growth: Laser Hair Removal, IPL Hair Removal
- For facial blood vessels: Diolite (KTP532) laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), GentleWaves
- For loose skin: INFINI™, Thermage CPT, Exilis Elite, Fraxel lasers, SmartLipo TriPlex
- For brown spots: Fraxel DUAL laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), Diolite (KTP532) laser, chemical peels,GentleWaves
- For stretch marks: Fraxel lasers
- For acne scarring: INFINI™, Fraxel lasers, pulsed dye laser, dermal fillers
We can help you figure out a treatment plan that will help minimize some of these conditions. Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
The Fraxel Decision: Which is Right for You?
The gold standard of laser skin rejuvenation treatments, Fraxel is a state-of-the-art procedure for repairing skin. Whether you suffer from sun damage or the effects of aging and the environment, Fraxel lasers safely and effectively restore your skin. Pinpointing just the areas that need improvement, Fraxel will return your skin to its youthful radiance, texture and tone.
You have two options for treatment, Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair.
Here is what each can do for you…
The Fraxel DUAL Laser provides moderate-level treatment for many skin conditions, including pigmentation, uneven tone, lines and acne scarring, poor texture and more, both on and off the face. It’s safe for use on all skin types, stimulating your body’s natural healing process as it resurfaces and restores damaged skin. There is no downtime, though you may need several treatments for optimal effects.
Fraxel Repair, a more aggressive approach than Fraxel DUAL, provides a higher level of treatment. It’s a great choice for deep lines, hard-to-erase lip lines, pronounced photodamage, sagging face and neck skin, facial wrinkles and discolorations, age-related/sun-damaged rough skin texture, acne scars and surgical scars. Fraxel Repair deeply penetrates the skin with carbon dioxide laser beams, which minimize wrinkles and discolorations and also tighten skin. Typically, just one treatment is necessary, yielding superior results. Old damaged skin is removed, allowing for new collagen formation. Recuperation time is more considerable than that of the DUAL.
With either treatment, your skin will emerge looking youthful, smooth and beautiful. Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation, and we’ll help you determine which procedure is best for you.
See you soon.
The Skin Cycle: What You Can Expect, Decade by Decade
Your skin has a natural plan. With each year that passes, it undergoes assorted stressors, some that it has experienced before and some that are brand new. And it reacts to these changing stimuli in different ways, subtle and not-so. Unfortunately, while you may not feel any older, your skin has another story to tell. Aging plays tricks on its delicate composition. But do not despair–you have strategies at your disposal for warding off the first signs of attack. The trick: know what’s coming and take as many precautions as possible.
Here is what you can expect:
In Your 20s and 30s: Get ready. Hormonal changes may happen during this time, causing adult acne. We can treat it, though, with our Pulsed Dye Laser. Also, you may notice hints of wrinkles (yes, they begin early) and pigmentation. Botox and Dysport will help minimize lines, keeping them from setting and deepening. Catching them early is more effective than waiting until they are extreme. Fraxel DUAL and IPL will help reduce discoloration, brown spots and freckling.
In Your 40s: Your skin may begin to lose its luster, appearing dull and rough. Also, age spots may appear since the skin can’t repair itself as quickly or as completely as it used to. You may notice, too, that your skin doesn’t glow as much, since skin cell shedding begins to slow down. But, we can brighten and smooth out your skin with Clear+Brilliant, Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair laser treatments. Your skin tone will look even, and wrinkles and pores will diminish. During your 40s, wrinkles may be deeper than they were before. Dermal fillers such as Restylane, Restylane Lyft, Restylane Silk, Voluma, Juvederm, Belotero and Radiesse, and neurotoxins, such as Botox and Dysport, are effective in reducing the appearance of these lines and folds.
In Your 50s and 60s: Subtle lines may have turned into deep wrinkles and previously taut skin may have begun to sag. Declining collagen and elastin levels cause your skin to become thinner and more fragile. As the underlying skin structure is less supported, the skin falls down and droops. We have many laser treatments that can work wonders to resurface skin and stimulate collagen production, which will help lift up and plump your skin, nonsurgically. The treatments will also help to brighten and lighten any discoloration caused by sun exposure or simple aging.
At all times of your life, remember to do what you can to preserve your skin’s natural beauty. Wear plenty of sunscreen (and not only in the summer), avoid the sun as much as possible, steer clear of smoking and cleanse and moisturize often.
Call our office for a complimentary consultation. We’ll help you look your most natural youthful best.
See you soon.
Are You Washed Out From Winter?
There is nothing like a good northeastern winter to do a number on your skin. Right now, your face is probably feeling dry and tight from wind and cold, and sallow and blotchy from extra time spent indoors. March is the perfect time for restoring moisture and glow, and we have a few tricks up our sleeve for doing just that.
An assortment of procedures will enhance the quality of your skin tone and texture. Lasers such as Fraxel Dual and Fraxel Repair will remove the outer layers of your skin with controlled focused light, prompting collagen production, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, zapping spots, minimizing broken capillaries, hiding scars and improving overall skin texture.
DermaFrac is a simple pain-free alternative to fractional laser treatments. Incorporating breakthrough micro-channeling technology, the process infuses your skin with serums that target specific conditions.
Then, there is GentleWaves, another pain-free technique for rejuvenating your skin. With low intensity light-emitting diodes, GentleWaves uses a carefully timed sequence of emissions to activate your skin’s natural rejuvenation process. It is extremely fast, lasting only a few minutes, and you’ll have no downtime afterwards.
Another non-ablative treatment for your face is Pulsed Dye Laser, which uses yellow light to stimulate your body’s own ability to form collagen. As this supportive material is produced, it fills in the lines and wrinkles that have emerged with age. You’ll see gradual smoothing over time, and the procedure takes less than a half-hour.
Finally, you might try simple microdermabrasion, which offers a terrific mid-winter boost. Often referred to as “the lunchtime peel,” this easy treatment rejuvenates and revitalizes your skin. It’s painless and quick, and helps to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation (brown spots), acne clogged pores, scarring, blemishes, dry skin, oily skin and other conditions. Microdermabrasion may be used on light or dark skin, and on areas besides the face, including your neck, chest, arms, elbows, knees and hands.
Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation. I’ll help you figure out the best treatment for fighting winter wash-out.
See you soon.
And Now, Your Neck: Option 6 – Fraxel Repair
Finally, let’s talk about Fraxel Repair, the last of our six treatments for improving the appearance of your aging neck. As the first physician in Long Island to offer this procedure, I am particularly pleased with its continued positive results, particularly for the delicate neck area.
Over time, our skin becomes damaged by a host of factors. We can avoid some of them, but not all. The sun, air pollution, stress, fatigue, smoking and other life and age-related challenges can impact the quality of our skin, keeping us from looking as good on the outside as we may feel on the inside.
Fraxel Repair is the gold standard for laser skin rejuvenation treatments, the procedure of choice for deep lines, hard-to-erase lip lines, pronounced photodamage, sagging skin, facial wrinkles and discolorations, age-related/sun-damaged rough skin texture, acne scars and surgical scars. For the neck, it offers terrific results, tightening and smoothing out the fine crepey lines that form on its delicate skin.
Fraxel Repair allows for deep dermal laser penetration, leaving the skin surrounding the treatment area alone. This untreated skin is unharmed and your healing process in treated areas is accelerated. Fraxel Repair uses carbon dioxide laser beams, which not only minimize wrinkles and discolorations, but also have the ability to tighten skin. This is why it is a smart choice for sagging neck skin.
If you’re not sure which of the six options we’ve talked about is best for you, we can help you determine the optimal choice. Whichever treatment you select, we know that you’ll be happy with the effective results, minimal downtime and limited recuperation.
Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
Treat Yourself Now: Schedule a Mommy Makeover
If it’s been about six months since you’ve had your baby, you may be feeling more like yourself. You may have lost most of your pregnancy weight and stopped nursing, you may be sleeping more, you may be back at work. But there may be a few cosmetic issues that have lingered, and really bother you. Most new moms aren’t prepared for some of the changes that their bodies will endure, but many of them are reversible.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding can take a toll on the skin and body, specifically the face and stomach. It is not uncommon for you to experience an array of conditions, including acne, acne scarring, melasma (darkened facial skin), cellulite, unwanted fat, unwanted hair growth, prominent facial blood vessels, loose skin, brown spots and stretch marks.
You may be feeling that you don’t have the time or the energy to address these issues right now, but your self-esteem and general well-being are important. A few simple cosmetic treatments can boost your overall mood more than you may imagine. Now, with a few holiday weeks coming up, you may find that you have some extra time to invest in yourself.
Here’s how I can help:
- For acne: pulsed dye laser, DermaFrac, microdermabrasion
- For melasma: Fraxel DUAL laser
- For cellulite: Cellulaze, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted fat: SmartLipo TriPlex, Exilis Elite
- For unwanted hair growth: Laser Hair Removal, IPL Hair Removal
- For facial blood vessels: Diolite (KTP532) laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), GentleWaves
- For loose skin: INFINI™, Thermage CPT, Exilis Elite, Fraxel lasers, laser wrinkle reduction
- For brown spots: Fraxel DUAL laser, IPL (intense pulsed light), Diolite (KTP532) laser, GentleWaves
- For stretch marks: Fraxel lasers, Infini
- For acne scarring: INFINI™, Fraxel lasers, pulsed dye laser, dermal fillers
Also, mark your calendars for our Two Days of Holiday Merriment on December 13 and 14. Check your email and our website for discounts and details.
Meantime, call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation. I’ll tailor a post-baby treatment plan just for you.
See you soon.
Lasers: A Crash Course
You’ve heard the word “laser” so often, but what does it truly mean and how does it work so well for so many conditions?
The word is actually an acronym, standing for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. This means that the device produces an intense beam of bright light that travels in one direction, toward the area that needs treatment. The laser beam can cut, seal or vaporize skin tissue and blood vessels, allowing us to perform all sorts of procedures on the face and body.
What is special about the laser is that it has the unique ability to produce one specific color, or wavelength, of light, which can be varied in its intensity and pulse duration. The wavelength and power output of a particular laser determines its medical application. Unlike light from the laser, light from non-laser sources is composed of many different colors and looks white.
Lasers have been used for the treatment of skin lesions since the 1960s. Since then, technological advances have improved the devices, making them a superior technique for treating skin blemishes, facial changes due to aging, discoloration and numerous other conditions.
We use a variety of lasers, including Fraxel Dual and Repair, Clear + Brilliant, Diolite, Gentlelase, Smartlipo Triplex and Cellulaze.
Call our office today and schedule a complimentary consultation. I’ll help you determine which laser is right for you.
See you soon.
Diminish the Dots: Ways to Restore Your Even Skin Tone
Even if you avoid the sun religiously, your skin is bound to suffer some effects of UVA and UVB rays. If you avoid the beach and cover yourself with sunscreen, you’ll still notice that your skin may appear more tan in the summer than it is now, in November. And now, you may even notice freckles and brown spots, which are more visible on fair skin than dark. So, it’s a terrific time for reducing the appearance of these spots and restoring your skin to its smooth and even tone.
Freckles can have a range of colors, from red, yellow, tan, light brown, brown or black. You’ll most likely notice that on your skin, they are generally the same color. Caused by an increase in the amount of dark pigment, or melanin, freckles reveal themselves in two different ways–simple and sunburn. Simple freckles are usually tan, round and small. Sunburn freckles are darker, larger and may have irregular borders. They usually appear on the upper back and shoulders where severe sunburns often occur.
To reduce the appearance of these dark spots, we offer a variety of treatments:
Diolite: This gentle, precise and controlled laser generates an intense beam of light that destroys unwanted cells in the affected area, leaving only healthy cells behind. With the Diolite laser, we can direct the light to the treatment area only, leaving the surrounding tissue intact.
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light ) Treatment: This photo-rejuvenation procedure quickly, effectively and non-invasively treats skin damage. IPL is a versatile treatment that corrects all kinds of facial skin imperfections and signs of aging, such as freckles and sun spots, as well as rosacea (facial inflammation), vascular lesions and acne scarring. It safely treats areas including the face, neck, chest, hands and legs and offers long-term results without any downtime, recovery time or chemicals.
GentleWaves: A non-thermal, low intensity light-emitting diode treatment, GentleWaves uses a carefully timed sequence of emissions to activate the skin’s natural rejuvenation process. Unlike laser treatments that can cause a snapping sensation, GentleWaves treatments are entirely painless. Youth-restoring results are gradual, and patients report noticeable changes after 5 to 7 weekly treatments.
Fraxel: A trio of laser treatments, Fraxel offers the most advanced technology for improving your skin’s radiance and youthfulness. Depending on the intensity of the treatment you need, you can choose Fraxel Repair, Fraxel DUAL or Clear & Brilliant. Each is a state-of-the-art device with its own advantages.
Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation and learn about how to reduce the appearance of your freckles and brown spots.
See you soon.
Which Fraxel is Right for Me?
Every day, our skin takes a beating. Exposure to the sun, fatigue, stress, pollution, smoking and simple aging stress and damage delicate skin, particularly on our faces. Fraxel laser treatments repair and restore it safely and effectively, without surgery. Pinpointing just the areas that need improvement, Fraxel is the gold standard for laser skin rejuvenation treatments.
And, you have two options: Fraxel DUAL and Fraxel Repair.
Here is what each can do for you…
The Fraxel DUAL Laser provides moderate-level treatment for many skin conditions, including pigmentation, uneven tone, lines and acne scarring, poor texture and more, both on and off the face. Safe for use on all skin types, the laser stimulates your body’s natural healing process as it resurfaces and restores damaged skin. Downtime is minimal, though you may need several treatments for optimal effects.
Fraxel Repair is the procedure of choice for deep lines, hard-to-erase lip lines, pronounced photodamage, sagging face and neck skin, facial wrinkles and discolorations, age-related/sun-damaged rough skin texture, acne scars and surgical scars. Fraxel Repair allows for deep dermal laser penetration, with greater response. It uses carbon dioxide laser beams, which not only minimize wrinkles and discolorations, but also have the ability to tighten skin.
A more aggressive approach than Fraxel DUAL, Fraxel Repair usually requires only one treatment to tighten and resurface the skin, yielding superior results in the treatment of deeper lines, wrinkles and laxity. It actually vaporizes tissue, removing old damaged skin and allowing for new collagen formation. Recuperation time is more considerable than that of the DUAL.
Based on your individual concerns, I will help you choose the treatment that is best for you. Either way, your skin will emerge looking youthful, smooth and beautiful. Call our office today to schedule a complimentary consultation.
See you soon.
