Laser Treatments

AviClear is an FDA-cleared energy device for treatment mild and moderate to severe acne. The mechanism of action is similar to the medication Accutane; it down regulates the sebaceous glands which are overproducing oil leading to clogged pores and inflamed acne.  AviClear can provide lasting clearance and is free of harmful side effects, chemicals and is safe for all skin types. Downtime is minimal for most people, and you may resume normal activities immediately. After treatment, mild symptoms such as redness, inflammation and flareups occur in up to 40% of patients but fade quickly.

Three 30–40-minute treatments are required. The benefits of the treatments become apparent about three months after the final treatment and continued improvement is often reported at 6 months.

90 % of clinical trial patients reported being “satisfied” or “very satisfied”; 80 % of patients saw at least a 50% reduction at 3 months increasing to 87% of patients  at 6 months.

The AviClear system is equipped with sapphire skin cooling and sensory controls for your comfort and safety.  Most patients tolerate treatment well. Pro-Nox Nitrous Oxide for additional pain management is available if needed.

AviClear is not covered by insurance; the fee is $3000 for the 3 cycles of treatment

Telangiectasias are small thin blood vessels visible beneath the skin. They are commonly known as “broken capillaries on the face, and as “spider veins” on the legs. These blood vessels on the face are acquired over time as a result of sun exposure, genetic factors, and the common disease rosacea. Certain patients experience stinging and burning on the face, others are discomfited by their complexion. Blood vessels on the legs are caused by a variety of factors, including heredity, hormonal influences, pregnancy and weight gain, and are estimated to affect nearly half of all adult women in the US. Some people experience painful symptoms such as aching, burning, swelling and cramping from larger leg veins, while others are bothered by their appearance.

The pulse dye laser was approved by the FDA in 1988, and has been an enormous advance in dermatology, treating port-wine stains and other birthmarks that were previously considered disfiguring. Menlo Dermatology uses the V-Beam Perfecta laser manufactured by Candela Lasers. The pulsed dye laser delivers a particular wavelength of light in short bursts that are absorbed by targets within blood vessels. The top layer of the skin, the epidermis, is protected from excessive heat by an integrated cooling device built into the laser; this cooling also provides an anesthetic effect. Many conditions which have excess blood vessels can be corrected, such as broken capillaries on the face, rosacea, port-wine stains, and cherry angiomas. Pink scars, stretch marks, and warts all respond very well. The treatment is tolerable, producing a brief stinging sensation. Special eye goggles are worn by both the patient and the treating provider. Depending on the type of lesion being treated and the settings of laser energy employed, temporary swelling may occur, and bruising can result which may persist for several days. Bruising is aggravated by aspirin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as Advil and Aleve, and therefore those items should be avoided for 1 week prior to appointments.

Conventional treatment for spider veins is sclerotherapy, please see that section of our website. For veins that do not respond to sclerotherapy or for very fine, matted spider veins, we use the pulse dye laser which has the advantage of avoiding injections. Bruising and discoloration can occur, and take several months to resolve. For larger varicose veins, we refer patients to a vascular surgeon for treatment with endovenous laser therapy, which treats large veins by passing a laser fiber through a catheter directly into the vein. Your physician will discuss the options with you after examination.