PLANNING

For most laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments, Dr. Kolker requires that your skin is optimally prepared prior to your treatment; preparation before laser and IPL is integral to the safest, most effective treatment. The pigment within your skin should be minimized before laser and IPL treatments. For treatment of pigmentation, veins, or hair on the body, avoiding a tan and sun protection including a UV-A and -B sun block is recommended prior to the procedure. For facial IPL treatments and laser resurfacing, a skin care regimen that includes sun protection and that may also consist of a lightening cream and a retinol (such as Retin-A) will often be recommended to give you the most balanced, natural, beautiful results.

PHOTO FACIAL (LASER AND IPL FOR SUN DAMAGE)

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and laser treatments of pigmented areas, brown spots, and red spots that you may have always had, or that have developed from sun exposure, require no anesthesia and are associated with little or no down time. Broken capillaries, vessels, spots, and other discolorations of the face, neck, hands, and elsewhere on the body can be treated.

LASER RESURFACING

Laser resurfacing procedures are used to treat more substantial textural changes of the skin including wrinkles and diffused pigment changes. Laser resurfacing will most often require anesthesia (most often local anesthesia or local anesthesia with sedation), and can be used to treat specific areas of the face such as the eyelids, the upper lip, or the entire face. Laser resurfacing can also be used to treat pigment changes and fine wrinkles of the neck and décolletage area of the chest. Dr. Kolker favors CO2 laser therapies, and when indicated will suggest a “fractional photothermolysis” laser treatment plan. With fractional laser therapy, such as Active FX, Deep FX, and Total FX, only a portion of the surface of the skin is treated with laser energy, leaving “bridges” of untouched skin to aid in the regeneration process. With fractional laser resurfacing, recovery is more rapid. Laser resurfacing in New York is performed by Dr. Kolker in his office based surgical suite, accredited by the American Association for the Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF). Laser resurfacing may be performed alone, or in combination with other surgical procedures such as facelift and blepharoplasty.

LASER AND IPL HAIR REMOVAL

Unwanted hair of the bikini area, legs, underarms, lip, chin, and back can be treated with laser or IPL. The laser or light energy will “target” the color of the hair follicles, reducing hair in a sequence of treatments.

LASER VEIN TREATMENTS

Small veins, including spider veins and other red, blue, or purple vascular marks, can be treated with laser light. Unsightly discolorations of the legs, knees, feet, face, and elsewhere can be minimized or erased with little or no downtime.

RECOVERY

Following intense pulsed light (IPL) and non-ablative laser treatments, you can often go back to work immediately after the laser / light energy procedure. After laser or IPL treatment of pigmented areas, the sites may darken or crust before they lighten or disappear. After laser resurfacing treatments, you will go home on the same day with a friend or family member. Care of the laser-treated areas will vary depending upon the location, type, and depth of treatment. Most often, recovery is six or seven days following a fractional laser treatment, and between 10 and 14 days following a full CO2 laser resurfacing. The redness after laser resurfacing often begins to resolve after two weeks, however it may take up to 12 weeks for the final results of the laser resurfacing procedure to be evident. After non-ablative laser and light treatments, you can return to unrestricted exercise in about two hours. After laser resurfacing procedures, light aerobic activity (elliptical, walking, bicycle) may be resumed as early as four to five days following, and more strenuous activity is begun at two to three weeks. Your relationship with Dr. Kolker does not end after the laser procedure; he will see you often through the first weeks and months following your laser treatment, and will advise you on all matters in your recovery.

RELATED PROCEDURES

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and non-ablative laser treatments are often performed as isolated procedures, as they involve little or no down time and require no anesthesia. Laser resurfacing procedures can be performed alone, or can be combined with other procedures. Laser resurfacing with CO2 or fractional laser is most commonly combined with face lift and eyelid lift (blepharoplasty) procedures.

If you would like to learn more about intense pulsed light (IPL) or laser in New York, and about the laser or light energy techniques that will suit you best, we invite you to meet with Dr. Kolker for a private consultation at our office, located at Park Avenue and 70th Street, by calling 212-744-6500, or by scheduling an appointment online.