For many of us, we judge the quality of our first impressions on the health and appearance of our skin – so understandably, when you aren’t satisfied with the way your skin looks, you may struggle with self-confidence. But being unsatisfied with the appearance of your skin now doesn’t mean there isn’t hope for the future. At Reno Sparks MedSpa in Reno, NV, we believe that all patients can have the perfect skin of their dreams with the help of the right cosmetic treatment, such as PicoSure treatments.
How Many PicoSure Treatments Did You Need?
Generally speaking, most patients require about 3 or 4 consecutive treatments to achieve their ideal appearance goals. These treatments are spaced about by at least 2 to 4 weeks, or sometimes as long as 8 weeks if you have sensitive skin or a darker complexion. Of course, the number of treatments you need may depend on your specific goals for treatment, which means you may require more or fewer treatments than other patients.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
If your primary concern is fine lines and wrinkles, then you may only require 2 or 3 treatments to soften the appearance of these skin concerns. This is particularly true if your fine lines and wrinkles are only moderate concerns. Dynamic or deeper wrinkles may require additional treatments. This estimation for the treatments you will require also applies to correcting skin laxity.
Pigmentation
Pigmentation concerns, such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hyperpigmentation caused by sun damage, dark spots, melasma, freckles, and other skin discoloration, may require 3 or 4 treatments to correct. If your pigmentation concerns cover a larger area of skin or are severe, you may need more than 4 treatments.
Scarring
Scarring refers to both acne scars and scars resulting from injuries. This treatment typically only requires about 4 treatments to break down scar tissue and reduce the appearance of scars.
Tattoo Removal
PicoSure treatments can also be used for tattoo removal. Depending on the specific pigmentation, design, and color of the tattoo, it should only take between 3 and 5 treatments to remove the tattoo entirely.
How Quickly Can You See Results?
The results for this treatment will appear gradually as your skin’s natural regenerative abilities. For most patients, results are first visible about 2 or 3 weeks after the first appointment. Your results will continue to improve until your last treatment, or until optimal results have been achieved. However, depending on your treatment goals, you may notice results sooner or later than other patients.
Age and Skin Condition
Mature skin typically requires more time to display visible results from treatment, largely because the natural regenerative abilities being stimulated by this treatment take additional time to appear because more work has to be done to reverse aging. Your exact skin condition, such as your skin type, skin tone, and the severity of your skin concern, may also mean you might not see results for 3 or 4 weeks after your initial appointment.
Skin Cell Turnover Cycle
How quickly you can see the results of your treatment may also depend on your skin cell turnover cycle. The typical skin cell turnover cycle is anywhere from 28 to 40 days long, which means it may take that long for new skin cells to rise to the top level of your skin. Again, those with mature skin have slower skin cell turnover cycles as a result of aging and may require more time to enjoy results.
Present Levels of Collagen and Elastin
the current levels of collagen and elastin in your skin may also determine the speed of your results. Both collagen and elastin are naturally-occurring proteins that provide structural support to the skin. As we again, our baseline levels of collagen and elastin decrease, which means younger patients already have a more abundant resource and will be able to see results more swiftly than patients with mature skin.
How Long Do Results Last?
You can expect the results of your initial “round” of treatment to last for a long period of time. Most patients can expect to enjoy the results of PicoSure treatments for at least 6 months at a time before the results begin to fade.
Can Results Be Permanent?
Yes! For the treatment of certain concerns, such as scar and tattoo removal, the results of this treatment are considered permanent. This is partially because of the specific technique used to address these concerns and partially because both tattoo pigment and scarring are fully broken-up by the PicoSure laser treatment.
Unlike superficial skin concerns related to aging, which will return over time as the results of the treatment fade, both scarring and tattoo removal cannot return after treatment. Some pigmentation issues, such as pigmented scars, may also be permanently removed by this treatment.
How Frequently Should You Have Treatment?
The frequency of this treatment will depend on how long your results last. For example, if you are using this treatment for the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, then you may want to have a maintenance appointment once every 4 to 6 months to prolong your results.
What Are the Benefits of PicoSure Treatments?
The versatility of this treatment is only the beginning in terms of benefits. PicoSure treatments are appealing to patients for a variety of reasons, including:
Skin Rejuvenating
This is a total skin rejuvenation treatment, which means it addresses multiple anti-aging skin concerns at one time. Unlike some treatments that only focus on restoring skin volume or erasing dark spots, the PicoSure laser can rejuvenate both the dermis and sub-dermal layers of skin at one time. This all-in-one treatment can be your solution for dynamic age-related skin concerns, meaning it can correct issues such as:
- Skin laxity
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Dark spots and sun damage
- Scarring
- Uneven skin tone and texture
Gentle and Non-Invasive
PicoSure treatments are surprisingly gentle. A non-invasive laser treatment, the non-ablative laser energy means that the surface of your skin is not injured by the laser; instead, the pressurized energy from the PicoSure patented Pressure Wave photoacoustic laser means that multiple layers of your skin can be penetrated without causing damage.
The gentleness of this treatment can be best illustrated with tattoo removal. Most tattoo removal treatments essentially “cook” the pigment out of your skin, but PicoSure actually “shatters” or vibrates the cells of your skin to break apart cell walls containing pigment, which are then removed from the skin through the natural skin cell turnover cycle. Likewise, some other laser treatments injure the skin to stimulate natural regeneration, but PicoSure only requires thermal energy to stimulate the production of collagen and the turnover of new cells.
Customizable
This treatment is also highly customizable to meet your exact needs. This is because PicoSure has both non-fractional and semi-fractional capabilities, which allows your treatment to have an intensity ideal for your appearance-related concerns.
When Should You Use the Focus Lens?
For a semi-fractional treatment, the PicoSure Focus Lens will be installed on the laser device to create a more concentrated beam of energy for the treatment of dark spots, moles, or other lesions. If you have a skin concern that requires the Focus Lens, we will discuss the use of this lens further during your consultation.
Reliable Results for Everyone
Another unique benefit of the PicoSure laser is the fact that the treatment can produce reliable results for everyone, not just those with fair skin. The problem with many laser treatments is that the energy is overwhelming for those who have medium and dark complexions, which can increase the risk of unintended pigmentation results. PicoSure, however, is compatible with all skin types and skin tones – all without the risk of causing pigmentation damage.
Easily Combined
Although this is an all-in-one type of treatment, it can also be combined with other cosmetic treatments to produce a more comprehensive result. You may consider combining this treatment if you have certain conditions that cannot be addressed by the PicoSure laser. For example, if you have acne, dry skin, or you would like to contour your appearance, you may want to combine PicoSure with other treatments.
Some treatments commonly and safely combined with PicoSure include:
- Botox
- Dermal fillers
- PRP
- Facials
- Peels
- Microdermabrasion
- Acne
- Vein treatments
If you want to combine PicoSure with another type of aesthetic treatment, please let us know so we can work together to create a treatment plan that will help you reach all of your appearance-related goals.
What Do You Need to Know About Treatment?
Aside from knowing what PicoSure can treat and how the treatment works, is there anything else you need to know about this treatment? Many patients who are nervous about starting laser treatments like to understand what they can expect from start to finish. Some components of your treatment process will include:
Consultation
Before any of your laser treatment appointments, you will be required to attend a consultation so we can discuss your treatment plan, your treatment goals, and the reasonable expectations for this treatment. We will need to examine the condition of your skin, particularly any areas of concern you find the most troubling. We may gather certain information about you, such as your skincare routine and any other cosmetic treatments you have had in the past.
Preparation
You will need to do a few things to prepare for your treatment, such as ensuring that your appointment is scheduled at least 2 weeks before or after other types of treatments, such as chemical peels or other laser treatments. To prepare for treatment, you will need to follow directions such as not using retinoids for 2 to 4 days before the appointment, and avoiding direct sun exposure and tanning beds.
Treatment Appointment
Many patients are surprised to learn that their PicoSure laser treatment appointments will typically only take about 15 to 30 minutes to complete. This means that PicoSure is a convenient “lunchtime” type of appointment that can be done during any time and the day and allows you to immediately return to your normal daily routine without any interruption. The length of each appointment will be determined by how many areas of your face, chest, neck, hands, legs, and stomach need to be treated.
Recovery
There is no specific downtime for this treatment. In fact, most patients are free to return to all of their normal activities, including work, running errands, and light exercise. There are very few restrictions following your appointment, with the exception of a few aftercare instructions such as:
- Do not use retinoids for 3 to 5 days
- Avoid direct sunlight and excessive heat
- Always wear SPF 30 or greater
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Virtually anyone who is interested in this treatment will make a good candidate because this treatment is safe for all skin types and tones. If you have one or more anti-aging skin concerns, would like to remove moles or dark spots, or you have other pigment-related concerns, you are likely a good candidate for this treatment.
Rejuvenate Your Skin With PicoSure Today!
It’s time to make sure you are confident about each first impression you make. If you think the key to rejuvenating your skin is with PicoSure treatments, call Reno Sparks MedSpa in Reno, NV to schedule your consultation appointment today!
