LIGHT PHASE

Until a few years ago, the only lasers most of us knew about were the ones in James Bond movies. Little did we think that the future counterparts of 007's far-fetched lethal weapons would be customised and used routinely in surgical and beauty procedures.

Laser technology is fast becoming the ultimate cure-all, and its rapid advancement means that more and more surgical and beauty procedures are being usurped or simplified by this technology.

Laser treatment is quick, offers the utmost precision and can target the smallest area accurately. Its 'clean' method of treatment means little, if any, bleeding occurs, making healing quicker and easier, and leaving no scar tissue.

There are several types of laser, each with a specific function, that can be used to treat a variety of problems. In the arena of beauty, application areas might include lines, wrinkles, sunspots, birthmarks, veins, tattoos, warts and unwanted hair growth.

A laser produces a very thin, high-powered beam of energy in a very short time. Any area can be targeted, and the depth of treatment can be controlled with precision, allowing the beam to reach various levels of the skin. This 'varied penetration' of the different types of laser allows for specific treatment of spots, wrinkles or hair, depending on the requirements of the person being treated. Laser can also be used at different intensities, depending on the extent of the problem and how an individual's skin will react to the intensity of the treatment.

Each laser is designed to deal with a specific task. Some lasers treat the surface layers of the skin, vaporising them (this is known as skin resurfacing), while others work by means of colour variation, honing in on one element, such as a hair follicle or vein.

Here's our low-down on top treatments:

A laser peel is a safe and effective alternative to cosmetic surgery, performed using a beam of laser (light) energy. All resurfacing treatments work in a similar way, vaporising the upper layers of damaged skin at specific, controlled levels of penetration. Usually your entire face is treated, but laser can be performed on specific areas. Crows' feet, lines around the mouth and scars can all be treated individually.

During the healing process you'll feel some discomfort. Depending on which laser has been used, your skin may weep, and gel should be applied to stop a crust forming. Ten days to two weeks later, the new pink skin cells from the deeper layers are revealed and all scabbing should be healed. The result is a smoother, more youthful appearance with fewer lines and wrinkles.

The secret to the success of laser resurfacing lies in the fact that treated skin makes new collagen for two to three years afterwards, ensuring ongoing benefits, says dermatologist Dr David Presbury. If you need to repeat the treatment, you have to wait for six months to a year for your skin to recover fully.

Laser peel is also effective in treating both scars and pigmentation.

There are a number of lasers used to remove hair. Some simply control hair growth but do not completely eradicate it. Lasers such as the Lightsheer are very successful and usually show results after only a few treatments.

Jo Selzer of the Laser Point Hair Removal Clinic stresses that you should expect to need six to eight treatments for each area before your hair stops growing, and there's a possibility that some regrowth may occur after one or two years.

The best candidates for laser hair removal have dark hair and fair skin. Be selective about your choice of clinic.

Laser is very effective in the treatment of veins. It works best for small spider veins and slightly larger ones. Once zapped with the laser, the blood in the vein coagulates and is absorbed into the blood stream. Treated veins shouldn't return, but laser treatment doesn't prevent other veins from forming.

A topical anaesthetic can be used to numb the area to be treated and, depending on the severity of the problem, several treatments may be necessary over a period of a few weeks to a few months.

• The healing process after full facial resurfacing is quite slow and uncomfortable, similar to recovering from bad sunburn, but severe pain is unusual. There's swelling and redness, and most patients avoid leaving home for at least 10 days after treatment. The redness can persist for two to three months, but always fades.
• The more aggressive the resurfacing procedure, the longer the recovery period. Lighter techniques heal faster but the patient needs multiple procedures to achieve a similar result.
• Some surgeons recommend pre-treatment care with vitamin A cream to refine the skin and prepare it, although others regard this as unnecessary. Post-operative skin care by competent trained staff is essential, however, as is home care, and usually requires special cleansing and moisturising.
• Staying out of the sun before, during and after laser treatment is a must.
• Dark spots can sometimes appear after facial resurfacing, and a demarcation line along the jaw bone is to be expected, as laser is too intense to treat the fine skin on your neck. There is, however, a new technique that helps to minimise the difference.
• Darker skin tones, from olive to black, run the risk of pigmentation and can't be treated.
• Laser treatments should be performed by an adequately trained specialist, such as a dermatologist, general practitioner or plastic surgeon. If it's performed by other (trained) personnel, it must be under stringent medical supervision.

Terry Levin, Parklane Skin Laser Clinic 082-825-3315
Jenny Brien, Parklane Skin Laser Clinic (011) 480-4166
Dr Andre de Greef (021) 948-1684 or fax (021) 949-9622
Plastic Surgeons Association (011) 463-1210
Laser Point Hair Removal Clinic (011) 476-1228