Lasers vs. Aging - Anti Aging Treatment

Lasers vs. Aging
10/24/2007
WBIR-TV

Medical advances have made it possible to step into a doctor's office and zap your years away.

Chris Huppe was so happy with the results of her first laser treatment that she's back for more.

"I loved what I got the first time and I wanted to see if I could take it to the next level," Huppe explained.

Taking it to the next level means a second round with the new Pearl laser.

It's FDA approved for minimizing wrinkles and fine lines, erasing brown spots and scars, decreasing pore size and improving skin texture and color.

Dermatologist Dr. Maritza Perez, who participated in the clinical trials, said she is seeing some other surprising results too.

"We're pleasantly surprised that its even going deeper and inducing some improvement," said Dr. Perez.

Dr. Perez said she recommends only one or two treatments.

The healing time is three to four days, during which the lasered skin turns dark and eventually peels off.

Another new use of lasers is the removal of unsightly and bulging veins from around the eyes.

Joyce Coplan has an obvious vein on the side of her right eye.

Dermatologist Dr. Neal Schultz is using infrared light from a Cool Glide laser to compress the troublesome vein.

"It's sort of like stepping on a garden hose that you put glue in. The two sides will glue together and nothing can flow through it -- if you do that to a blood vessel and no blood can go through it, there's no longer a blue, bulging vein. And anything the body that isn't used and stuck together like that, the body reabsorbs and it goes away," Dr. Schultz explained.

Immediately after Joyce's treatment the vein is less visible.

Dr. Schultz said the laser is also useful for eliminating dark circles under the eyes caused by veins.

Lasers can also be combined with other treatments.

Patient Lisa Marcus is receiving a mini-peel with fruit acids to exfoliate her skin and prepare it for the laser.

After the peel dermatologist Debra Jaliman uses a Genesis laser, which she calls a complexion laser.

These require no downtime.

"When you have the addition of doing a peel with the laser, you get all that dead surface skin off with the peel, and then you stimulate the collagen production with the laser so you get that added benefit," Dr. Jaliman explained.

Marcus said she's happy with the results.

"I think my skin looks more even, which is what I was trying to accomplish."

Roseanne Colletti, WNBC-TV, New York, New York

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