Local doctor says new treatment can turn back clock on aging

Local doctor says new treatment can turn back clock on aging
September 8, 2007
By Kelly Wilson
Herald-Whig Staff Writer

PhotoShop digital software can do wonders for a person's photograph Û smoothing out wrinkles, erasing blemishes and evening out skin tone pixel by pixel.

Dr. Richard Noble, medical director of Tranquility MedSpa in Quincy, equates that computer technology to a new laser procedure being offered at the facility.

Fraxel Laser Treatment, he says, can give people the chance to truly turn back the clock on aging.

"This is one piece of technology that is results-proven," Noble said.

Fraxel Laser Treatment was developed at Harvard University's Wellman Laboratories in connection with breakthrough technology from Reliant. It improves both the top layers of skin by eliminating wrinkles around the eyes and pigmented lesions such as sunspots and age spots, and by affecting the deeper skin layers by giving the supporting tissue a boost to help the skin feel softer, smoother and tighter.

The laser improves a person's appearance by affecting only a fraction of the skin at a time with thousands of microscopic laser spots.

"The unique 'fractional' approach is a huge step forward in providing significant cosmetic results with no downtime," said Glori Traeder, certified nurse practitioner at Tranquility MedSpa. "This advanced treatment is the first cosmetic laser to provide an effective, gradual procedure that creates new healthy tissue by stimulating the body to naturally repair aging and photo-damaged skin without significant risks or recovery time."

According to Beauty and Time Magazine, Fraxel has been voted No. 4 in the top 10 procedures that can reverse aging.

Noble says the Reliant Fraxel Laser is FDA-cleared to treat wrinkles around the eyes and improve pigmented lesions, including age spots, sunspots and pregnancy masks known as melasma. It has shown significant promising effects for reducing the size of scars and stretch marks.

"With the chickenpox type of acne scar, Fraxel can smooth it out. Studies show 75 percent improvement," Noble said.

The procedure can be performed in an office using topical anesthesia. Treatment takes about 30 minutes, depending on the size of the area or areas being treated.

Patients can resume routine activities right after treatment. The skin will have a pinkish tone for five to seven days. Swelling is minimal and generally resolves in about two days.

A series of three to five treatments a few weeks apart has been shown to be most effective. Noble says results are immediate and progressive, with noticeable, beneficial effects accumulating over one to three months.

But "Fraxel is not for everybody," Noble said. The MedSpa staff consults with each client to tailor his or her skin-care needs to the appropriate treatment.

He emphasizes that Tranquility MedSpa operates as a medical office, with a nurse practitioner, registered nurse and certified medical esthetician on staff. As medical director, Noble oversees and preapproves all treatments.

"We offer skin care you can get in a physician's office. But it's in a spa environment," he said. "You allow us to focus on you."

Noble believes that most clients who come in for Fraxel or other procedures simply want to age gracefully, and they want their skin to match their healthy, active lifestyle.

"The major use in this industry is driven by the baby boomers. More and more people are exercising, eating better and paying attention to general wellness," he said.

"They want to have a youthful appearance," he said, but emphasized most don't expect Û or want Û to look 30 years younger. "They want to feel better about themselves, but most of the men and women who do this don't do it for vanity."

For more information or to schedule a free private consultation, call Tranquility MedSpa at 228-0423 or stop in at the spa, 130 N. Fifth.

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