Counteracting the damaging effects
of the environment and time

It’s no secret that as time passes our skin shows the natural, inevitable signs of aging – wrinkles, sagging, sun damage. But you can counteract those effects with several non-surgical cosmetic procedures available at our practice, including BOTOX® and injectable fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm, to smooth lines and wrinkles and raise sunken areas; chemical peels to reduce blemishes and scarring and produce fresh, glowing skin; laser hair removal for unwanted hair; and sclerotherapy for the treatment of spider and varicose veins.

Laser Hair Removal
Sclerotherapy
BOTOX®
Restylane®
Perlane®
Juvéderm™
Microdermabrasion
Chemical Peels
Titan®
Fraxel®
IPL
Laser Tattoo Removal
Facial Vein Treatments
Liposuction
Hair Transplant Surgery

LASER HAIR REMOVAL
Whether for hygienic or cosmetic reasons, the patient who is tired of temporary, often painful methods of removing unwanted hair may welcome the Palomar laser hair removal system with relief.

Lasers produce highly focused, intense beams of light that are absorbed by dark pigments in the hair follicles beneath the skin’s surface and vaporizes hair while the rapid cooling technology protects the skin. Treatments are effective on the face and body for both men and women. Treatments are fast, safe and virtually pain-free and do not require anesthesia. Most patients feel nothing more than a slight sting like the snap of a rubber band.

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SCLEROTHERAPY
Sclerotherapy is the standard treatment for varicose and spider veins. A special sclerosing solution is injected into the undesirable vein, which then collapses and is gradually absorbed by the body. By the end of the treatment program, the veins are less visible on the skin surface.

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BOTOX®
DYSPORT® BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® are commonly used to reduce or eliminate the appearance of facial wrinkles. It is injected under the skin into areas surrounding the eyes, forehead and mouth to smooth crow’s feet, frown and worry lines, and lines on the neck. Made from a purified protein, these injections block nerve impulses, weakening muscles to relax wrinkles and give the face a rejuvenated look. BOTOX® and DYSPORT® may also be useful for excessive sweating, and eye and neck muscle spasms.

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RESTYLANE®
Restylane® is designed to smooth wrinkles, sculpt lips and shape facial contours. It is a clear, synthetic gel made with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that is found throughout your body. It carries little risk of allergic reaction. The most common areas for treatment are the glabellar lines and the nasolabial folds (from the root of the nose to the angle of your mouth). With its unique ability to bind with water, Restylane remains in your skin for many months.

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PERLANE®
Perlane® is an injectable filler used to treat deep facial lines, augment the lips and contour the cheeks and chin. Made by Q-Med, the Swedish company that produces Restylane®, Perlane® contains purified hyaluronic acid, a sugar found naturally in the body that works with collagen to keep the skin smooth and supple. It is hypoallergenic and so does not require a pre-treatment skin test. With its unique ability to bind with water, Perlane® continues to perform up to 60% longer than collagen.

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JUVEDERM®
Juvéderm™ is an injectable gel that gently reverses many signs of aging in the face, including fine lines and wrinkles, crow’s feet, thinning lips and loosening skin. It can also “plump up” the lips, sculpt the cheeks, and restore a youthful oval shape to the face. It is made with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body that works with collagen and elastin to give volume and support to the skin. Because it is non-animal-based and highly biocompatible, no pre-treatment testing is needed. Juvéderm™ comes in three formulas optimized for the depth of the area being treated. Results last about 6-9 months and can be made to last even longer with a simple follow-up treatment a few weeks after the initial injection.

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MICRODERMABRASION
Microdermabrasion improves mild to moderate sun damage, scarring, wrinkles and other superficial skin problems. A gentle stream of tiny particles exfoliates the outer layer of skin and provides a fresh, glowing, younger appearance. The particles scrape away the surface layer of aging or damaged skin, which is then brushed off with the microdermabrasion vacuum tool with no need for anesthesia. Only a small amount of skin is removed, so sensitive areas such as the face, chest, neck, arms and hands can be treated. Results are comparable to a light chemical peel and should be immediately visible. Microdermabrasion is often performed in conjunction with other skin renewal procedures, such as laser treatment and chemical peels. Multiple treatments are recommended for full effect.

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CHEMICAL PEELS
Chemical peels remove damaged outer layers of skin on the face to smooth texture, reduce scarring, and remove blemishes to produce healthy, glowing skin. There are three types of chemical peels, ranging from mild to strong – alphahydroxy acids (AHAs), tricholoroacetic acid (TCA) and phenol – and formula strengths are tailored to each patient. Peels may be covered by insurance if they are performed for medical rather than cosmetic reasons.

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TITAN®
The Titan® is a safe, non-surgical procedure that uses an infrared light source to tighten skin and reverse the signs of aging. The Titan® device uniformly distributes heat below the skin, causing collagen contraction, while preserving the outer layer of skin through continuous cooling. This process stimulates long-term collagen rebuilding, leaving patients with younger-looking skin. The procedure tones, lifts and tightens skin on the face and neck and can be used to treat lax, loose or wrinkled skin throughout the body—including the abdomen, thighs and arms. The result is a more youthful, fresh complexion and long-lasting, tighter skin without injections, surgery or recovery time.

The Titan® is cleared for treatment of wrinkles in Europe and for general dermatologic use in Canada. In the US, it is cleared for topical heating to increase local tissue temperature and circulation. An additional 510(k) clearance is pending in the US for the treatment of wrinkles.

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FRAXEL®
Fraxel® is a unique noninvasive laser therapy designed to dramatically improve skin texture and pigmentation, including the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, surgical scars, and sun damage. Fraxel® utilizes fractional resurfacing technology, where only a small fraction of the skin receives the laser light. The treatment delivers a series of microscopic laser spots, while simultaneously preserving areas of unaffected, healthy skin. The healthy cells in the untouched spots promote rapid healing of the entire area, resulting in faster recovery time and minimal side effects. The result is softer, smoother and healthier skin without an uncomfortable healing period.

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IPL
Skin Treatments IPL is a gentle, non-invasive treatment that uses pulses of light to reduce signs of aging in the skin and help you look younger, healthier, vibrant and refreshed. IPL photorejuvenation reverses the effects of sun damage on the skin, especially age spots, benign brown pigmented spots, and redness due to broken capillaries. It is effective anywhere that the skin has been chronically exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, chest and hands.

The results of IPL skin treatments at the Dermatology Medical Group of San Francisco can be dramatic. Soon after your treatment, you will notice your skin becoming more luminous, smooth, evenly pigmented and generally younger-looking.

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LASER TATTOO
Removal Many people have second thoughts about their tattoos. Fortunately, you don’t have to live with your decision forever. The Nd Yag laser can lighten or remove your tattoo by focusing or pulsing light on the ink particles, which then convert the energy to heat and break up into tiny pieces that are absorbed harmlessly by the body. All this can be accomplished without damaging the surrounding tissue. Results can generally be seen within a few weeks, although larger and darker tattoos may require more treatments than smaller, lighter ones. Occasionally treated skin will look whiter (paler) than the skin around it, but this is usually temporary and fades in the months following treatment.

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FACIAL VEIN TREATMENTS
Facial vessels are generally part of the aging process, the result of over exposure to the sun, the result of hormones, or simply due to genetics. Most people feel that these capillaries detract from their appearance. With quick and easy treatments such as hyfrecation (electric needle) or laser treatment, there is no longer a reason you must live with this condition.

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LIPOSUCTION
One of the most popular cosmetic procedures, liposuction sculpts the body by removing undesirable fat from areas such as the abdomen, waist, hips, buttocks, thighs, knees, chin, cheeks, neck and upper arms that have not responded to diet and exercise. Local anesthesia or general anesthesia may be used and the procedure can last anywhere from one to five hours depending on the amount of fat being removed.

There are several different methods surgeons use when performing liposuction, including tumescent liposuction, the super-wet technique, and ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL). In all types a tiny incision is made in as inconspicuous a place as possible; a cannula (small tube) then breaks up the fat layer and suctions it out.

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HAIR TRANSPLANT SURGERY
Customized treatment plans for individual patients using the latest techniques and technology make it possible to successfully compensate for thinning hair or baldness. Treatments vary depending on the extent and pattern of hair loss and the patient’s preferences, lifestyle and expectations, but typically include hair transplants, scalp reduction, skin lifts/grafts, medication or a combination of these.

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