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Monday 2 November 2015

Lasers for skin health. Our treatments make your skin healthy and delay age related changes.



We live in an age of technological revolutions and breakthroughs. Medicine has also benefited from an explosion in technology. Lasers have completely changed the field of cosmetic dermatology.

A couple of ground breaking studies from California have shown that light-based treatments do not only make the skin appear younger, they are actually making skin healthier and delaying skin ageing. Lasers work not only at a visible level but also at a microscopic, cellular and genetic level.
Researchers analysed characteristics of treated skin by taking skin biopsies and found that of the 2265 genes whose expression was altered in aged skin, 1,293 were fully restored to the expression seen in younger skin. After three successive Broadband Light treatments, the re-expressed genes included those associated with longevity and increased life.

A second blinded study showed that patients in the treated group on average had nine years younger looking skin.

Lasers can also be used very successfully to treat acne scarring, facial wrinkles and to achieve skin tightening. These procedures however may require a small amount of recovery time. These can be performed purely under local anaesthesia

For Vein care, we are now routinely able to treat conditions and achieving results which just 10 years ago would have been considered far fetched. In general there is a move away from major surgery and minimally invasive procedures and lasers are capable of achieving similar or better results with less risk of complications.

So can we see anyone with a laser?
We see major advances in technology which has resulted in better and better machines becoming available, at the same time there has been proliferation of less than desirable, and sometimes dangerous technology at the lower end of the market. Not all lasers are good and there are a lot of unqualified people using these so do your research before choosing a clinic and/ or a practitioner. In worst case scenario the outcomes can be less than desirable with complications sometimes difficult or impossible to rectify. So don’t take chances and visit a well established and reputable clinic. Preferably a clinic registered with Care Quality Commission, the only regulator of health care in England.

What conditions can your lasers treat?
Lasers can very successfully address a number of skin concerns either together or one at a time. This could be visible broken veins and capillaries, birth marks, acne,acne scarring, pigmentation, rosacea or facial blemishes. age spots offace, neck, chest and hands etc. Skintags, moles and benign lumps and bumps can be vaporised in an instant, in a bloodless procedure and with minimal risk of scarring.
Unwanted hair can be removed and tattoos can be faded or removed completely and leg veins can be sealed from inside in a nonsurgical way rather than having to undergo painful stripping operations.

We also use lasers to tighten the tissues under the skin as can be achieved with laser liposuction and laser assisted face and neck lift surgery.

Where can we find more information about these treatments?
Log on to www.coltishallclinic.co.uk for more information, treatment prices and downloadable information sheets.

How can we book an appointment?
Call us free on 0800 0430737 or fill our appointment request form on the website and we will contact you.

Monday 29 June 2015

Gentle Laser Skin Rejuvenation - Also known as Polaris laser, Laser Skin Tightening or Laser Genesis.
 The perfect lunch-time procedure.

Gentle Laser Skin Rejuvenation - Also known as polaris laser, laser skin tightening, clear lift or laser genesis
.               
The perfect lunch-time procedure.

What does it do?
It is an innovated, technologically advanced way to promote vibrant and healthy looking skin in men and women. The non-invasive laser procedure safely, discretely and effectively treats fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, uneven skin texture and diffuse redness. You can expect to see subtle results after just one treatment without unwanted side effects.
 For optimal results most people need 6-10 treatments.

What does the treatment feel like?
Patients describe the treatment as relaxing and therapeutic. You will experience a gentle warming of your skin’s surface as the laser headpiece is moved back and forth above you skin. Laser procedure is very comfortable; it’s sometimes called the warm laser facial. It is a gentle, relaxing and virtually painless procedure with zero downtime.

How does it work?
The effect that Laser treatment has on your skin is a gradual one. Most of our patients begin to see an improvement in their skin after about 3 or 4 treatments. 
We use a medical grade laser to gently heat the skin below the surface.  This “healthy heat” stimulates the body’s own natural healing response which stimulates new skin cell growth and collagen production. The texture of your skin literally becomes smoother. Depending on what you are having treated, pores get smaller, lines are decreased as your underlying collagen is refreshed, and color of your skin will even out while redness is diffused.
 

What is diffuse redness?
Diffuse redness is the appearance of facial redness, such as rosy cheeks. This condition is caused by dilated capillaries.  The most common areas are the nose, forehead and cheeks. Diffuse redness is often associated with a condition called rosacea. Laser treatment will help your appearance by gently generating heat in the dilated capillaries resulting in reduced redness.
 

How many treatments will you need?
People and conditions will vary in the way they respond, based on their skin biology.  Typically we recommend a series of 4 to 6 treatments to optimize the results.
 

How long does the treatment take?
Each treatment session takes about 30 minutes.
 

What are the side effects? 
Most patients report few if any side effects and return to their normal activities immediately following the treatment. You may be flushed from the heat but that will disappear within a few hours of the treatment.
 The most common side effect of Laser treatment is beautiful skin !

What can you expect?
Laser treatment can help restore the skin’s youthful glow and appearance by smoothing out uneven textures caused by aging, sun damage or scars.  You will see a creamier, healthy complexion as large pores reduce in size, and minor imperfections are diminished.  The individual treatment results are subtle, but the overall effect of multiple treatments can be quite dramatic.
 

Can anyone have it done?
Yes. Adults of all ages and all skin types can benefit from Laser treatment and can have it done year round. 


How does it differ from other laser treatments you offer ?
If you have obvious issues or medical conditions such as rosacea, acne, acne scarring or pigmentation issues then you need a customised treatment plan which may include any one or more of our sixteen lasers. We first suggest a consultation with our doctor for such problems.

Wednesday 21 January 2015

Thread lift goes non-surgical. A unique non-surgical facelift from Coltishall Cosmetic Clinic.

We have been using a variety of face and neck lift techniques at the Coltishall Clinic. From Surgical face-lifts, laser facelifts, liquid facelifts to very gentle no needle radiofrequency lifts. Thread lifts have been around in various forms for last many years. Recent refinements however make this procedure very attractive.

So what has changed? Dr Gheyi MBBS MS FRCS BCCAM Medical director and laser surgeon explains- ‘three things’-

1] The procedure has changed from a surgical procedure to non-surgical. We do not need to use a knife anymore.
2] The threads have changed from permanent threads to reabsorbable ones-same as used in fillers.
3] The price has come down. In the past you could have a surgical face-lift for not very much more so I was reluctant to do a thread lift at such a higher price point. Now these advantages have resultant in a resurgence of interest in thread lifts. A thread lift enables two joint actions:
• A lift effect as soon as threads are applied for an immediate and discreet result.
• A regenerative effect, for progressive and natural results.

How is the procedure performed?
No special preparation is required prior to Silhouette Soft® treatment. After a small local anaesthetic, the doctor inserts the thread under the skin to a depth of about three to five millimeters. No incision is required, as the suture is inserted using a fine needle. It is held in place with absorbable cones.
Once the suture as been applied, the doctor performs slight compression of the tissue to reshape it by hand and to obtain the desired lifting effect. The non-inserted ends of the suture are cut off. One or more sutures may be applied, depending on the patient and treated area.

What is the recovery like?
After Silhouette Soft© treatment, as with any cosmetic treatment, some slight swelling, redness or bruising may sometimes be observed, but these disappear within days.
There is sometimes a slight wrinkling of the skin (required for optimisation of the treatment), which disappears very quickly.

Log on to the website www.coltishallclinic.co.uk or call 0800 0430737 for more information or to book an appointment.


Tuesday 2 September 2014

Changing options for the treatment of unwanted veins.



Changing options for the treatment of unwanted veins. Days of open surgery, prolonged bruising and painful recovery are long gone. ________________________________________________________

There is no denying that patients today are choosing minimally invasive or non-invasive  options where possible. In the past there has been a degree of scepticism about benefits of such treatments. How can a beam of light replace a surgeon’s knife? Is this too good to be true ? Not anymore-

Today non-invasive methods are replacing surgery at a very fast rate. So much so that NICE -The National Institute of Clinical Excellence has updated it’s guidelines on the treatment of varicose veins. It has recommended Endovenous laser treatment as the preferred option, foam injections second and surgery where the first two options are not suitable or declined.

How is EVLT or endovenous laser treatment for varicose veins performed?

Endovenous laser therapy involves the insertion of an ultrasound-guided laser fibre directly into the faulty vein. Laser energy heats the vein from within, causing it to shrink, collapse and seal shut. Patients experience minimal discomfort, and they can return to normal activities the same day. Because there are many veins in the leg, the blood that would have flowed through the closed vein simply flows through other healthy veins after the laser therapy.

What about thread and spider veins on the legs?

Thread and spider veins can be like tips of an iceberg. There can be hidden Varicose Veins that need to be ruled out before undertaking treatments for these veins. This usually means an ultrasound scan. It is irresponsible to start firing a laser at thread veins without first undertaking a thorough clinical and ideally an ultrasound evaluation.  It is not a great idea to see a non-doctor with a laser as this is a dangerous tool in the wrong hands. We have seen patients with deep laser burns resulting from inappropriate treatments carried out elsewhere.

Usually microscerotherapy or microinjections into thread veins work well. For tiny veins we have a range of lasers that can be used.  It is important to choose a clinic with a range of lasers as one laser is never suitable for everybody.

How do you treat veins on the face?

Sclerotherapy is very valuable for treatment of leg veins but laser and IPL treatment is safer and better for facial veins. Facial redness and spider veins are a common cosmetic and medical complaint. These are particularly common in rosacea suffers. Common associations are seen with sun damage, a fair complexion, stress, spicy foods and fluctuations in temperature which exacerbate rosacea symptoms. As with many conditions, genetics plays a role too.
Numerous treatments are available but laser and light based treatments are the gold-standard treatment options. We have a comprehensive range of lasers to treat these very successfully. Usually a few sessions are required for best results.

What are venous lakes and can you treat these?

Venous lakes a common condition but unfortunately there is a lack of awareness even amongst the health professionals. Venous lakes are dark blue to violet compressible small swelling caused by swelling of venules. These are common on sun-exposed skin. They also commonly occur on lips and are uncommon before 50 years of age.

We have patients travelling from all over the country to see us and so far we have managed to clear all of these in just one or two sessions.

What other vein related conditions can you treat?

We can treat veins and blemishes such as angiomas, spider naevi, birthmarks and lumps and bumps anywhere on the body. With hand veins and blue veins on the temples it is better to disguise these veins by using fillers or fat injections rather than remove or zap these with the lasers as these may be normal veins which have started to become visible due to loss of volume.

For more information or to book an appointment, Call 0800 0430737 or log on to the website www.coltishallclinic.co.uk.