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Lasers have been used for many years for a variety of medical cosmetic procedures, including treatment of facial and leg veins, age spots and smoothing fine lines on the face. The *FDA Approved GentleLASE, a revolutionary long-pulse high energy alexandrite laser system, emits a gentle beam of light that passes through the skin to the hair follicle leaving the surrounding skin unchanged.
Traditional hair removal techniques such as shaving, plucking and waxing, provide only temporary relief. Scarring, allergic reactions and ingrown hairs are common side effects of all these hair removal methods. Until recently, the only permanent way to remove hair has been by electrolysis – which can be time-consuming, so is usually limited to small cosmetic areas.
Depending on the amount of hair treated, the procedure varies from patient to patient. Generally the treatment will include:
- Safety eyewear to protect the patient’s eyes.
- A small handpiece will be used with a probe that touches the skin to deliver the laser light.
- More details on the procedure can be found on our Laser Hair Removal service page
Hair grows in cycles. The number of treatments required depends upon your skin, hair colouring and coarseness of the hair. Not everyone is a candidate for laser. Most people require 5-6 treatments as the process is only effective on hair during the anogen phase of the growth cycle.
This is a highly effective procedure to remove unwanted hair in a short period of time. A variety of factors can influence the treatment process. It is recommended that individuals first meet with a hair removal expert for evaluation and to discuss the best process to deal with their own skin and hair type.
PicoWay is a remarkably innovative dual wavelength picosecond laser from Syneron Candela. PicoWay enables removal of multi-colored tattoos and recalcitrant tattoos on any skin type. PicoWay’s unique mode of action is based on delivering ultra-short picosecond pulses of energy to the tissue. These bursts of energy create a photo-mechanical impact which breaks up the tattoo ink or pigmentation into smaller, more easily eliminated particles.
PicoWay is the world’s first and only dual laser device with proprietary PicoWay technology:
- Dual wavelengths – 1064 nm & 532 nm wavelengths in one laser system.
- Treat the widest range of tattoos – 2 wavelengths to treat most tattoo colors & types, including recalcitrant tattoos.
- Highest peak power – For effective energy over the broadest range of spot sizes.
- Shortest picosecond pulses – 40% shorter picosecond pulses mean effective, yet lower energy for less risk of side effects.
PicoWay is indicated for the treatment of tattoos. The decision to treat with laser therapy should be based upon appropriate diagnostic evaluation and consideration of all patient factors.
Many kinds of tattoos can be treated including professional, amateur, traumatic and even recalcitrant tattoos. Recalcitrant tattoos are tattoos that have been proven to be resistant to nanosecond laser treatment.
Yes, PicoWay treatment is indicated for all skin types. Ideally, the wavelength selected for eradication of the tattoo should be highly absorbed by the tattoo pigment and only minimally absorbed by other chromophores in the skin. Absorption of radiation by most pigments in amateur and professional tattoos is strong in the near-infrared region of the spectrum.
Repeated muscular contractions such as frowning and squinting form lines known as dynamic wrinkles.
When BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected into a muscle, it blocks the nerve impulse from reaching that area, and as a result, the muscle that causes dynamic wrinkles relaxes. As a result, the wrinkles in the overlying skin smooth out. Patients treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic report looking more relaxed, refreshed and worry-free.
On your first visit to our clinic a relevant medical history will be taken and a thorough examination of your face will be done.
In order to achieve optimal results the location, mobility, and size of your muscles will be closely examined prior to treatment. This way BOTOX® Cosmetic can be applied in precisely the right spots. To target all the muscles involved several injections are administered in one treatment session.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected with a very tiny needle (it only feels like a little pinch).
No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately. You can even drive yourself home or back to the office.
After the consultation, the procedure only takes up to 15 minutes.
You may begin to notice improvement in your lines within the first few days after treatment. It can take up to 2 weeks for it to take full effect.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is not permanent. The effects of BOTOX Cosmetic™ usually last three to four months on average but everyone is different. After several treatments, the effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic may begin to last longer.
BOTOX® has been used safely and successfully for 20 years to treat different diseases. In fact it is used in children as young as two years old to treat cerebral palsy. BOTOX® Cosmetic is an approved drug in Canada since 2001 for cosmetic wrinkles.
A unit of BOTOX® Cosmetic is a measurement of drug. The exact number of units that you would require (in order to achieve the look you want) will be discussed during your initial consultation. For example, to treat glabella (lines in between eyes/brows) usually requires 25-35 units.
Side effects with BOTOX ® Cosmetic injections are RARE and NOT PERMANENT.
- The injection site may be swollen or tender for a short while
- Minor bruising (rarely) – which is easily covered up with makeup
- Short- term headache- which is easily treated with Advil or Tylenol
- BOTOX® Cosmetic injection in the glabellar area (the central brow) may result in ptosis, or asymmetric lowering of the eyelid. The incidence is less that 1 % and will last from only a few days to a few weeks
- Injection in the forehead may result in descent of the brow
Most of the patients do not experience any side effects at all.
Patient satisfaction is extremely high. An important fact to remember is that you will not look different, but simply natural, younger, fresher and more relaxed.
Is it going to be worse when it wears off?
No! You face will never get worse if you stop using BOTOX® Cosmetic, or when it wears off. At the very minimum, you will simply return to where you started.
The ideal candidate
BOTOX® Cosmetic injections may be a good option if you are beginning to show signs of age in your face. Adults in between 18 and 65 are best suited for treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic.
We do not administer BOTOX® Cosmetic injections to:
Pregnant or lactating women (the safety of BOTOX® Cosmetic in pregnant or lactating women has not been demonstrated)
If you have a neuromuscular disorder, such as a disease that affects muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease], myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome), or multiple sclerosis or any other serious medical condition
If you ever had an allergic reaction to any product containing botulinum toxin (brand names include BOTOX® COSMETIC , Dysport)
Fillers can be used for smoothing out wrinkles and folds, lip enhancements and shaping facial contours. The treatment adds volume beneath the skin by injecting into the crease or fold, which then lifts up and instantly smoothes away wrinkles, lines, and even deeper folds.
Commonly treated areas are:
- the nasolabial folds (from the root of the nose to the angle of the mouth),
- the droopy mouth corners (corner of mouth to chin lines or “marionette” lines),
- the smile lines around the nose and mouth,
- fine lines above the mouth (“smoker’s lines”),
- lip enhancement,
- the jawline and chin (to restore contours),
- the glabellar lines (between the eyebrows),
- crow’s feet lines around the eyes,
- forehead lines, both horizontal and vertical
Cosmetic procedures involving dermal filler treatments typically take up to half an hour. The time varies depending on the type and extent of the correction that you wish to have performed.
Most people do not find that the injections hurt. Some people have much more sensitive pain responses compared to other people. The level of discomfort also depends on the areas being treated. Treatments around the lips and nose tend to cause the most discomfort.
Some patients prefer to use ice packs before the procedure or to numb the face with a topical anesthetic cream. If the procedure is for lip augmentation, anesthetic injections can be used.
A very small gauge needle will be used to administer dermal filler to keep discomfort to a minimum.
The results of a dermal filler procedure can be seen immediately following your treatment. The results do tend to improve for a few hours after treatment.
Some side effects of dermal fillers include:
- Swelling (brief application of an ice pack can reduce it)
- Redness
- Bruising (Individuals who take blood thinning painkillers such as NSAIDs or aspirin may experience more bruising and swelling than average)
- Itching
- Discoloration
- Tenderness
- Rarely, redness, tenderness, and swelling develops a few weeks after treatment
- Granulomas- rarely (Granulomas are inflammatory lumps under the skin that can last for months)
Most people find that they can return to work or go about their normal daily activities immediately after treatment with the exception of strenuous exercise.
Stay out of the heat and sun after you are treated with dermal filler.
Avoid alcohol during this initial 24 hour recovery period as well.
If any bruising occurs, this can be covered up with makeup (only mineral make up should be used if applied less than 24 h after the treatment). If more extensive areas are treated, recovery may take a few hours, if there is swelling and bruising recovery may last for a few days.
How long result last varies from person to person. The wrinkle treatment is long-lasting but not permanent.
How long to dermal filler treatments last depend on the individual’s age, skin type, muscle activity, area treated, and how quickly the body absorbs the product.
The results obtained typically last from three to nine months. Most patients choose to have a follow-up treatment four to nine months after the initial treatment of wrinkles.
Dermal fillers are not for everyone.
- Injections should be avoided in areas where infections are present or the skin is swollen – e.g. active acne, cold sores. This will reduce the risk of infection at the injection site after the treatment.
- If you have even the slightest allergic reaction to a particular filler, it cannot be used and you will need to use a different brand
- If you suffered from bad allergies, particularly to gram-positive bacteria
- If you suffered from bad drug allergies, that have required in-hospital treatment
- Dermal fillers have not been tested in pregnant women, so their use would normally be not advised by practitioners if you are pregnant.
- If you are breastfeeding you should not have a dermal filler treatment
- If you are under 18 years of age you should not use fillers
Through clinical studies it has been demonstrated that the Zerona® low level laser stimulates the fat cell to emulsify (liquefy) the fat within the cell. Then the liquefied fat moves from inside the cell through a temporary pore formed in the cell membrane to outside the cell where it is in the interstitial space until absorbed by the lymphatic system. This results in millions of fat cells becoming smaller so inches are reduced off the waist, hips and thighs. The fat cells are not injured in any way by this process.
You can expect 40 minutes to relax, read or do absolutely nothing. The Zerona® treatment is completely painless. There is no heat or any sensation whatsoever while being treated. Each treatment you will be met by your physician or technician who will position the laser at the desired areas of the body, he/she will step out for 20 minutes while the front of your body is treated and then will return to reset for the backside of your body for an additional 20 minutes. After you are done you can get back to your normal activities immediately with absolutely no downtime, nor pain, swelling or any discomfort. This is a symptom –free process except for losing unwanted inches.
Liposuction is an invasive procedure that removes the entire area of fat cells from deposits beneath the skin using a hollow stainless steel tube (called a cannula) with the assistance of a powerful vacuum. Liposuction can be accomplished either with the use of general anesthesia, or with IV sedation, or totally by local anesthesia. In contrast, the Zerona® treatment is a 100% non-invasive that uses a low level laser applied externally to stimulate the fat cell and emulsify and release fat. There is no use of anesthesia, nor any pain, gels, creams, numbing agents, needles and no downtime.
The Zerona® laser is the only completely safe and effective non-invasive treatment for body slimming on the market today. There is no possibility of injury. No technician will be pushing on you or using any device against your body. You simply lay beneath the Zerona® lights.
Absolutely ZERO downtime. During the treatment you will feel no discomfort, no anesthesia will be used and you can assume normal activities immediately following each treatment.
No. During the 2 week treatment period you can continue your normal activities. It is strongly recommended that you commit to and follow the treatment protocol: stay hydrated (12+ glasses of water a day), continue to eat healthy and exercise (walk at least 30 minutes a day) and abstain from alcohol and limit caffeine.
The Zerona® treatment was proven effective in a double-blind clinical trial on the waist, hips and thighs where localized fat deposits exist that are resistant to diet and exercise.
No, Zerona® treatments are considered elective and are not covered by insurance.
Yes, there is no risk involved in using the Zerona® low-level laser therapy and it is considered a safe alternative to invasive procedures such as tumescent liposuction and lipodissolve and other non-invasive devices like the Accent, VelaShape, and Thermage ,which rely on heating the tissue and can cause discomfort. None of these have the proven data showing how fat cell size is reduced like the Zerona®. The Zerona® treatment is 100% non-invasive and causes no bruising, scaring and zero downtime. During the treatment you will feel no discomfort, no anesthesia will be used and you can assume normal activities immediately following each treatment.
No. The treatment process is completely non-invasive and there are absolutely no side effects beyond loss of inches and fat.
Hydration is the foundation of healthy, radiant skin. Irritation of the skin has been proven to increase signs of aging. The HydraFacial MD® is a hydrating and non-irritating treatment.
The HydraFacial MD® treatment is designed for all skin types. Even the most sensitive skin easily tolerates the HydraFacial MD® treatment. Your physician or skincare professional may choose specific treatment serums and/or customize the treatment for your unique skin conditions and needs. Consult your physician or skincare professional for a skin evaluation and sensitivity test.
Our goal is to help support you in a balanced lifestyle. That’s why HydraFacial MD® is a fast, efficient treatment that takes as little as 30 minutes. You may put on make-up and return to your normal activities right after the treatment since there is no downtime.
Many clients report seeing visible skin refinement and an even, radiant skin tone after just one treatment. The smooth results and hydration may last 5 to 7 days or even longer. We don’t believe in quick fixes, so one treatment per month is recommended for improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, oily and congested skin. Continued HydraFacial MD® treatments are highly recommended to maintain skin health results.
