At Decatur Plastic Surgery and Cosmetic Laser Center we are constantly evaluating and considering the latest equipment in laser technology.  I personally have a great interest in the physics of laser technology so the field of laser surgery is interesting to me.  My experience with laser surgery goes back to the early 1990's when I had exposure to treating Port Wine Stains with the earliest models of the pulsed dye laser.

All of the laser treatments we perform require an office consultation so we can discuss the risk and benefits of the technology and carefully assess your complaints and the which laser is best for your complaints.

We have the following laser technologies in the office at the present time.

Traditional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

Fractional CO2 Laser Skin Resurfacing

CO2 laser resurfacing is still the gold standard in wrinkle reduction with laser technology.  I have almost 13 years of experience with CO2 laser resurfacing.  It is the most aggressive, takes the longest to heal but does the most to reduce wrinkles on the face.  It can be used successfully on the lower lids alone, on the lips and lip borders alone or on the entire face.  Partial face CO2 lasers are done in the office.  Full face CO2 laser resurfacing is done in the main operating rooms at Decatur General Hospital.

Fractional full face lasers are done in the office.

Before CO2 Laser Of The Lips	After CO2 Laser Of The Lips

 

Before CO2 Laser Of The Lips	After CO2 Laser Of The Lips

Erbium Laser Skin Resurfacing

For patients who can not take enough time off from work to have a CO2 laser, or if the severity of their wrinkles does not require a CO2 laser resurfacing, we have the alternative of Erbium Laser resurfacing.  Unlike the CO2 laser, the erbium laser does not create a deep burn.  It does not create a full thickness skin wound that you have to treat.  After the treatment all you do is apply coco butter for a few days and between the third and fifth day after the treatment your outer skin peels off revealing the healthier appearing deeper skin layers.  This treatment should be repeated a few times about 1 to 2 months apart.

The depth of treatment is very similar to a deep TCA chemical peel, except that it is much easier to care for.  The erbium laser is much safer, better tolerated and creates a much more even skin peel than using chemicals like TCA.  Because of this erbium technology I no longer feel a need to do TCA chemical peels.

Facial Capillary Vein Removal

We have a laser system that works well for those unsightly veins that occur around the base of the nose and on the nose.  This laser also works well for large broken capillaries on the cheeks.

Tattoo Removal

We have a tattoo removal laser.  I have been performing laser tattoo removal for three years with reasonable results considering the level of laser technology available for this therapy.  The colors that can be removed the best are the blacks, browns and reds.  The colors that cannot be removed are the blues, greens and the yellows.  I limit my treatment services to small surface area tattoos.

Laser Hair Reduction

This procedure is now performed at the skin care clinic, Young and Healthy Skin, located next door to Decatur Plastic Surgery.  For more information all 355-7242 or click here to go to the Young and Healthy Skin laser page.

We have what I believe is the best, most powerful hair reduction laser on the market.  I have 7 years of experience treated unwanted hair with this laser.  The areas that we treat are the face, the under arms and the bikini line.  These areas predictably do well and we have had terrific results with this laser technology.  Because of the hair growth cycle, it takes 3 to 5 treatments about 4 to 6 weeks apart to achieve a 90% reduction in hair.  It will never be 100 % reduction but we have made many patients very happy by reducing facial hair and stopping the cycle of razor burn in the bikini area.

© 2005 Gordon M. Telepun, MD

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