The laser is a powerful source of light. It possesses extraordinary characteristics and is able to cover long distances with little divergence. Based on the unique properties of the laser beam, laser cosmetology has appeared. The management is distinguished by the ability to penetrate hard-to-reach areas of the body, control the process of blood circulation, select the most suitable method of exposure, adjusting the parameters of the device to the characteristics of the patient's body. The ability to achieve beautiful skin without cuts and punctures attracts many people. Therefore, rejuvenation and other services involving the manipulation of a high-energy beam are preferred over plastic surgery and "beauty injections".
Types of lasers
To achieve healing and corrective effects, different types of cosmetological lasers are used - it is advisable to immediately ask the cosmetologist what type of installation they use in the office. All varieties are united by the absence of consequences in the form of scars, scars, which often occur after the interventions of cosmetic surgeons.
existsthese types of lasers:
- Erbium. . . It penetrates superficially, eliminates the defect with maximum precision. The generated thermal energy is quickly dissipated so that neighboring tissues are not damaged. The short and fast pulses, combined with the wavelength and energy density of the emitted wave, must be balanced. Only then are side effects excluded from the procedure. With the help of an erbium laser, striae are qualitatively eliminated, tightening is performed and peeling is performed.
- Carbon dioxide. . . It has been used in cosmetology and medicine for nearly 40 years. Indications for resurfacing with this particular type of beam are age spots of the face and body, tattoo removal, low quality permanent makeup, removal of scars after operations, past injuries, attempts to get rid of acne on their own.
The carbon dioxide laser (the second name of the unit) is used to perform dermabrasion, a fairly serious cosmetic procedure. In case of improper handling of the device, careless setting of options, leads to irreversible consequences. The device allows you to direct a beam with high metered energy, adjust and then control the depth of penetration. In one session, the beautician processes a large area of the skin. Direct indications for the use of the carbon dioxide laser are the need to remove papillomas, colloidal scars and the effects of acne. The patient will be able to normalize the skin condition, if it was previously problematic. The beautician will eliminate the enlarged pores, smooth the surface of the epithelium. The advantage of the procedure is a low number of relapses and side effects, a short recovery period. Disadvantages: the redness lasts a long time on the area to be treated (up to 2 months). The phenomenon is associated with the expansion of capillaries: small blood vessels undergo increased stress during the procedure. Allowing the wrong dosage of the laser beam leads to scarring, weakening or vice versa - an increase in pigmentation.
- Ruby. . . This radius is used for epilation. Feature: The procedure can only be done on fair skin. By acting on tanned or naturally dark skin, you can provoke pigmentation problems, with an even more severe load, a burn will occur.
- Alexandrite. . . Generates a long range beam that sets it apart from its ruby counterpart. Processing requires constant external cooling of the tissues. It is used for exposure to fair skin, provided there is no sunburn. Hair removal for a person with blond hair is ineffective and even harmful.
- Diode. . . This type of laser is used for one of the most effective types of hair removal. The depth of penetration of the beam is not more than 4 mm. The advantage of the procedure is the absence of damage to the natural pigmentation of the body.
Also applyneodymium laser. . . The individual properties of the generated energy flow allow it to be used for various purposes - from eliminating low-quality permanent makeup to epilation. In addition to targeting the hair follicle and the skin's natural pigment, the beam affects small blood vessels. They coagulate. Implants of this type are equipped only in specialized clinics; in common beauty salons their presence is a rather rare event.
Indications for laser treatment
The widespread use of lasers in cosmetology is explained by the versatile spectrum of direction. It will be useful to contact a beautician and sign up for the procedure for people with such skin problems:
- Acne, the aftermath is scarring, blue spots.
- Wrinkles are typical mimicry, pronounced related to age.
- Scars, regardless of their origin, limitation period.
- Sagging face contours.
- Laxity of the skin, decreased tone.
- Eye bags.
- Hyperpigmentation on the face, body.
- The presence of dark circles under the eyes.
- Low quality tattoo.
- Enlarged pores.
After the treatment the skin becomes velvety, smooth, soft and taut. Defects disappear, thanks to which the face and body acquire a uniform texture. The duration of a procedure depends on the type of laser treatment, the patient's expectations, the amount of work to be done and the degree of neglect of the existing defect. Sometimes the duration of a session is predetermined by the age of the skin problem.
The choice of the beautician and the contraindications to the procedure
Laser correction has been used in cosmetology for a long time. And since the introduction of the innovation, experts have established almost all the features of the body, in the presence of which it is better to refuse the procedure. The limitation is explained by the fact that exposure to a high-energy beam aggravates the course of pathological processes that are constantly present in the body.
The list of contraindications is replenished every month, since not a single corrective and rejuvenating effect is worth a person's life - it is the priority. The fact that you have chosen the right beautician (and not a salon, a medical center) is evidenced by his desire to collect as much information as possible about your health. A competent doctor always specifies absolutely all chronic diseases and also takes into account those that the patient suffered in childhood. Learn about all medications you take regularly or periodically. What matters is the propensity to develop allergies, what lifestyle the patient leads, if there has already been a laser correction experience, what it led to.
Absolutely all factors matter, and if a beautician simply indifferently signs up for a visit to the procedure, she cannot be called competent.
Having identified at least one contraindication, the doctor will suggest alternative ways to achieve the expected effect or advise to completely abandon the idea of using a laser.
A competent physician will never undertake such procedures after learning that a patient has:
- Low blood clotting (haemophilia, including a family history), a predisposition to thrombosis.
- Diseases of an autoimmune nature - rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Inflammatory elements of unknown origin were found on the skin of the face and body.
- Inflammatory processes and extensive skin lesions - psoriasis, dermatosis, herpes infection.
- Precancerous condition.
- There are many moles on the body (more than 100).
- Sunburn naturally (on the beach, for example) leads to the formation of new moles. They are a little darker than the snow already present or do not differ from their shade.
- Oncological tumors of a benign and malignant nature (localization does not matter).
- Diabetes mellitus, regardless of its type.
- Hypertension.
- Chronic renal failure.
- Early postoperative period (weak immunity can cause unpredictable skin reaction to resurfacing).
- Severe ischemia.
- Phlebeurism.
- Psychoemotional instability, presence of severe mental illness.
- The need to take sulfonamides, antibiotics, hormonal agents, fluoroquinolones and drugs that enhance the effect of ultraviolet radiation.
- Tendency to activate colloidal scars.
- Family history of vitiligo.
- Pregnancy, lactation period.
The presence of these factors is incompatible with the use of a laser, and all these conditions are united by a common concept - absolute contraindications. If the beautician discovers their presence, in no case should it be possible to perform the effect with high energy. The procedure can accelerate the course of oncological processes, transfer chronic diseases to an aggravating stage, and make moles a malignant neoplasm.
But there are several relative contraindications: most of them are temporary, and the cosmetologist only postpones the procedure to another date. These phenomena include:
- The appearance on the affected area of acne, a boil.
- Increased body temperature.
- Respiratory infections.
- Fresh tan.
- Hypertensive crisis on the day of the planned manipulation.
- Menses.
- Visiting a chemical (acid) peel in the past 2 weeks. The skin must regenerate, otherwise exposure will lead to burns.
It is impossible to characterize laser treatment as a harmless procedure. The ray penetrates the skin, with the power of energy, destroys old cells, eliminates areas of defects. If the body suffers particularities, pathologies and is subject to an inadequate response to ultraviolet light, the beautician must be warned.
Side effects of laser exposure
The laser beam is an invention aimed at improving the state of appearance. The procedure is really effective and has already provided obvious positive effects to many people. But even these statistics cannot insure against possible negative outcomes in any subsequent case. Exactly the same treatment for some patients can be a real salvation from scars, acne and wrinkles, while for others it can cause problems for the body.
All negative results have their main cause: they appear due to the illiteracy of the cosmetologist, the characteristics of the patient's immunity, reluctance to care for the already treated skin surface. The laser beam can cause the following side effects:
- Burn (when the cosmetologist incorrectly chose the parameters of exposure to the laser beam).
- Crusting is normal for some types of laser procedures. But the appearance of a scab, which creates pain even with facial activity, is a pathology.
- Itching due to increased sensitivity of the skin.
- Redness: normally disappears after 2-3 days, subject to systematic treatment with a remedy for burns.
- Scarring of the tissue. The modification of the texture is the result of an incorrect selection of the machining parameters.
- Activation of herpes infection is the reaction of the body's immune system to an irritant.
In addition, side effects include edema and the development of suppuration of the treated area. But this only happens in the case of a bacterial infection: when the patient rubs, he combs the polished surface with a laser.
If there are no obstacles to the procedure, laser treatment of the problem area of the skin will be the best option to solve the problem. In the vast majority, it is the beneficial properties of a high-precision beam that are described in the medical literature. Experiencing a psychological discomfort from the realization of external inferiority, thanks to the use of a laser, many people have eliminated the aesthetic imperfections and became happy.