FACIAL PIGMENTATION TREATMENTS
Do you feel as if all your freckles are joining together? Is your skin developing spots as you age? Do you need a tattoo removed? Facial pigmentation can make you appear older than you are, but it can be improved with a series of simple treatments.
We offer a large range of facial pigmentation treatments that can improve skin discolouration, or remove it altogether. Many involve the use of technologically advanced lasers and light machines, and all are conducted by highly qualified professionals in a safe, sterile and private clinic room.
Take a look at the overview of our treatments below, then call us on 1300 88 99 35 to arrange a free private consultation with one of our highly trained team. During the consultation you will be assessed to determine which procedure is best for your skin concern and budget.
- Medical Skin Care Products
- Peels and Therapeutic Facials
- Fraxel Lite Skin Photo-Rejuvenation
- Fraxel re:store Skin Resurfacing
- Starlux 500 Photo-Rejuvenation
- Starlux 500 Photodynamic Thersapy
- Gemini Photo-Rejuvenation
Medical Skin Care Products
- Concerns: Minor sun spots and other minor facial pigmentation
- Solution: Our scientifically proven, medical-strength skin care products can't be purchased in retail stores and include therapeutic skin care solutions and mineral make-ups to mask colour inconsistencies.
- Time: Morning and evening skin care regimen and use of make-up as desired.
For a skin care range to be truly effective it has to be in a form that will penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin - ideally, it has to be a serum. Too often, skin care products are too oily/creamy and block the pores, leading to other skin problems and preventing easy camouflage with make-up.
Your skin products should include:
- anti-oxidants, especially vitamin A and C
- effective cleansers and exfoliants to unblock oil build-up in the pores and remove old skin cells
- sunscreens to prevent further sun damage
- pigment inhibitors
- skin hydrators - in the form of light, yet effective, moisturisers.
At the Facial Rejuvenation Clinic, we individually assess your skin and tailor a skin care regimen suitable for your skin type, condition and colour. We also advise camouflage make-up that gives good natural cover without blocking your pores.
We offer a comprehensive range of carefully researched and selected face and body products. These are very effective, nutritional treatments that contain highly purified anti-oxidants, vitamins and enzymes and no bulking agents and preservatives. Therefore, what you are placing on your skin is just the active product you need. The aim of the serums is to provide maximum renewal of skin collagen and elastin, plus improve skin pigmentation, discolouration and lustre.
We have trialled all the common brands of skin care and have rejected those we deem aren't sufficiently effective for either home use or professional clinic use for performing our facials and skin peels. The range of products we recommend to produce the best results for all skin conditions are as follows:
- Aspect
- CosMedix
- Results Rx
- Jan Marini
- Osmosis
- Rationale
- Obagi
As part of our recommended range, we provide several well-known and effective products for individual facial pigmentation and skin condition. These are as follows.
ASAP
Clinic Care/Neova
We also offer mineral make-ups, which are ideal for covering skin inconsistencies. These are as follows.
Synergie Minerals Make-up
Synergie Minerals is designed to work in perfect synergy with your skin, offering powerful anti-oxidants to nurture and improve skin health, a natural broad spectrum UV protection and amazing results. The products are free of paraben, talc and artificial colouring, so there is no solution "build-up" and your skin can "breathe".
Jane Iredale Mineral Make-up
This range of make-up is not just a refinement of regular make-up, it is a new technology that is also good for the skin. It's so effective it is recommended by cosmetic surgeons, dermatologists and skin care professionals.
[Click to reveal our fact sheet on Medical Skin Care Products]
Peels and Therapeutic Facials
- Concerns: Minor sun spots and other minor pigmentation
- Solution: Our therapeutic facials, including specialised acne facials, plus face and body peels are professional, medical-strength skin treatments designed to encourage skin renewal and support your everyday skin care maintenance.
- Time: 30 minutes per facial, 30 minutes per face peel, 60 minutes per body peel
- Recovery: 0 days
- [Click to reveal our fact sheet]
- Concerns: Minor sun spots and other minor pigmentation
- Solution: The Fraxel skin resurfacing and rejuvenating machine offers breakthrough technology in deep laser resurfacing, providing a fresher appearance with rapid recovery.
- Time: 20 minutes per session (+ 2 hours preparation)
- Recovery: Overnight
The Fraxel-laser is the biggest breakthrough in skin repair and rejuvenation of this decade. This is due to the fact it can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin (dermis) and the amount of skin treated each time can be varied. This makes it suitable for all skin conditions and all skin colours. Furthermore, results can be achieved without the downtime, pain and complications of traditional lasers that remove damaged layers of skin to stimulate skin renewal.
Due to the nature of the laser, treatments can tailored individually - reduced for minimal recovery and downtime or increased as necessary according to your needs. Treatments can also be personalised to achieve optimum results for all degrees of and skin resurfacing and rejuvenation.
At The Facial Rejuvenation Clinic, the variation of Fraxel-laser technology used (Lite or re:store) will depend on the nature of your skin concern.
What is facial pigmentation?
Skin Pigmentation is most often related to sun damage and appears as freckles, brown spots or other areas of discolouration on the skin. It can often be associated with precancerous sun spots or even true skin-cancers. It always requires expert diagnosis and management -
pigmentation can occur at different depths in the skin and so needs to be treated with careful consideration, especially in darker skinned people.
What is melasma (chloasma)?
Pigmentation in the form of melasma (chloasma) is a skin condition that affects about two per cent of the population. It can be caused by hormonal changes, such as in pregnancy, menopause and the oral contraceptive pill, in fact anything that imbalances the hormones including stress. It appears as irregular patches of brown skin on the forehead, cheeks, upper lip and nose, and is aggravated by sun exposure. A more difficult form of pigmenation to treat, it tends to recur. The condition is often made worse with certain treatments that may help other forms of skin pigmentation and, therefore, requires expert diagnosis and management.
What skin conditions can be treated?
All forms of skin pigmentation are difficult to treat effectively. Fraxel is a laser treatment that has provided good to excellent outcomes for certain types of pigmentation and has been approved by the FDA and TGA for treating melasma, age and sun spots.
Which areas can be treated?
Any area of face or body where you want to improve skin colour. Unlike with other lasers, the neck, chest and hands can also be treated.
Is it safe?
The machine is FDA- and TGA-approved for use, which means it has been through rigorous investigation to ensure its safety. Fraxel has been trialled since 2000, was released into the market in 2004 and has been used for tens of thousands of treatments since. At The Facial Rejuvenation Clinic, we have completed more than 3000 treatments using the Fraxel-laser.
How does it work?
The laser drives thousands of individual columns of light (about the width of a hair) deep into the skin, leaving the remaining skin to stimulate collagen - the basic building blocks or structural support for our skin. The fraction of skin treated by the laser beams can be varied 14-32 per cent - the microscopic columns of treated skin are eliminated slowly over many weeks as they are replaced by healthy new tissue. You will find your skin improves in thickness and elasticity (springiness), as well as in colour, lustre and tone.
What happens during the procedure?
The laser is rolled across the entire area it is treating eight or more times. Topical anaesthetic is applied before the procedure plus cold air is used during it to minimise discomfort. Afterwards, cold compresses are applied to cool the skin. There is no skin breakage or burning - the skin remains dry. A sunscreen and a post-laser lotion are applied and often a dry, mineral powder camouflage make-up is used to cover the resulting redness. Most people feel comfortable travelling home by public transport.
How long does the procedure take?
15-30 minutes per session, depending on the size of the area treated (+ 2 hours preparation and 1 hour cooling time). Depending on your skin's needs, you will need 1-5 sessions, 2-6 weeks apart, for best results.
How long will my recovery be and what can I expect?
You will have the appearance of a red, 'sunburnt' face for 1-3 days with some swelling, depending on the level of treatment you have experienced. Much deeper treatments may require a few more days of recovery. Most people arrange their treatments for a Friday or Saturday morning and comfortably return to work the following Monday.
Is there any aftercare?
Your home aftercare is carefully discussed before and during each treatment session, which includes ongoing sunscreen protection. Also, you will need to return for a post-treatment facial to help with exfoliation and maximise new collagen stimulation.
How long do the results last?
Resurfacing can take up to 10 years off your skin's age, texture and colour, depending on your degree of skin damage before treatment. We recommend maintaining this improvement and slowing future ageing by using good skin care products containing anti-oxidants and always practising sun protection.
[Click to reveal our fact sheet on Fraxel Lite Skin Photo-Rejuvenation]
Fraxel re:store Skin Resurfacing
- Concerns: Sun spots and other skin / facial pigmentation
- Solution: Using the deepest true skin resurfacing technology, this treatment is safe and effective, does not break the surface of the skin and offers the quickest recovery time compared to similar skin resurfacing treatments. It's suitable for all skin colours.
- Time: 30 minutes per session (+ 2 hours preparation). You require 4-5 sessions for best results.
- Recovery: 1-3 days, depending on the depth of treatment, due to red and slightly swollen skin
- [Click to reveal our fact sheet on Fraxel Restore Skin Resurfacing]
Starlux 500 Photo-Rejuvenation
- Concerns: Sun spots and other pigmentation
- Solution: The strongest and most effective of the IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) machines on the market, it is versatile across a number of skin conditions.
- Time: 20 minutes per session. You require 4-6 sessions for best results.
- Recovery: 0 days
What is it?
The Starlux 500 is the most powerful and quickest of IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) machines on the market. It is renowned for its excellent cooling system, making it ideal for treating a number of skin conditions, including pigmentation and redness. Most other IPL machines don't generate sufficient power, surface cooling and appropriate wavelengths to create enough heat to effectively treat many skin conditions.
Which areas can be treated?
All areas of the face and body can be treated. As the light technology targets the melanin in the skin, the lighter your skin colour, the more effective your treatment will be. You can still be treated if you have darker skin, but you will most likely need a greater number of treatments.
Is it safe?
As with any type of IPL therapy, the procedure is completely safe when delivered responsibly. The clinicians at The Facial Rejuvenation Clinic are highly trained in Starlux 500 Photo-Rejuvenation.
How does it work?
A wavelength of light heats the melanin in the skin, causing it to break down.
What happens during the procedure?
The head of the machine is passed over the area to be treated delivering heat. Only the melanin is targeted by the light, while the surrounding skin is kept cool. The Starlux 500 delivers effective cooling to the surface of the skin, making it the least painful of all IPL machines, especially when used on sensitive areas.
How long does the procedure take?
20 minutes per session. Due to its power and effectiveness, fewer treatments will be required compared to most other IPL machines. You will require 4-8 sessions for best results.
How long will my recovery be and what can I expect?
Recovery is immediate or overnight, depending on the size and location of the treatment. The area may be a little red for a few hours.
Is there any after care?
As with all skin treatments for various pigmentation, it is best to avoid the sun and use an SPF 30+ sunscreen at all times.
How long will it last?
The results from the Starlux 500 can be significant but will depend on the nature of your skin condition. The technology is superior, therefore a reduction in pigmentation should be evident. Most conditions involving pigmentation require maintenance treatments and skin care protection, but avoiding the sun will increase the longevity of results.
[Click to reveal our fact sheet on Starlux 500 Photo-Rejuvenation]
Starlux 500 Photodynamic Therapy
- Concerns: Sun spots and other pigmentation, plus damage associated with pre-cancerous lesions
- Solution: This treatment combines Starlux 500 Photo-Rejuvenation with ALA (aminolevulinic acid) Therapy to target and treat damaged areas of skin.
- Time: 60 minutes per session. You require 4-6 sessions for best results.
- Recovery: Overnight
- [Click to reveal our fact sheet on Starlux 500 Photodynamic Therapy]
Gemini Photo-Rejuvenation
- Concerns: Sun spots and other pigmentation
- Solution: This treatment combines the dual wavelength of vascular, skin collagen and pigment-repairing lasers with both KTP and YAG laser technology, resulting in quick and non-invasive improvement to skin discolouration.
- Time: 20 minutes per session
- Recovery: Overnight
What is Gemini Photo-Rejuvenation?
The Gemini laser has two frequencies for the treatment of skin conditions such as facial pigmentation - 532 nanometres (green KTP) and 1064 nanometres (Nd:YAG). The green light of the KTP laser is attracted to the blood in capillaries and the melanin in skin, making it an ideal laser for treating broken capillaries, rosacea, freckles, sunspots and pigmentation. The Nd:YAG laser is a deeper penetrating laser that can be used to treat deeper blood vessels and pigmentation.
What is pigmentation?
Pigmentation is most often related to sun damage and appears as freckles, brown spots or other areas of discolouration on the skin. It can often be associated with precancerous sun spots or even true skin-cancers. It always requires expert diagnosis and management - pigmentation can occur at different depths in the skin and so needs to be treated with careful consideration, especially in darker skinned people.
Which areas can be treated?
All areas of the body where you find pigmentation can be treated. The most common area treated is the face.
Is it safe?
The Gemini laser has an astounding 23 FDA approvals for various skin treatments, making it very safe when operated by professionals. The clinicians at The Facial Rejuvenation Clinic are highly trained in Gemini Photo-Rejuvenation.
How does it work?
The Gemini laser is non-ablative and works by penetrating into the deeper layers of the skin, thereby stimulating collagen production from inside the skin. The laser light is also selectively absorbed by melanin pigment in the layers of skin to reduce pigmentation.
What happens during the treatment?
The laser is passed multiple times across the area to be treated. A local anaesthetic is used to minimise discomfort.
How long does the treatment take?
10-20 minutes per session. For best results, you will need 1-6 treatments, 2-4 weeks apart, depending on the skin condition being treated.
How long will my recovery be and what can I expect?
Depending on how you are being treated, recovery is 0-3 days. For deeper treatments, there can be some facial swelling and this may last up to3 days. There may also be an increased amount of redness, but this is temporary. Make-up can be used to mask any inconsistencies.
Is there any after care?
Avoid direct exposure to the sun for 48 hours following the treatment and always use an SPF 30+ sunscreen and wear protective clothing. It is important not to pick at the skin or irritate it after treatment.
How long do the results last?
The results from Gemini laser treatment can be significant but will depend on the nature of your skin condition. Most conditions involving redness and pigmentation require maintenance treatments and skin care protection.
[Click to reveal our fact sheet on Gemini Photo-Rejuvenation]
