The Victorian Cosmetic Institute

Acne lasers - treatments without downtime

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Due to a large demand for light/laser-based acne treatments, we have extended our armementarium of lasers to treat acne. Most patients with acne want a result as fast as possible, and although medical grade skin care and medications are the mainstay of treatment for acne, the results from these treatments takes some time to take proper effect. Laser and light based treatments can expidite the treatment of acne.

Currently, we have a few acne/light based therapies for acne. These include LED phototherapy, pulsed dye laser treatment and photodynamic therapy. These three treatments target the acne bacteria, proprionibacterium acnes (p.acnes).

P.acnes creates substances called porphyrins (a by-product of their metabolic processes) that is the main target of the above light/laser based therapies. LED phototherapy and pulsed dye laser treatments activate the porphyrins to produce an oxygen free radical that subsequently destroys the p.acnes. There is usually no downtime with these two treatments

Photodynamic dynamic therapy also does the same thing, except this requires the application of a substance called ALA which stimulates the p.acnes to produce more porphyrins and therefore more oxygen free radicals when activated by a LED light source or the pulsed dye laser. The downtime from this can be significant, but the number of treatments is reduced as a result.

Until now, we haven't been able to target with laser the other cause of acne, the sebaceous gland. In the next fortnight, we will be receiving delivery of a Candela Smoothbeam laser, a laser which targets the sebaceous gland. We have trialled this laser previously, with good results for acne. The Smoothbeam laser has a wavelength that penetrates to the depth of the sebaceous gland and helps to regulate sebum/oil production this way.

So in the next few weeks, we will be able to treat our patients with the Smoothbeam laser in conjunction with other laser/light treatments and target all the potential causes for acne.

Active Fx Fractional CO2 laser coming to The Victorian Cosmetic Institute soon!

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 09:54:00 +0000

We have just placed our order for the Active Fx, a fractional carbon dioxide laser made by the company Lumenis. It is the most powerful laser in its class and is at the cutting edge of new laser technologies.

It is a excellent treatment for the treatment of wrinkles, acne scars, pigmentation, and dull/sallow skin.

Downtime/recovery can be tailored to your specific needs, so you can have anywhere from as little as 4 days downtime.

We should be receiving the laser in the next few weeks. For those who are interested in having a consultation and being one of the first people to have this treatment done at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute, please call 88500655 (Templestowe clinic). We will only have the laser at our Templestowe clinic.

For more information on skin resurfacing, click here.

Online skin care store is now open!

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:52:00 +0000

It's been a long time in the making, but finally we have our online store open now. Click on the tab at the top of the page to enter.

We have Cosmedix, Rationale, ASAP, Osmosis, and Environ skin care products available, as well as Jane Iredale and Glo-minerals make-up.

For more information on these products click on the respective sub-headings in the left hand side menu.

Tattooed face...

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 07:48:00 +0000

I was shocked to read this story in the news of a Belgian teenager who was tattooed over her face whilst apparently sleeping through the procedure!

She alleges that she only wanted 3 stars, but ended up with many more.

She and her family are suing the tattoo artist for $18400, the apparent cost of removing the tattoos.

Laser tattoo removal can be performed on a case such as this, and fortunately, for this girl, there are a few things about these tattoos that make it favourable for laser removal;
- It is black - black is one of the better colours to remove as there is a good contrast between this colour and her normal skin. Also the lasers are highly attracted to black. Other colours such as white and green may be harder to remove . We usually use our Ruby laser to remove green tattoos and this works well. White ink on the other hand tends to oxidise and turn black initially, and then takes longer to remove.
- It is on her face - Believe it or not, but the face actually heals better and faster with a smaller chance of scarring than the body when it comes to laser. We find this to be true not only for laser tattoo removal, but also from laser skin resurfacing or laser freckle removal. I recently removed a tattoo from a man's face, and it was amazing to see how 'normal' the skin appeared after it came off.

In the end, this tattoo is likely to take more than one year to remove, and over 10 sessions of laser treatment.

I wish this girl the best for her treatment.

Skin 6 days post fractional carbon dioxide laser

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:20:00 +0000

We have been testing the fractional carbon dioxide lasers on a few patients in the past weeks with some good results so far. We have found that the results have been excellent for skin texture / wrinkles and pigmentation and the downtime is usually less than one week. Overall, the results achieved with such little downtime is a testament to the new technology.

I have posted a picture of my hand 6 days after a single shot of fractional carbon dioxide laser. You can see the columns of laser treatment within the square treatment zone. The skin in between the columns is the skin that is unaffected by the laser, and this helps the skin to regenerate faster. I would expect even faster recovery times for the face - the hands usually take about twice as long to recover from laser treatments normally.

Doc, just make me look better...

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 10:48:00 +0000

A patient recently came to me and asked me 'Doc, just make me look better...'. This patient just wanted to look refreshed and revitalised, but didn't really exactly what could be done or what they wanted. I started discussing some ideas including the possibility of some dermal fillers when the patient asked me, 'but how will this make me look better?'

It was the answer to this question that prompted me to write this blog entry...

So, this is what I told the patient;

Basically, there are a few aspects to facial ageing that should be addressed in order to achieve a more refreshed and revitalised appearance.

Firstly, there is the issue of volume. Volume is gradually lost from our faces as we get older (unlike our bodies which tend to get fatter!). Volume loss can occur in any part of the face, and can be due to reduction in fat in the face as well as bone resorption. We usually see it in areas like the cheeks, lips, and brows. Volume can be replaced in the face through many methods. Dermal fillers are one of the most common and simple methods of replacing lost volume in the face, and this can be done as a simple office procedure. Other alternatives include fat transfer from other parts of the body to the face. This is a more involved procedure as it does require the patient to have liposuction first to harvest the fat for injection, but the longevity of this treatment tends to be longer than most dermal fillers.

Secondly, there is the skin. The skin is the drape that covers the face and its appearance is paramount to someone's perceived age and appearance. UV radiation from sun exposure or solariums increases the rate of skin ageing, pigmentation problems and wrinkles. To improve the skin itself, there are number of things that can be done. Lasers can be used to remove specific problems such as broken capillaries, sun spots / pigmentation, and wrinkles. Also good skin care including a good topical retinoid and sunscreen are important to maintain the skins appearance. Anti-wrinkle injections are also a good method of helping to stop expression lines and creases such as those around the eyes and between the brows.

Thirdly, there is the effect of gravity on the face, which causes the face to sag. This leads to a descent in the cheeks, jowl formation, the formation of folds from the nose to the mouth (nasolabial folds), and a more square appearance to the face. In most cases, a surgical procedure is required to properly correct this descent. Face-lifting and brow lifting are examples of these surgical procedures.

So it is important to address all of the above three aspects of facial ageing when rejuvenating the face. Addressing one of the three issues without the other can sometimes lead to an unusual appearance. We all know of Hollywood stars who still look their age despite having a facelift (or two). The reason for this is that often the issue of volume loss hasn't been addressed, so they are tight, but not full like a younger person would be. Similarly, addressing facial sag and volume without addressing the skin can also create an appearance that is inconsistent. Ima1gine a person with a youthful shaped face, with lots of sun spots, broken capillaries, and wrinkles!

Usually a specialised cosmetic doctor is the best person to advise you on what you might need. We can tell you where you are doing well and which parts might need to be addressed. Good facial rejuvenation will make you look refreshed and revitalised ... naturally!

Fractional carbon dioxide laser - resurfacing skin with less downtime?

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:38:00 +0000

The carbon dioxide laser skin resurfacing first emerged in the 1990s and was hailed as a revolutionary means to rejuvenate the face. To this day, it remains as the 'gold standard' for facial skin resurfacing, but then why is performed so uncommonly by only a few doctors? Although the results from carbon dioxide laser resurfacing are second to none, the recovery period, especially in today's society, has been deemed to be unpalatable by most people. Recovery periods after carbon dioxide laser resurfacing can range from weeks to months depending on the intensity of the treatment performed. In today's society, where time becoming increasingly valuable, people are reluctant to undergo such a procedure. Furthermore, risks such as scarring and hypopigmentation (excessive whitening of the skin) were common.

More recently, fractional carbon dioxide lasers have emerged to help strike a favourable compromise between obtaining results and reducing the recovery period required. You may have heard of lasers such as the Fraxel laser which was one of the pioneer lasers to use fractional technology. Fractional lasers are aptly named as they only treat a 'fraction' of the skin. They fire small columns of laser energy into the skin and leave the skin adjacent to these columns untouched, and this allows a quicker recovery whilst still producing good results within the skin.

Fractional carbon dioxide lasers are the latest in the generation of fractionated lasers and will possibly be the new way to resurface skin, reduce wrinkles, and acne scarring.

At The Victorian Cosmetic Institute, we are in the process of evaluating the various machines available and will be getting one in the next few months based on our research.

For more information on skin resurfacing, visit our webpage on this topic by clicking on the link below;
http://www.thevictoriancosmeticinstitute.com.au/skin-resurfacing/

Australiasian College of Cosmetic Surgery conference

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:09:00 +0000

The annual Australiasian College of Cosmetic Surgery (ACCS) conference is to be held from May 6 to 9 in Sydney.

It is a great conference that most of the staff at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute will be attending.

Dr. Gavin Chan from The Victorian Cosmetic Institute will be presenting a talk on "Combining multiple wavelengths and mechanisms for the greatest results.

The main categories that will be discussed at the conference are

Dermal Fillers / Btx
Laser and Light Technology
Face and Breast Surgery
Liposuction
Highlight: Liposuction interactive plenary session where panellists will be given cases to describe how they would have proceeded to advise patients and respond to questions from the audience on the manner they would handle the procedure

The high profile international speakers include:

Dr Tony Mangubat (USA) – specialist in cosmetic surgery and hair restoration
Dr Antonio Campo (Spain) – world renowned dermatologist presenting on his work with Pearl and skin rejuvenation
Dr. Stephen Mulholland , M.D - Internationally recognized cosmetic plastic surgeon and lecturer, and owner of SpaMedica
Dr Michael A. Kane (USA) - board-certified plastic surgeon from New York City and author of the Btx book.

The majority of those attending will be cosmetic physicians, cosmetic nurses , dermatologists, and plastic surgeons.

With most of Australia's cosmetic world attending, if you are in need of urgent cosmetic treatment during this time you might be in dire straits!

However, we do have unlucky doctor and nurse holding the fort , so if you do need some attention we will be around.

We will be reporting on any new innovations, or techniques on our return.

Tanned, slim, and long lashes?

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:05:00 +0000

When I heard of the prospect of a drug that could make you tanned and slim without the need for sunlight or dieting, I thought it sounded too good to be true, and maybe I should have trusted my instincts...

Melanotan II was the name of this drug we trialled on 3 of our staff with varying results.

Quoting from melanotan.org: Melanotan and Melanotan II are both synthetic versions of melanocyte stimulating hormone that were created, synthesized and developed at The University of Arizona and the Arizona Cancer Center. Melanotan is a linear, full length peptide (containing all 13 amino acids). Melanotan II is a shortened, circular version of the same peptide. Both Melanotan and Melanotan II have sunless tanning capabilities but because Melanotan II had libido enhancement and spontaneous erections as side effects, To be particularly clear regarding Melanotan (due to previous incorrect news reports) it should be noted that it does not cause sexual arousal nor have erectile effects. These aspects are only found in the drugs Melanotan II and bremelanotide.

So what happened in the end ?

3 out of the 3 people in our trial felt severe nausea after their first injection of the recommended dosage (so obviously the increase in sex drive wasn't apparent)
All felt irritated and had difficulty sleeping
2 out of 3 people stopped after the 1st injection
1 out of the 3 people after using the drug experienced some mild sunburn on one of her arms after a brief exposure to sun in her car.
1 out of 3 people continued the injection at 1/2 the recommended dosage (to avoid nausea) for 2 weeks

The person who continued Melanotan II ended up getting a mild tan, more so on the face than on the other areas of the body, but also noticed a significant increase in the darkening of moles / naevi on her face, and ceased the treatment as a result.

So in conclusion, Melanotan II wasn't all it scrubbed up to be, although it did have the desired effect of tanning the skin without sunlight - albeit with many side effects.

On to our second staff trial ...

Allergan have recently released a product called Latisse (not yet available in Australia) that is to be used to grow eyelashes. It is essentially an exisiting product of Allergan's called Lumigan that has been repackaged and FDA approved. Lumigan has the same active ingredient as Latisse (bimatoprost 0.03%), but its intended use is for glaucoma - a condition that causes increased pressure in the eyes. One of the known side effects of Lumigan was that it grew your eyelashes (a side effect that has been exploited by Allergan) and this was our intended use of the drug.

We used Lumigan rather than Latisse, as it has the same active ingredients as Latisse, was available in Australia, and also is significantly cheaper than the proprosed price for Latisse.

We have trialled it on several of our female staff, and after 4 weeks have obtained some preliminary results as shown in these pictures.

Allergan releases a new filler - Type V.

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:28:00 +0000

Filler type V is now available at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute!
(Due to TGA restrictions, the full name of filler type V cannot be published.)

Filler type V is designed as a large volume filler, most suited to areas such as the cheeks or the chin. It is composed of hyaluronic acid, which is a substance that is naturally found in the skin. The filler is similar to other fillers produced by Allergan, except that this filler is slightly thicker than the other fillers, and thus is intended for deeper placement in the face to augment larger areas, giving superior results here.

The other potential advantage of this filler is that it will last for approximately 12-18 months.

Medlite vs Gemini laser

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:42:00 +0000

The Medlite and Gemini lasers are two lasers that are commonly used at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute for the treatment of skin. Interestingly, they both emit the same wavelength, namely 1064nanometres and 532nanometres, but perform very different treatments simply because of the duration of each laser pulse.

The Gemini laser is a long - pulse laser, which emits pulses that are in the millisecond range. Although the term 'long-pulse' would suggest something much longer than a few milliseconds, this is quite long in the laser world.

The Medlite laser is a q-switched laser. This means that it emits pulses in the nano-second range. One nano-second is one billionth of a second and therefore is one million times shorter than one millisecond. The laser achieves this very short pulse via q-switching, which is achieved by a camera-shutter like mechanism in the laser.

The consequences of these differences in pulse duration are that these lasers are used for very different applications. The Medlite laser with its extremely short pulses tends to be able to provide very high energy short pulses that can shatter the target without heating it much. For example, it can be used to remove tattoo ink from skin by shattering it into smaller particles for the body to remove. The Gemini laser cannot perform this treatment because its relatively longer pulses cause heating and scarring of the skin before the tattoo ink can be broken down.

On the other hand, the Gemini laser is highly suited to the treatment of visible/superficial blood vessels on the face. Its 532nm wavelength is highly attracted to this target, and provides specific heat energy to this target to help to shut down the capillary. The Medlite laser at the same wavelength, although attracted to the target, tends to not provide enough heat energy to shut down the blood vessel due to its short pulse.

For more information on these lasers click on the relevant links below;

For more information on the Gemini laser and its applications, click here

For more information on the Medlite laser and its applications, click here

Skin pigmentation page updated

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 05:23:00 +0000

The skin pigmentation page has been updated with information and new case studies.
For more information on the treatment of problems of skin pigmentation, including; solar lentigos, melasma, post inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and birthmarks, click on this link.

Pulsed dye laser information page added

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:01:00 +0000

I have added a new information page about our Candela V-Beam Pulsed Dye Laser which we use for the treatment of various vascular and skin pigment conditions. It can also help with scars, red stretch marks and acne.

For more information click on this link.

Product in focus - Cosmedix refine 4%

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:12:00 +0000

Hello all,

We are now having a new video segment called 'product in focus'. It will briefly discuss one skin care product, its active ingredients and its usage.

Our first one is on Refine by Cosmedix.

To view the video, click here.

New video on non-surgical nose shaping posted

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:30:00 +0000

Ever considered having a nose job, but felt worried about surgery or the recovery from surgery? Dermal fillers can be used to shape or straighten the nose and make it more proportionate to the rest of the face.

To see our video on non-surgical nose shaping click here

Allergan releases dermal filler pre-mixed with anaesthetic

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 02:14:00 +0000

Allergan have released a new version of one of their dermal fillers to help reduce the discomfort associated with the procedure.

The actual filler is unchanged (filler type J and JU+), but it is now mixed with lignocaine, a fast acting local anaesthetic, so that it literally numbs the areas as it is injected.

It is a good alternative to having a nerve block in the treatment area for those who don't want to be numb for hours.

For example, treatment of the cheeks with dermal fillers might usually require a nerve block to numb the cheeks prior to injection with filler. Instead, with this new filler, it is possible to avoid a nerve block as it has local anaesthetic pre-mixed with the filler so it numbs as it is injected. The initial few needle pricks can be disguised with local anaesthetic cream or ice as required.

* Due to TGA restrictions, the name of the actual filler cannot be mentioned

Skin needling Vs fractionated lasers for acne scars

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 01:29:00 +0000

Sometimes, when a new technology emerges, we forget old methods and assume that 'newer is better'.

However, this isn't always the case!

Acne scars have been treated with a procedure called skin needling (or Roll CIT - or colllagen induction therapy) for many years. This procedure involves rolling over the affected skin with a cylindrical roller that has multiple fine needles protruding from the roller. By making multiple fine punctures in the skin, the skin is forced to produce new collagen and this leads to an improvement in scarring or wrinkles.

We have recently update our page on skin needling with a patient diary.
To view this, click here.

Fractionated lasers have been a more recent innovation that can also help improve acne scars, but is the newer option the better one? In a similar manner to skin needling, fractionated lasers create multiple small injuries to the skin to stimulate new collagen production.

However, there are various differences between skin needling and fractionated lasers and these include;

Deeper penetration depth with skin needling vs fractionated lasers. Our skin needling heads use 3mm needle lengths, whilst most fractional lasers only penetrate to a depth of 1.4mm. With greater penetration depths, deeper acne scars can be treated and more collagen stimulation can occurs
Less treatments required with skin needling - as a result of a more aggressive treatments, there may be less treatments required with skin needling. However, the total downtime may be less. If it takes 2 weeks to recover from one skin needling treatment, and 5 days to recover from a fractionated laser treatment, the total downtime may be less if only 1 skin needling treatment is required to match the results from 3 to 5 fractionated laser treatments
Less risk of hyperpigmentation with skin needling - as there is no heat energy involved and no thermal injury to the skin, even darker skin types can be treated with skin needling with much less risk of hyperpigmentation (darker areas on the skin after treatment) than fractionated laser treatments.

Have a safe summer...

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 05:14:00 +0000

As doctors we see the effects of the sun on skin everyday. Not only does excessive sun exposure lead to pre-mature ageing, wrinkles, and pigmentation, but the formation of skin cancers such as melanoma, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

It is said that prevention is always better than cure, so at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute we encourage you to limit and be sensible with your sun exposure. Especially over these hotter months, cover up as much as possible in the sun, and wear an appropriate sunscreen (for more information on sunscreens click here).

Remember to heed the warning signs of excessive sun exposure such as skin redness, and seek shade.

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:42:00 +0000

The Victorian Cosmetic Institute re-opens in 2009 on Monday the 5th of January. With the new year comes some new developments at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute include;

The introduction of two new lasers. Firstly we will be receiving delivery of a Candela pulsed dye laser which is primarily a laser that helps to reduce redness/vascular problems such as facial capillaries, red birthmarks, and the redness in scars. We will also soon be taking delivery fo an Erbium laser which will be used to resurface wrinkles and remove skin lumps and bumps.
The Wand - a computer controlled anaesthetic delivery system to give painless anaesthetic injections
New dermal filler injection techniques - for lip, cheeks, chin enhancement to reduce any discomfort, swelling and bruising that are normally associated with this procedure

We would also like to introduce to our Berwick clinic Dr. Karen Wilson, a cosmetic physician who specialises in non-surgical facial rejuvenation and lasers.

Look forward to seeing you all.

Christmas trading hours

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:37:00 +0000

Thank you all for your ongoing support throughout the year.
Our last day of trading is the 23rd of December 2008, with resume of trade on the 5th of January 2009.

'Magic' injections?

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 12:52:00 +0000

Many of us fear going to the dentist. Thinking about that shiny metallic syringe heading towards the mouth can worry even the bravest of people.

Thankfully, some clever people have designed a machine called 'The Wand'. This is a machine that helps to deliver local anaesthetic injections slowly and precisely, thereby minimising any pain from these injections.

Initially it was designed for use by dentists, but has since been used by other health care professionals such as doctors for the delivery of local anaesthetic for medical/cosmetic procedures. At The Victorian Cosmetic Institute, we have recently taken delivery of several 'Wands' to help minimise any pain or discomfort from local anaesthetic injections. We commonly use local anaesethetic injections for numbing areas of the face prior to the injection of dermal fillers. For example, the lips are usually numbed prior to injection with a dermal filler.

The pain that is associated with the injection of local anaesthetics is usually due to the expansion of tissues as the local anaesthetic is infiltrated in. The faster the rate injection, the faster the rate of tissue expansion, and the more pain that is felt. The Wand allows the local anaesthetic to be infiltrated at an extremely slow rate - much slower and much more controlled than possible with most human hands.

Furthermore, the appearance of The Wand's handpiece is like a pen rather than the usual metallic syringe seen at the dentist.

So for all those with a fear of needles or the dentist, this is a great alternative to the usual methods of local anaesthetic delivery.

Non-surgical cosmetic procedures resilient to economic times

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:24:00 +0000

A recent survey performed by the American Society of Plastic surgeons has found the impending recession to have caused people to delay plastic surgery and consider non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, and laser skin treatments.

The association surveyed 100 women who were considering plastic surgery in March and then again in October and found that 59% said recent changes in the economy have had an impact on their plans for plastic surgery, compared with 50% in March. Also, 48%, of women surveyed during October said that the economic slowdown had made them less likely to book a consultation with a cosmetic surgeon, a marked increase of 18% since March, when 30% felt that way.

Possibly the most significant result for the aesthetic medicine industry, however, is that 27% said they were considering less expensive options, compared with 20% earlier in the year.
Richard D'Amico, ASPS president, commented, "It appears more consumers are choosing the less invasive cosmetic procedures, both to give them a boost or to buy time if they need to postpone a more costly invasive surgical procedure because of the economic downturn."

In a concurrent survey among its surgeon members, ASPS discovered that while 62% reported a decrease in plastic surgery procedures performed, some 73% reported an increased or stable demand for procedures such as anti-wrinkle injections, chemical peels and dermal fillers.

Photodynamic therapy advances

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:31:00 +0000

Photodynamic therapy is relatively new procedure used for the treatment of acne or pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions.

It works on the principle that those cells that cause the above problems are metabolically more active and produce large amounts of a substance called porphyrins. These porphyrins are sensitive to certain types of light, and when exposed to light can produce toxic oxygen free radicals which destroy cells in the very nearby vicinity. Because these oxygen free radicals do not actually traverse far, they are very specific to the cells that create the porphyrins, hence it is possible to specifically target the problem cells without damaging normal ones.

To stimulate cells to produce more porphyrins, we often add a substrate called 5-ALA which is a precursor to the porphyrins.

At The Victorian Cosmetic Institute, in conjunction with Rofin Australia have helped with the design of a new LED light source for photodynamic therapy. It will have two wavelengths for different skin penetrations and applications. As seen in the picture, it has 6 heads, all aimed at different parts of the face to ensure even coverage.

For more information on Photodynamic therapy, click here.

Laser tattoo removal demonstration

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 21:12:00 +0000

Dr. Gavin Chan discusses laser tattoo removal, and gives a demonstration on the process.

http://www.thevictoriancosmeticinstitute.com.au/laser-tattoo-removal/index.php

Water that stops sweating?

noreply@blogger.com (The Victorian Cosmetic Institute) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:28:00 +0000

Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating is a common problem that affects 3% of the worlds population. In some cases, there may be an underlying problem causing the condition, such as hyperthyroidism. In most cases, there will be no underlying cause for the problem.

In such cases iontophoresis is a non-invasive treatment to help with excessive sweating, especially of the hands and feet. It involves placing the affected areas in water that has a small electrical current running through it. The treatment is performed every second day to begin with, and then the interval is increased gradually.

The Victorian Cosmetic Institute now offers this treatment for those who are concerned with excessive sweating of the hands and feet.