Laser and Light Treatments
LASER GENESIS “the laser facial”
This comfortable and very effective laser facial is safe for all colors of skin, all ages and is used as a treatment for anti-aging, acne, scars, abnormal vessels such as rosacea, trapped brown pigments such as melasma, large pores, and uneven complexion.
This procedure is popular among teenagers and grandparents too!
YAG Laser used as a gentle pulsing of light into the upper 2/3rds of the skin – this procedure improves fine lines, tightens pores, treats redness and rosacea, evens out texture, reduces brown pigment, treats acne, and treats scars.
Now you can have a more youthful appearance by treating those conditions that are typically associated with premature signs of aging and sun damage. The Laser Facial procedures have been scientifically proven to produce new collagen and tighten skin.
You can expect to see subtle yet consistent results after each treatment, without side effects, pain or discomfort. Patients often describe the treatment as relaxing and therapeutic. You will experience a gentle warming of your skin’s surface during the procedure as the laser handpiece is moved back and forth above your skin gently. It will feel like a comfortable heating lamp and leave you warm and glowing. There is zero downtime after Genesis. Your face will look normal and even better right away and you can resume all regular activities.
Up to six treatments are recommended depending on the extent of surface sun damage, rosacea, scars, large pores, wrinkles, and age damage. Treatments are ideally spaced four weeks apart.
LASER GENESIS BEFORE AND AFTER*
ACNE TREATMENT
YAG laser is ideal for acne as it directly treats and heals acne lesions killing bacteria, yeast, fungus and skin mites. It’s healing wavelength also benefits skin by removing redness and hyperpigmentation caused by acne and by healing enlarged pores and acne scars. Visible improvement can be seen in active acne lesions within 1-2 days and the improvements go on for 2-4 weeks. The combination of Laser Genesis and medical management of acne is a winning combination.
ACNE TREATMENT BEFORE AND AFTER*
SCAR TREATMENT
YAG laser is adept at healing scars from the ground up, releasing thickened scar tissue and eliminating trapped red and brown pigment within the scar tissue. This non-invasive treatment can be done on scars in a series spaced 4 weeks apart until the scar fully resolves. Examples of scars that can be treated include post-surgical scars, hypertrophic or thickened scars, darkened scars, keloid scars, and acne scars.
SCAR TREATMENT BEFORE AND AFTER*
LASER TREATMENT FOR LEG VEINS AND FACIAL VEINS
Bothered by unsightly small veins on your face, the side of your nose, or on the thighs or legs? Spider veins (or telangiectasias) are those small red vessels that do not cause symptoms and are of cosmetic concern only. Deeper veins appear as blue or purple veins and often lead to painful throbbing and even restless leg symptoms. These deeper leg veins can be successfully treated with YAG laser as long as they do not represent varicose veins which are the result of underlying venous insufficiency.
Dr. Julie Reil has been treating face and leg veins for over 13 years and can determine by ultrasound if your leg veins are appropriate for cosmetic YAG laser treatment versus medical varicose vein treatment.
Unsightly face and leg veins can now be treated safely and very effectively with YAG laser. No more painful injections and wrapping the legs in Ace bandages!
The best and gold standard treatment for spider veins of the nose, cheeks, chin, thighs, legs, or feet is the YAG Laser. Laser vein treatment is an easy, fast, and effective way to treat superficial veins. Laser therapy has been used in medicine for more than 40 years.
Our vascular laser system treats a broad range of vessels from tiny spider veins to blue reticular veins quickly, safely and effectively. Patients generally experience outstanding results with minimal bruising or blistering. The YAG laser, operated exclusively by licensed medical practitioners, delivers a pulse of light energy causing the blood within the vein to coagulate, eventually destroying the vessel which is later reabsorbed by the body. Blood flow will then be redirected to veins deeper below your skin’s surface, where it should be.
Depending on the depth of the vein treated, the vein will be reabsorbed by the body and disappear within 8 to 16 weeks. The majority of the treated spider veins will disappear 8-12 weeks after one treatment but deeper vessels may require two or three treatments spaced 16 weeks apart. Several treatments are usually needed for optimal results when treating deeper vessels all the way up to superficial spider vessels. During your consultation with the physician, you will find out approximately how many treatments will be required to fully treat your vessels.
Immediately after treatment, the skin above the veins will have a reddish, cat-scratch appearance. This generally disappears over the next 2-7 days. Taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medication prior to vein treatment is discouraged due to the higher risk of bruising. The risks associated with laser vein therapy are minimal. Shiloh Medical Clinic uses YAG laser with state-of-the-art cooling systems, thus the treatments are low risk and relatively pain-free.
LEG VEINS AND FACIAL VEINS BEFORE AND AFTER*
ROSACEA
Rosacea is a dermatologic condition that involves redness of the cheeks, chin, and nose area (T-zone) and can lead to acne (acne rosacea). Redness is seen in the areas of flushing and blushing, such as the cheeks, and is the result of an overgrowth of tiny red capillaries which can distort the architecture of the skin leaving uneven skin texture.
Three different laser and light procedures can be used to treat rosacea, depending on the depth needed. The Nd: YAG is used for laser treatment of abnormal red vessels – the under-feeder vessels which feed the rosacea capillaries. Laser Genesis and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) are also used to treat more superficial capillaries. All of these laser treatments are available at Shiloh Medical Clinic and are often used in combination for optimum treatment of rosacea.
Most patients see a significant improvement in their symptoms following one laser session but several sessions are usually needed to resolve rosacea. With the avoidance of triggers such as the sun (which aggravates rosacea), visible blood vessels may not return for years after your laser treatment. It is realistic with rosacea laser treatment to expect to do a maintenance treatment every 1.5 to 2 years to keep vessels suppressed.
The professional medical staff at Shiloh Medical Clinic have specialized training in the treatment of rosacea using the combination of Laser Genesis, Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), and ND-YAG 1040nm laser for treating veins of all sizes.
It is our experience that men and women who choose laser treatment for rosacea become more confident. Let our experienced medical staff help you with a treatment plan and a maintenance and prevention plan for your rosacea.
ROSACEA BEFORE AND AFTER*
YAG LASER TREATMENT for Nail Fungus
The Nd-YAG laser safely, discreetly, and effectively treats nail fungus, otherwise known as Onychomycosis; a cosmetic condition that most often affects fingernails and toenails. Risk factors for nail fungus include increased age, male gender, diabetes, nail trauma, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), peripheral vascular disease, athlete’s foot, immunodeficiency, poor hygiene, and chronic exposure of the nails to water. Most commonly we see fingernail and toenail fungus that was contracted at the nail salon where fungus spores are found. There are many species of fungus that can infect the nail. Often in nail infections, several types of fungus will be present at the same time. All nail fungus infections result in thickened, discolored, and distorted nails.
The beauty of the YAG Laser treatment for nail fungus is that it is fungicidal (kills active fungus) for all varieties of nail fungus. Our patients are educated about how to properly groom nails to avoid reinfection and educated about fungus spores and how to prevent and treat these spores. This helps achieve above 95% clearance of active fungal infections – the highest success rate for fungus clearance – well above all other forms of medical treatment.
There is no downtime associated with this treatment. Some individuals show a dramatic improvement, while others show steady improvement. It is our experience that, in order to obtain good results, multiple treatments (average of 4 treatments spaced 6-8 weeks apart) are required as well as daily home care for spore treatment. Maintenance treatments may be necessary. Smoking may decrease the effectiveness of this laser treatment. Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Account funds may be used for this medical treatment.
NAIL FUNGUS BEFORE AND AFTER*
LASER HAIR REMOVAL
Men and Women are making unwanted facial and body hair a thing of the past! No more painful waxing, electrolysis, or razors!
Shiloh Medical Clinic offers the latest technology in laser hair removal. Our lasers can treat a wide range of skin colors safely and effectively and can remove hair from all parts of the body including the face, legs, arm, underarms, and back. They can even treat sensitive areas such as the chest, nipples, bikini area, and genital area.
The number of treatments required for optimal long-term benefits depends on multiple factors – hair thickness, the area treated, and your hair’s growth cycle. Each hair grows at a different rate and goes through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. Laser hair treatments work by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs enter the active growth phase at different times, additional treatments are necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area. Most areas require 5 – 6 treatments which are typically spaced 6 – 8 weeks apart.
Permanent hair removal is not as likely of an outcome from laser hair removal as is significant hair reduction that is permanent. Although some laser companies tout permanent hair removal, we say you will achieve significant hair reduction and repeat treatments or ‘maintenance treatments may be necessary over time. This is the reality of laser hair removal, and it is important to have realistic expectations. Using the top of the line hair removal significant hair reduction is possible, but not permanent hair removal.
LASER HAIR REMOVAL BEFORE AND AFTER*
IPL/BBL
*Exclusively at our Billings location*
Broad Band Light (BBL) aka Intense Pulsed Light
Broad Band Light, BBL, also known as Intense Pulsed Light, IPL, is used for the treatment of skin redness, tiny veins (telangectasias), rosacea, brown spots, freckles, and sun damage of the face, neck, and décolleté.
We use advanced treatment protocols which are customized for different skin pigmentation and aging skin conditions. The result of broad band light treatment is rejuvenating with minimal discomfort and minimal recovery time.
Immediately following treatment, brown spots will start to darken and your skin may appear slightly red. The treated area may be slightly swollen. This typically lasts for a few hours and possibly a day or longer. Make-up can be applied to cover the redness. Within one to three weeks, the darkened spots will flake off and fade. Diffuse redness or telangectasias will decrease and your complexion will improve.
Remember to always apply broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors to minimize sun damage and prevent the appearance of new spots and diffuse redness. The latest clinical evidence shows a sunscreen combining both titanium dioxide and zinc gives the best protection for your skin against sun damage. Shiloh Medical Clinic sells Colorscience ™, an exceptional mineral sunscreen containing both titanium and zinc.
IPL/BBL BEFORE AND AFTER*
C02 RESURFACING LASER
*Coming soon to our Billings location*
ALMA® resurfacing laser uses C02 laser, a burning laser that can remove the entire top layer of skin for the generation of healthy new skin. This laser is FDA approved to treat wrinkles and to resurface the skin. Excellent for treating wrinkles under the eyes and around the lips, mouth, and cheeks, the C02 laser also treats sun spots, red superficial vessels, large pores, and uneven texture…and all this in just ONE TREATMENT.
Due to deep heating, patients with darker pigmentation or those who tan very easily may not be good candidates for this laser treatment due to the risk of permanent hyperpigmentation. Our physician can assess your candidacy during a consultation.
A topical lidocaine-based anesthetic is applied before the procedure to help tolerate the heat of this burning laser. For four to five days after the procedure, the skin’s surface has the look and feel of a superficial sunburn however the skin is not usually painful. Once the top layer has peeled (approximately 5 days) you are left with new skin that within two to four weeks of your treatment becomes smoother and refreshed.
C02 RESURFACING LASER BEFORE AND AFTER*
