Laser Treatment Pigmented Lesions

Lasers can be used to eliminate: Age Spots, Birthmarks, Freckles, Port-Wine Stains, Telangiectasias, Hemangiomas, Erythema, Rosacea, Acne Marks, Blemishes, Red Marks, and Brown Marks.

Pigmented lesions are very common and are all the result of the buildup of excess melanin, the material that gives our skin its color. Traditional methods for the removal of pigmented lesions include camouflage makeup, dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and surgical excision. Recently several lasers and light based technologies have been developed that treat these unwanted pigmented lesions.

The advantage of laser treatment for pigmented lesions as opposed to older traditional methods include faster results, no down-time, and no surgical scars.  Many patients need only one laser session to get the results they intended.

The laser procedure is fast, gentle, precise, and is effective on all types of skin - even tanned skin. Treatments that might span months or even years with electrolysis or electrothermolysis take a few short visits with the Alma Laser. All laser procedures are performed in the doctor's Manhattan, New York Laser Center. Recovery is rapid and patients return to normal activities right away.

How painful is the laser procedure?  Minor discomfort is experienced when the laser is fired, often described as a rubber band being snapped on the skin.

Where is the laser treatment procedure performed?  The laser procedure is performed in the Board Certified Plastic Surgeon's office located in Manhattan, New York on Park Avenue South (@31st Street.

How long does the laser procedure take?  Treatments at the NYC Laser Center usually take approximately twenty minutes.  The treatments length will depend on the condition being treated. 

What can I expect during the recovery period?  For the first day, the treated areas may appear slightly red and swollen. It is important that you keep the area treated with the laser clean.  The NYC Laser Center will provide you with detailed follow-up care for your particular case.

Are multiple laser treatments necessary?  Multiple laser treatments are sometimes necessary for more darkly pigmented lesions. Small, lightly colored lesions are usually permanently gone after one laser treatment at the Laser Center of NYC.  About 60%-80% of common freckles and age spots resolve after one treatment. Some need a second treatment, and a few need to be treated more than twice. Some blemishes do not disappear completely, but will be significantly lighter in color after treatment.

Because there is a great deal of variability in the size, depth and darkness of freckles, age spots and pigmented nevi, and because there is some variability in people's natural ability to clear away pigment after laser treatment, it is not possible to "promise" you that a certain result will happen after a fixed number of treatments. How well your lesions respond depends on several factors. Superficial lesions such as freckles and age spots tend to respond more quickly to lasers as compared to deeper, more complex lesions.

Please Note: If you take alcohol or Vitamin E during the week before your pigmented lesions are treated with the laser there might be a bit more bruising in the treated area.

The Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas M. Senderoff, MD, FACS and his certified laser staff will be happy to discuss Alma Laser Skin Treatments and the laser procedure with you. Please feel free to phone the Plastic Surgeon's Manhattan, New York laser treatment office for a private complimentary consultation.