Changes in the tone and coloring of our skin on the face and body can cause many men and women to feel self-conscious about their appearance. We offer non-surgical options to help address these skin issues and reveal smoother, clearer, and more even skin tone. Our non-surgical options can work individually or be combined to address your concerns and optimize your results.

• We offer the most effective treatment options available to ensure our patients receive the best possible outcome with little to no interruption to their personal lives.

• We address your skin concerns and provide a customized treatment plan that encompasses your lifestyle and aesthetic goals.

• Our team of medical estheticians and dermatologic specialists partner with you to manage your skin care regimen and treatment plan to ensure your skin is always at its glowing best.

• We have created a stress-free environment in which you can be treated by a professional who addresses your needs and provides comfort and privacy.

Request a complimentary consultation to find out what your options are to restore glowing, even skin tone. We offer convenient appointment times at 3 locations in Southern California to accommodate your needs.

Intense Pulsed Light therapy, or IPL, is not a laser, but rather a series of gentle pulses of intense light applied to specific treatment areas. At Facial Aesthetic Concepts, we most frequently use IPL to reduce excess pigmentation, but it can also be used to treat small, unsightly veins. Without damaging the skin, the light from an IPL device penetrates through the skin and is absorbed by the abnormally dilated vessels and areas of unwanted pigmentation. The heat from the light then impairs the vessel or pigment cluster, and the body begins its natural healing process.

Treatment
Your eyes will be covered with goggles to protect them, and a cooling gel is applied to your skin as needed. The treatment itself consists of intense pulsed light placed over the skin with consecutive pulses. There is some mild discomfort like snapping of a rubber band, so we provide a complimentary application of topical numbing cream to ensure your comfort.

Recovery
Following the treatment, your skin may feel like it has a slight sunburn. You may use cold or ice packs as needed for comfort and to relieve any swelling. If your skin feels tender, avoid hot baths and showers for 24 to 48 hours. A post-treatment skin care package will be available for purchase if desired.

Very rarely, a small blister or scab may form. If this occurs, apply an antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin, Neosporin or Polysporin) to the area. Allow natural healing to take place and do not try to remove any scabbing.

Results
This zero-downtime procedure eliminates irregular pigmentation and reduces excess redness while stimulating collagen production to improve fine lines and wrinkles. Although results may vary, most patients see a significant improvement after just 1 treatment and see additional benefits with multiple sessions. After 3 to 5 treatments, your skin should appear smoother and have a more even tone.

Fractional CO2 lasers work by targeting the areas of skin that need help without harming healthy areas of skin. It does this by “scattering” the energy in the light beam at a high rate that can be focused and get deeper into the skin. This kind of resurfacing produces more dramatic results than previously possible. And it can be safely used on the face, neck and chest.

Beyond the results, there are other benefits to the use of this kind of laser resurfacing. For one, it is more comfortable for patients. While some laser treatments used intravenous local anesthesia before the procedure could begin, fractional CO2 laser treatments require only a topical anesthesia to minimize discomfort and pain.

Treatment
A topical numbing cream is applied to the skin to make the treatment comfortable. We combine this with a chiller unit that directs super cooled air over the treatment area during the treatment to alleviate the heat that is generated in the skin by the laser. The treatment takes approximately 1 hour depending upon the areas treated. We use the fractional CO2 laser on the face, neck and chest as well as select areas of the body.

Recovery
Downtime following treatment is also minimal. Some older laser skin resurfacing procedures resulted in weeks of downtime, including skin redness and the aforementioned oozing and weeping. With this new laser treatment, facial skin heals in only three to five days; neck and chest skin is only slightly longer, at five to seven days.

Results
Fractional CO2 resurfacing combines improvements in both skin tone and texture to produce the most dramatic improvement in the appearance of the skin of any non-surgical treatment. The laser breaks up excess, unwanted pigmentation as well as stimulates collagen production. Patients love their results and the refreshed, ‘new’ look of their smooth, even toned skin.

Photodynamic therapy, or simply PDT, is the latest advancement in photorejuvenation therapy. PDT was originally developed to aid in the treatment of precancerous lesions of the skin. We later found that the treatment helped to enhance the results of IPL (often called photofacial) and BLU-U treatments.

Treatment
PDT involves the application of an FDA-approved light sensitizing agent, called Levulan, on the areas of skin to be treated. This “pre-treatment” with Levulan makes sun damaged skin, acne prone skin, and pre-cancerous skin lesions more sensitive to the subsequent treatment with IPL or BLU-U.

PDT is frequently used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, brown spots, uneven skin tone, and sun damage.

Recovery
After your treatment, you can expect some degree of redness, peeling, and sun sensitivity for an average of 5 to 10 days. These side effects may occur immediately, or they may evolve over the next several days. It’s essential that you avoid sun exposure for the entire time that you have any degree of redness, sensitivity, and/or other noted side effects.

Depending on the degree of your skin’s damage, you may also notice that your skin will begin to peel, crust, burn, and/or itch. You may also notice a temporary discoloration of your skin, which should resolve over the next 7 to 14 days.

Here are some helpful tips to help maximize your recovery and results:

• Wear sun block daily on the treated area (SPF 30 or above).
• Use cool compresses or ice packs for any visible swelling, etc.
• Avoid hot showers and/or hot water on the treated area.
• Avoid scrubbing the affected area.
• Avoid using any harsh products (i.e. Retin-A, Glycolic, and “AHA’s”, etc.) on the skin until after your skin is healed.
• Cleanse the skin with mild agents and moisturizers 2 times per day (we can recommend excellent products for your skin that are available at all of our offices).

4 weeks after your treatment, you may retreat the skin with a photodynamic therapy treatment again, if necessary. Please schedule two follow up visits after your treatment. The first visit for 1 week after your treatment, and the second visit for 1 month after your treatment.

PDT with IPL Results
Combining PDT with IPL therapy can produce more dramatic changes in pigmentation, texture irregularities, redness, and visible veins that previously required a series of 3 to 5 IPL treatments. This combination can also help treat many superficial pre-cancerous lesions (actinic keratosis) as well as some superficial skin cancers.

PDT with BLU-U Results
BLU-U, when used in combination with Levulan, can help treat pre-cancerous lesions without any discomfort or downtime as well as reduce the incidence and severity of problematic acne in a single treatment.

This quick, easy, and pain-free method for treating acne, especially teenage acne, has been scientifically proven to reduce the number of visible blemishes and kill the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts. BLU-U treatments can, at the very least, reduce the number and severity of acne breakouts, and treatments frequently prevent their recurrence altogether when combined with proper skin care products.

Treatment
The BLU-U device emits a very special blue light that reacts with the bacteria that causes acne. The blue light stimulates the production of “porphyrins” within the clogged pore. Porphyrins act to kill the bacteria present within the pores, thereby reducing inflammation and helping to prevent future breakouts.

BLU-U therapy is simple. All you have to do is sit in front of the light panel (with eye shields on) for 15 minutes once or twice a week.

Recovery & Results
The treatments typically last for about 6 to 12 weeks. BLU-U treatments are completely painless, have no downtime, and are very safe. Patients should begin to see clearer skin and ultimately less scarring from acne breakouts. Because of its safety and efficacy, BLU-U has become a very popular treatment option for acne with our teenage patients along with patients suffering from adult acne.

Clear + Brilliant Touch has stronger lasers that scan a greater surface area on the skin. The new and improved lasers offer a more powerful treatment designed with all skin types and ages in mind. It’s the perfect non-invasive skin improvement option for anyone who wants to reduce signs of aging, minimize pores and improve their skin tone.

The laser technology uses two wavelengths for a personalized and comprehensive treatment. The first laser, the Original Clear + Brilliant handpiece, penetrates deep into the skin to improve skin texture. The second laser, the Perméa handpiece, treats closer to the skin to address tone, radiance and permeability of the skin. Most people can achieve a youthful glow customized to their skin concerns.

By seamlessly switching between the two lasers we can offer a complete treatment with the following benefits:

• Reduce fine lines
• Minimize pores
• Boost collagen production
• Improve skin tone and pigmentation
• Increase skin permeability for absorption of skincare products

Clear + Brilliant Touch is customized to treat skin concerns on your face, chest and hands. The dual action lasers make it easier for our doctors and staff to provide improvement in the skin’s surface and deeper tissue layers. One session often leaves skin feeling younger, smoother and more radiant.

The Touch laser provides a unique purpose for visible results and allows more permeability for serums and topical treatments. This cosmetic option complements other aesthetic procedures such as microneedling and chemical peels. If you struggle with enlarged pores, lines and wrinkles, facial volume loss or skin discoloration, Clear + Brilliant Touch can rejuvenate your complexion in as little as one session.

Treatment

Patients often report a prickling and warming sensation during Clear + Brilliant treatments, and you may experience some mild swelling and redness afterward that typically goes away in a few hours. Before your laser treatment, a topical anesthetic may be used to avoid discomfort. Our doctors may apply an antioxidant serum or another topical skincare product after your Clear + Brilliant treatment for further improvements in texture and tone.

One session takes around 30 to 45 minutes, but plan for an hour in our office. These quick and gentle treatments allow you to return to your everyday activities right away with little to no downtime. Regular treatments can give you noticeable, progressive results for softer, brighter skin.

Recovery

Clear + Brilliant Touch is a non-invasive laser treatment, so you can return to your everyday activities right after your appointment. You may experience some redness and swelling for a few days. It is essential to avoid skincare products that scrub, rub or exfoliate the skin. Instead, use a gentle cleanser to wash the skin and protect yourself from the sun by wearing sunscreen and a hat or clothing to cover the area.

Results

Clear + Brilliant Touch treatments can provide results for up to three months, depending on your cosmetic concerns. The number of sessions recommended by our doctors will vary, but four to six is a standard range. Some people choose to use this laser treatment as a routine part of their skincare regimen.

Candidates

Many people can achieve visible enhancements in skin tone and radiance with Clear + Brilliant Touch, including those who want to:

• Prevent and ward off early signs of aging.
• Improve their skin without invasive procedures.
• Maintain results from other treatments and procedures.
• Have healthier-looking skin.

Skin Tone FAQs

Is there a recovery period with intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy?

There is generally no recovery time for IPL therapy aside from needing to avoid the sun. It is okay to resume wearing makeup and taking part in your skincare regimen right after treatment as long as you are gentle when applying and removing your makeup.

In some cases, clients will have bruising, but this is rare. When it does occur, it is usually resolved in 2 weeks or less. Crusting can also occur but will typically clear up in about 2 weeks.

How much does IPL therapy cost?

The exact price will vary based on what center you choose and the size of the area being treated. A typical cost range for IPL is $700 to $1,200. However, it can be cheaper or much more expensive depending on a variety of factors, including location and size of treatment as well the number of sessions needed to achieve the desired results. To know what to expect, contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Is there a recovery period with fractional CO2 laser resurfacing?

Yes, though this is not like recovery from surgery. You are welcome to resume work directly after your treatment if you are comfortable doing so. During the recovery period, your skin will feel like it was sunburned, though the sensation is generally mild. There may also be redness and swelling, and many clients report some itching. About 5 days after the session, the skin should flake and peel, revealing the new skin. This will first be pink but will even out to your natural color.

How much does fractional CO2 laser resurfacing cost?

The cost will depend on the type you select, the area treated and the center you want to work with. The national average cost for fractional CO2 laser resurfacing hovers around $2,071. It is best to schedule a consultation with your preferred center so you can know the exact price you will need to pay.

How long does fractional CO2 laser resurfacing last?

Results can vary from person to person, and your results will depend on your unique situation. However, if you take good care of your skin, wear sunscreen and stay hydrated, you may find that your results last for years to come. Staying out in the sun unprotected, smoking, drinking and not staying hydrated could cause your results to start to fade within a year.

Is there a recovery period with photodynamic therapy (PDT)?

No downtime is needed after PDT, so you can resume work and other activities immediately. Most clients feel fully recovered within a day and do not experience notable side effects. Those who do tend to note slight soreness and itchiness in the treated area.

How much does PDT cost?

Sessions can be as cheap as $100 or over $400 depending on the size and location of treatment area as well as the number of sessions needed to achieve the desired results. To get a better understanding of cost, schedule a free consultation.

Is there a recovery period with Blue-U acne therapy?

No, there is no recovery period with Blue-U acne therapy, and clients rarely report any side effects of treatment.

How much does Blu-U acne therapy cost?

Like most forms of treatment, this will vary based on the surface area covered, number of treatments needed and whether you are combining Blu-U acne therapy with other treatments. In general, treatment sessions will start at around $50 and go up from there.

Contact us online for a complimentary consultation to decide which skin tone treatment options are right for you.