Washington Institute of
Dermatologic Laser Surgery Blog

Labels: CoolSculpting, Cryolipolysis, Fat reduction, Zeltiq

Hair is one of our body characteristics that we either love or hate. Depending on the area of our body where it grows, we either want more of it or we want it gone. At WIDLS, we understand the hair dilemma better than anyone. Whether you want to rid yourself of unwanted body hair or wish you had a scalp full of thicker hair, we have an option for you.

More: NeoGraft™ Hair Transplantation

Thinning hair can be a self-consciousness issue for both men and women. NeoGraft is a new technology that helps an existing hair transplant technique (follicular unit extraction or FUE) work better and faster than ever, offering relief to those worried about thinning or vanishing hair.

Essentially, the FUE technique removes hair follicles, individually or in small clusters, from the back of the head for transplant to bald spots, the hairline, or wherever else is desired. The FUE technique is widely regarded as gentler for the patient and kinder to the transplanted hair follicles than is the mainstream linear harvest follicular unit transplant system, which involves surgery and extensive recovery time.

While the FUE technique has been around for many years, it has been regarded as too expensive and time-consuming. NeoGraft speeds up this transplant procedure, and its technological advances allow more of the hair follicle transplants to survive, making for better results and requiring less follow-up treatment.

Less: Laser Hair Removal

Excessive body hair can be an annoyance for anyone, but it's not something you have to live with! WIDLS offers one of the most effective hair removal methods with our laser hair removal procedure. The laser light is directed toward your skin surface penetrating to the next layer, the dermis, where hair follicles are located. The light is then absorbed by the melanin in each hair follicle causing the follicle to shut down.

Hair grows in a 3-phase cycle, with a growth phase followed by a resting phase and then a shedding phase. During laser hair removal treatment, follicles in the growth phase are primarily affected because they contain the most pigment.

When little or no melanin is present, the laser light is not absorbed. Thus, if you have very fair hair (blonde, white, gray or light red), laser hair removal will not work. But it works very well on dark brown, dark red, and black hair.

The hair removal laser can work on virtually any area of the body, including under the arms, bikini, legs, face, chest, and back. All skin types (light and dark) can be treated, but it is best to lose any suntan prior to undergoing laser hair removal treatment.

At the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, a number of innovative technologies are being used to address your hair concerns. Advice from a one of our dermatologists is a good first step in deciding what it is right for you. If you are in the Washington, D.C. area, we invite you to contact us by phone or e-mail for a consultation.

Just in time to address your aging (sagging) concerns, a new treatment has become available for facial rejuvenation. It is called Ultherapy™. It is a non-invasive treatment that uses ultrasound to stimulate collagen production in the skin.

The skin has multiple layers that continuously undergoes repair. The top layer (epidermis) replaces old skin cells with new ones. The next (deeper) layer is called the dermis and one of its jobs is to produce collagen. It has a matrix of collagen fibers entwined with elastin fibers that supports the skin surface, keeping it smooth. Like the epidermis, the dermis creates new skin cells to replace old ones.

As we age and the body slows down, collagen production in the dermis is diminished and fewer cells are replaced. The dermal matrix develops gaps into which the top skin layer collapses, effectively creating wrinkles. Damage to the skin also occurs with sun exposure and wrinkles are further accentuated with repeated facial expressions. In addition to Ultherapy, other rejuvenating procedures include filler and botulinum injections.

How Does Ultherapy™ Work?
Ultrasound is a vibration of sound that we cannot hear. Its frequency is higher than our audible range, just as ultraviolet light is beyond the visible color spectrum that we can see. When ultrasound is directed beneath the skin’s surface into the dermis, it causes a controlled disruption of the skin which, in turn, reacts by producing collagen and tighter replacement cells.

Each Ultherapy™ treatment takes about an hour. No anesthesia is typically necessary, but pain pills are available upon request. Ultherapy™ rejuvenates many facial areas- smoothing out wrinkles on the brow and cheeks and providing tissue tightening on the neck and eyes.

Immediately after treatment, the skin has a flushed look for a few hours, but no external wound is evident. Makeup can be applied immediately so that you can return to work or other activities the same day.

Results may be evident after just one treatment, but additional treatments can be applied to enhance the clinical effect. After two or three months, when the skin has had time to replace many old cells with new, tighter cells and more collagen is supporting the surface, you should show noticeable improvement.

Please see our page on Ultherapy™ for more information.

If you are in the Washington D.C. area and would like to know more about Ultherapy™ as an option for your facial rejuvenation, please contact us today for a personal consultation.

Make this March a beautiful month with these specially priced treatments and products at Washington Institute of Dermatological Laser Surgery.

This month only, WIDLS is offering 50% off Zeltiq cryolipolysis fat reduction treatments. At just $500 an area, you can be among the first to try this revolutionary procedure that’s poised to be the next big thing.

Get longer lashes at an unbeatable price. This month, buy a two-month supply of Latisse at WIDLS and get a third month at 50% off (a savings of $60).

NIA 24 is our go-to brand for improving the appearance of sun-damaged skin, and when you buy two products this month, you get a third NIA 24 product free (a $50 to $120 value).

At-home devices are a great way to maintain the results of in-office treatments. This month only, buy any two devices (including Clarisonic Pro/Mia/Opal Skin Care Brushes, Omnilux LED, Silk'n SensEpil and the HairMax Comb) and save 20% (savings range from $60 to $200).