Acne Scarring

Laser treatment for acne scarring is effective and excellent for treating stubborn scars or marks that are not fading quite fast enough for you. Pitted or depressed scars are considered permanent scars and cannot be improved by just creams alone. If you are looking for a way to improve your acne scars, laser treatment is a good option to consider.

Laser treatment for acne scarring can be done in two ways: ablative and non-ablative. Ablative laser resurfacing uses heat from a strong laser to treat the outer layer of skin and stimulate new collagen growth. This method may cause a degree of bleeding and discomfort, and recovery can take 7-10 days. Non-ablative laser therapy uses heat from a laser to increase blood flow in your skin, which helps reduce wrinkles and pigmentation while also improving texture. Non-ablative lasers do not cause any visible bleeding in your skin; however, they do require multiple treatments over time to see good results.

Effective for treating deeper scars that cause depressions and textural irregularities on the skin

Helps to lighten brown marks rapidly quickly; also good for treatment of mild to moderate scars

Excellent for lightening pink or red marks quickly, also improves texture and pore size

By utilising a variety of lasers to target different post acne scar issues, we can optimise your results. Stronger laser treatments may have downtime of around a week. Usually, a course of repeated treatments, at 4-6 weekly intervals, are required to resurface the skin and improve the appearance of acne scars.

Birthmarks

Birthmarks may be noticed at birth or shortly after birth. Some birthmarks respond particularly well to laser treatment. The most common birthmarks are Naevus of Ota and red birthmarks such as Port Wine Stains and haemangiomas. Naevus of Ota is a greyish brown birthmark that presents at birth and grows with the child. Commonly found on the face, it is most commonly seen around the eye, temple and cheek. Port wine stains are reddish birthmarks which are caused by a collection of blood vessels in the skin. This can occur anywhere on the body, but it most often appears on the face. Port wine stains are usually red or purple in color, usually becoming darker with age.

Laser for Birthmarks

• Naevus of Ota is best treated with pigment lasers with a very short pulse width (Q-switched or picosecond lasers). Studies have supported the treatment of such birthmarks at an early age, to reduce the number of treatments required and to shorten the duration of treatment. There is a small risk of recurrence after a good result has been obtained. Sometimes hyper or hypopigmentation post laser may occur at the treated areas.
• Red birthmarks are best treated with vascular lasers such as the VBEAM laser. Early treatment in childhood when the birthmarks are lighter is recommended so that less number of treatments are required.

Injectables For Wrinkles And Volumisation - Botox And Fillers

Botox and fillers are one of the best and easiest ways to rejuvenate your face. A combination of both can be used to achieve the coveted V shaped face, in addition to overall softening and contouring of facial lines and features. Fillers are used to volumise hollows and soften lines to recreate the smooth contours of youthful skin. Also used to create definition, elongation and lifting to create more defined features. It is a swift, non-surgical solution to plump up aged skin and to add definition to facial features.

Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a great solution for reducing facial wrinkles such as frown lines, crow's feet and even dimpled chins. In addition, it can be used to soften a hard square jawline, treat teeth grinding habits, and achieve the coveted V shaped face. It also adds immediate glow and shine to brighten dull complexions.

Injectables For Hydration, Healing And Firming – Profhilo And Rejuran

Profhilo is a revolutionary 'beneath the skin' hyaluronic acid moisturising treatment, made with the patented NAHYCO® technology. It contains high concentrations of hyaluronic acid complexes that deliver a boost of deep hydration, and stimulate the production of collagen, elastin, and stem cells when injected into the skin. Profhilo helps to improve skin laxity and restore firmness of the skin.

The most common areas of treatment include the face and neck and can also be used for the décolletage, hands, arms, knees and abdomen area where it can effectively treat skin laxity. The is a quick and extremely natural treatment that is suitable for men and women seeking subtle yet effective enhancements.

Rejuran is the latest addition to our skinboosters repertoire, boosting collagen production and restoring youthful skin. Unlike other types of Hyaluronic acid-based skinboosters, Rejuran is made of Polynucleotides (PN), derived from salmon DNA.

PN are DNA fragments that repair damaged skin cells and stimulate collagen production by increasing proliferation of fibroblasts. This helps to boost skin healing and remodel collagen, making it perfect for the treatment of acne scars.

Laser for Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is the best way to get rid of unwanted hair. Laser hair removal uses a laser to target and destroy the hair follicle, which causes the hair to shed. It can be used on any area of the body, including the face, armpits, chest, back and legs.

Laser hair removal works best for people with dark hair and light skin. Laser hair removal does not work well for people with very fine or blond hair as the lack of melanin within the hair means the laser energy is not taken up.

Laser Treatment for Hair Removal

We use the GentleLase 755nm Alexandrite Laser to remove hair from most skin types effectively and safely. Most patients are able to tolerate the procedure without numb cream due to its patented Dynamic Cooling Device™. Numb cream can be applied for ultimate comfort, or when sensitive areas are treated.

A course of 6-8 treatments at 4-6 weekly intervals will reduce the number, size and density of hairs, leaving your skin feeling smooth, soft and free from both unsightly and painful ingrown hairs.

Laser For Redness and Acne Marks Scars

A scar is a mark left on the skin after a wound has healed. Scars can be raised, sunken, pink, red, brown and can range from barely visible to very noticeable. Most scars have no symptoms but some keloids may be itchy or painful, especially as they increase in size.

Scars are commonly caused by cuts and trauma to the skin, but they can also be caused by surgery. Severe acne may also result in deep scarring. Scars can occur anywhere on the body, but scars on the face and ears are most visible and the commonest reason why patients consult us for treatment.

The appearance of your scar will depend on many factors including how deep it is, whether it is located over an area of tension such as shoulder and knee joints, if it was complicated by infection, or if there are other underlying conditions.

Although scars can fade over time, they never disappear completely.

Medical Grade Facials and Chemical Peels

We are able to provide medical-grade, non-invasive, multi-step facials to clear clogged pores and hydrate the skin using hydrafacial.Hydrafacial is an invigorating treatment that can be performed in as little as 30 minutes. It offers instant, noticeable results with no downtime or irritation. The Hydrafacial treatment removes dead skin cells and extracts impurities while simultaneously bathing the new skin with cleansing, hydrating and moisturising serums. The treatment is soothing, refreshing, non-irritating and immediately effective

For patients who prefer non-laser treatments, we have a selection of chemical peels to combat pigmentation, control oil production, and brighten the skin.

Mole Removal For Cosmetic Reasons

Moles are extremely common and are usually harmless. However sometimes, they can grow and change into dangerous skin cancers.

Moles should first be examined by a trained dermatologist to ensure they are harmless before any laser treatment is carried out. Laser treatment should not be used to treat any suspicious or changing moles. Harmless moles however can be treated with lasers for cosmetic removal. Surgical removal is also sometimes used to remove harmless moles.

Moles can be removed for cosmetic reasons in two ways, through laser or surgery. Laser involves the use of laser light to target and remove the mole cells. Surgery involves cutting out the mole, closing the wound with stitches, and the final result is a small scar that fades over several months.

For flat moles, our pigment laser is extremely efficient at lasering off small flat moles quickly and successfully without scarring in the large majority of patients. Most flat brown moles will require 1-2 treatments and patients are usually surprised at how quick and fuss free the procedure is.

For raised moles, either laser or surgical removal can be performed. The advantage of a surgical approach is that recurrence is very rare as the entire mole including the deeper cells are cut out. However there will be a small scar. Lasers can also be used to remove raised moles safely and effectively. Depending on whether the moles are flesh coloured or pigmented, one or two lasers may be required. This is especially recommended for raised moles in certain locations e.g. around the nose or lips.

Pigmentation

Skin pigmentation is a common problem for many people. Sun exposure, hormonal changes and skin inflammation can all cause pigmentation of the skin. Some common causes are:

• Birthmarks
• Freckles
• Becker’s naevus
• Sunspots (solar lentigines)
• Melasma
• Hori’s naevus

Treatment

Sun protection is the first line treatment for any pigmentation.

Lightening creams can help lighten superficial pigmentation. These are prescription grade and very potent, unlike over the counter options.

Oral tablets such as tranexamic acid, glutathione and phytofloral work well against melasma, and provides excellent overall lightening.

Pigment lasers can be very effective for skin pigmentation. We have a range of pigment lasers that deliver excellent results and yet have a low risk of post laser pigmentation. As we have a range of lasers available, we can help you choose the pigment laser that best suits your needs. We have gentle pigment lasers with little downtime but would require more sessions. We also have more aggressive laser treatments that treat faster over fewer sessions, but which entails some downtime.

Scar Treatment

Treatment for scars depend on many factors including the cause of the scar, the location of the scar and even the type of scar. Possible treatments could be

• Acne scars - injections, needling techniques or lasers may be used
• Keloid or hypertrophic scars - these disfiguring raised scars can be treated with steroid injections to soften and flatten. This can be followed by picosecond and vascular lasers to target the redness and soften further.
• Depressed scars - fractional laser resurfacing and injections can be used to improve the appearance
• Post surgical scars - early treatment of post surgical scars are now recommended, and these may include a combination of silicone gels, lasers and steroid injections.

Rejuvenation

At Shine Dermatology we strive to understand the needs of our patients. No two people are alike and we aim to offer a personalised plan, customised to your expectations and skin type, in order to maximise the renewal and rejuvenation of your skin. After a consultation and thorough analysis of your skin we create a customised plan using the most appropriate spectrum of treatments and procedures for you.

The strategies available are:

• Lasers are used to treat pigmentation, redness, remove unwanted hair, as well as to improve scarring, pore size and texture by stimulating new collagen formation.
• Skin tightening techniques restore collagen, elastin and firmness in your skin. Amongst the broad range of strategies available are Ultherapy, Profhilo injections, monopolar radiofrequency, radiofrequency microneedling treatments.
• Injectables such as Botox, Fillers, Profhilo, Rejuran, Sculptra, Skinboosters are all available to volumise, plump up and recreate the soft, shiny and smooth contours of youth.

Skin Tightening

Do you wish your skin could be firmer, sag and droop less? We recommend the only FDA approved, non-invasive, skin-tightening treatment - Ultherapy.

ULTHERAPY

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is all the rage in the market, promising a surgical free solution to skin tightening, toning and lifting of the face. Our clinic uses the leading and foremost brand Ulthera, which utilises cutting-edge technology to look beneath the skin and treat the areas of concern with precision. This allows the ultrasound energy to be focused at the correct skin depth to stimulate new collagen production, for maximal tightening results.

It is the only non- invasive skin tightening treatment approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA). This means that it has undergone stringent testing and has proven its effectiveness and safety as a skin tightening device.

You can choose which areas to target on the face and neck. Commonly treated areas include:

• Cheeks
• Double chin area
• Neck region
• Around the eyes

One can treat all or a combination of any.

The procedure takes around 2.5 hours, including 1 hour for numbing treatment to take effect. Before the procedure, numbing strategies will be provided to ensure the procedure is as comfortable as possible.

During the procedure, a gel is applied before different transducers are placed over the treatment areas. These transducers will deliver ultrasound energy to the top and deeper layers of the skin, encouraging tightening throughout the skin. The skin may look slightly pink after the procedure. Some patients may experience swelling and a mild aching sensation for a couple of weeks. Most patients will see improvement over the next 1-3 months as new collagen forms.

One of the downsides of Ultherapy is the discomfort and pain during treatment. Our clinic has devised excellent techniques to minimise pain and optimise comfort during the procedure which includes the use of oral painkillers, numbing cream, numbing injections in sensitive areas, and cooling strategies. We have tried and tested many combinations to arrive at what we think is the most optimal solution for the least amount of discomfort.

There may be some mild redness and swelling immediately after the treatment. Occasionally, there can be areas of bruising which will subside over a week. Patients may also feel a little sore over the treated areas for a few weeks. As the downtime is minimal, a large majority of patients will be able to resume their usual activities immediately after treatment.

Ultherapy is an excellent option for patients who are not ready for surgery or a facelift. Usually, subtle tightening can be seen immediately after treatment. However, the full tightening effect usually takes 3-4 months to appear as the body requires time to generate new collagen.

Final results can vary between individuals. While some patients may see very visible improvement in sagging and facial contours, others may only experience mild improvement. The most obvious areas of improvement are usually the cheeks and jawline area. A brow lift can also sometimes be achieved when treated around the eyes. The effects can last for a year.

Treating Pigmentation or Brown Spots

Skin pigmentation is a common problem for many people. Sun exposure, hormonal changes and skin inflammation can all cause pigmentation of the skin. Some common causes are:

• Birthmarks
• Freckles
• Becker’s naevus
• Sunspots (solar lentigines)
• Melasma
• Hori’s naevus

Treatment

• Sun protection is the first line treatment for any pigmentation.
• Lightening creams can help lighten superficial pigmentation. These are prescription grade and very potent, unlike over the counter options.
• Oral tablets such as tranexamic acid, glutathione and phytofloral work well against melasma, and provides excellent overall lightening.
• Pigment lasers can be very effective for skin pigmentation. We have a range of pigment lasers that deliver excellent results and yet have a low risk of post laser pigmentation. As we have a range of lasers available, we can help you choose the pigment laser that best suits your needs. We have gentle pigment lasers with little downtime but would require more sessions. We also have more aggressive laser treatments that treat faster over fewer sessions, but which entails some downtime.