Laser Treatments
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Rancho Cucamonga, CA
A laser treatment is a way to achieve rejuvenated skin that you can feel happy and confident with.
At Channell Wellness & Aesthetics, we deliver every laser treatment to address your unique skin care concerns with skin type and sensitivity in mind. Each of our lasers offers a customized experience for every patient, ensuring that safety and effectiveness are top priorities. Dr. Patricia Guevara-Channell leads our practice in Rancho Cucamonga. Dr. Guevara-Channell works to find comprehensive treatment plans that address both the health and aesthetics of her patients, allowing them to get the high-quality results they’re looking for.
To book your consultation today, call her office at (909) 483-1236 or reach out via our contact form, and someone from her staff will get in touch with you shortly.
Contents
About Lasers
Laser energy, put simply, is concentrated light emitted at a specific wavelength. Different wavelengths of laser are utilized for the treatment of various skin concerns such as wrinkles, scars, stretch marks, hair removal, and even vaginal rejuvenation. Newer devices allow patients to attain the long-lasting results they desire with less overall damage to the skin, allowing for more targeted, precise treatments.
How Do Lasers Work?
In general, lasers work by administering micro-injuries to the skin, giving way to more skin cell regeneration. Micro Injuries also increase the production of collagen, elastin, and other connective fibers that give the skin its structure, youthfulness, and elasticity.
Skin Rejuvenation
Laser skin resurfacing is one of the most common uses for laser energy. By taking away the outer layers of the skin, the underlying skin is brighter, even-toned, and free of superficial blemishes on the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin). The entire procedure is relatively comfortable since your skin care specialist will apply a topical numbing cream before treating the area with laser pulses. During the procedure, your specialist will hold the laser’s window to the surface of your skin and move along different areas, administering the pulses throughout.
Ablative vs. Non-Ablative Lasers
There are two types of laser; ablative and nonablative, with varying periods of downtime. An ablative laser distributes controlled damage to both the epidermis and the dermis, the second layer of skin. A non-ablative laser, on the other hand, only targets the dermis while the epidermis remains unharmed and intact, allowing patients to heal more quickly. These laser therapies boost your skin’s healing processes, replacing dull, blemished skin with clearer, more glowy skin.
SculpSure
SculpSure by Cynosure is an FDA-cleared device that breaks down belly fat, flanks, back, neck, and thighs. This device utilizes a diode laser 1066 nm wavelength that targets the hypodermis of the treatment area, allowing the energy to penetrate deep into the skin to destroy superficial fat deposits. During a SculpSure procedure, your skincare specialist will apply non-invasive applicators to the treatment area. Then, they will manually connect the SculpSure laser-emitting devices to these applicators. After about 30 minutes, the session is complete.
Studies show that patients will begin to see a noticeable reduction in fat at about 6 weeks, but the most significant results will settle in about 3 months later. (1) However, depending on your goals, you may need 2 or more treatment sessions to see the best results.
Stretch Mark Removal
Stretch marks are a unique cosmetic issue usually caused by the rapid weight changes of puberty or pregnancy. At a dermis level, stretch marks have disorganized, thin, and short connective fibers, creating their rippling appearance. These fibers are rich in a protein called tropoelastin, but there are also abnormal arrangements of collagen fibers. Instead of normal perpendicular formations, the collagen appears to bundle in parallel units– much like scar tissue. Although topical treatments have been proven ineffective at treating stretch marks, the opposite is true of lasers. (2)
Channell Wellness & Aesthetics uses the Icon Aesthetic System by Cynosure to treat stretch marks with any combination of laser energy and IPL (intense pulsed light). The laser of the Icon system is a 1540 nm non-ablative energy that is ideal for reducing the appearance of atrophic scars, surgical scars, and of course, stretch marks. While the laser provokes more collagen production and contributes to the development of healthy skin, IPL specifically targets and removes the unusual pigment of stretch marks. This system also comes with Skintel, a device that can map out the exact amount of melanin, or pigmentation, within a certain area of the skin.
Laser Hair Removal
The laser we use for hair removal purposes is the MaxR-Icon from Cynosure. The light specifically targets melanin and travels to the hair matrices in hair follicles. It then damages the follicles with thermal energy, causing permanent hair reduction. Since the light can only target follicles while the hair is in the anagen, or growth phase, laser hair removal is a multi-session process.
Scar Removal
In addition to stretch mark removal, the Icon Aesthetic System can fade scars with its 1540 nm wavelength laser. Besides treating scars, this wavelength is capable of stimulating neocollagenesis- the development of new collagen- with less redness and downtime required. (3) Over the course of several sessions, this laser can promote new collagen arrangements that will replace old scar tissue with abnormal parallel formations of collagen. With the Icon Aesthetic System, you can feel more confident in healthier-looking skin with the reduced appearance of:
- Surgical Scars
- Acne Scars
- Other Atrophic Scars
- Hypertrophic (Raised) Scars
Vaginal Rejuvenation
Vaginal rejuvenation can be a life-changing experience for women who have reduced estrogen levels due to perimenopause, menopause, or another condition affecting their hormones. A change in this critical hormone can cause vaginal atrophy– characterized by dryness, pain or burning during intercourse, and overall laxity. For this issue, Channell Wellness & Aesthetics offers the MonaLisa Touch CO2 laser that is gentle enough for regeneration of the vaginal walls.
Over the duration of a few treatment sessions, the MonaLisa laser will provoke the formation of new blood vessels, a process called angiogenesis, which is essential for proper vaginal lubrication and elasticity. The procedure also works to thicken vaginal tissues to a more youthful state, even aiding in reducing symptoms of urinary urge incontinence. (4) Since our specialists administer numbing cream to the area before the procedure, patients often only feel gentle heat and vibration.
Photofacials
Our photofacials utilize the IPL technology of the Icon Aesthetic System to gently reduce the vascular dilation in rosacea for Fitzpatrick skin types I and II. It can treat redness caused by vascular lesions, providing a more comprehensive rejuvenation that doesn’t require another type of skin resurfacing. Since it targets both large pores and redness, IPL can also serve as a viable treatment for acne.
How to Prepare for a Laser Treatment
The preparation for any type of laser treatment is usually the same, but it will vary from patient to patient. In general, you should abide by these instructions to experience the full potential of your treatment while minimizing the risk of unwanted side effects:
- Avoid sun exposure and tanning beds in the weeks before your laser procedure. You should wear a daily sunscreen of at least SPF30.
- If you smoke regularly, you should aim to stop temporarily to allow your skin to rebuild and heal itself properly after treatment.
- If you take anti-inflammatory medications, consult your skincare specialist on if and when you should stop before and after your procedure.
- If you have had a viral outbreak in the area being treated, inform your skincare specialist so that they can recommend an antiviral medication to prevent its resurgence after laser treatment.
- Discontinue certain skincare products that can further irritate your skin or slow down the healing process. These include minocycline, doxycycline, retinoid, and retinol products. If you aren’t sure if your products are safe to use before and after your procedure, consult your specialist, and they will make recommendations.
- You should avoid harsh exfoliants in the days leading up to your appointment.
- On the day of your treatment, come well-hydrated with a freshly washed face.
Cost of Laser Treatment in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
The cost of your laser treatment at Channell Wellness & Aesthetics will depend on the type of laser treatment, the number of sessions, and any other follow-up appointments. At the time of your consultation with your skincare specialist, they will give you a cost estimate for your unique treatment plan.
If you are looking to make your procedure more cost-effective, consider applying for Cherry, a financing option that we offer here at our practice. To schedule your consultation, call us at (909) 483-1236 or fill out our online form, and take the first step toward radiant, revitalized skin!
References
- Kislevitz M, Wamsley CE, Kang A, et al. Clinical Evaluation of the Safety and Efficacy of a 1060-nm Diode Laser for Non-Invasive Fat Reduction of the Abdomen. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2021;41(10):1155-1165. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjaa418
- Wollina U, Goldman A. Management of stretch marks (with a focus on striae rubrae). Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. 2017;10(3):124. doi:https://doi.org/10.4103/jcas.jcas_118_17
- Magni G, Piccolo D, Bonan P, et al. 1540-nm fractional laser treatment modulates proliferation and neocollagenesis in cultured human dermal fibroblasts. Frontiers in Medicine. 2022;9. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.1010878
- Behnia-Willison F, Sarraf S, Miller J, et al. Safety and long-term efficacy of fractional CO2 laser treatment in women suffering from genitourinary syndrome of menopause. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology. 2017;213:39-44. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.03.036