Cosmetic Treatments

Laser Treatments | Injectables | Chemical Peels

New Breakthrough Fractional CO2 Laser Treatment Offers Dramatic Results in Skin Rejuvenation in Just One Treatment

Dr. Goodlerner is the first physician in the South Bay to be offering the new breakthrough Fractional CO2 laser treatment, which offers dramatic improvement in wrinkle reduction, skin tightening, brightening and smoothing, and acne scar reduction in just one treatment.- with minimal downtime or discomfort.

Dr. Goodlerner was so impressed with the results of a study of 500-plus patients treated with the CO2 laser, which was presented at the latest meeting of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery that she decided to offer the new laser rejuvenation procedure to her patients.

"The new CO2 laser is a deeper treatment than Fraxel , but requires less healing time than the original CO2 laser peel, and it is the best choice for patients who desire dramatic improvement in a single treatment," according to Dr. Goodlerner. "This is an excellent procedure for patients who want visible results after one treatment and are willing to have a few days of healing time."

Benefits of the treatment include improvement in:

• Wrinkles
• Fine lines
• Irregular texture
• Sun spots and age spots (pigmented lesions)
• Sun-induced redness (vascular dyschromia)

How it works

With Fractional CO2 treatment, you get dramatic results without going under the knife. Instead, laser treatment uses points of light to precisely treat thousands of microscopic areas of your skin. The treatment penetrates deep into the skin to remove old, damaged skin cells, stimulates your body's own natural healing process, and replaces the cells with fresh, glowing, healthy skin.

Because the technology is so precise, this laser works not only on the face, but also on delicate skin areas like the neck, chest and hands.

A recent patient, Lee G of Redondo Beach, had suffered with acne scars all of her adult life. She had a series of Fraxel laser treatments with a very good outcome, which she newly augmented with a CO2 laser treatment.

"I saw immediate improvement and my skin keeps getting better all the time," said Lee.

Results of either a CO2 laser treatment or Fraxel laser treatments may be enhanced with injectables or fillers, and maintained with the latest anti-aging creams.

[ top of page ]

Introducing Reliant Fraxel Laser Treatment

The closest you may get to looking years younger without surgery.

There’s a new aesthetic laser solution that provides a way for you to turn back the clock on aging: Fraxel Laser Treatment, one of the latest technologies in dermatology that has recently been approved by the FDA to treat many skin problems. Fraxel is being heralded as “the most powerful, no down-time, anti-aging laser ever developed” and is safe for all skin types and ethnic groups.

Dr. Susan Goodlerner, who has offered her patients a variety of laser treatments for more than 20 years, is pleased to be one of the first dermatologists in the South Bay area to now offer Fraxel Laser Treatment.

What is Fraxel Laser Treatment?

This breakthrough laser treatment was developed by Reliant Technologies in conjunction with the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, the developers of the novel concept of “fractional laser therapy,” with whom Dr. Goodlerner and her nursing staff will be undergoing intensive training in January.

Fraxel combines the benefits of two types of skin rejuvenating treatments: the dramatic results of ablative procedures, which remove the skin’s top layer and the quick recovery of non-invasive treatments, such as microdermabrasion.

The Fraxel laser intentionally damages tiny portions of the skin (microthermal zones), fractions at a time, deep down to the dermis layer, leaving healthy skin surrounding it intact to promote faster healing. To appreciate the benefits of Fraxel Laser Treatment, think of a family portrait or digital photograph in need of high-quality restoration or touch-up. Just as a damaged painting is delicately restored one area at a time, or a photographic image is altered, pixel by pixel, the Fraxel laser improves your appearance by affecting only a fraction of your skin at a time with thousands of microscopic laser spots. From these microscopic pinholes, dead cellular debris rises up and flakes off, and the skin repairs itself, building new collagen.

"The unique ‘fractional’ approach is a huge step forward in providing significant cosmetic results with minimal downtime," says Dr. Goodlerner. "This advanced treatment is the first cosmetic laser to provide an effective, gradual procedure that creates new, healthy tissue by stimulating the body to naturally repair aging and photo-damaged skin, without significant risk or recovery time."

What problems does it treat?

The Fraxel laser has been approved by the FDA for skin resurfacing, treatment of wrinkles around the eyes and the treatment of pigmented lesions, such as age spots, sun spots and melasma.

FDA clearance is pending for the treatment of scars resulting from acne, surgery or trauma.

After Fraxel Laser Treatment, skin generally feels softer, looks smoother and tighter, and pores are usually smaller.

How long is the treatment session?

Fraxel Laser Treatment can be performed in our office using topical anesthesia. Treatment takes 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of the area being treated. Because the procedure does not "ablate" or remove the outer skin layer, patients can resume routine activities soon after treatment. Swelling is minimal and generally resolves in about two days. The skin will have a pinkish or sunburned appearance for five to seven days.

How many treatments do you need?

For optimal improvement, a series of three to five treatments is recommended, and they can be performed two to four weeks apart. You’ll see some results right away, but it takes one to three months for the skin to completely heal itself and for you to see noticeable improvement, such as diminished fine lines and wrinkles, and skin tightening.

For more information or to schedule a private consultation, call Dr. Susan Goodlerner at 310.375.9994.

[ top of page ]

Vbeam® Pulsed Dye Laser

This laser technology can treat a wide range of facial imperfections, including cystic acne, acne scars, crow’s feet, facial veins, rosacea, port wine stains, stretch marks, warts, psoriasis, uneven coloring of the neck, venous lakes, stretch marks and warts. Vbeam® is the most effective treatment for redness.

The pulsed dye laser delivers a burst of that is gentle but very intense. The blood vessels in the skin absorb the light, coagulate, and reabsorb into the body as part of the natural healing process. This treatment has proven completely safe, even for infants and children, and extremely effective.

[ top of page ]

Photofacial with Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

A photofacial with intense pulsed light can treat red, flushed faces, sun-damaged skin, hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores, rosacea, and fine lines and wrinkles. While a little less effective against redness than Vbeam®, it provides better overall results in patients with a combination of redness and pigmentation. There is no skin irritation and little downtime for the patient.

Treatments can be performed every three weeks. After just one treatment, your skin will be smoother and have a more even tone: sunspots will fade, pores will shrink, and fine lines and wrinkles will begin to disappear. With subsequent treatments, you will see even more improvement in these areas. Patients with rosacea will see a reduction in redness and flushing by 80 to 90 percent.

IPL delivers precise dosages of light energy directly to the targeted area. It destroys the imperfection, leaving surrounding healthy tissue untouched.

A 42-year-old female patient who just returned from a professional conference said:

“I went to an annual meeting after having Restylane injections and three photofacials. More than half a dozen people I see once or twice a year commented on how rested and good I looked. One colleague commented that I looked ‘very pretty’ and said, ‘If you’re overworked it must be good for you.”

[ top of page ]

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Skin resurfacing is an excellent treatment for serious facial scarring caused by acne, overexposure to the sun, or previous skin surgeries. It is also an excellent treatment for uneven skin color

The new UltraPulse CO2 Laser allows for the safe removal of fine lines and wrinkles without bleeding. The physician has precise control over the depth of the exfoliation, which allows for safe treatment of even the most delicate areas around the eyes and on the lips.

For small treatment areas, the procedure is done under local anesthetic, similar to that used at the dentist. When the full face is treated, Dr. Goodlerner recommends that the patient be under sedation, so that the procedure can be done with maximum patient cooperation. In the postoperative period, most patients use pain medication for only one or two days.

The entire procedure usually takes about an hour and recovery is rapid. You can go home a few hours after a full-face procedure. Initially, your face will have some swelling and a pinkish, sunburned look. Your appearance will gradually improve enough to return to work and normal activities in about seven to 10 days.

“My experience with laser resurfacing at Dr. Goodlerner's office was great! Dr. Goodlerner and her staff are the ultimate in medical professionals: intelligent, caring, and supportive. They took extreme care to review both pre- and post-procedure instructions with me. I felt very confident about what to do following my procedure and what I should expect. I am extremely satisfied with my results. I would highly recommend laser resurfacing for any qualified patient. Having been a nurse for 20 years, I am very particular about who I see in the health profession. I can say without any reservations, that Dr. Goodlerner and her team are the best!"

Beth Henneman

"I chose laser resurfacing as my 'in-between' step since I wasn't quite ready for a conventional facelift. The results were wonderful! Many fine lines on my face, especially the eye area, disappeared and my complexion looked youthful and rested. After the first week, I applied makeup to cover the pinkness and was able to go out and about."

M.C., age 52

[ top of page ]

GentleLASE® Laser Hair Removal System

Dr. Goodlerner offers laser hair removal for men and women with the GentleLASE® System, which safely and almost permanently removes body hair without damaging the delicate pores and structures of the skin.

This system works on the facial and bikini areas, legs, back and other body hair. The GentleLASE® emits a beam of light that destroys the follicle, leaving the surrounding skin unaffected. Because pigment in the follicle is the target, this procedure does not work for white or blond hair. The number of treatments depends on your skin color, eye color and coarseness of the hair. However, everyone requires at least six treatments, as the process is only effective during the hair’s growing cycle. Repeat sessions are required to treat the follicles when they re-enter the early growth phase.

For more information on the use of lasers in dermatology, visit the Web site of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery at www.aslms.org.

[ top of page ]

Spider Vein Treatment

Sclerotherapy is the treatment for superficial leg veins (telangiectasia), the dilated skin capillaries that are frequently an inherited tendency. Most people have both red (arterial) and blue (venous) capillaries.

Treatment consists of microinjections of sclerosing solution using needles so small that a magnifying lens is required. This dries out the tiny cells that line the blood vessels. Several injections – two to three per vessel – may be needed for a specific area; and the larger the vessel, the more difficult it is to eradicate.

Fading of spider veins is a slow process, ranging from two weeks to two months. The goal is to produce about 70 to 80 percent improvement, and sclerotherapy does not prevent new veins from forming.

[ top of page ]

Injectables

Dr. Goodlerner offers several simple, safe, and effective injectable cosmetic procedures to treat lines and wrinkles. She will be happy to tailor a treatment program that meets your needs and expectations.

Radiesse: A new, longer-lasting cosmetic dermal filler

Radiesse, one of the next generations of dermal fillers, is creating quite a buzz in the wrinkle-filler market because the results last longer than other popular fillers, Restylane and Juvederm – between 12 months and 18 months.

What is Radiesse?

Radiesse is an injectable filler composed of smooth, pearl-like microspheres of calcium dissolved in a soft, natural gel. These microspheres create a "scaffold" below the skin’s surface that stimulate the growth of natural collagen around them. In the skin, Radiesse creates volume and gives your skin the fullness of youth.

What problems does it treat?

Radiesse works beautifully in filling in folds around the mouth and nose, such creases around the nose to the corners of the mouth that develop with age. It can also restore volume to sunken cheeks which may develop with aging.

What to expect during and after treatment:

Treatment takes about 20 minutes and can be done on the day of your consultation. We recommend getting a treatment at least one week ahead of an upcoming event, since there may be some redness and bruising for a few days.

The best part is that results are immediate. And as Radiesse works with your body to stimulate new collagen, there will be continued, noticeable improvement.

[ top of page ]

Restylane®

Restylane® is a safe, natural, cosmetic dermal filler that corrects severe wrinkles and facial folds, such as the nasolabial folds that run from the sides of the nose to the outer corners of the mouth. This crystal clear, biodegradable gel is the first and only cosmetic dermal filler made of non animal-based hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that exists in the human body and provides volume and fullness to the skin. No allergy testing is required, so Restylane® can be administered immediately, in just one visit.

Restylane® works very well with BOTOX®, and we offer a 10% discount on BOTOX® if you receive both at the same time.

[ top of page ]

BOTOX® Cosmetic

BOTOX®, is a protein that, when injected into muscle, becomes a nerve blocker. It is used to smooth facial lines caused primarily by the action of muscles on the skin. By relaxing the muscles that cause major wrinkles (forehead lines, furrows between the eyebrows, and crow’s feet), it also works to prevent the formation of new lines. FDA-approved and used by the medical profession for more than seven years, it can be performed in one office visit. Effects last from four to six months, depending on the individual. Regular touch-ups are required. We’ve been doing since 1996.

[ top of page ]

Collagen Replacement Therapy

Collagen, a natural protein found throughout the body, provides texture, resiliency and shape to the skin. As we age, the skin’s collagen framework weakens, causing loss of elasticity and resiliency. Collagen injections smooth out facial lines, wrinkles, and scars by replenishing the natural collagen support layer beneath the skin.

The procedure is done with purified human collagen (CosmoDerm® ) or bovine (cow skin) collagen (Zyderm®). Dr. Goodlerner recently introduced CosmoDerm® as a replacement for a previous human collagen, because it requires no skin test prior to use. If Zyderm® is still indicated for treatment, two skin tests are performed four weeks apart to determine any allergic reactions. Depending on the patient, one to three treatments are required. Results last about six months.

[ top of page ]

Fat Transfer

Deeper lines, facial scars and nasolabial folds may respond well to fat transfer. Fat is easily and safely removed from the abdomen or thighs and then transplanted to the problem area. Results are more dramatic than with the other fillers, but five to seven days' healing time is usually required. As much as 30% of the fat transferred can be permanent; periodic touch-ups may be necessary.

[ top of page ]

Sculptra™

Sculptra™ is injected into the skin to restore fullness in cases of facial thinning due to aging.

Sculptra™ is composed of poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA), a synthetic material. Since it is not made from human or animal sources, no skin test is required before use. Poly-L-lactic acid is a biocompatible (does not harm the body), biodegradable (able to be broken down by the body) material that has been widely used for many years in surgical products. The effects are long-lasting; they were shown in a clinical study to last for up to two years after the first treatment session.

[ top of page ]

Chemical Peels

There is a lot of talk today about laser treatments. While they are a valuable option, laser procedures are not always the answer.

That's why dermatologists like Dr. Goodlerner trust chemical peels to improve fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation problems, and certain acne scars. The treatment is exciting because the results are predictable and proven.

Dr. Goodlerner uses trichloracetic acid (TCA) in a 15 to 30 percent solution, as a mid-depth peeling agent, to improve pigmentation, wrinkles and acne scars. The agent is stronger than that used by an esthetician, but does not penetrate as deep as laser resurfacing.

Essentially peels do just what they say they do. They cause the skin to blister and eventually peel off, exposing beautiful, regenerated skin underneath. The 15 percent solution is safe for a variety of skin types—even darker tones. The 30 percent is primarily used on fair-skinned patients.

HOW IS THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED?

After you complete a special pre-procedure skin care routine, your peel will be done in the office.

Your skin is cleansed and prepped, and the peeling agent is applied. It remains on the skin approximately 10 to 15 minutes. During treatment, you might feel a slight burning or stinging. Cold packs and towels then soothe the skin before a healing ointment is applied.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARD?

Again, you’ll receive a post-procedure program. You can expect redness followed by peeling skin. The scaling skin may crust over and turn brown. 15 percent peels usually heal in five days, while 30 percent peels require closer to seven days. Residual pinkness can be covered with makeup. In some cases, a second procedure is required to achieve optimum results.

Your skin will be greatly improved, yet sensitive to the sun after the procedure. It’s essential that you adhere to the follow-up skin care program—including the proper use of sunscreens.

While laser treatments are a fantastic development, chemical peels can give you amazing results—at a cost-savings. And they can be used in conjunction with other treatments. Talk to Dr. Goodlerner about whether a TCA peel is right for you. Then you can uncover a smoother, healthier complexion.