Portrait Plasma - Related FAQ's

Q: I am 72 but look 92 with very bad wrinkles on my cheeks. I used to be in the sun all the time from childhood through my adulthood until my late 60s when I had a skin cancer removed. Now I want the wrinkles removed but I have very bad high blood pressure and my doctor said I shouldn't have a face lift because of the anesthesia. Is there something else that can help my skin?

A: There has been a big development of non-surgical treatments for photo-rejuvenation in the last decade. Ultherapy can help lift some skin without surgery but badly sun damaged skin won't elevate as much as healthier skin because of the sun damage. Fraxel lasers can help improve the texture. You would need a consultation to review the treatment with each laser. The Fraxel restore is a series of treatments and the Fraxel Repair is usually done as one treatment. There is much more down time with the Fraxel Repair laser and there is more risk involved but the results can be better. Portrait Plasma resurfacing is unique. It is not a laser. Plasma energy, the fourth phase of matter, delivers heat to the dermis without separating the epidermis the first evening. This helps maintain greater comfort and the healing looks more natural than Fraxel Repair.

Q: I have age spots and some wrinkles in my cheeks. I tried Fraxel for a few sessions and although I have improvement, I want more results. My doctor said I would need a week or more of down time to have a more aggressive procedure. Is this true?

A: Probably that is correct for most patients. The Fraxel Dual helps to lessen the brown spots, more than the Fraxel Restore but the down time is about five to seven days of redness, brown flaking and a mild swelling. The Fraxel Repair CO2 laser and the Portrait Plasma resurfacing are both more aggressive and will create a week to 12 days of down time, and maybe even more for some people. Back to Portrait Plasma Home Page