Laser treatments can help improve the tone, texture and tautness of the skin, while light therapy can kick-start cellular processes to rejuvenate the skin from within. This not only bridges the gap between skincare and surgery but has become a major part of improving the results of more invasive procedures.
Dr John Flynn from Queensland routinely uses laser treatment to optimise results following facelift surgery. ‘About one-third of our practice is laser therapy; it interacts with almost everything we do,’ he says. ‘I consider laser resurfacing to be an integral part of the modern day facelift. It means the texture, colouring and integrity of the skin is addressed, alongside the surgical correction of skin laxity.’
Different uses of laser treatment
Dr Flynn offers both laser rejuvenation and resurfacing at his Gold Coast clinic. He says the two types are effective in correcting different skin conditions and can help counter the signs of premature ageing.
‘Laser rejuvenation is most effective for colour correction; it can help treat redness and pigmentation, and reduce the appearance of birth marks or blood disorders on the skin,’ he says. ‘In comparison, laser resurfacing is best for improving texture, reducing wrinkles and really rebuilding and reinforcing the skin’s collagen support structures.’
The laser rejuvenation treatment is relatively gentle and involves very little downtime. It is suitable for those patients looking to maintain the results of more invasive procedures, or improve the appearance of broken capillaries, prominent veins, rosacea or pigmentation, and overall skin radiance. Several treatments are typically required to achieve the best results.’
For those after a more hard-hitting approach, laser resurfacing is suited to patients looking to help reverse the signs of ageing and slow the future formation of lines and wrinkles. Although it involves some downtime, laser resurfacing can achieve noticeable results in a single treatment.
‘The downtime will vary between patients, and some redness will usually persist for a few weeks following treatment,’ says Dr Flynn. ‘Laser resurfacing can achieve noticeable improvement in one treatment.’
LED therapy
Treatment with light emitting diodes (LED) delivers light at certain wavelengths to stimulate cellular activity and collagen production in the dermis. This delivers an anti-ageing, rejuvenating effect, and Dr Flynn often recommends LED treatment before and after surgery.
‘LED therapy can be used to improve skin health before and after surgery, or as a stand-alone treatment for general skin rejuvenation,’ he explains. ‘It uses different wavelengths to increase blood flow to the skin, accelerate cellular turnover and address specific concerns such as acne or pigmentation.’
During treatment, certain light wavelengths are used to cause different reactions in the skin. Infrared light deeply penetrates the dermis and stimulates blood flow and collagen rebuilding in the skin’s deeper layers. Blue light, which is a shorter wavelength, doesn’t penetrate as deeply and is used for its anti-microbial effect, inhibiting the growth of acne-causing bacteria.
Practically anyone seeking a non-invasive way to enhance skin health and kick-start the body’s natural processes is suitable for LED therapy. The treatment is non-invasive and involves no downtime. Notably, patients at Dr Flynn’s clinic can take home an LED light mask to receive the benefits of light therapy in their own homes.
‘It’s an innovative concept that delivers all the benefits of LED therapy in a take-home mask,’ Dr Flynn says. ‘Light therapy can achieve extraordinary results by using the right dose of light at the right wavelengths. LED therapy harnesses those wavelengths that trigger cellular activity and benefit skin health, rejuvenating the complexion from within.’
Gallery: Case studies by Dr Flynn
