Tag Archives: fraxel

Skin Protection During The Winter Months

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While we may be six months away from summer, now isn’t the time to shy away from sunscreen.  Daily sunscreen use is a must year round, and extra protection is needed for those hitting the slopes this winter.  “It is essential to use sun protection during the winter months because harmful UVA rays are still present even in cold weather,” says Dr. Lupo. “Full-spectrum sun protection, at least SPF 30, should be applied daily, and it is also important to maintain your anti-aging regimen with retinoids and antioxidants or growth factors.”  See below for sunscreen specials!

While we don’t necessarily have Winter Wonderland weather here in South Louisiana, the seasonal change can still take a toll on our skin.  To combat the cooler temperatures and decreased humidity, exfoliation and extra moisturizing will help eliminate dull skin.  Avoid hot baths that can strip essential oils from the skin and always moisturize immediately after a shower.  A change in diet may also be beneficial to your skin: fish high in omega oils will help hydrate the skin from the inside, and herbal teas, such as green tea, contain antioxidants that help fight off skin-damaging free radicals.

If a good at-home skin regimen doesn’t help to eliminate dry, itchy skin caused by wintry weather, a low-level non-ablative resurfacing treatment such as a SilkPeel, light chemical peels or facials may help to brighten the skin. Pigmentation and redness, which often contributes to the appearance of dull skin, can be treated with Fraxel, Clear+Brilliant, IPL and Laser Genesis.  To keep your skin glowing all year long, contact our office to discuss a skin care routine that is right for you!

Freshen Up Your Face for the Holidays by Erasing the Summer’s Damage to Your Skin

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Now that summer is behind us, it’s time to erase the damage caused by those long days of sunbathing on the beach or by the pool.  Whether you protected your skin or not, the summer sun causes damage even when we are diligent about applying sunscreen or wearing protective clothing.  Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant and Permea are skin resurfacing and rejuvenation lasers that can reverse the signs of sun-damaged skin improving texture, tone and appearance.  These lasers are also a safe and effective way to treat acne scars, wrinkles, enlarged pores and melasma. We’ve been performing fractional non-ablative laser resurfacing at the Lupo Center since 2006, and we always upgraded our equipment as the technology improves.

While Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant and Permea are all resurfacing lasers, each one offers patients a unique treatment to improve a number of skin conditions.

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Fraxel is the most intensive laser of the three so it is used on mature skin or more pronounced skin conditions.  Fraxel uses two different lasers – one of the lasers goes deeper into the skin to help stimulate collagen repair, while the other treats surface skin that is discolored usually due to photo damage or sunlight.  The energy delivered penetrates into the deeper layers of the dermis, and as the skin heals from treatment, it uses the body’s natural processes to produce healthier tissue for a more youthful appearance and reduction of discoloration, wrinkles and pore size. This safe treatment is done in relatively short treatments and it requires brief, social downtime.

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Clear + Brilliant and Permea can also help reverse the signs of sun damaged and aged skin with a less intensive, no-downtime treatment for reducing fine lines, pore size and improving pigmentation seen in melasma and other skin pigmentation disorders.  The laser creates microscopic lesions that are surrounded by large areas of healthy skin to help promote quick healing. The healthy skin helps turn over the tiny lesions in a matter of days, revealing the fresh, smoother, healthier glowing skin below.  Since Clear + Brilliant and Permea are less intensive than Fraxel, they are great for younger patients who want to begin a preventative skin care program or for Fraxel patients who want a gentler option for between-treatment maintenance and longer-lasting results.

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Laser dermatology procedures such as Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant and Permea have become increasingly popular over the years due to their safety, effectiveness and high patient satisfaction.  Depending on age, skin type and budget, we can individualize a treatment plan for all patients.

During the month of October, any patient who pre-purchases a package of three of the same laser resurfacing treatment will receive 10% off the treatments plus a complimentary Avene Thermal Spring Water, while supplies last.  Avene Thermal Spring Water’s unique composition soothes and softens the skin and restores skin’s natural balance, which is beneficial after any laser resurfacing treatment.

In order to receive the discounted price on a laser package and the complimentary Avene product, patients must pre-purchase the package by October 31, 2013 and have the first treatment done by December 31, 2013.  Contact our office for more details.

Restylane Can Help Reverse the Signs of Aging Skin

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Restylane New Orleans LA - Dr Mary Lupo

Restylane New Orleans LA - Dr Mary Lupo

It’s very likely that most people have heard of the term “hyaluronic acid” even if they aren’t fully aware of what it is or how it relates to their skin.  Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring sugar found in the skin and joints that is responsible for skin turgor (tone and “spring”).  In the aging process, hyaluronic acid decreases because of lifestyle and sun exposure, causing the skin to sink in and form lines, folds and shadows.  These changes sometimes cause the skin to age quicker than the person.  Luckily, there are several FDA approved fillers that can help reverse these signs of aging!

Restylane and Perlane are two of the FDA approved hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers that are available at the Lupo Center for the treatment of facial lines and folds. Restylane was the first HA filler to be approved in the United States in 2003, and Perlane, a larger particle HA filler, was later approved in 2007. Both Restylane and Perlane can be used to re-volumize the nasolabial folds, cheeks, lips and temples.  Restylane can also be used to fill in under-eye hallowing and fine lipstick lines around the mouth when injected with a small needle.

To achieve overall facial rejuvenation without cutting or downtime, it’s best to combine fillers with neuromodulators such as Botox or Dysport or resurfacing lasers such as Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant or Intense Pulse Light. Both Restylane and Perlane are versatile and results in a very natural correction. They can be dissolved if any lumping or an adverse event occurs, making it a very safe and popular alternative for non-surgical rejuvenation. The Lupo Center offers patients the option of Restylane L and Perlane L, which contain lidocaine to decrease any pain during the treatment.

Dr. Lupo trains other physicians on the use of these products at national meetings such as for the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery and the Cosmetic Bootcamp. She has also taught Tulane residents filler techniques since 1984.

During the month of August, if you purchase or pre-purchase a treatment of a Valeant filler – Restylane, Perlane or Sculptra – you will be entered into a drawing for a complimentary treatment of Dysport for yourself and a friend*!

*Each person will receive a complimentary Dysport treatment for two areas (maximum of 120 units).  “Friends” must be new patients to the Lupo Center or have never received Dysport, Botox or Xeomin at the Lupo Center.  Contact our office for more details. 

Erase Years From Your Skin with Fraxel®

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Most of us wish we could slow down the effects aging has on our looks – and maybe even get a few years back in the process. Fraxel® is proven laser technology that can help reverse the visible effects of aging, naturally helping you look as young as you feel. With Fraxel®, change isn’t drastic or scary – it’s you, just younger.

The Lupo Center for Aesthetic & general dermatology offers the most advanced Fraxel® Restore Dual Wavelength System to better address pigmentation, wrinkles, acne scars and surgical scars on the entire body with minimal discomfort. Dr. Lupo chooses to use the Fraxel® system because of its very high safety record and proven results for all types of skin, and because it causes minimal disturbance to the patient’s everyday life during the course of treatment.

Fraxel® is a non-invasive laser therapy for people who want to look good – and want real results – but don’t want the drastic change or extended downtime that comes with surgery. Dr. Lupo customizes the intensity of each treatment level in accordance with the patient’s needs, giving the patient a choice between superficial, moderate or deeply penetrative treatments. In most cases, the patient can expect dramatic results with smoother, brighter and younger looking skin without looking plastic and fake.

Fraxel® is effective on:

•             Fine lines and wrinkles – like crow’s feet and brow lines

•             Surface scarring – erasing effects of acne and other scarring

•             Pigmentation – minimizing the appearance of age spots

•             Sun damage – helping heal dangerous skin damage

•             Actinic Keratosis (AK) – a common pre-cancerous skin condition

To learn more or to see if you are a candidate for Fraxel®, schedule a consultation with one of our doctors. Any patient who schedules a Fraxel consultation or receives a Fraxel treatment by December 31, 2012 will receive 10% off of a package of Fraxel® treatments for one area.

Please note that Fraxel is a very specific laser and some doctors rent a less expensive and less advanced fractional non-ablative laser, yet call it “fraxel” – after all, not every tissue is a Kleenex!

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