What are FotoFacial RF treatments?

FotoFacial RF treatments are face, neck, hands and/or body treatments using Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and RadioFrequency energy combined in the same pulse. These gentle, no-downtime treatments are used to improve the cosmetic appearance of the skin in any area treated. The original FotoFacial procedure was co-developed by Dr. Patrick Bitter, Jr. a dermatologist, and Dr. R. Stephen Mulholland, a plastic surgeon, bringing together the best of aesthetic dermatologic skin care and cosmetic plastic surgery into one non-invasive treatment. The FotoFacial procedure has increased in popularity and recognition to the point where it is now one of the most commonly performed cosmetic procedures in North America. It has been featured in Allure, Cosmopolitan, In Style, Vogue, USA today and numerous national and regional television shows. Many Hollywood stars and TV personalities rave about the FotoFacial and credit this procedure for the renewed health and vitality in their skin. The FotoFacial RF is the next generation in high-tech skin enhancement.

Am I a good candidate for FotoFacial RF?

FotoFacial RF treatments are beneficial in the treatment of the following cosmetic skin concerns on the face and body:You may also be a good candidate for the FotoFacial RF treatments simply if you want to experience an improvement in the pore size and the overall tone and texture of the skin- Rosacea (redness of the skin), Excessive “flushing”, Broken capillaries, Spider veins, Sun damage (sun spots), Age spots, Melasma, Hyperpigmenation (brown discoloration), and Freckles. There are some medical conditions that are contraindications to treatment. These include pregnancy, people who have used Accutane within 6 months, and people who are on photosensitizing medication. A comprehensive consultation with one of our well-qualified clinicians is the best way to determine if FotoFacial RF is a good choice for you.

What results might I expect?

Clients usually notice a consistent improvement in the appearance of their skin. The degree of improvement is gradual and persistent over the 15-18 week program of 5-6 FotoFacial RF treatments. The noticeable and significant changes that are typically seen include: • Rosacea, flushing, redness, ruddy complexion, broken capillaries and spider veins of the face. All these “Pink” vascular based conditions of the skin improve on average between 50-75% percent with FotoFacial RF treatments. • Sun spots, age spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, cholasma, “mask of pregnancy”, multiple freckles. All these “Brown”, melanin based conditions of the skin improve, on average, 50-75% with FotoFacial RF treatments. • Sun damage and aging signs of the hands, neck (Poikiloderma) and chest skin can be improved by 50-75% percent with FotoFacial RF treatments. • A general improvement in the overall tone and texture of the skin as well as a reduction in pore size. After completing a series, the skin tends to look brighter and more “refreshed.” Many clients are particularly pleased when friends and family comment on how great their skin is looking!

How does FotoFacial RF work to improve the appearance of the skin?

Each pulse of the FotoFacial RF device sends two types of energy into your skin, Intense Pulsed Visible Light and RadioFrequency energy, that act synergistically to enhance the skin. These energies are absorbed into skin imperfections such as brown spots and broken blood vessels. This process causes the skin’s natural healing process to gradually and gently lessen or eliminate these blemishes. The RadioFrequency energy also stimulates production of collagen, elastin and ground substances in the dermis, the thick undercarpet of the skin, resulting in a smoothening of fine lines and textural irregularities of the skin.

How long do treatments take?

Treatment time is usually between 30 and 45 minutes. Many clients like to “numb” before the procedure. To do this, a topical anesthetic cream is applied roughly 30 minutes prior to starting the procedure.

Will the treatment hurt and will I have to miss work?

The FotoFacial RF treatments have a tolerable level of discomfort. The feeling is often compared to a light rubber band snap. However, the discomfort can be greatly reduced, or even eliminated by the use of a topical anesthetic cream applied to the skin 30 minutes prior to the scheduled FotoFacial RF. Evolutions also uses a powerful cooling machine, the Synercool, to provide an additional degree of comfort. The end result of the numbing cream and Synercool is a highly comfortable procedure. You should not have to miss any work. After each treatment, clients are typically only slightly pink. This reaction usually goes away within a few hours, but clients are also able to apply makeup immediately. Consequently, the vast majority of clients are able to resume normal activities immediately.

How long will the skin enhancement effects last?

At the completion of the FotoFacial RF program the skin will have achieved a noticeable and consistent degree of improvement. Over 90% of clients are very happy with their results. An effective home care program can help maintain these benefits. Also, a single maintenance treatment is recommended every 4-6 months to keep the skin looking vital, even, smooth and youthful.

How does FotoFacial RF differ from other photo rejuvenation or “Photofacial” procedures?

FotoFacial RF treatments combine both Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and RadioFrequency energy into one treatment. The synergistic combination of these two energies allow for a more effective procedure with the same or lower energy levels of other IPL-only devices. Thus, FotoFacial RF treatments are safer than so-called “Photofacial” procedures in addition to providing you with the optimal degree of enhancement for your skin.

What technology is used?

The laser/light-based technology used in skin rejuvenation treatments is a critical component in the ultimate result you receive. Evolutions Medical Spa is proud to use the only technology that marries the benefits of Intense Pulsed Light and Radiofrequency energy. It is the only machine able to perform true FotoFacial RF treatments.

SectionCan FotoFacial RF treatments be combined with other procedures?

Absolutely. Laser Genesis, chemical peels and/or Vibradermabrasion treatments can be performed in between FotoFacial RF treatments to further enhance the overall results. Also, for clients who wish to tighten skin as well as improve its tone and texture, ReFirme, Titan, and/or Sublative treatments are commonly added.

Why should I have photorejuvenation treatments done at Evolutions?

Two reasons – superior technology and excellent clinician training.

As explained throughout this section, the technology Evolutions uses for this procedure is superior to other, intense pulsed light only devices. The combination of IPL and Radiofrequency allows us to achieve a better result with a safer treatment.

Excellent Clinician Training

For any procedure, the skill of the clinician performing the procedure is critical. A number of factors need to be considered in preparation to treat a client, including skin type, medical history, medications used, etc. Based on these factors, the clinician must then decide what settings to use. If the settings are too high, there is the risk of burns. If the settings are too low, you may not receive a good result. Consequently, it is very important that the clinician performing your procedure is well-trained. At Evolutions, Dr. Perkins personally and extensively trains all of the clinicians on all aspects of performing FotoFacial RF treatments, including laser physics, skin anatomy, and practical application. Furthermore, in the unlikely event of any complication, Dr. Perkins is always available to see clients personally and help resolve any issues as quickly as possible.

SmartLase CO2 Resurfacing in Santa Barbara | Evolutions Spa 805-695-2167

Fractional CO2 Resurfacing in Santa Barbara

SmartLase CO2 Resurfacing

Over time, our skin’s youthful appearance and texture are affected by cumulative effects of collagen and moisture loss, sun exposure, acne, and more. Fractional CO2 resurfacing treatments can provide a multitude of benefits to your skin, including:

Smooth fine lines and wrinkles
Reduce visible (and not yet visible) sun damage
Diminish acne scarring and other textural irregularities
Minimize large pores
Improve uneven skin tone and texture
Encourage new collagen and elastin production

Evolutions is pleased to now offer multiple Fractional CO2-based skin resurfacing treatments:

A more aggressive procedure called Fractional CO2 Dermal Remodeling that can produce significant improvement in tone, texture, and color in just one session (though it requires more downtime)
A lighter procedure called the SmartLase CO2 Resurfacing that has less downtime and is typically done in a series of 3 treatments for maximum benefit.

If you are interested in our more aggressive procedure, Fractional CO2 Dermal Remodeling, click here for more information.

Read below for more information on our lighter procedure – SmartLase CO2 Resurfacing.

Frequently Asked Questions About SmartLase CO2 Resurfacing

Fractional CO2 laser resurfacing is a non-surgical treatment that uses a laser to deliver energy into the skin to stimulate collagen production and improve the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and sun damage. The laser creates tiny columns of heat in the skin in a specific and customizable pattern. This process triggers the body’s natural healing response and promote the growth of new collagen.

SmartLase CO2 Resuracing is the lighter CO2 procedure offered at Evolutions, so the columns produced by the laser are a little further apart and not quite as deep as with our more aggressive CO2 treatment (Fractional CO2 Dermal Remodeling). The result is less discomfort during the treatment and less downtime afterwards, though multiple treatments are typically needed to achieve similar results.

Good candidates for SmartLase CO2 Resurfacing are clients who would like to see improvements in a variety of areas with their skin (including fine lines, wrinkles, tone, textural irregularities, and skin laxity) and would rather have series of 3 treatments with less discomfort and downtime than doing either a single aggressive CO2 treatment or one of our minimally invasive surgical procedures.

There are some medical conditions that are contraindications to treatment. These include pregnancy, people who have used Accutane within 6 months, and people who are on photosensitizing medication.

A comprehensive consultation with one of our well-qualified clinicians is the best way to determine if SmartLase CO2 Resurfacing is a good choice for you.

Though a series of 3 SmartLase CO2 treatments is recommended for optimal results, most clients see a difference with just one treatment in multiple of the following areas:

Fine lines and wrinkles
Sun damage such as age spots
Textural irregularities
Skin tone and texture
Overall health and vitality of the skin

One of our biggest areas of focus at Evolutions is your comfort. We apply a powerful topical numbing application up to an hour before your treatment begins. We also have a cold air machine that you may be used during the procedure on any “hot” areas. Most clients find the discomfort to be very minimal when using this combination of measures.

For most clients 1-3 days of healing time is typical before being able to put on makeup and return to regular daily activities (so clients having it done on a Friday are typically able to return to work on Monday). There may be some minor residual pinkness to the skin for 1-2 weeks as it continues to heal, but it is typically easily covered with makeup.

For clients who would like to minimize downtime as much as possible, we recommend adding the Exosome Regenerative Complex+ topical post care solution to your treatment.

The Exosome Regenerative Complex+ post care solution was created by Benev using a proprietary and patented manufacturing technology to isolate and refine highly purified exosomes. It is based on the most cutting-edge scientific breakthrough for skin rejuvenation and regeneration. Exosomes are responsible for cell-to-cell communication and for facilitating the exchange of RNA and other important proteins between cells (e.g. fibroblasts, keratinocytes, immune cells, etc.), in addition to transferring numerous growth factors and cytokines and genetic materials that have shown signs of tissue repair and improving skin cells.

Clients taking advantage of this add-on typically see faster healing and enhanced overall results.

Evolutions is pleased to offer fractional CO2 treatments with the advanced DEKA DOT (Dermal Optical Thermolysis) CO2 Laser System. The DEKA DOT optimizes traditional CO2 treatments by producing MicroAblative Columns (MACs) of injury to the tissue while preserving untreated skin between these spots. This promotes collagen remodeling while providing rapid healing and patient comfort. This innovative technology includes the UltraFine Fractional Scanner which allows your clinician to select from multiple settings including size, shape, density and duration of each pulse. This customization of applied energy tailors the treatment to rapidly and effectively treat damaged skin and achieve the best results.

Yes! Available exclusively at Evolutions, we are thrilled to offer a combination SylfirmX RF Microneedling treatment along with a SmartLase Fractional CO2 session. The SylfirmX is our most popular skin rejuvenation treatment due to its impressive results with little to no downtime. However, we are always looking to improve our client’s results, so Dr. Perkins started researching the synergistic effects of combining RF Microneedling with Fractional CO2 treatment. Both technologies do a great job, but in different areas of the skin and with different mechanisms of action. One of the main reasons Dr. Perkins decided to purchase the Deka DOT laser is because he feels it is the best Fractional CO2 laser on the market today and he wanted to be able to offer an amazing combination treatment with the SylfirmX (which he feels is the best RF Microneedling device on the market).