Laser Services

Elos

The Syneron Elos System™, (electro-optical synergy) has several different treatment heads that are used for skin rejuvenation, skin tightening, and hair removal.

Fotofacial Skin Rejuvenation

The Elos Fotofacial procedure is a series of 4 or more full face treatments, usually 3-4 weeks apart.  Elos uses a unique combination of radio frequency and light to treat:

  • Sun damage
  • Age/brown spots
  • Uneven skin tone
  • General redness
  • Poikiloderma of Civatte (uneven coloring of neck)
  • Acne scar redness
  • Scars (fades redness and hyperpigmenation)

Elos improves overall facial skin texture and appearance (great on chest and hands too). Elos can also be used to fade residual pigment from shaved moles and helps to fade post operative bruising from facial surgery.

Hair Removal

Elos uses gentle light and electric energies to damage the hair follicle and remove unwanted hair. These energies disable the follicle from growing hair, which means that gradually over several treatments, there is a reduction in the amount of hair in that area.

Treatments are done every 4-8 weeks for maximal efficiency and to follow the natural hair cycle. Each treatment will result in less hair coming back, as well as hair growing progressively lighter in color, finer, and slower-growing with each treatment. Elos can be done on Caucasian, Hispanic, Asiatic, and African American skin. Most people achieve satisfactory results after 6-8 treatments, but individual results may vary depending on medical and genetic factors. Lighter colored hair may require more treatments than darker colored hair.

Elos FAQ’s

How does the Elos system work?

Elos delivers a burst of light energy synchronized with a low intensity electrical pulse of radio frequency energy. This combination produces very efficient heating of dilated blood vessels, darkly pigmented spots, and hair follicles causing these unwanted marks to gradually fade after each treatment. The ReFirme skin tightening stimulates collagen production. The new collagen lessens wrinkles and scars, smoothes surface texture, shrinks dilated pores, and tightens loose skin.

Is treatment with Elos safe?

Treatment is very safe for the skin. There are no long-term health hazards from light or electric energies used in Elos. Side effects may include redness and mild swelling in the treated area. There may be slight crusting and darker pigmentation with brown spots. These are transient and usually do not last more than a few days. Permanent side effects such as scarring are rare.

Who can benefit from Elos treatments?

Men and women of any age who want clearer, smoother and more radiant looking skin, want to improve the signs of sun damage and aging in skin, improve the appearance of mild acne scarring, or desire the removal of unwanted hair.

What will the treatment consist of?

The Elos treatment will include the following:

  • Wearing safety eyewear to protect your eyes from light energies
  • A small hand piece will be applied to the treatment area to deliver the light and radio frequency energy.
  • A conductive gel is applied to the skin during treatment and removed after.
Is the treatment painful?

The sensation is often described as “hot pinch” or “snapping” feeling. The sensation only lasts for a fraction of a second, and you may feel warmth or tingling sensation for a short time afterward. Most people tolerate treatment without a topical anesthetic, but individuals who are more sensitive may prefer to have the skin numbed before treatment.

What happens after each treatment?

Temporary pinkness in the skin lasts a very short time, and most people return to work or normal activities immediately after treatment. The improvement in pigmented or vascular irregularities can often be appreciated by the time you return for your next treatment a month later. Brown spots temporarily go darker before they lighten. In hair removal, the treated area will “shed” some hairs over the next 3-4 weeks, and you may experience a period of hairlessness in the area while you wait for your next treatment.

What precautions should be taken before and after Elos treatment?

You must avoid sun exposure two weeks before treatment and throughout the course of treatment. A sun block (SPF 30 or above) should be used. Any photosensitizing medication such as Tetracycline, Doxycycline, or Minocycline should be stopped several days prior to a treatment. To minimize bruising, avoid Aspirin or Aspirin containing products for 2 weeks prior to treatment, unless directed by a physician.

The post-treatment care needed depends on what lesion was treated. This will be discussed at your visit.

Are the procedures covered by insurance?

Most insurance companies do not offer reimbursement for cosmetic procedures. Please consult your insurance carrier for more details.