Skin lasers have been around for a long time. The first CO2 laser came to market in the mid-1960s, and since then, science has come a long way.
Now, in 2022, laser treatments have become one of the most popular ways to rejuvenate your skin. But with so many options now available, how do you know which one to choose?
At Vively Body Science in Wayzata, we educate every patient on which specific skin lasers (and the techniques used!) will work best for their individual skin.
If you’re interested in getting started, or have had laser treatments before and would like to explore additional options, this guide from our medical aesthetic experts will help you better understand your options.
👉 Want to come in for more personalized advice? Schedule a consultation now!
First, a quick science lesson on skin
![close up of skin with a freckle before a skin laser treatment in minneapolis](https://livevively.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/closeup-of-freckled-skin-2021-08-26-23-57-07-utc.jpg)
Skin accounts for about 15% of your body weight and is comprised of about 300 million skin cells. It protects our organs, regulates our body temperature, and enables tactile sensations.
There are three main layers of the skin:
The hypodermis
The hypodermis is the bottom, fatty layer of skin that provides a strong base for the upper layers. This layer also connects the upper layers of your skin to your muscles and bones, cushioning your body from injury if you fall or experience an accident.Fortunately, this layer of the skin is not as susceptible to the effects of aging and does not normally require treatment with skin lasers.
The dermis
The dermis is the middle layer of skin, accounting for about 90% of your skin’s thickness. Laser treatments typically target the dermis because it contains:
- Collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep your skin resilient and firm
- The roots of your hair follicles
- Oil glands, which keeps your upper layer soft and smooth
- Sweat glands
The dermis is also the main supplier of blood and essential nutrients to your epidermis, the topmost layer of skin.
The epidermis
The epidermis is the layer of skin you see and touch. However, it also keeps harmful bacteria and germs from entering the bloodstream and protects against the elements. In addition, environmental factors (like sun exposure) and lifestyle factors (like smoking) can also affect the appearance of the epidermis.
While not every sign of aging lives exclusively in the epidermis, it’s most often where skin lasers target and treat. On the other hand, given its protective nature, it can be more challenging to reach the dermis without medical aesthetic technology like skin lasers.
The Vively Body Science Guide to Skin Lasers in Minneapolis
01. Why lasers? The science behind aesthetic skin laser technology
At a high level, delivering targeted wavelengths into the skin accomplishes two things:
- It fast-tracks the exfoliation process to remove dead and dying skin cells on the surface that often cause common aesthetic concerns like dullness, dryness, enlarged pores, fine lines, laxity, and discoloration. This clears the way for new skin cells below to be revealed.
- It triggers your body’s natural healing response, which prompts your body to form new collagen and elastin. These are the building blocks of the skin, which naturally decrease in production as we age. In the aesthetics world, we call this process “dermal regeneration.”
Depending on the wavelength(s) and your provider’s skill and knowledge in the application of the device (more on this later), you can use skin lasers to achieve a lot of your skincare goals in a short amount of time.
However, keep in mind that because of this process, not all lasers may be safe to get during the summer months.
02. How to properly vet your laser specialist
It is important to do your homework on your potential skin laser provider before your appointment. You want to choose a provider based on experience, training, and qualification rather than looking for a “good deal” or the newest laser platform.
At Vively Body Science, we have over 80 years of combined medical and clinical experience. Drs. Laurel and Josh Martini founded Vively to provide trusted medical aesthetic treatments, including laser facials, to the Minneapolis metro area. After extensive research and training, investmenting in top of the line equipment for both safety and outcomes as well as highly trained and experienced staff, the Martinis oversee the medical staff at Vively offering the best skin laser technology, along with Hormone Replacement Therapy, IV Therapy, Injectables, and more.
To help relieve any anxiety about your laser treatment, we offer a complimentary consultation.
First, we utilize advanced skin analysis system (called VISIA) along with your medical history to determine the best course of action, including:
- The types of treatments you may need and which are safe for you based on your skin type and tone, sensitivities, and medical history
- The timeline and frequency of these recommended treatments, including the best times of year for each
- How we can fit your recommended treatments into your work schedule and help you prepare for any upcoming events or vacations
03. Addressing a variety of skin concerns
Most people search “skin lasers near me” for their faces. But did you know that we can also apply many of the best laser treatments in Minneapolis to other areas of the body?
For example, aesthetic lasers can treat common concerns like:
- The neck | necklines, skin laxity, and dullness
- The chest or decollete | sun damage and freckles, discoloration, unwanted hair, fine lines & wrinkles
- The hands & feet | wrinkles, age spots, spider veins
- The arms & legs | unwanted hair, sun spots, skin luminosity
- The abdomen, buttocks, and back | wrinkles and skin laxity/looseness, unwanted hair
We can also address highly targeted concerns like:
- Warts
- Scars
- Stretch marks
- Pigmented lesions
- And other signs of aging
The possibilities are nearly endless.
04. The different types of lasers
Not all laser technologies are created equal. Like we said before, the quality of the technology matters when it comes to patient outcomes.
There are a variety of skin laser treatments available in Minneapolis, from basic to state-of-the-art. At Vively Body Science, we vet each of our laser technologies and ensure they have a track record backed by plenty of clinical evidence, patient reviews, and provider testimony.
Here are the primary skin lasers we use in Wayzata.
Halo Laser Resurfacing
The HALO® laser by Sciton is a high-end resurfacing laser that delivers two distinct wavelengths—ablative and non-ablative. This targets your skin on multiple levels to address the issues on the surface and the overall quality of the skin.
Before Halo, this combination technology did not exist. This allows us to achieve significant results in 1 to 2 treatments instead of 5 or 6.
And because of its ability to attain efficient “dermal regeneration,” the full effect of this laser facial will kick into effect after 8 to 12 weeks.
ClearSilk
ClearSilk, also by Sciton, reaches deeper into the dermis and provides bulk heating that helps clear pigment, reduce vascularity, and improve the overall appearance of the tissue and pores. It’s safe to use during the summer months and does not require any downtime.
ClearV is another skin laser, but this one specifically targets spider veins and other vascular issues.
Forever Young BBL Photofacial
Forever Young BBL technology is technically not a laser—instead, it uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to safely improve the health and appearance of your skin. We can apply different filters to select specific wavelengths that target various issues of the skin.
Depending on the intensity of this light, we can reach various depths of the skin. Therefore, Forever Young addresses imperfections on the surface of the skin, as well as deep-rooted pigmentation issues.
We can also utilize a specific protocol called “Forever Clear BBL” which specifically utilizes blue, yellow, and red filters of light to target the source and visible signs of acne.
SkinTyte Infrared Skin Tightening
SkinTyte uses infrared to address loose skin that uses BroadBand Light (BBL), delivered in rapid, gentle pulses, to heat the tissue.
Over multiple passes of this treatment with this device, we can also deliver various other wavelengths of light that can correct pigmented lesions, skin flushing, and skin tightening.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xUDkHIHrnA
OmniLux Contour Face Light Therapy
The gold standard OmniLux is an LED light that uses various wavelengths of light (633 and 830), including:
- Red light reduces inflammation, pigmentation, and redness. Red light also helps promote cellular repair and circulation for more vibrancy in the skin.
- Near-infrared light targets deeper fibroblast cells and stimulates new collagen and elastin production. This can result in plumper, firmer, more youthful-looking skin.
Get more information from our experts on which laser treatment will work best for you
If you’d like more guidance on which of these skin lasers might work best for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!
Vively Body Science is conveniently located in Wayzata, Minnesota, at 1133 Wayzata Blvd East. Our passion lies in helping patients from all over Minnesota’s Twin Cities, and western suburb areas find the skin and body treatments that will help them look and feel their best.
People travel to see us from across the Minneapolis region, including Deephaven, Golden Valley, Long Lake, Medina, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Minnetrista, Mound, Orono, Plymouth, St. Louis Park, Wayzata, and Woodland.
To get started, schedule your complimentary skin consultation online or call us at 952.388.3113.
Not quite ready yet? You can also use our virtual consultation tool to help you discover which treatments will work best for your unique skin concern.
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