Patients today are seeking a more aggressive facial line treatment and texture without the lengthy downtime of traditional ablative procedures. Cutera’s introduction of Pearl™ with proprietary YSGG technology, provides this optimal balance between cosmetic benefit and patient downtime.
During treatment, a portion of the epidermis is removed. There is simultaneous thermal injury to all or part of the remaining epidermis. This creates a natural protective dressing on the skin to minimize downtime during the restorative process.
- What is the Pearl™ Treatment?
- How does the Pearl™ treatment work?
- What is “social” downtime?
- How does a Pearl™ treatment feel?
- When will I see results? How soon can I wear make-up after a Pearl™ treatment?
- Are there any restrictions on my activity after a Pearl™ treatment?
- How many treatments are recommended?
- Can Pearl™ be part of a combination therapy treatment?
- How does Pearl™ compare to other laser treatments?
- Who is a candidate for a Pearl™ treatment?
- Does Cutera have FDA clearance for the Pearl™ laser?
What is the Pearl™ Treatment?
The Pearl™ treatment combines the impact of resurfacing laser treatment with the gentleness and safety of non-invasive procedures to treat aging and sun-damaged skin. Pearl reduces wrinkles, uneven texture and solar damage with fewer treatments and less overall recovery than other technologies to provide a healthy, pearl-like glow.
How does the Pearl™ treatment work?
During the Pearl procedure, the top layer of skin is treated with pulses of light in a pre-selected pattern. The laser simultaneously sends heat to the deeper layers of skin to provide longer-term benefits. A natural protective dressing forms on the skin to minimize downtime during the restorative process. On day three or four, this natural dressing will peel or slough off, leaving new, healthy, vibrant skin underneath.
In a short time, patients will notice overall skin clarity, smoothness and softness – all from a 15 minute treatment with only three to four days of “social” downtime.
What is “social” downtime?
Downtime is the time spent recovering from a Pearl Procedure. With “social” downtime, you can continue your normal daily activities. However, you may not wish to attend important social events because your face will appear pink/red for three to four days.
How does a Pearl™ treatment feel?
The Pearl™ treatment feels like a series of brief pinches. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 representing pain, most patients report the treatment feeling like a 2 or 3.
When will I see results? How soon can I wear make-up after a Pearl™ treatment?
Results are noticeable by day three or four when the superficial tissue has peeled off, leaving fresh, new, healthy skin underneath. Make-up may be applied at this time.
Are there any restrictions on my activity after a Pearl™ treatment?
After treatment, the skin will look and feel mildly sunburned. You will apply ointment on the skin for three to four days. Since you cannot wear sunscreen during this time, you will need to wear protective clothing and limit sun exposure for a few days after the treatment.
How many treatments are recommended?
Some patients may require two treatments spaced approximately one month apart to achieve the desired results. Other patients may need only one treatment.
Can Pearl™ be part of a combination therapy treatment?
Yes, patients may choose to have a Pearl™ treatment combined with other Cutera procedures such as Laser Genesis™treatment and/or Titan Treatment, as well as fillers or BOTOX® Injections. Discuss combination therapies with your practitioner.
How does Pearl™ compare to other laser treatments?
Pearl™ offers the most effective treatment to address fine lines, uneven texture and discoloration without wound care and the lengthy downtime required with certain Erbium and CO2 laser procedures. Compared to today’s fractionated technologies, Pearl™ offers noticeable results in just one treatment versus four to six fractionated treatments.
Who is a candidate for a Pearl™ treatment?
Patients with light to medium skin tones and mild to moderate sun damage are the ideal candidates.
Does Cutera have FDA clearance for the Pearl™ laser?
Yes, Cutera received FDA clearance in March 2007 for the treatment of wrinkles. Schedule your consultation now to find out if you are a good candidate for Pearl™.
Contact one of the surgeons at the Renaissance Laser & Vein Institute today to set up a consultation to determine if the Pearl™ Procedure may help achieve your goals.
Laser Treatment Thousand Oaks
Our initial consultation will help us estimate the amount of sessions each patient will need, and how long complete results will take to blossom. At the Renaissance Laser and Vein Institute, we are proud to provide our Thousand Oaks patients with access to the best laser treatments available.
Pearl Laser Encino
The Renaissance Laser and Vein Institute is based conveniently in Encino for easy access from both the Valley as well as from the rest of Los Angeles. One of our most popular skin care offerings for our patients is the pearl laser in Encino. The pearl laser is such a great non-surgical facial rejuvenation option because it combines the dramatic results of an ablative laser with the minimal downtime and easy recovery of a non-ablative laser for the best of both worlds. Our Encino Pearl laser patient’s find that the provides the most impactful non-surgical results for their skin, which is due to the Pearl laser’s multi-prong approach to skin rejuvenation. Unlike other lasers, which target either the skin’s surface or a deeper layer within the skin, the Pearl laser works by targeting both the top layer and the deeper layers of the skin simultaneously. For our Encino clients, this means that the results are more dramatic in a shorter period of time; i.e. they find that they look younger faster and with less treatments than with other lasers.
Another reason our Encino patients rave about the Pearl laser is the super fast fifteen minute treatment time. Scheduling time to have the Pearl laser treatment performed is so easy since it does not take up the entire day. Unlike ablative lasers, the Pearl laser only has 3 days of ‘social downtime,’ which is another benefit that our Encino clients enjoy. In today’s bustling world it is hard enough to find time to think let alone take a week off of your busy schedule as you would with traditional plastic surgery. With the Pearl laser, Encino residents still enjoy beautiful results with only three days of social downtime, and can still carry on their lives, think clearly, and answer emails without missing a beat.
Sun Damaged Skin
Excessive sun exposure can create sun damaged skin, making an individual appear older than he or she really is. Through photoaging, ample UV ray exposure during one’s lifetime causes the skin to age at an accelerated rate, resulting in skin discoloration, dryness, wrinkles, lines and an overall tough texture. In some cases, the only effective sun damaged skin treatment is laser technology. The laser sends powerful bursts of light and energy into focused areas of the face, which penetrate the epidermis and stimulate fresh skin cells below to surface. Many people who are familiar with this treatment claim that the procedure feels like a rubber band lightly snapping against the skin. While other lasers that perform sun damaged skin treatment, such as Thermage, are notoriously uncomfortable, more effective and less harsh lasers (Titan TM, Pearl, IPL) are now available in our offices that allow for zero downtime.
During your consultation, a doctor will evaluate your overall health, medical history, age, extent of skin damage, tolerance for specific therapies and medications, and so forth. Sun damaged skin treatment therapy’s benefits far outweigh the slight reddishness of the skin that is a temporary result of the procedures. These laser procedures are effective in reducing lines, tightening skin, rejuvenating skin with sun damage, removing lesions, improving texture and skin tone, etc. Laser sun damaged skin treatment is definitely an effective and helpful therapy for those seeking to revitalize a healthy glow to their sun damaged skin. Each procedure can last anywhere from twenty minutes to an hour, and multiple sessions are sometimes needed for severe cases. Patients are able to resume all normal tasks immediately following the procedure.
Please visit our other services at Renaissance Laser and Vein Institute; Pearl Treatment, Photofacial laser genesis, IPL Photofacial, laser genesis skin rejuvenation treatments, 3-D rejuvenation, Vein Treatments, and Laser Hair Removal