In recent years, cosmetic procedures have become more attainable due to lower costs and the greater availability of laser and other state-of-the-art treatments.

From tattoo removal to the removal of fine lines and wrinkles, not only has the technology improved the results, but it has also significantly reduced pain and down time for patients. Financially, what used to be impossible has become feasible for an increasingly larger segment of the population. While some treatments can still put a dent in your wallet, laser procedures and injections are more affordable than ever, and many doctors and medical spas offer discounts, promotions, package deals and financing.

You're probably wondering, why discounted treatments? After all, you're dealing with a precious resource: your skin, your face, your image. The truth is, doctors and medical spas alike benefit from offering special deals to patients, especially when opening a new practice or to attract new clients and generate referrals. Non-invasive cosmetic laser procedures usually require more than one session to achieve desired results, whether you are looking for laser hair removal, laser skin resurfacing or the treatment of acne, scars, brown spots and other skin conditions. When dealing with injectable dermal fillers like Restylane and Juvederm, or wrinkle-smoothing agents like Botox, a course of treatment over time is required to maintain smoothness or fullness. If you are impressed with the results, chances are you will become a repeat customer and get the word out.

The greater affordability of non-invasive cosmetic procedures is owed to several factors. New laser platforms, while expensive to obtain and operate, permit a range of procedures that used to require surgery or time away from work but are now performed in a few hours, with nothing to show for but a little redness, minimal swelling or exfoliating skin. While pain, down time and discomfort are minimized, the end results are nothing short of phenomenal. For doctors and medical spas, this means less risk, higher turnaround and a longer relationship with patients who are concerned with maintenance and prevention earlier on in life.

Many doctors now focus their entire practice around prevention, with anti-aging treatments using lasers and new "smart" injectables. A range of dermal fillers now work within the layers of the skin to attract moisture and build volume over time in areas with depressions and indents, actually coaxing the body into filling out "pockets" which have become depleted. Progressively, less injectable fluid is needed as the body naturally packs moisture in the desired areas.

Careful preventative treatments can often eliminate the need for more drastic procedures later on. Many doctors now perform mini-facelifts, a series of non-surgical procedures comprised of laser skin resurfacing with Pixel and IPL lasers, and the use of injectables such as Restylane, Juvederm and Botox to create dramatic results in just about 60 minutes.

Those disfigured by severe inflammatory acne or acne scars can benefit from Pixel laser treatments, which resurfaces the skin, dramatically decreases scarring and improves texture and tone. Many types of scarring and stretch marks can also be significantly faded with the help of the Pixel. The IPL can benefit women with melasma (also called "the mask of pregnancy") by fading dark skin pigmentation, often to a degree that could never be obtained from topical creams. Many experience astonishing improvement in the reduction of melasma, dark spots (age spots or liver spots), freckles as well as fine lines and wrinkles. Other laser-treatable conditions include rosacea, enlarged pores, vascular skin lesions (i.e. broken capillaries), and of course the smoothing of fine lines and wrinkles.

Although patients may require several treatments to obtain desired results, this depends on the severity of the condition, the patient's age and the body's ability to heal. In the case of the Pixel, the laser is applied causing a grid-like pattern of ablated skin and leaving small surrounding sections untouched. This combination of untouched and ablated areas causes the skin to heal and rejuvenate itself naturally and quickly by coaxing the body's own healing response to create brand new, resurfaced skin. The result is an even-toned and smooth, glowing complexion.

The following conditions can be treated in a Medical Spa safely, quickly and with minimal pain and down time:

Sun damage, sun spots
Unwanted hair (laser hair removal)
Fine lines, wrinkles, crow's feet
Inflammatory acne, acne scars
Red-colored skin lesions
Dark-colored skin lesions
Vascular skin lesions, telangectasias, telangiectasias, broken capillaries, cherry hemangiomas
Rosacea, red skin flushing
Freckles
Scars
Large pores
Poor skin texture
Poor skin tone
Improvement of lip and skin volume
Melasma
Hyperpigmentation

Medical Spa staff should perform a thorough analysis of patients' skin and hand out a questionnaire to evaluate skin type and tone and prescribe the best form of treatment. Look for accredited medical staff, supervision by a medical doctor and membership in respected medical associations, such as the Medical Spa Society.

Please note that not all patients are candidates for laser treatments, depending on pre-existing skin conditions or for example, if any abnormal scarring is present. In this case, topical treatments may be prescribed as an alternative. In the case of laser treatments, patients may experience brief and minor pain or discomfort such as a sun-burnt feeling, followed by a gradual exfoliating (peeling) of the skin. Call your medical spa for a free consultation.

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This article was brought to you by Malana Medical Spa. Malana Medica Spa is located minutes from Los Angeles in Marina Del Rey, CA, and offers state-of-the-art laser and injectable treatments for the above-listed conditions, as well as Glycolic peels and topical treatments with Cosmelan and Cosmelan Active System for acne and melasma. Malana Medical Spa also offers soothing and rejuvenating facials, including the Green Papaya facial, the Anti-Aging facial, the Calming facial, the Purifying facial and the Wiki-wiki facial (quick "on the go" treatment). Call 1-800-755-6788 for a free consultation.

Contact:

Mark R. Pulera, M.D., Medical Director

Stacy Pulera, R.N., B.S.N., Aesthetic Nurse Specialist

Phone: 310-821-8800
Toll Free: 1-800-755-6788
E-mail: info@malanamedicalspa.com
Web site: http://www.malanamedicalspa.com