What is a FotoFacial Treatment?
A FotoFacial Treatment is a series of gentle pulsed light treatments intended to improve the appearance of sun damaged and aged skin, as well as reduce redness and flushing. FotoFacial treatments result in a more youthful-appearing skin.

What are the causes of red faces?
As many as seventy million Americans have an undesirable redness and/or sun damage of the face. The more common causes are Rosacea (a condition in up to 13 million people), sun exposure, alcohol, medications, stress, emotional causes, time and aging of the skin, repeated blushing or flushing of the skin and is seen most commonly in fair skinned individuals of northern European descent.

How does the treatment work?
An intense light is emitted in a series of gentle pulses over the skin at intervals of approximately three to six weeks for a series of five treatments. This special light which is different than laser treatments emits light over many wavelengths allowing the light to penetrate to all the levels of the skin where abnormal and easily dilated vessels can be found. Lasers produce only a single wavelength of light and are limited in depth of penetration and what they can treat.

What if I don’t have visible vessels only general skin redness? Can I still be treated?
Yes! The intense light unique nature of emission, can find even the tiniest of vessels, some of which are packed so densely as to defy individual identity.

How much improvement will I see?
90% of the patients have a 50% or greater improvement.

Are there any other conditions that can be treated with the FotoFacial?
Yes, FotoFacial treatments will also help patients who suffer from photo-aging of the skin, pigmentation from sun exposure (Age Spots), irregularities of skin texture, reduces and helps reduce fine lines, especially around the eyes and mouth.

How often will I need additional treatments?
After your initial series of treatments it is recommended to have follow-up treatments yearly. However, we have patients who return every six months for a follow-up treatment because they love the way the treatment improves their appearance.

Are there any conditions that this treatment won’t help?
It won’t treat frown lines, sometimes known as lines of expression on the face, especially the forehead and between the brows. It is not a substitute for a face-lift and will not help baggy or sagging skin. It won’t cure the puffiness around the eyes for which blepharoplasty surgery is needed. It is not a treatment for skin cancer, but can treat pre-cancers called actinic keratosis. It won’t remove bumpy moles, but can remove their pigment. It will remove, however, acquired freckling. Genetic freckles usually return after treatment. It won’t remove those strands of deep parallel blood vessels occasionally seen on the lower cheeks, which can be removed in other ways. It will not remove seborrheic keratosis, including the tiny genetic ones on the upper cheeks and around the eyes sometimes called dermatosis papulosa nigra. It also won’t remove sebaceous hyperplasia; a benign growth of some oil glands in mid life. Melasma is also a condition the FotoFacial cannot improve.

Are there any contraindications to this procedure?
Yes, it is not indicated in patients with connective tissue disease or auto immune disorders. FotoFacial is not recommended during pregnancy or recently sun-tanned skin. It cannot be used on patients taking Accutane or for six months after stopping Accutane. The procedure is not usually done on patients with active acne cysts and large pustules. The same is true for highly active rosacea. Most photosensitive medications such as antibiotics, anti anxiety, sulfa drugs, birth control pills and anti-hypertensive medications are not a contraindication. Care must be taken in patients who get fever blister attacks on the face. An anti-herpes medication can be taken thus avoiding the problem.

Are there any side effects?
Most side effects are mild and of short duration. These can consist of short-term discomfort during the actual treatment. There is usually additional redness immediately following treatment, lasting less than 24 hours in most people, on rare occasions it may last up to three days. Mild blistering and bruising is possible and usually clear very quickly. Post treatment pigmentation has been noted on occasion, but is highly treatable and fortunately very rare. Even rarer is a decrease in pigmentation of the skin after treatments. This also clears in time as well. Swelling of the face occasionally occurs and is most common in severely sun-damaged skin due to reduced quality of connective tissue around the blood vessels.

What are the requirements to having this procedure?
All patients must have a consultation prior to the procedure. They must complete a general medical questionnaire on the nature of their skin. At the time of the first treatment, each patient will be tested to properly evaluate the correct settings for the patient’s skin condition and skin type. These parameters will then be stored in a database and in the patients chart for future reference. Pre-treatment and post-treatment photos will be taken. An informed consent sheet and photographic permit form must be signed. All questions must be asked and answered by the patient prior to treatment.

What if I have a low pain threshold or sensitive skin - can I still be treated?
Yes, few patients use an oral anesthesia, but more commonly a topical cream can be applied prior to the treatment eliminating most discomfort. We have extensive experience with patients who have sensitive skin, always listen to their concerns, and treat accordingly so that the most sensitive skin type is treated safely.