Nothing Could Be Finer
Congratulations! You have decided to get your first cosmetic procedure. Let’s talk about the fine print on your consents that you sign. The most important thing as a patient is to read your consent forms carefully and ask questions if you don’t understand something. This article will go over some of the more common procedures done in medical spas and some of the “fine print” that goes along with them. Under-stand that these procedures are all safe if administered correctly; the purpose is not to frighten you, just to educate you on some of the adverse effects of these procedures.
We all want to be hairless, laser hair removal is a great way to achieve this goal. There are a few things that you should be aware of. Pain. There is a slight degree of pain or discomfort with laser hair removal. There are several lasers out there for this procedure and to some extent they all cause some measure of discomfort. For most, it may be a little transient stinging. For this a topical numbing cream can be applied especially in sensitive areas of the body. Redness can also occur after being lasered; this should dissipate within a few minutes to hours after the procedure. Very rarely, someone may blister.
IPL treatments treat a gamut of problems from rosacea, photodamage skin, spider veins and more. We’ve all seen the horror stories on TV – the woman with all the rectangular bricks on her face, bruising etc. The side effect profile is similar to that of laser hair removal. The key is to have the practitioner experienced in the technique and not a novice. The most common adverse event of an IPL treatment is redness or even burning. Do not be afraid to tell your doctor to stop or to turn down the energy level. We want to make you look better, not worse so speak up!
How about the facial peels and microdermabrasions? Once again, redness is one of the most common after effect. There may be some itching or slight irritation. Peeling may also occur. Scarring can occur especially if the patient picks at the peeling skin.
As a patient it is imperative that you let your practitioner or physician know of all medications, vitamins, or skin care products that you are using. Even if you feel something is insignificant, you need to inform them. Many of the common things we use to treat hypertension, menstrual irregularities, or other ailments contain ingredients that make us more photosensitive and more apt to burn during these common procedures. Also, many of the products we use to “help” your skin can lead to the increase in adverse effects. Retin A or accutane are prescribed regularly to treat acne. The use of these medications with certain chemical peels can cause unwanted scarring or other side effects. Don’t be shy with your doctor or esthetician.
Treatments done in a medical spa are safe and can give you wonderful results. As a patient it is important to inform your physician of any medical problems that you are being treated for no matter how insignificant. It is also imperative that you let your physician know if something hurts, stings, burns etc. We want you to be happy and have safe procedures. See you at the spa!