Benefits of C02 laser resurfacing

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Benefits of C02 Laser resurfacing

I wanted to share some information with you about a skin treatment that has been gaining popularity in recent years – CO2 Laser Treatment.

This non-invasive procedure uses advanced laser technology to target fine lines, wrinkles, and loose skin, resulting in a tighter, smoother complexion. The benefits of this treatment are numerous and include:

  1. Skin Tightening: CO2 laser treatment stimulates the production of collagen, resulting in firmer, tighter skin.
  2. Wrinkle Reduction: The laser energy penetrates deep into the skin to target wrinkles, fine lines, and other signs of aging.
  3. Improved Skin Texture: The laser energy smooths out rough, uneven skin texture and promotes a more youthful appearance.
  4. Non-Invasive: Unlike surgery, CO2 laser treatment is a non-invasive procedure, meaning no incisions, no stitches, and minimal downtime.
  5. Quick Results: Patients can expect to see improvement in skin texture and tightness almost immediately, with continued improvement over the next few months.

If you’re looking for a safe, effective way to rejuvenate your skin, I highly recommend considering CO2 laser treatment. I would be happy to discuss this treatment further with you and answer any questions you may have.

MASK POLICY

Are you requiring customer's to wear a mask for entry?

We are following CDC guidelines regarding mask-wearing at our Portland and Wells offices.  According to the new mandates, masks are optional for vaccinated individuals, however.  If you have not been vaccinated, we are asking that you wear a mask in accordance with local and state recommendations.

For more information regarding mask-wearing, please refer to the CDC Guide to Masks.

207 Laser – Wells Maine

Wells

Wells Maine

207 LASER™ – formerly Maine Laser Clinic is pleased to offer our services to the Wells Maine area.  Now serving Southern Maine as well as New Hampshire and parts of Massachusetts.

What procedures will you perform at your Wells location?

We’ll offer a variety of LASER and Injectables services.  Botox, lip filler using Juvederm, fat reduction for the chin, Rosacea, and many more.

Will you be open seasonally or all-year-round?

We’re here for good!  We plan to stay opened all-year-round.

What kinds of lasers will you use in Wells?

We’ll have our workhorse lasers available like the Cuter Xeo.  The best in the business laser hair removal Laser Hair Removal device the CynoSure Vectus, and the gold standard for skin rejuvenation, the Fraxel® laser system.

Do you have free parking in Wells?

Yes!  We have plenty of free parking in Wells.  There’s parking in the front, side, and rear of the building for your convenience.  We’re located on the first floor too!

What are your COVID guidelines for your Wells location?

We follow strict local, state, and federal guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. We practice social distancing and requirement pre-check health checks and more. For additional information, please go to our dedication COVID-19 guidelines webpage for answers and more.

New Laser Hair Removal Machine

New Laser Hair Removal Machine

New Diode Laser Hair Removal Machine

Maine Laser Clinic now offers Diode laser hair removal, using a 810nm Diode laser. Our new laser uses state of art technology to safely remove unwanted hair. There is no skin type we can’t treat. Our new laser cuts the hair removal process in half. There’s not need to travel to Boston any more. Portland and Southern Maine now has a hair removal machine so advanced people have been traveling as far away as Presque Isle for treatment.

The design of the Coolite Pro is the worlds first fiber couple Diode Laser. The efficiency of this device is amazing! Treatment times are reduced do to the 12x12mm spot size. The sapphire tip within the laser cools the skin, resulting in a gentle Laser Hair Removal treatment. The removal process is a simple out patient procedure.

The laser is perfect for reducing ingrown hairs as well as treating hidradenitis suppurativa.   The other great benefit of using the Diode for hair removal is the wavelength is easily absorbed by pigment within the hair shaft.  Additionally, the laser is twice as fast at treating large areas like the back (usually 30 minutes), and legs.  Older, less effective lasers required longer treatment times, and an extra machine to help cool the skin during treatment.

The Coolite Pro cools the skin during the treatment – making the process tolerable and more importantly, effective at reducing hair by 20% per treatment.

We offer complimentary consultations, so book your appointment today and learn how you can throw away your razor, and enjoy hair free skin that looks as youthful as it did when you were a baby.

(results may vary)

Tattoo removal cost – How much does it cost to remove a tattoo?

Tattoo removal cost – How much does it cost to remove a tattoo?

Disclaimer: The before and after photos on this page are actual clients. Please note that results do vary and it’s always best to consult your physician with any and all concerns. CONSULTATIONS ARE ALWAYS FREE!

Tattoo removal cost, how much will it be to remove my tattoo? Removing a tattoo is not an easy process.  Many factors come into play when considering how much does it cost, and how many treatments will I need to remove my unwanted tattoo?  Unfortunately, there is no magic number, however.  With the advances in technology, removing a tattoo has never been easier.

The most used technique to remove a tattoo has been to use a laser.  Q-Switched lasers (nanosecond technology) were the gold standard for many years.  What is a nanosecond?  A nanosecond (q-switch laser) is one billionth of a second.  How does this apply to removing a tattoo and how does this effect tattoo removal cost?

Tattoo ink is dense and composed of many compounds; Black (carbon-iron oxide), Blue (cobalt aluminum), Green (chromic oxide, lead chromate, ferric cyanide, malachite grn, cur cumin grn), Red (mercury sulfide, cadmium selenide), Yellow (cadmium sulfide, ochre), Violet (magnesium violet), White (titanium dioxide, zinc oxide), Flesh Tone (iron oxides).

Freaky right? Had you known what they used to produce those vibrant and not-so-vibrant inks you’d have rethought your decision.  Luckily, most people don’t have adverse reactions to the various ink colors, however.  There are a select group of people that have allergies to Red compounds that could lead to anaphylaxis.  It’s some scary stuff, but I digress.

Using older technology like q-switch lasers to remove those colors was tricky.  Some colors require various wavelengths to interact with the ink.  That photothermal interaction is a heating process.  Essentially, q-switch lasers super heat a particle until it explodes into tiny pieces.  Lucky  for us we’re equipped with a magical system within our body called the lymphatic system.  This system takes those particles and flushes them out of our bodies through excretion.

The trouble of heating any tissue within the body is there are various risks to consider.  First, you can overheat tissue and cause discoloration, or even burning.  We all know what happens when you overheat something – it’s not good.

That’s how Q-Switch lasers work.  They heat ink.  If you’re lucky enough to find a practice skilled at recognizing the many facets of the tattoo removal process, most people see great results.  But!  There in lies the problem.  The more treatments needed will increase the tattoo removal cost.

Nanoseconds is fast, but not as fast as picoseconds.  A picosecond is one trillionth of a second!  That’s like blasting a bolder and turning it into tiny grains of sand.  How does that translate into tattoo removal?  Well, the smaller the particle, the easier the body can absorb and remove it from the tissue.

Picosecond lasers are the future.  They also use a photomechanical method to destroy ink, it’s like a pressure wave that levels the ink.  Think atomic bomb; the waves that travel from the bomb level anything in it’s path, but in skin, it leaves the precious tissue surrounding tattoo ink intact without harm.  Plus!  Since the ink is shattered into much smaller particles most people need half as many treatments!

Which brings me back to our original point, remember when the auto industry told us we needed to change our oil every 3 thousand miles? Think of all the money you spent following that old methodology.  Well, now cars are only requiring an oil change every 5-10 thousand miles!  That’s a huge savings.

So, how much does tattoo removal cost?  Remember, practitioners have no idea what needles, ink, depth of ink, or conditions that were used when the tattoo was applied, but expect to pay at least $150 per session or more.  Whenever someone asks me how much it costs, I ask them, “how bad do you want your tattoo removed?”

Personally, I would pay anything to have my bad tattoo removed.  Another important point to consider is the technology being used to remove your tattoo.  Most machines cost $100k or more.  They are not cheap.  They are highly sophisticated pieces of technology that help change people’s lives.

So, hopefully, I’ve given you some insight into the tattoo removal process, and as always, please eMail Us, or call if you have any questions.

MLC

PicoSure™ Laser Comes to Maine Laser Clinic

PicoSure™ Laser Comes to Maine Laser Clinic

PicoSure™ Laser Comes to Maine Laser Clinic

Maine Laser Clinic is proud to announce the first ever PicoSure™ laser system in the great state of Maine.  What does this new addition mean for our community?  Well, picosecond laser tattoo removal is the newest and best option for removing unwanted tattoos – often called, “tattoo regret.”

Maine Laser Clinic recently partnered with CynoSure to bring the first PicoSure™ laser to Maine.  With this addition, our clinic will now have advanced options for tattoo removal, skin rejuvenation, scar revision, and brown spot removal.  These are truly exciting times for our clinic.  Additionally, our partnership with allow us to grow in areas of charitable contributions, that were unsustainable before now.

How does the PicoSure™ laser work?  Cynosure has developed a system that works to use photomechanical destruction of ink particles, decreasing the amount of treatment times, as well as protecting other chromophores in the skin.  There’s a lot of technology behind this system, so please call us to learn more about this wonderful addition and to learn now Maine Laser Clinic can help you achieve your cosmetic goals.

Healthy Foods

Healthy Foods

Healthy Foods

Protein and your immune system

Much research has shown that protein malnutrition can have a variety of untoward effects on the immune system. In fact, protein malnutrition may be an important contributing factor in HIV seroconversion (the process by which a person with primary exposure to Human Immunodeficiency Virus becomes infected with that virus). Research studies have show that deficiency of high-quality protein protein can result in depletion of immune cells, inability of the body to make antibodies, and other immune-related problems. In addition, animal studies have shown that the immune system can be significantly compromised with even a 25% reduction in adequate protein intake.

Protein is composed of the 20 amino acids your body needs for growth and repair, and some of these amino acids appear to be particularly important for immune functioning. For example, the amino acids called glutamine and arginine are being considered as nutrition therapy in pre-surgery patients because of their ability to stimulate the immune system. Interestingly, it is not just deficiency of these amino acids that can compromise the immune system, an imbalance in the ratios among amino acids can also affect the immune response.

Therefore, a diet that supports a healthy immune system should contain foods providing high-quality, complete protein, such as that found in eggs, fish, shellfish, and venison. Many vegetables and grains are also excellent sources of many of the immune-stimulating amino acids and, together with other protein sources, are particularly beneficial. The recipes on this web page provide many excellent menus for a meal with complete protein, such as the Baked Seafood with Asparagus, or Poached Fish with Chinese Cabbage.

The essential vitamins for healthy immune function
As discussed above, your body uses a variety of responses to maintain its defense against harmful pathogenic organisms in the environment; therefore, it may not be surprising that nearly all of the vitamins are necessary to maintain and promote some aspect of your immune function. Some vitamins have received more attention in the research literature since they are particularly important to a healthy immune system.

Much has been written about the role of vitamin C in supporting the immune system, in part because it has been promoted as an immune stimulant by the noted scientist and Nobel Prize Laureate, Linus Pauling. Vitamin C appears to support a decrease in the length of time and severity of symptoms associated with upper respiratory viral infections, promote phagocytic cell functions, and support healthy T-cell function. Vitamin C also provides antioxidant activity to support healing at sites of inflammation. An excellent source of vitamin C is citrus fruit. Many vegetables are also excellent sources of vitamin C, such as fresh parsley, raw cauliflower, mustard greens andRomaine lettuce.

Many of the B-vitamins are also very important in supporting a healthy immune system. For example, vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) promotes the production and release of antibodies from B-cells, and deficiency of vitamin B5 results in reduced levels of circulating antibodies. Folic acid deficiency leads to a decrease in T-cells and can result in reduced effectiveness of the soluble factors as well. Vitamin B6 deficiency consistently impairs T-cell functioning and results in a decrease in blood lymphocyte counts. Deficiencies in vitamins B1(thiamin) and B2 (riboflavin) may impair normal antibody response, and low vitamin B12appears to inhibit phagocytic cells and possibly T-cell function.

Almost all whole grains, vegetables and fruits can serve as excellent sources of at least some of these vitamins, but some vegetables are particularly beneficial since they are excellent sources of many of these immune-supporting vitamins. In particular, Romaine lettuce is an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, C, and folate. Cooked turnip greens and boiled spinach are excellent sources of folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. And cooked cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C and folate and a very good source of vitamin B5 and B6. Raw crimini mushrooms are also an excellent source of vitamin B2 and vitamin B5. Red bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamin B6. Vitamin B12 can be obtained from protein-providing foods such as fish, shellfish, venison and calf’s liver.

The fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin K are also important to overall health. Vitamin A deficiency has been shown to impair antibody function and T-cell activity. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant and supports a healthy inflammatory response. Vitamin E is also an important component of all cell membranes and promotes healthy cellular functioning overall. T-cells and B-cells from vitamin E-deficient animals show depressed responses, and tumors have been shown to grow faster in vitamin-E deficient animals. Vitamin K supports a healthy blood-clotting ability in your body, and this is necessary for seclusion of areas of infections and injury in the healing process. Cooked turnip greens and boiled mustard greens, mentioned above, are also excellent sources of vitamins E and A, as well as boiled Swiss chard. Other excellent sources of vitamin A include many vegetables such as spinach, freshparsley and carrots. Concentrated sources of vitamin K include raw cauliflower, as well as most green vegetables such asspinach and asparagus.

Minerals that support your immune system
Zinc is one of the minerals in food that has received the most attention for its ability to support immune function. Zinc is a potent immunostimulant, and its deficiency can result in profound suppression of T-cell function. Children with severe zinc deficiencies show signs of growth retardation and susceptibility to infections. However, an excess of zinc has also shown negative effects on immune function and can inhibit the phagocytic cells (macrophages and neutrophils). So, maintaining adequate but not excessive levels of zinc is important. This is one reason food is such an excellent source of obtaining nutrition versus supplementation; food contains a balanced variety of the micronutrients whereas supplementation with individual nutrients can lead to too much of some and not enough of others. Healthy levels of zinc can be provided by including the good sources of zinc, such as boiled Swiss chard,collard greens, and both summer squash and winter squash, or the very good or excellent sources of zinc like lamb, raw crimini mushrooms and calf’s liver in your diet.

Many other minerals are important in supporting immune function. Clinical research studies have shown that irondeficiency results in impaired response to antibodies, and defective phagocytic cell functioning. Copper deficiency is associated with an increase in infections and may impair development of immune cells such as T-cells and the phagocytic cells. Selenium and manganese are important for supporting healing from inflammation and may be immunostimulants. Selenium can be obtained from fish and shellfish, as well as tofuand whole grains. Excellent sources of copper are turnip greens,calf’s liver and raw crimini mushrooms, and very good sources include spinach, asparagus and summer squash and boiled Swiss chard. Iron can be provided by fresh parsley, spices such asthyme or cinnamon, tofu, beans and peas, and many other vegetables such as spinach and Romaine lettuce.

Antioxidants and phytonutrients that promote healthy immune function
Reactive oxygen species, free radicals and other damaging molecules are generated at sites of infection and inflammation. Your body needs these molecules at the site of infection to help kill unhealthy cells; however, when your antioxidant systems are not functioning, or when not enough antioxidants are present in your diet, these molecules are not disarmed after they have done their jobs and can become damaging to healthy tissue as well. Many fruits and vegetables provide antioxidants and phytonutrients that help maintain healthy tissue around the sites of infection and support healing. Fruits and vegetables, especially colored foods like strawberries, cherries, carrots, andtomatoes contain many beneficial phytonutrients with antioxidant potential. More detailed information on the health benefits of phytonutrients can be obtained from the FAQ: What is the Special Nutritional Power Found in Fruits and Vegetables.

What can I do to stay healthy?

What can I do to stay healthy?

Create a Healthy Lifestyle

Eating the right foods and the right amounts of foods can help you live a longer, healthier life. Research has proven that many illnesses—such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure—can be prevented or controlled by eating right. Getting the nutrients you need, such as calcium and iron, and keeping your weight under control can help. Try to balance the calories you get from food with the calories you use through physical activity (select for more information about physical activity). It is never too late to start eating right. Here are some helpful tips.

Eat a variety of food, especially:
Fruits. Choose citrus fruits or juices, melons, and berries.

Dry beans (such as red beans, navy beans, and soybeans), lentils, chickpeas, and peanuts.

Whole grains, such as wheat, rice, oats, corn, and barley.

Whole grain breads and cereals.

Eat foods low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol, especially:
Fish.

Poultry prepared without skin; lean meat.

Low-fat dairy products.

Weight Control
Weighing too much or too little can lead to health problems. After age 45, many people gain too much weight. You can control your weight by eating healthy foods and being physically active. For more information, select the next section, “Physical Activity.”

Ask your health care professional:
What is a healthy weight for me?

What are some ways I can control my weight?

Keep track of your weight. Use your personal prevention chart.

Physical Activity
Research shows that physical activity can help prevent at least six diseases: heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity (excess weight), diabetes, osteoporosis, and mental disorders, such as depression. Physical activity also will help you feel better and stay at a healthy weight. Research suggests that brisk walking can be just as good for you as an activity such as jogging. Try to do a total of 30 minutes of constant physical activity, such as fast walking, most days of the week.

Before you start being physically active:
Talk with your doctor about ways to get started.

Choose something that fits into your daily life, such as walking, gardening, raking leaves, or even washing windows.

Choose an activity you like, such as dancing or swimming.

Try a new activity, like biking.

Ask a friend to start with you, or join a group.

Don’t quit:
Make time for physical activity, start slowly, and keep at it.

If the weather is bad, try an exercise show on TV, watch an exercise tape in your home, walk in the mall, or work around the house.

How Do I remove Unwanted Hair?

How Do I remove Unwanted Hair?

How do you remove unwanted hair?

Before answering that question it’s important to note the different methods used to remove unwanted hair. It’s also important to note there’s only one true way to “remove” unwanted hair. Electrolysis is the only proven method to permanently remove unwanted hair. However, there are many factors that hinder the efficacy of electrolysis such as, hormonal change, childbirth and genetics. In addition, it’s important to make the distinction between, permanent hair removal, and permanent hair reduction. Most methods offered today through various marketing channels promote permanent hair reduction. Those methods include: Laser hair removal, Intense pulsed light, and Diode epilation.

Before we go any further, we have to provide you with more background into the field of hair removal. When lasers were initially introduced for dermatology and aesthetic applications in the 90’s it was one device for each application. Unfortunately, most of those devices had serious limitations. For example, the GentleLase Alexandrite laser was a good technology for hair removal on white skin and some pigmented lesions, but really nothing else as it is very dangerous on dark and tan skin. The V-Beam laser was also introduced in 90s and is a good classic technology for red facial vessels but produces in many cases severe swelling and can lead to purpura.

The Medlite C6 and Medlite II (introduced approximately in the 2002 -2005 range) are diode lasers for hair removal that work well on white skin but are very painful. The Cutera Cool Glide (released in 2003) is the classic long pulsed Nd:YAG for hair removal (painful), vascular applications and photorejuvenation treatments. As new technology was developed, practitioners were buying different devices one-by-one to round out their service offerings and some have ended up owning multiple laser/IPL/RF devices.

Maine Laser Clinic uses the LightPod Neo which is the best technology on the market for pain-free high efficacy hair removal, that also allows the treatment of dark and tan skin including PFB, facial vessels and rosacea. The technology also provides a pain-free experience for photorejuvenation with skin tightening, and the treatment of nail fungus and tattoo removal. In fact the technology employed by Maine Laser Clinic also works really well treating most non-ablative applications or at least as good as any other competing technology on the market.

Laser hair removal is a complicated market, but in short form choosing a method that is virtually painless, cost efficient and produces results should factor in your decision when shopping for a reputable hair removal provider. Maine Laser Clinic lasers are the only high powered, air cooled, fully portable devices that don’t hurt the patient during treatment on the market. Every other device that is similarly powerful (an important distinction) is large, water cooled, painful, expensive and can’t be moved.

Doing your research is definitely important but you need to make sure you are speaking with people who are knowledgeable and have a base line to compare to. We recently read on a competitors website that someone in the Southern Maine area uses the E-Matrix for hair removal, which is surprising as E-Matrix it is not a laser but a Radio Frequency Device for skin improvement so there is a mismatch on the science between technology and application and the manufacturer does not list hair removal as an application on the product page making it even more skeptical. We are not saying it’s impossible, but highly suspect.

The best way to learn and differentiate the lasers is to speak to practitioners that are successful and have used a variety of technologies (which we will happily connect you to), see the device your self in person and have someone with some kind of technical insight to provide guidance (a friend, a colleague, or an advisor).

We hope you found this information useful in your quest to rid yourself of unwanted hair. We are always willing and able to speak at length about hair removal and look forward to your inquiries.

MAINLASERCLINIC