• Contact Info

    021 246 3245
    Parkside Medical Centre, 45 Heaton Street, Timaru
    Mon – Sun 9:00am – 6:00pm

9:00am – 6:00pm daily 021 246 3245

Fotofacial and Photodynamic Therapy

How it's done

Treatments on the face by using intense light and or lasers give great freshening effect on the skin, removing belishes such as freckles, age spots and red capillary veins. At Transform we have the added benefit of the availablility of many other laser machines rather than one, often combining our tools in one treatment to effect the best result for you. Fuller results over the run of the mill fotofacial can be provided by q- switched Nd Yag laser, Polaris laser, Fraxel resurfacing with or without platelet rich plasma. FotoFacial RF® treatments are full face, neck, hands or body treatments using intense Pulsed Light and RadioFrequency energy combined in the same pulse. These gentle, no-downtime treatments are used to improve the cosmetic appearance of the face, neck or body.

Treatment Results

All patients notice a consistent improvement in the appearance of their skin. The degree of improvement is gradual and persistent over the 15-18 week program and 5-6 FotoFacial RF® treatments. The noticeable and significant changes that have been reported include: improvement in pink and brown discoloration, spider veins, pink and brown blemishes, sun damage, age spots, pore size, acne scarring and wrinkles. The degree of improvement can vary but averages 50-75% improvement in anything that is pink and vascular or brown and melanin in nature. The improvement in fine to moderate wrinkles, acne scarring, skin texture irregularities, laxity and smoothness is 50-75%.

About the treatment

The FotoFacial RF® treatments are simple office based treatments. The patient is covered with a thin layer of cooling gel and the entire face, chest, hands or arms are treated with a gentle pulse of light and RadioFrequency energy. Each treatment takes about 30 minutes and involves pulses of bright visible light and RadioFrequency energy that are passed into the skin. Because each FotoFacial RF® treatment is gentle, most patients require 5 or 6 FotoFacial RF treatments to see the desires results and they are performed every 2-4 weeks. In certain skin types, a microdermabrasion is performed between FotoFacial treatments to enhance the penetration of the light and RadioFrequency energy.

About the treatment

The FotoFacial RF® treatments are simple office based treatments. The patient is covered with a thin layer of cooling gel and the entire face, chest, hands or arms are treated with a gentle pulse of light and RadioFrequency energy. Each treatment takes about 30 minutes and involves pulses of bright visible light and RadioFrequency energy that are passed into the skin. Because each FotoFacial RF® treatment is gentle, most patients require 5 or 6 FotoFacial RF treatments to see the desires results and they are performed every 2-4 weeks. In certain skin types, a microdermabrasion is performed between FotoFacial treatments to enhance the penetration of the light and RadioFrequency energy.

Will I need to take time off?

With the FotoFacial RF® there is very little discomfort, it can be greatly reduced, or even eliminated by the use of a topical anaesthetic cream applied to the skin 30 minutes prior to the scheduled FotoFacial RF®. After each treatment, patients can apply makeup and return to normal activities. The FotoFacial RF® treatments have proven to be low risk, are associated with few complications and patients rarely have downtime or have to miss work or regular activities.

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)

PDT (Photodynamic Therapy) is the application of a medicine Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) to the affected area, which is attracted to "abnormal" cells.

What to expect

PDT (Photodynamic Therapy) is the application of a medicine Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) to the affected area, which is attracted to “abnormal” cells. When exposed to certain wavelengths of light these cells are destroyed. PDT in combination with our advanced intense pulsed light treatment will target any areas that may be pre-cancerous and dry scaly areas that are persistent despite previous treatment. It can also help to restore a more youthfulappearance to your skin by improving redness, flushing, pigmentation problems, open pores, scars, acne, wrinkles and will provide you with a smoother, healthier skin.

PDT involves firstly a consultation with our Doctor or one of our nurses to ensure you are suitable for this procedure. We would then arrange a short appointment for the application of the ALA. A minimum of 3 hours is required before we do an Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment which takes around 30min.

The ALA may slightly increase the discomfort of the IPL treatment. The sensation experienced is mostly the discomfort related to the IPL, which is described as the’ flick of a rubber band’. Areas where the abnormal cells have been ‘activated’ may be slightly more sensitive when exposed to the light. Immediately following the treatment you will be red. The next day this may be even more evident and may last 2-7 days depending on your skin type. Any pigmentation you might have will darken after IPL treatment. A scab may form where abnormal cells have been destroyed which usually flakes off after about 1-3 weeks. As PDT heals quickly without scarring, the appearance after treatment is usually very good.

PDT treatment is very safe. ALA is a natural product found in humans throughout the body. There are no systemic side effects and no scarring. For more information book in a consultation.