Reshaping Our Lives With Laser Technology

In the heyday of poodle skirts and fuzzy dice, Americans were fixated on keeping their cars in top shape. They’d work hard to remove the slightest dent or scratch and rebuild engines to keep them young and responsive. By the emergence of the ‘60s revolution and the movements of the ‘70s , it was our clothes that defined us. We wanted our jeans or bellbottom cut just so, our miniskirts or cranberry sweaters in perfect condition. We could argue that, by the turn of the new century, our focus began shifting in yet another direction, towards technology, caring for our mobile phones, decorating our laptop computers and accessorizing with our iPods.

Although fads and fashions have kept us busy over the years, in today’s world we all tend to concentrate on protecting and rejuvenating the things that matter most—and those begin with our own bodies. We understand the benefits of healthy lifestyles and the importance of looking healthy as well. We’re all living much longer than we did half a century ago, so our bodies require more attention to stay in top shape and to keep us feeling young longer.

Technology has responded to this renewed interest in looking and feeling healthier and younger, led by tremendous advances in laser technology. Now, with a combination of light, heat and radiofrequency waves, professional laser clinics are helping men and women alike to reshape their bodies and their self-image.

The newest capability is reflected in a leading laser center’s service called VelaShape. It’s the first (and only) process approved by the FDA to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite and reduce thigh circumference. VelaShape is a clinically proven procedure that many Americans are choosing instead of surgical techniques. The non-invasive VelaShape device uses something called elōs technology, invented by laser developer Syneron. It employs bi-polar RF waves and infrared energy to improve skin texture, reduce the appearance of cellulite and cut down on localized fat deposits by literally shrinking your fat cells.

Improvements from VelaShape often are visible within as few as four office visits. It obtains results much more quickly than other techniques because it uses high-powered, but safe, forms of energy. Typically, with four to six treatments spaced one week apart, patients see thinner thighs and better skin texture.

The elōs technology is also used in devices for skin rejuvenation in FotoFacial treatments. When a FotoFacial treatment is followed by microdermabrasion every two weeks, skin irregularities begin disappearing and the process stimulates production of new collagen. The result is reduction of fine wrinkles, more even skin tones and the creation of a more youthful, healthier appearance.

Closely related to skin rejuvenation is skin tightening. Again a non-invasive procedure, use of ReFirme skin tightening device helps remove wrinkles, tighten the skin and improve skin laxity on the neck and face. Laser-based skin tightening boosts production of collagen that fills in wrinkles at the jaw line; along the brow line; and around the eyes, mouth and cheeks. It’s a much more comfortable process than injections of foreign materials; instead, it uses a natural method to restore young-looking skin.

Permanent hair reduction was one of the earliest applications of laser technology; and with a leading laser center’s proprietary treatment protocol it’s become much more effective, succeeding even with the darker skin tones or light-colored hair that were not amenable to treatment by more conventional lasers. In the dermis, the top layer of the skin, lie both active and dormant (inactive) hair follicles. Laser hair removal destroys the active follicles through a series of treatments. Lasers destroy hair follicles during their growth stage, so multiple treatments are required to manage all the active follicles, since they grow at different times. The dormant follicles may become active and start producing hair tomorrow, 20 years from now or never. Hormones in your body are responsible for activating these follicles and due to natural hormone changes throughout a person’s life, minor touch-ups may be necessary over the years. The process combines pulsed, high-intensity light with precisely controlled radiofrequency waves to destroy the active follicles. The result: Permanent hair reduction in the treated areas that may only require a handful of “touch-ups” rather than daily shaving or frequent, painful waxing.

All across the country, people have found a way to take advantage of new ways to look younger and healthier without enduring the pain associated with other methods, nor the surgery that once offered the only means of improvement.

As in other aspects of health care, technology now makes it possible to take better care of our appearance in a far less disruptive way than has been available previously. Often, the ability to look younger and fitter longer can lead to happier lives.

In the 21st century, Americans understand what truly is most important—not our gadgets but our wellbeing, both physical and psychological. Keeping our bodies in prime shape on the surface may encourage us to pay more attention to other aspects of our health. We should all want to be more appealing individuals and more confident personalities with more healthful lifestyles. The new, safer laser technology can enable us to enjoy the kind of life that we all deserve.