ActiveFX with UltraPulse Encore

Minimal patient downtime, effective results in a single treatment

The treatment of wrinkles and photodamaged skin is a mainstay of aesthetic physicians globally. Patient needs span a broad continuum – extending from the treatment of mild to moderate dyschromias (discolorations), to the elimination of heavy lines and deep wrinkles. Laser skin resurfacing, or LSR, is the treatment of choice for patients seeking optimal results in a single treatment. LSR removes the damaged outer layers of skin, vaporizing damaged tissues and stimulating an extended period of collagen regeneration. The result – tighter and younger looking skin.

Lumenis’ UltraPulse Encore has long been recognized as the ideal tool for LSR, providing a range of settings for optimized results in just one treatment. Its versatility enables a variety of adjunctive and additional procedures, making it cost-effective for aesthetic practices.

For years, physicians have used the system’s higher energy settings on heavily damaged and/or photoaged skin, often achieving LSR results that patients describe as profound. This ‘maximized’ approach requires a period of downtime, during which patients are instructed to use soaking techniques, apply ointments and to avoid sun exposure.

As a result of changing trends in the aging population, an increasing number of patients are seeking effective, low-downtime procedures to treat their fi ne lines, wrinkles and the other effects of photoaging. These young, active and professional patients often wish to address damage that is not severe. Averse to lengthy, multiple-visit procedures, they prefer to have a single, high-impact treatment. For them, the Lumenis UltraPulse Encore offers ‘ActiveFX’, a range of lower energy settings, which create a superfi cial laser peel. Downtime with these procedures can be as short as four days – essentially a long weekend.

Following an ActiveFX treatment, most patients can resume normal activities in just three to five days – even ‘pinkness’ is gone in a week or less.

“I am very excited about the new ActiveFX procedure – it provides physicians with an opportunity to offer our more active patients an extremely effective, safe, convenient, single-treatment choice,” noted Barry E. DiBernardo, M.D., a plastic surgeon with a busy practice in Montclair, New Jersey who has performed several ActiveFX procedures. “ActiveFX utilizes the ideal type of energy – CO2 laser energy, to achieve the clearly noticeable results that these patients require. An entire face can be treated in about 30 minutes. Downtime is only a few days, and additional improvements continue for months as a result of the collagen stimulation,” added Dr. DiBernardo.

“The ActiveFX peel is excellent for skin turnover and health, and is perfect for treating comedones, clogged pores, actinic damage and dyschromias,” says Joe Niamtu III, DMD, Richmond, VA, USA. “The procedure restores skin to a healthy state; similar to skin that has not experienced sun damage or scarring. With proper sun protection, these results can be long lasting. There is no doubt about it – with laser skin resurfacing, you can signifi cantly turn back the clock.”

Dr. Niamtu also uses the UltraPulse Encore for acne, traumatic, surgical and keloid scars, and warts. A cosmetic facial surgeon who has used aesthetic laser systems since 1996, Dr. Niamtu has performed more than 1,200 laser procedures with his Lumenis UltraPulse Encore and Lumenis VascuLight® Elite systems, including some 100 ActiveFX peels. Likening the results of this procedure to those of mid-depth chemical peeling, Dr. Niamtu has replaced chemical peels with ActiveFX peels in all patients except those with deeply pigmented or heavily wrinkled skin.

Short procedure times are important for busy physicians and their patients. The UltraPulse Encore’s rapid scanning capability addresses this need by allowing LSR procedures to be completed in under 30 minutes. Dr. Niamtu notes: “Another important capability of this system is its speed. This laser fl ies – it cuts procedure time in half compared to other technologies.”

Following an ActiveFX treatment, most patients can resume normal activities in just three to fi ve days – even ‘pinkness’ is gone in a week or less. Because of the low downtime, doctors have shifted from other treatment modalities to ActiveFX, performing as many as 10-15 of these procedures each week. For effectiveness and value, it appears that ActiveFX provides more satisfaction – for both patients and practitioners – than other technologies.

©Lumenis2008