It seems counter-intuitive to think that one of the most effective ways of combating sun damage to your skin is to treat the affected areas with bright light pulses. Yet that is precisely what an IPL – Intense Pulsed Light– treatment is all about. IPL works by sending bright flashes of light from a handheld emitter onto the skin’s surface. Discover the IPL treatment process to decide if the cosmetic procedure suits you.

How IPL Works

The intense pulses of light from IPL penetrate the skin, targeting excessive pigmentation that causes dark spots. These areas of hyperpigmentation appear darker on the skin’s surface due to an accumulation of melanin. IPL disrupts these pigment clusters, facilitating their absorption into the bloodstream for removal. Moreover, the light pulses also affect the area’s red blood cells (hemoglobin), leading to their increased removal. This process accelerates the elimination of damaged melanin, resulting in a more even skin tone over time.

Versatility of IPL Treatment

Of course, sun damage is not the only skin condition that is treated. Individuals with conditions such as spider veins, rosacea, freckles, uneven skin pigmentation, and even fine lines have successfully qualified for IPL therapy. With the exception of the eyes and surrounding areas, all parts of the body are suitable for IPL treatments.

Treatment Process and Considerations

Treatment sessions are relatively short and simple procedures that generally take between 20 minutes and an hour to complete. The time your procedure takes mostly depends on how much of an area is being dealt with. A single session only starts the process, so it is usual to see three to six visits performed at approximately four-week intervals. When preparing for the treatment, patients should avoid tanning the area and avoid alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen, and prescription blood thinners.

Side Effects and Results

Some mild side effects may emerge after treatment. Since IPL is a high-intensity burst of light, it is unsurprising that a patient may experience some of the same effects of a mild sunburn. They may notice a degree of temporary redness, swelling, and discomfort. All of these are to be expected in most cases. Significant IPL results are rarely seen immediately. The effects become more noticeable with each IPL treatment done regularly in the same area over time.

IPL Maintenance

It is also important to note that IPL is not a permanent cure. Results fade over time, and additional maintenance visits will be required. Most patients are delighted with the results they achieve with IPL.

Schedule a Consultation

If you are interested in receiving more information about IPL or scheduling an initial consultation at J. Sweat Plastic Surgery in Sacramento, CA, please fill out our online contact form or call us today.

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Are you seeking a non-surgical treatment that can transform your skin and give you a smooth, luminous complexion? Look no further than dermaplaning. The innovative procedure has gained popularity in recent years which makes sense since it offers a range of benefits that can rejuvenate and revitalize your skin.

But what exactly is dermaplaning and what benefits does it provide? Let’s take a more in-depth look at the non-invasive procedure.

What is Dermaplaning?

Dermaplaning is a non-invasive skincare procedure that involves gently exfoliating the top layer of the skin using a specialized surgical scalpel. This process eliminates the buildup of dead skin cells, dirt, and peach fuzz, revealing a smoother and more vibrant complexion underneath. The treatment is performed by a skilled aesthetician or a qualified plastic surgeon and is suitable for most skin types.

Unveiling the Benefits of Dermaplaning

This non-invasive skincare procedure comes with a variety of benefits for your skin including minimizing pore size and giving you a better overall skin tone and texture.

Enhanced Skin Texture and Tone

Eliminating the outermost layer of dead skin cells and debris allows for better absorption of skincare products, resulting in a smoother and more even skin texture. The treatment also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and acne scars, leaving your skin youthful and refreshed.

Improved Skin Radiance

By removing the layer of fine facial hair, dermaplaning enhances the reflection of light on your face, making it appear more radiant and luminous. Your skin will have a natural, healthy glow that will leave you feeling confident and beautiful.

Diminished Hyperpigmentation

Dermaplaning can also effectively address hyperpigmentation concerns like dark spots and patches. The gentle exfoliation process helps to slough off pigmented cells and stimulates the growth of new, healthier skin cells. Over time, this can lead to a reduction in the appearance of hyperpigmentation, leaving your complexion more even.

Better Skincare Product Penetration

With the removal of the outer layer of dead skin cells, the active ingredients in your skincare routine can better penetrate deeper into the skin, maximizing their effectiveness. Whether you’re using moisturizers, serums, and anti-aging treatments, they are likely to be more effective without a layer of dead skin blocking your pores.

Minimized Pore Size

Removing dirt, oil, and dead skin cells from the skin’s surface can also lead to a noticeable improvement in the appearance of pores. By keeping your skin clean and clear, dermaplaning contributes to a more refined and smoother complexion and while it can’t be performed on skin with active breakouts, it can prevent future acne breakouts.

Schedule A Consultation

Dermaplaning is a highly effective skincare treatment that offers many benefits for individuals seeking to rejuvenate their skin and have a more youthful and refreshed appearance.

If you are looking for a smoother complexion, consider consulting with us at J. Sweat Plastic Surgery today. He can customize the dermaplaning treatment to suit your needs.

To schedule a consultation today, please call our Sacramento, CA office at (916) 400-0822 or use our online booking tool. We look forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals!

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Ladies, let’s talk.

How is your sensitivity down there?

Are you a mom who has experienced changes since pregnancy and childbirth?

Or have you not had children, but experienced vaginal dryness, stress urinary incontinence, or painful sexual intercourse?

If you’ve answered yes to any of those questions, we need to talk about vaginal rejuvenation procedures.

Why Feminine Rejuvenation?

Our body is all about balance. Balance in hormones contributes to balance in our overall health. Over time, women experience changes in vaginal tissues due to changes in hormones, menopause, or childbirth. Low estrogen levels, for example, have been recognized to decrease vaginal lubrication, increase the risk of urinary tract infections due to a thinning of the urethra, cause irregular or absent menses, and affect mood. Women also experience an imbalance in estrogen levels due to things like rigorous exercise, extreme stress, or depression.

The changes and imbalance of female hormones contribute to changes in the appearance, feel, and function of vaginal tissues externally and internally.

The Female Rejuvenation Procedure

J. Sweat Plastic Surgery offers a nonsurgical feminine rejuvenation system, called ThermiVA. This is a non-invasive laser vaginal rejuvenation method that uses radiofrequency energy.

What is radiofrequency and is it safe?

Radiofrequency (RF) is a type of energy, that is measured in wavelengths. All types of energy from soundwaves of a speaker to sunlight, to wi-fi are classified by frequency on the “electromagnetic spectrum.” The RF energy used in this procedure is on the low end of the range.

With this nonsurgical treatment, RF energy is used to heat the external vaginal tissue and internal tissue in the vaginal canal with a hand-held wand. As the tissues heats, the production of collagen and elastin is stimulated. Collagen is a natural structure found in our skin that helps skin look young. Elastin works with collagen to keep the skin firm and tight. By stimulating elastin and collagen production, cell turnover happens, helping loose skin become firmer, addressing vaginal laxity, and making the area look more youthful.

This treatment is painless and only takes approximately 30-45 minutes, which is much shorter than surgical treatments.

Patients report improved exterior appearance of vaginal structures, also improved overall vaginal health.

Downtime After Vaginal Rejuvenation

With nonsurgical treatments like ThermiVa, there is no downtime associated. Some patients notice an immediate change after vaginal rejuvenation treatments but not always. The customized treatment plan will consist of a series of treatments, spaced six to eight weeks apart. It takes time to remodel tissue and collagen and elastin, so it may take multiple sessions to achieve final results. The response and longevity of results vary based on each patient’s lifestyle and hormones.

Request a Consultation

The feminine rejuvenation treatment is one of our most popular procedures in the office. To get started on your customized treatment plan, schedule a consultation with Irina Dariychuk, nurse practitioner at J. Sweat Plastic Surgery Center. To do so, you can call our office or fill out an online form.

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You may desire the confidence of a beach body by eliminating unwanted body fat and improving muscle tone but also want to enjoy your summer without discomfort or downtime. If this sounds like you, you might consider a nonsurgical body contouring procedure like Coolsculpting®! Here are some benefits you can expect:

No Incisions

With Coolsculpting, there are no incisions and it’s a completely non-invasive, nonsurgical fat reduction procedure! Instead, a cold applicator directs controlled cooling at pockets of stubborn fat in the abdominal, flanks, back, outer thighs, or beneath the chin, destroying the unwanted fat cells by freezing them while protecting the outside skin and tissue in the treatment area.

With no incisions, you can enjoy a comfortable fat-reduction treatment process without the use of sedation or anesthesia and with no risk of scarring. Eliminate stubborn fat and achieve a more youthful appearance with nonsurgical body sculpting treatments.

No Downtime

With a surgical procedure, you can expect some degree of downtime, especially if anesthesia is required. This often means taking work off and having someone care for you for several days. But with nonsurgical body contouring like Coolsculpting, you won’t miss a beat when getting back to your daily schedule. With no incisions or medication required, no downtime follows only some occasional minor discomfort.

Lasting Results

The results from a Coolsculpting procedure aren’t immediate, but they are long-lasting, just like a surgical procedure like liposuction! After your nonsurgical body contouring treatment, your body will need time to process and naturally eliminate the destroyed excess fat cells. This could take up to twelve weeks with results starting to become visible in as short as 3-4 weeks. A second treatment to the areas of concern is usually always recommended for maximal results usually within 60-90 days of the first treatment.  After recovery from the treatments, you can enjoy a slimmer contour that lasts as long as you maintain your weight. Although the treated fat cells are gone for good, you can still gain weight in other untreated areas of your body. You can help ensure long-lasting results through a healthy diet and regular exercise routine.

To learn more about nonsurgical body contouring, contact our office! We can schedule your consultation with Dr. Sweat to determine the best course of treatment for you.

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If you’re tired of painful waxing, plucking, and shaving, you might consider a more permanent solution for smooth, hairless skin! With the Soprano ICE laser hair reduction system, you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to shave and can feel confident showing your skin this summer. Here are some of the benefits you can enjoy:

Effective on all skin and hair types

Early laser technology was only effective on darker hair and lighter skin tones. The Soprano ICE incorporates multiple laser wavelengths in order to treat a variety of skin and hair types, from lighter hair to tanned skin. Prior to your treatment, the appropriate wavelength will be selected based on your skin and hair type and the location of the treatment area. This includes the legs, underarms, bikini area, and more!

Virtually no pain

Laser hair removal works by heating and destroying the hair follicle. The discomfort you experience during this process will vary based on your pain tolerance and the treatment location, however, most patients report a relatively pain-free experience! The Soprano ICE uses controlled cooling to prevent any damage to your skin and to keep you comfortable.

Permanent results

Once the hair follicle is destroyed with the Soprano ICE laser system, it can never grow hair again, giving permanent hair reduction. Because our hair follicles are not all in their growth phase at the same time, you will need several spaced-out treatments to ensure optimal results. Patients typically need a total of three to eight sessions, scheduled four to six weeks apart.

If you’re ready to start seeing hairless skin this summer, contact our office for your consultation with Dr. Sweat.

 

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