Pearl Rejuvenation Treatments are available in Johannesburg at the Morningside branch.
The Pearl™ by Cutera is a revolutionary new wavelength in dermatology the YSGG wavelength that provides rejuvenating benefits to the skin using a Laser Peel treatment method. The Pearl has a computer guided scanning device that can be programmed to remove specific layers of tissue uniformly. Depending on the depth we are able to treat mildly to very aggressive, and treat a variety of conditions ranging from age spots to deep wrinkles and scars. The benefits of Pearl laser resurfacing are:
- Resurfacing results are seen in as little as ONE treatment! Patients don't have to wait 4-6 months to see results, as they do with Fraxel
- The Pearl offers predictable, repeatable, immediate results with minimal discomfort and only a modest downtime of 5 days.
One hour before the treatment a local numbing agent is applied to the area making the procedure with the Pearl almost painless. During the procedure, the top layer of skin is treated with pulses of light in a pre-selected pattern. The laser simultaneously sends heat to the deeper layers of skin to provide longer-term benefits. A natural protective dressing forms on the skin (thanks to the new YSGG laser wavelength) which protects the treated skin from weeping and harmful side effects to minimize downtime during the restorative process unlike traditional laser peels such as the Erbium Yag and the CO2 laser.
On day 3 or 4, this natural dressing will peel or slough off, leaving new, healthy, vibrant skin underneath. In a short time, patients will notice overall skin clarity, smoothness , softness and reduction in pore size - all from a 20 minute treatment with only 3 - 5 days of "social" downtime.
The Pearl yields similar results to Erbium Laser Peels, by treating uneven pigmentation and superficial texture of the face, neck, and chest, but with less down-time. We recommend a series of two-three treatments depending on desired result and original severity of the condition treated.
The typical areas treated with Pearl™ are the face, neck and décolleté.
The popular belief that good skin is something you're born with isn't entirely true. In fact, experts believe that genetics account for only 20 percent of natural ageing, with 80 percent thought to be from accumulated sun exposure.
But for those who would rather steer clear of going under the knife to shave a few years off their appearance, a new arsenal of aesthetic procedures that work without surgcally wounding the skin are quickly gaining popularity.
Ageing skin is associated with a range of cosmetic concerns - from pigmentation problems and splotchy skin to the development of dry, dull skin, adding to an overall lackluster appearance. Other effects include a loss of collagen, which results in the thinning of the skin and loss of structural integrity or weakening of the skin. Although wrinkles are perhaps the most obvious changes that occur, enlarged pores and even acne scars often worsen as we get older - resulting from the loss of collagen.
Pearl offers the most effective treatment to address fine lines, uneven texture and discoloration without wound care and the lengthy downtime required with certain Erbium and CO2 laser procedures.
Compared to today's fractionated technologies, Pearl offers noticeable results in just one treatment versus 4 - 6 fractionated treatments. The Pearl procedure is a minimally invasive technology that renews and treats the above problems in as little as ONE treatment. If the damage on the skin is severe, better results are seen after 2-3 treatments for patients with more extensive signs of ageing and/or scarring.
After one Pearl procedure, crepe-like skin is replaced by plump and smooth-to-the-touch skin.
Occasionally 3D Rejuvenation non ablative skin rejuvenation and tightening treatments with superficial peels are just not enough for patients with more advanced wrinkling and photo damage. This is where the Pearl, a revolutionary new technique for patients that need a more aggressive laser peeling, comes into play. This treatment has a rejuvenating and refreshing effect on the skin, enhancing a youthful appearance.
If we can remove some of the skin at an earlier age and stimulate the growth of new collagen, we might actually slow down the ageing process significantly, allowing us to have healthier, better looking skin later in our golden years. Perhaps even more promising is the idea that treating skin with lasers earlier on in the ageing process-at around age 30-40may actually slow or prevent the skin from breaking down and appearing wrinkled and saggy later on in life.
One hour before the treatment a local numbing agent is applied to the area making the procedure with the Pearl almost painless. The Pearl treatment takes approximately 20 minutes to administer thanks to the revolutionary scanning device. One can expect three to five days of down-time depending on the number of passes given during the treatment. Immediately following the procedure you may feel as if you have a bad sunburn (burning sensation).
A natural protective dressing forms on the skin to minimize downtime during the restorative process. During this time you will be asked to apply Vaseline and follow a skin care program to help heal the skin quickly and reduce potential side effects. By the second day, redness will begin to look brown.
On day 3 or 4, this natural dressing will peel or slough off, leaving new, healthy, vibrant skin underneath and make up can be worn on day 5 (provided all peeling has stopped). In a short time, patients will notice overall skin clarity, smoothness and softness - all from a 20 minute treatment with only 3 - 5 days of "social" downtime.
Remember to always apply a broad spectrum sunscreen when outdoors to minimize sun damage.
The Pearl can be safely combined with most aesthetic treatments. The Pearl can also be used to increase the results of traditional Photodynamic Therapy (PDT), Photo-rejuvenation and 3D Skin Rejuvenation™ Laser Treatments. This may be ideal for patients who do not have the time to commit to a series of 3D Skin Rejuvenation treatments, and can tolerate extended downtime.
At Skin Renewal, for enhanced results for patients with more severe wrinkling and sun damage, the Laser Genesis procedure using innovative new settings is done before the Pearl laser procedure.
The Pearl offers safe predictable, repeatable, immediate results with minimal discomfort and only modest downtime. At Skin Renewal, many Pearl treatments have been administered to our patients with great success. After the procedure, sun protection must be worn daily for a period of 6 weeks. It is clinically apparent that ablative resurfacing with the laser such as the Pearl can dramatically improve the skin's appearance and after clinical trials it is now evident that beneficial molecular effects have been seen after these ablative treatments.
It has been clinically proven that after ablative laser treatments such as Pearl, there is a significant decrease in the level of p53 expression in biopsies obtained 3 months after treatment compared with baseline. By decreasing p53 expression with ablative lasers, there may be prevention of actinic neoplasia or skin cancers
No, darker skin types 5 to 6 cannot be treated with Pearl ™ Rejuvenation. In addition, if there is a history of sun exposure in the previous 3 weeks, the treatment will have to be rescheduled. The ideal Pearl patient is a Fitzpatrick skin type 1, 2 or 3 with a desire for quick results and has photo-damage, fine lines, wrinkles or acne scars.
