Fotofacial therapy is a lighter form of laser treatment. Brief light pulses treat sun damaged skin and rosacea. Skin imperfections such as redness of your complexion, broken blood vessels and irregularities of skin color can be corrected, as well as a reduction of wrinkles and decrease pore size.

Unlike laser treatments, Fotofacial treatments can be done on the entire body with no down time. They can also be used to correct imperfections left by other procedures, such as a chemical peel. Dr. Struck does Fotofacial treatments in the office, and you will be able to return to work immediately after your appointment. The procedure itself will be five forty-five minute sessions, each three weeks apart. Topical anesthetic lotion will be used. It is important to avoid the sun as much as possible during treatments.

Botox can be used to treat facial wrinkles such as crow’s feet and forehead creases. It works by weakening the muscles that cause large wrinkles. Botox takes effect several days after treatment and lasts approximately four months. Botox treats areas of the face that often do not respond well to other therapy. It can be combined with different treatments for maximal rejuvenation, such as using laser therapy to minimize finer wrinkles. An advantage of botox therapy is that you can have your treatment and return immediately to your regular schedule. The procedure will be fifteen minutes every four months. No anesthesia is necessary and you can return to work the same day. Botox is a registered trademark of the Allergan Corporation.

Frequently Asked Questions about Botox
Q: How long does it take for Botox to take effect?
A: It usually takes between 3 and 7 days for botox to take effect on wrinkles.

Q: How long does botox last?
A: Botox lasts between 4 and 6 months.

Laser resurfacing uses a carbon dioxide or Erbium laser to reduce wrinkles. With this treatment you can expect a fifty percent decrease in the depth of fine wrinkles. Dr. Struck can treat your entire face, or just around your mouth, eyes, cheeks or forehead. Laser resurfacing can be combined with other surgeries to get an ideal result.

The procedure will generally take between fifteen minutes to one hour. General anesthesia is used for treatment of the whole face; if the whole face is not being treated, local will be used. You can return to work within ten days. Redness of skin may be present for several weeks, but makeup can be worn after seven to ten days to help cover it. Dressings and ointments will be applied for seven to ten days to assist with healing. Avoid the sun completely for three weeks, and always use SPF 30 or higher sunscreen always.

Frequently Asked Questions about Laser Resurfacing
Q: When will I be able to wear make-up after laser resurfacing?
A: Make-up can be worn 7-10 days after the treatment, and you skin will be red for 3-8 weeks after the treatment.

Q: Can laser resurfacing or chemical peels be done at the same time as a facelift?
A: Yes, but resurfacing can only be done on areas where the skin has not been freed from the underlying tissues (i.e. the area of the mouth). Resurfacing around the mouth is a nice addition to a facelift, because the wrinkles around the mouth are not addressed by a facelift.

LookingYourBest.com is an online resource for facial cosmetic surgery in San Jose. To learn more, please visit http://www.struckmd.com/webpages/photofacial.htm and http://www.struckmd.com/webpages/botox.htm.

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