I’ll freely admit it. I am a science nerd.
If you are too, or if you are interested to know more about how laser technology is used on the skin for anti-aging purposes, read on. Of course, no worries if you would rather scroll on to my next blog article all about the latest and greatest HALO laser, the GOLD STANDARD of antiaging laser technology at Dr. Christine Rodgers’ office.
Back to my science nerdiness. Part of the reason I became a nurse is because I enjoy learning about new technology that enhances human physiology. Is it any wonder that I enjoy trying to wrap my brain around the skin laser technology that truly is anti-aging? Seriously, I needed to understand the technology so I could better present it to you, and of course, to experience this myself.
Allow me to tell you what I’ve learned about this incredible and beneficial technology.
Laser History
Whether it is watching beams of the sun’s light cast over the darkening sky of the Rocky Mountains, or beams from the moon reflected in the waters over the deep blue sea, NATURAL beams of light paint some pretty wonderful and inspiring pictures. We all know and appreciate those. Now consider MAN MADE LASER beams. The invention of the laser beam absolutely creates beauty as well, especially when it comes to the application of microscopic laser beams to the skin on our faces to provide a repairing and incredibly long lasting beautiful, youthful surface and glow.
No surprise, it was Albert Einstein who in 1917 first conceptualized the idea of harnessing light beams for a plethora of very powerful reasons. Forty three years later, in 1960, little known Theodore Maiman built the first laser in Malibu at Hughes Research Laboratories. Because of these science geniuses and others, laser beams have a multitude of applications, from cutting metals, playing CDs and DVDs, laser printing, bar code scanning, fiber optics, entertaining light displays and more. Scrolling our time machine to the present in Palo Alto, California, two more laser technology geniuses, James Hobart, Ph.D. and Daniel Negus, Ph.D., started Sciton, Inc., a medical device company that harnesses a variety of beams of light to continuously develop the best anti-aging technology ever. And finally, bringing all of this home to Denver, we are so fortunate for Dr. Christine Rodgers, whose practice is the true “glue that binds” this fantastic technology, skilled staff, an artistic eye as well as compassion to provide the best in aesthetic procedures for anti-aging, maintenance and beauty in an safe and professional environment.
Laser Terminology
First, let’s define the word LASER. An acronym, it stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. And almost every dictionary will define a laser as “A device that generates an intense beam of monochromatic light by stimulated emission.” Oxford Dictionary. So what does that mean to us in terms of skin care?
As you may imagine, laser technology has improved at what may seem like the speed of light over the last 58 years. Likewise, laser technology in the field of anti-aging skin treatment has evolved too. The latest advancements in skin treatment involve many ways to harness light energy. Sciton’s medical device inventions available at Dr. Rodgers’ office include Contour resurfacing; to treat fine and deeper lines, Profractional; to stimulate collagen and elastin, and to treat acne scars, diVa; for vaginal rejuvenation, and the latest, HALO, the most revolutionary way to rejuvenate skin in two ways at once – surface and deeper. Additionally, Sciton’s Broad Band Light technology, called BBL and Forever Young, harness yet a different type of light technology to treat red and brown skin spots and to change how the skin cells function at the genetic level to literally turn back the clock as defined in an objective study at Stanford University.
Dr. Rodgers’ Highly Trained and Experienced Laser Staff
It is one thing for an office to have such amazing laser equipment. But it is also of utmost importance for an office to have highly trained, certified and experienced staff to correctly and professionally operate this advanced technology. Fortunately, the laser staff at Dr. Rodgers’ office is amazing. They are the optimal people to treat skin with superior skill, expertise and compassion in a setting that is professional, comfortable and safe.
The technologic staff at Dr. Rodgers’ office includes highly skilled and experienced Ashley Ackerson, Aethetician, CMA, Laser Specialist who has countless Laser Technology Certificates and over 16 years of experience, as well as two Physician Assistants, Brooke Riddleberger, PA-C and Katie McCarty, PA-C. These three women comprise a true “dream team” of wisdom, expertise, compassion and skill to deliver superior service and beautiful results to their clients.
Out of curiosity, I researched what it took Brooke and Katie to be a Physician Assistant. First, they needed to have a four year undergraduate degree, heavy in sciences, with a strong GPA in order to apply to, and be accepted into this highly competitive Physician Assistant advanced degree program. Once accepted, they completed a very demanding three years of study at a School of Medicine. Upon completion, they passed a national board examination in order to be certified in all areas of health care. Recertification by attending continuing education course work and re-examination are also a requirement in order to keep licensing current is ongoing. The “C” after the PA; PA-C, means the Physician Assistant’s certification is current. Wow.
The Laser Equipment
Each piece of Sciton Laser equipment at Dr. Rodgers’ office is an amazing and compact piece of machinery. A small console stationed at the head of the patient table/bed contains computerized software that continually analyzes the process and is adjusted by the specific operator. The console is also equipped with a wand that contains the head of the laser applicator which holds a concentration of light “projectors,” my term, encased in a smooth surface which glides over the surface of the skin, with the help of a specialized lubricant. The physician assistant or technician passes the surface of the wand over the skin in a specific pattern as the lights turn on and off in an extremely brief succession.
The “laser” beams microscopic columns of light into the surface of the skin at a prescribed depth particular to the patients’ skin type and desired results. Patients do have numbing cream applied prior to the process, and describe the feeling of the laser as a “snap of a rubber band,” “prickly” or “static.” The beams, depending on the type chosen, literally vaporize the microscopic columnar tube of the epidermis, eliminating dark age spots, pigmentation, scars, vascular lesions, wrinkles and scars. Some lasers can go deeper to improve upon deeper creases, skin texture and tone. Other lasers can treat acne and acne scarring, scars from trauma, and can be used for hair removal and even vaginal tissues for rejuvenation.
That is just a short lesson to help you understand how different types of lasers have different names and ways to personalize treatments for different types of skin. The laser specialists at Dr. Rodgers’ office are well trained and experienced to provide you with the most personalized laser treatment specific to your skin type and desire. It is important to meet with the staff at Dr. Christine Rodgers office for a consultation to determine which type of treatment is best for you.
Next? Read on to learn more about HALO!
