Clinical tips from Cutera

Welcome to Cutera's Clinical Education blog for both skincare and laser/other energy devices.

I'm Renee Lierly, R.N.  I have 17 years of nursing experience working in the field of aesthetics, burn intensive care, hyperbaric medicine, plastic surgery, surgical/trauma intensive care and emergency medicine. I learned from burn intensive care how heat affects the skin at every level.  As the Laser Safety Officer at Cutera, I am very passionate about promoting the safe use of lasers in medicine. I am a member of ASLMS (American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery) and LIA (Laser Institute of America).

Our goal is to assist you with your clinical questions about our lasers.  Please note:  As a manufacturing company, we are unable to give medical advice or a diagnosis for patients or practitioners. We will refer you back to your treating practitioner. An accurate assessment of your individual response to treatment can only be provided by a practitioner familiar with you and your medical history.

To locate a Cutera treatment practitioner, visit Cutera.com.

Laser Genesis

Saturday, May 8, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN
Laser Genesis, Cutera’s 1064 nm wavelength (infrared technology), combined with our patented microsecond technology, protects the epidermis, targets microvasculature and stimulates collagen production.

Erythema Reduction and Histologic Evidence of New Collagen Formation Using a 300-Microsecond 1064-nm Nd:YAG Laser

 Laser Genesis - The Complexion Laser

Laser Genesis: Improving Scars Without Downtime

How to effectively use Laser Genesis to treat all skin types for wrinkles, erythema, large pores and uneven skin

Melasma

Thursday, May 6, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN
Melasma is a chronic condition that many women seek Laser based technology and chemical peels for treatment. It is important to understand the basics of Melasma formation. Treatment providers often find that it is helpful in treating the pigmented lesions of Melasma with Laser Genesis as part of the skin treatment plan.

LimeLight

Tuesday, May 4, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

LimeLight Facial (520nm visible light - 1100nm infrared technology)

FDA Clearance: LimeLight is cleared for a variety of indications including benign pigmented lesions and vascular lesions.

Novel 3-in-1 Wavelength Light Source for Photorejuvenation


LimeLight - Reds & Browns Begone


*Although this device has not been optimized for hair removal, hair removal may occur as a result of a LimeLight treatment.

Acutip (500nm - 635nm)

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Acutip may be combined with a LimeLight facial for the treatment of small facial veins and pigmented lesions.

Use of a Novel Small-Tip IPL Handpiece for

Treatment of Discrete Pigmented and Vascular

Lesions


 

Treatment of Facial Telangiectasia with a Small Spot Broadband Pulsed Light Source

Titan (1100nm - 1800nm)

Saturday, April 24, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Titan, infrared technology may be combined with Laser Genesis and a LimeLight facial for Cutera's 3-D advanced skin care treatment.

Clinical Proof

Titan, infrared technology video

A Fresh Look at Titan…..A New Mobile Treatment Technique

 

 

Pearl Fractional 2790nm YSGG Fractional Laser

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Pearl Fractional Infrared, Laser based technology.

In Vivo Histological Evaluation of a Novel YSGG Ablative
Fractional Device for Cutaneous Remodeling
Walfre Franco, PhD, Brian D. Zelickson, MD, Victor E. Ross, MD

Fractional photothermolysis induces an array of microscopic zones of ablative and thermal injury in the skin, leaving intervening areas of normal skin unaffected, which rapidly repopulate the ablative zones of tissue. 

Pearl Fractional Roundtable

Brian S. Biesman, MD, Barry DiBernardo, MD, FACS and E. Victor Ross, MD hosted an interactive roundtable discussion about their individual experiences using Cutera's new and exclusive 2790nm Pearl Fractional laser. Pearl Fractional has been cleared for skin resurfacing and has been shown to be particularly effective in treating signs of significant photoaging in the periorbital and perioral areas.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type

Tuesday, April 20, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN
The amount of melanin in the skin can influence the skin care treatment plan.
Accurate skin typing is very important to the success of the Laser treatment and helps to identify the client's risk of adverse events related to pigment (hyper or hypo pigmentation) .  Skin color is influenced by genetics and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Chart


Certain melanin makes skin more vulnerable to sunburn

Causes of Hyperpigmentation

Topical agents used in the management of hyperpigmentation

Postinflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Perform a physical exam and ask questions

Treating Acne in Skin of Color

Aesthetic Procedures in Skin of Color

Intense pulsed light therapy

Saturday, April 17, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN
Intense pulsed light therapy is used for permanent hair reduction, the treatment of leg veins, facial veins and pigmented lesions. It is important to understand the difference between Laser based technology and Intense pulsed light therapy.

Facial Analysis for Skin Resurfacing

Friday, April 16, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN
Facial Analysis for Skin Resurfacing

Infrared technology may be used in an advanced skin care treatment plan for facial resurfacing. It is important to do a thorough skin analysis complete with skin typing prior to using Laser based technology to treat epidermal and dermal issues.

Combining Obagi with Cutera Procedures

Thursday, April 15, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Combining Obagi with Cutera Procedures

Obagi products combined with Cutera procedures may help to reduce melanin formation of pigmented lesions. Advanced skin care with products is a very important part of a skin care treatment plan.

Demystifying Clinical Photography

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Photography is a very important step in the skin care treatment plan. Skin tightening may be very subtle with results best visualized in before and after photos. It may take several treatments to reduce a large amount of facial veins. Treatment progression can be appreciated with serial photos.

Demystifying Clinical Photography

Introducing Pearl Fusion: Optimizing Ablative Results

Monday, April 12, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Pearl and Pearl Fractional are infrared, Laser based technology used for skin resurfacing. This advanced skin care treatment plan is used to treat the entire epidermis and deep dermal defects.

Introducing Pearl Fusion: Optimizing Ablative Results

ProWave 770 (770nm - 1100nm)

Sunday, April 11, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

ProWave (infrared technology) is a Laser hair removal device that results in permanent hair reduction.

Laser Hair Removal Clinical Proof

 

Two Approaches to Hair Removal: CoolGlide and ProWave

Laser Physics: Back to Basics

Saturday, April 10, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Infrared, Laser based technology is used to treat leg veins, facial veins, permanent hair reduction. It is important to know basic Laser physics in order to provide safe and effective treatments.

Laser Physics: Back to Basics

Treat Difficult Vascular Lesions

Friday, April 9, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Infrared, Laser based technology may be used to treat leg veins and facial veins.

Variable Long-Pulse Nd:YAG Laser: A New Way To Treat Difficult Vascular Lesions

Make Veins Disappear

Leg Veins

Thursday, April 8, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Laser based, infrared technology may be used for a Laser vein treatment with the ability to treat facial and leg veins.

Optimizing Treatment of Small and Large Leg Telangiectasia with a Long-Pulsed Nd:YAG CoolGlide® Excel Laser

Treating Leg Veins

Venous Lakes

Thursday, April 8, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Infrared technology may be used to treat facial veins, leg veins and venous lakes.
Venous Lake Treatments Using the Cutera CoolGlide Excel Long-Pulse 1064 nm Laser

Dermatosis Papulosa Nigra

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN

Dermatosis papulosa nigra (pigmented lesions) may be treated with a 1064nm Nd:YAG Laser (infrared technology).

Treatment of dermatosis papulosa nigra with a 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser: Report of two cases

Laser Hair Removal For Men

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by Renee Lierly, RN
Laser Hair Removal For Men

Laser based technology is now available for Laser Hair reduction for men. Infrared technology of the Coolglide Nd:YAG 1064nm Laser and IPL device ProWave 770 (770nm - 1100nm) are available to treatment darker skin types. Men should keep in mind that the treatments will result in permanent hair reduction and may need maintenance treatments through the years.