Skin & Laser - Plastic Surgery Associates - Shahriar Mabourakh, M.D., F.A.C.S.

3D Skin RejuvenationT

Laser Genesis, Photo Genesis or LimeLight Facial, and Titan

3d Skin Rejuvenation from Cutera, offers LimeLight Facial or Photo Genesis, Laser Genesis and Titan®, resulting in improved skin tone, texture, color and tightness.

3D Skin Rejuvenation from Cutera

Every person ages at a different rate and in different ways. Some develop redness, age or sun spots. Others have large pores, fine lines, wrinkles or lax skin. You may have one, two or all of these conditions. Dr. Mabourakh's office utilizing Cutera's 3D Skin Rejuvenation takes a three-tiered approach to rejuvenating your skin for all of these conditions.

LimeLight Facial and Photo Genesis are light-based procedures which address problems right at the skin's surface - redness, mottled complexions, freckles and sun damage.

Laser Genesis utilizes a laser to soften fine lines and wrinkles, shrink pores and decrease or eliminate redness found deeper in the epidermis. Laser Genesis has been proven to stimulate the creation of new collagen, giving your face a more youthful appearance.

Titan is the newest category for skin fitness. The Titan uses infrared light to heat tissue in the deep dermis. Together you can have a 3D Skin Rejuvenation experience!

Common Questions

Who can be treated?

Men and women of any age who wish to improve their skin can be treated. Skin which is lax, has surface wrinkles, redness, brown spots, or enlarged pores are the most common conditions to treat.

What areas can be treated?

The most popular areas for treatment are the face and neck, but other body parts such as the hands, arms and abdomen, are also frequently treated.

What do the treatments feel like?

LimeLight Facial and Photo Genesis deliver a series of pulses of light. When each pulse of light is delivered, you may feel a mild, brief pinching sensation. Laser Genesis treatments are gentle and soothing. During the session you will feel a series of warm pulses along your skin.

With each Titan pulse, you will first feel cool, then a brief heating sensation followed by a cool feeling. Most patients are comfortable without taking any medication; a few prefer taking an over the counter mild pain reliever beforehand.

How many treatments will I need?

Each treatment regimen is different and customized to an individual patient's needs. Most patients can expect between 2 and 6 treatments.

Are there any side effects?

The most common side effect is a slight redness or mild swelling in the treated area that disappears within a few hours.

When will I see results?

Immediate results are observed by some patients. More typically, you will see results in two to four weeks and improvements will continue for several months.

How does 3D Skin Rejuvenation compare with other laser treatments?

Most lasers treat only one or two aging conditions. They may diminish red or brown spots; they may just reduce lax skin. Only 3D Skin Rejuvenation from Cutera addresses all of the most common conditions of aging - age spots, sun damage, fine lines, wrinkles and lax skin.

Skin Tight in a New Light

The Cutera Titan® gives you an all-natural option to enhance skin tone. Titan uses light energy to heat the dermis deep beneath your skin's surface. Without surgery, recovery time, or injections, Titan is an ideal solution for your face, abdomen, arms and more.

How does the Cutera Titan work?

Titan uses a safe infrared light to heat the dermis well below the skin's surface. During the procedure, the skin's surface (epidermis) is protected through continuous cooling with the Titan handpiece.

The Titan difference

Titan's light-based platform provides a more uniform distribution of energy for heating the deep dermis than other energy sources, such as RF (radio-frequency).

Who can be treated?

Since the Titan procedure heats tissue under the skin's surface, patients of any skin type or age can be treated. Dr. Mabourakh can advise you if the Titan is right for you.

Veins & Sun Spots

The Cutera AcuTip 500T

With its unique design, the Cutera AcuTip delivers light energy safely and effectively to treat individual sun spots and facial veins. The cooled tip is ideally sized for tracing small vessels on the nose, cheek, chin, and other areas of the face. It can just as easily be used to remove sun or age spots often found on the face, chest, and hands.

How does the AcuTip work for facial vein removal?

The AcuTip delivers pulses of light energy which cause the blood within the vein to coagulate, eventually destroying the vessel which is later reabsorbed by your body. Blood flow will then be redirected to veins deeper below your skin's surface - where it should be.

What types of facial veins and other vessels can be treated?

The Cutera AcuTip can remove bothersome small, facial veins (or "telangiectasia") quickly without bruising or complication. Cherry angiomas found on all parts of the body also respond very well to AcuTip vein therapy, usually with just one treatment.

What does the AcuTip treatment do for sun spot removal?

The visible light delivered by the AcuTip is selectively absorbed by the pigmented spots on your skin. It's the heating of the pigmented cells that causes the therapeutic effect.

What areas can be treated for sun spot removal?

Virtually any part of your body with sun and age spots or freckles can be safely treated. The face, chest, shoulders, and arms are the most popular areas for treatment because they typically have the most sun exposure.

What do treatments feel like?

When the handpiece is placed on your skin, it will feel cool and comfortable. When the pulse of light is delivered, you may feel a mild, brief pinching sensation.

How long will the treatment take?

The actual treatment will only take a few minutes. And, since there is no need to apply gel or topical anesthetic, your total appointment time can easily fi t into your lunch hour.

How many treatments will I need?

Typically, one or two treatments are sufficient to see dramatic results for either sun spots or facial veins. Additional treatments may be required for very dark spots or where there are many unwanted facial veins.

What happens after the treatment?

Sun spots: Immediately following the treatment of sun spots, the spots may start to darken. You may notice a slight reddening of the surrounding skin. This typically subsides within a couple of hours. Over the course of the next one to three weeks, darkened spots will fade and flake off.

Facial veins/capillaries: Immediately following the treatment of facial veins or cherry angiomas, the lesion may disappear or turn a dusky gray color. You may notice a slight reddening of the surrounding skin.

Will the spots or veins reappear over time?

The same spots or veins will not reappear, however new spots or veins could appear after excess sun exposure to unprotected skin. These new spots and veins may also be removed. Remember to liberally apply sunscreen when outdoors to both minimize sun damage and prevent the appearance of new spots and unwanted superficial facial veins.

Can all of my spots and unwanted veins be treated this way?

Spots formed by sun exposure can effectively be treated with the AcuTip. There are, however, other types of pigmented lesions such as birthmarks and moles. Small facial veins and cherry angiomas can be treated effectively with AcuTip.

Can AcuTip treatments be combined with other procedures?

Yes. AcuTip is an excellent treatment by itself, but it can also be effectively combined with other light based and aesthetic procedures. The AcuTip can be an integral part of a complete skin rejuvenation package.

Treatment of Skin Redness, Tiny Veins, Brown Spots and Sun Damage

What is the LimeLight Facial?

The LimeLight Facial is a new, non-invasive approach to skin rejuvenation using Cutera's LimeLight. The procedure offers the advantage of improving skin tone and surface imperfections associated with aging and photodamage.

What areas can be treated?

The LimeLight Facial is ideal for any part of your face, neck and décolleté with skin redness, telangiectasia (tiny veins) or brown spots. Light (low contrast) brown spots, which were previously difficult to resolve, respond very well to treatment.

What does the treatment do?

By selecting Program A, B or C, your practitioner can customize your LimeLight Facial to your skin type and selectively treat the brown and/or red pigmented areas on your skin. It's the heating of the pigmented brown or red cells that causes the therapeutic effect.

What do treatments feel like?

When the pulse of light is delivered, patients will experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. Gel is recommended to cool the skin before vascular treatments. Anesthesia or pain medicine is typically not required.

How long will the treatments take?

Treatment time depends on the area of the body being treated. However, most treatments should take less than one hour.

How many treatments will I need?

One to three treatments are usually sufficient to see results. Additional treatments may be recommended, especially for excessively sundamaged skin.

What happens after the treatment?

Immediately following treatment, brown spots will start to darken and your skin may appear slightly red. The treated area may be mildly swollen. This typically lasts a few hours and possibly a day or longer. Make-up can be applied to cover the redness.

When will I see results?

Within one to three weeks, the darkened spots will flake off and fade. Diffuse redness or telangiectasia will decrease and your mottled complexion will improve.

Will the spots and redness reappear over time?

New brown spots, telangiectasia and diffuse redness may appear with new sun damage; however they too can be treated. Remember to always apply broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors to minimize sun damage and the appearance of new spots and diffuse redness. Rosacea is chronic and cannot be "cured" with any laser or light source, however its appearance can be improved.

Cutera CoolGlide® Laser Hair Removal

For Women & Men of All Skin Types and Tones

Now men and women alike are making unwanted facial and body hair a thing of the past - thanks to the Cutera CoolGlide Laser. No more painful waxing, electrolysis or razors! The CoolGlide laser delivers 21st century technology for treatment of this distressing problem. Cleared for permanent hair reduction, the CoolGlide laser can treat men and women of all skin types safely and effectively, year-round. Even patients with a suntan.

The Cutera CoolGlide Difference

The Cutera CoolGlide was designed to be the most outstanding laser hair removal system on the market for all skin types, from light to dark, including tanned patients. Its unique design, longer wavelength, and innovative cooling allow extremely effective, safe and permanent results.

What do CoolGlide treatments feel like?

As the name implies, the CoolGlide handpiece cools and soothes as it glides along your skin. When the pulse of light is delivered, some patients experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required; however some patients may prefer to use a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated.

How many treatments will I need?

Most areas require 3-6 treatments. However, the number of CoolGlide treatments required for optimal long-term benefits depends on multiple factors - hair thickness, the area treated and your hair's growth cycle. Interestingly, not all hairs are actively growing at the same time and actually go through three distinct phases: growth, regression, and resting. CoolGlide treatments work by disabling the hair that is principally in the active growth phase at the time of treatment. Since other hairs will enter this active growth phase at different times, additional treatments may be necessary to disable all of the hair follicles in a given area.

What happens after the treatment?

Immediately following your CoolGlide treatment, the area may appear a bit red and swollen. Three to seven days after treatment you may experience what seems to be regrowth of hair. Actually, most of these hairs are being shed as a result of your treatment and are not regrowing. Between treatments you should not wax or pluck your hair, but it is permissible to shave.

What are the possible side effects?

Although patients experience few side effects, the most commonly noticed are slight reddening and local swelling of the skin, similar to a sunburn. These effects typically last for several hours or less. In rare instances, blistering may occur. A consultation with Dr. Mabourakh will provide you complete information on the benefits and risks of treatment.

How does the CoolGlide compare with electrolysis?

Electrolysis is a tedious, invasive, and painful process that involves inserting a needle into each individual hair follicle and delivering an electrical charge to them one at a time. Electrolysis often requires years of treatments at regular intervals. By delivering light energy to hundreds of hair follicles at a time, the CoolGlide effectively treats an area in just seconds that would take over an hour with electrolysis.

ProWave Hair Removal

Safe, Fast & Comfortable

Now men and women alike are making unwanted facial and body hair a thing of the past - thanks to the Cutera ProWave 770T hair removal system. No more painful waxing, electrolysis or razors! The ProWave delivers 21st century technology for treatment of this distressing problem. Cleared for permanent hair reduction, the ProWave can treat a wide range of skin types safely and effectively.

The ProWave Difference

The ProWave hair removal system delivers a specially tailored light source for permanent hair reduction. Cutera's newest hair removal innovation provides treatment for a wide range of skin types. An additional patient benefit is the ability of the handpiece to treat large areas such as women's legs and men's backs - quickly and safely.

What do ProWave treatments feel like?

When the pulse of light is delivered, some patients experience a mild pinching or stinging sensation. No local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required; however, some patients may prefer to use a topical anesthetic when sensitive areas are treated.

What are the possible side effects?

Although patients experience few side effects, those most commonly noticed are slight reddening and local swelling of the skin, similar to a sunburn. These effects typically last for several hours or less. In rare instances, blistering may occur. A consultation with Dr. Mabourakh will provide complete information on the benefits and risks of treatment.

How does ProWave compare with other hair removal methods?

Shaving, waxing, and depilatory creams are all temporary methods which must be repeated on a frequent basis. ProWave offers permanent hair reduction for lasting results.

How does ProWave compare with electrolysis?

Electrolysis is a tedious, invasive, and painful process that involves inserting a needle into each individual hair follicle and delivering an electrical charge to them one at a time. Electrolysis often requires years of treatments at regular intervals. By delivering light energy to hundreds of hair follicles at a time, ProWave effectively treats an area in just seconds that would take over an hour with electrolysis.

Photo Genesis

Treatment of Skin Redness, Brown Spots and Sun Damage Photo Genesis is an innovative way to quickly, safely and comfortably improve your skin's texture, tone and color on your face, chest, arms, and hands, without gel or topical anesthetics. Signs of sun damage and age spots will usually flake off after one or two treatments, leaving clearer, younger looking skin.

The Photo Genesis difference

Comfort. Cutera has created a pulsed light system that is exceptionally effective for treating skin redness (rosacea), brown spots and sun damage at a very comfortable energy level. There is no need to apply topical anesthetic or gel beforehand, and you can realize remarkable results in just one or two treatments.

What does the treatment do?

The visible light delivered by the Photo Genesis procedure is selectively absorbed by the pigmented spots and red areas on your skin. It's the heating of the pigmented cells that causes the therapeutic effect.

What do treatments feel like?

When the handpiece is placed on your skin, it will feel cool and comfortable. When the pulse of light is delivered, you may feel a mild, brief pinching sensation.

How many treatments will I need?

Typically, one or two treatments are sufficient to see dramatic results. Additional treatments may be required for very large or dark spots, densely freckled areas, or excessively sun-damaged skin.

When will I see results?

Many patients see significant improvement within two to three weeks of treatment. Your complexion will be clearer and younger looking. However, your final result may not be apparent for a month or more.

Laser Genesis Skin Therapy

Treatment of Wrinkles and Redness, Management of Large Pores and Skin Texture

Laser Genesis skin therapy is an innovative, technologically advanced way to promote vibrant and healthy looking skin in men and women. Now you can have a youthful appearance by treating those conditions that are typically associated with premature signs of aging and sun damage, such as excessive redness, large pores, uneven texture, and fine-line wrinkles. The Laser Genesis procedure has been scientifically proven to produce new collagen.

The Laser Genesis difference

The Laser Genesis procedure utilizes non-invasive laser technology to safely, discretely and effectively treat fine-line wrinkles, diffuse and excessive redness and help manage large pores, uneven skin texture, and scars. You can expect to see subtle yet consistent results after each treatment, without unwanted side effects such as bruising or excessive skin irritation. Treatments can be performed in a relaxed, comfortable manner without the use of topical anesthetics or gel.

How does Laser Genesis work?

By gently heating the upper dermis well below your skin's surface, Laser Genesis stimulates collagen regrowth. Additional heat is generated in dilated capillaries to reduce redness.

How many treatments will I need?

The treatment results are often subtle. On average, you may require four to six treatments in order to achieve optimal results. Every patient's condition and needs vary. For more information about your expected results or the number of treatments necessary, consult your healthcare professional.

What are the possible side effects?

Although most patients report few if any side effects, the most common is a slight redness that disappears within a few hours of treatment. Consult your healthcare professional for complete information about the benefits and risks of treatment.

What kind of textural improvements can you expect with Laser Genesis skin therapy?

Over the course of four to five treatments, Laser Genesis can help restore the skin's youthful glow and appearance by smoothing out uneven texture caused by aging, sun damage or scars. You will see a more even, healthy complexion as large pores are reduced in size, and minor imperfections are diminished. The individual treatment results are subtle, but the overall effect of multiple treatments can be quite dramatic.

CoolGlide® Vein Therapy For The Face & Body

For Women & Men of All Skin Tones and Types

Now men and women alike are making unsightly facial and leg veins a thing of the past, thanks to the Cutera CoolGlide. No more painful injections! With the most advanced technology, a unique design, and a longer wavelength, the Cutera CoolGlide can safely and effectively treat both tiny superficial face veins and deeper blue leg veins on men and women of all skin tones.

The Cutera CoolGlide difference

The Cutera CoolGlide combines the ideal laser wavelength with the most flexible parameters to deliver a superior vascular laser system. It treats a broad range of vessels from tiny spider veins to deep blue reticular veins quickly, safely, and effectively. Patients with dark, light or tanned skin can experience outstanding results with minimal bruising or blistering.

How does CoolGlide Vein Therapy work?

The Cutera CoolGlide systems deliver pulses of light energy which cause the blood within the vein to coagulate, eventually destroying the vessel which is later reabsorbed by your body. Blood flow will then be redirected to veins deeper below your skin's surface, where it should be.

How many treatments will I need?

Often, patients find that one or two treatments are sufficient. However, the number of treatments necessary depends on the number, color, and size of the vessels being treated. Since individual results vary, ask Dr. Mabourakh about your specific condition.

Do the treatments hurt?

Most patients experience a stinging sensation as the pulses of energy are delivered through the handpiece. Although no local anesthesia or pain medication is typically required, many patients opt to use a topical anesthetic prior to treatment. Following the treatment, the pain is minimal to nonexistent.

What are the possible side effects?

Although many patients report few if any side effects, those most commonly noticed are slight reddening and local swelling of the skin. These effects typically last for less than 24 hours. Some patients may experience bruising and, in rare instances, blistering may occur. A consultation with Dr. Mabourakh will provide complete information on the benefits and risks of treatment.

When will I see results?

Most patients find that the majority of the treated veins have shown significant improvement within two to six weeks of treatment. However, your final results may not be apparent for several months. Over time, it is possible for new veins to appear, but these too can be removed with the Cutera CoolGlide.