Aesthetic & Laser Procedures
As a board-certified dermatologists, our doctors are "SkinCare Specialists" who take great care to individualize every cosmetic regimen. Combined with the skilled nurses and licensed aestheticians at Westmoreland Dermatology and Surgery Center, a comprehensive approach including skin-care products, cosmetic services and aesthetic and laser procedures can be designed to keep your skin healthy and to achieve the results you desire. All cosmetic procedures are either conducted or supervised by our board-certified dermatologists.
Kathy M. Taylor, M.A. joined our staff in March 2006 as a laser specialist. Kathy has over 23 years experience working in the medical field. Trained in the use of all of the Candela lasers at Westmoreland Dermatology & Surgery Center, she is enthusiastic about laser technology and about the latest addition to the lasers at the clinic - the Candela V-Beam®.
Wrinkles
Wrinkles are caused by the skin losing elasticity as you age and the long term effects of muscle contractions from the smiling, frowning, and laughing. They are also worsened by sun damage and smoking. Different methods are used to reduce wrinkles and give skin a more youthful appearance. Our dermatologists individualize and customize treatment of wrinkles depending on severity and patient´s goals. A treatment regimen will be designed for each individual patient potentially including skin care products, sunscreens, prescription medications including retinoids, cosmetic services, and cosmetic procedures.
The newest addition to the anti-aging and wrinkle reducing therapies at Westmoreland Dermatology and Surgery Center is "skin tightening" treatment using the Candela GentleYAG® laser. The GentleYAG® "tightens" by heating the underlying layers in the skin and forming new collagen resulting in smoother, younger looking skin. The GentleYAG®´s patented epidermal cooling system, the Dynamic Cooling Device (DCD), protects the skin with every laser pulse allowing for quick results and patient comfort. Dr. Mark Taylor, a dermatologist at the Gateway Aesthetic Institute and Laser Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, conducted a new clinical study comparing skin tightening results of the GentleYAG® versus a commonly used radiofrequency device. The study found the GentleYAG® to be more effective than the radiofrequency device. Additionally, GentleYAG® treatments proved to be faster, less painful and more economical for the patient and practitioner. Westmoreland Dermatology and Surgery Center is proud to offer its patients this new and exciting treatment.
Hair removal
Laser hair reduction is used to remove unwanted hair on a variety of body areas. Traditional hair removal techniques, such as shaving, plucking, waxing and depilatory creams provide only temporary relief. Until now, the only recognized way to remove hair permanently has been by electrolysis - which can be tedious, time-consuming and uncomfortable. Following a consultation with our physicians to ensure safe treatments, our patients are treated with either the Candela GentleLASE® or the GentleYAG® Systems. These lasers safely remove unwanted body hair without damaging the delicate pores and structures of the skin. Facial and bikini areas are usually completed in under ten minutes; legs, backs and larger areas can take longer.
Laser hair reduction is not just for women -- both men and children can benefit from this state-of-the-art procedure, depending upon their unique situation.
Vein therapy
Following a medical assessment by our dermatologists, a treatment plan is individualized depending on your veins. The Candela GentleYAG® laser offers excellent results in the treatment of unwanted spider veins of the legs.
Vascular lesions
Vascular lesions (typically purple or red) come in all shapes and sizes and have a wide variety of causes. Facial veins and telangiectasias are a normal part of aging and may be accelerated by hormonal causes, skin diseases such as rosacea, or sun damage. Lasers are used to treat blemishes from vascular changes; a number of lesions such as facial veins, leg veins, cherry angiomas (red spots), facial redness from rosacea, and venous lakes on the lip. Following medical evaluation by our dermatologists to ensure safe and appropriate treatment, our patients are treated with either the V-Beam® or the Gentle-YAG® laser, depending on the type and location of vessels.
Pigmented lesions
The appearance of benign sunspots, freckles, and photodamage (uneven pigmentation resulting from long-term sun exposure) may be improved with laser treatments. It is very important to ensure that the pigmented lesions are not abnormal or even skin cancer; our board-certified dermatologists are involved in the pre-laser treatment assessment to ensure that every patient is treated appropriately. The Candela GentleLASE® laser is an effective treatment of sun spots on the back of the hands, freckles, photodamage, melasma, and other benign pigmented lesions.
Acne/acne scarring
Westmoreland Dermatology and Surgery Center is pleased to offer the Candela SmoothBeam® laser as one of our tools for treating acne and acne scarring. The SmoothBeam® 1450nm diode laser is the first device specifically designed to target the root cause of acne, the sebaceous gland. It provides the perfect balance of controlled cooling of the epidermis with precise heating of the upper dermis. And for patients seeking smoother skin, SmoothBeam® safely improves acne scars. Additionally, this device has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat SmoothBeam® sebaceous hyperplasia, adding to the previously cleared treatments of facial acne, back acne, acne scars and wrinkles.
Acne Skin Care treatments using Levulan® Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) are another advance in acne therapy offered at our center. Photodynamic acne therapy involves the application of Levulan® (5-aminolevulinic acid), a photosensitizing agent, which is then activated with blue-light or with the V-Beam® laser. This results in significant improvement in moderate to severe cystic acne.
Blue Light Levulan® acne treatment involves three mechanisms of action against acne. Levulan® treatment inactivates the bacteria that trigger acne, exfoliates the skin to unclog pores, and the most exciting mechanism is that Levulan® treatment shuts down the sebaceous glands in the skin. This is exciting because sebaceous glands are the root cause in the formation of acne so it has a long lasting effect even on severe acne.
