In addition to the LightSheer(R) Duet(TM) Diode Laser System, Lumenis(R) rolled out another laser at the 2009 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

The system is called UltraPulse 4x for Fractional C02 Rejuvenation, which will significantly reduce treatment times to provide cost-effective-high value cosmetic options during challenging economic times.

“The cosmetic industry is certainly feeling the effects of the economy and the resulting decline in elective, fee-per-service procedures. We have focused our development efforts on time and cost saving innovations that will provide physicians with innovative and competitive solutions that can sustain, differentiate and grow their business during challenging times”, said Mr. Robert Mann, General Manager of Lumenis Global Aesthetics and Dermatology.

The UltraPulse CO2 Laser System delivers ActiveFX, DeepFX and TotalFX fractional resurfacing in a single treatment with only a single pass. The new UltraPulse 4X upgrade now covers twice the treatment area and twice the speed. These changes significantly improve practitioner and patient acceptance of fractional resurfacing, as well as increase the revenue potential for physician practices and clinics.

The UltraPulse 4X has a micro-second pulse, which allows efficient ablation, lower downtime and more comfortable treatment. The UltraPulse 4X now covers twice the surface area per scan, expanding from 7×7mm to 10×10mm and delivers twice the pulse speed, from 300Hz to 600Hz.

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Fast is good when patients, for whom time is money, are lining up at the door of the physician’s office. What’s the rush in a slow economy? These days, esthetic practices are looking for patients who are looking for jobs. Bothe have time to spare. Affordability of a laser procedure is key, but it is unlikely that with the high cost device physicians will be able to drop their fees.

Photoaging of the skin is a fact of life. Unpleasant, but manageable. Lasers and light-based treatments are extremely useful tools, which should be used by all clinics offering complex anti-aging services.

To obtain the most successful results, protocols involving single or combination systems can be used, depending on skin type and the stage of the photodamage. In the last years, the trend is to choose noninvasive or minimally invasive treatments, with the aim of reducing the risk of side effects, complications, and, most importantly, the downtime.

Selective photothermolysis by lasers and intense pulse light devices is presently considered the most suitable technique by a growing number of practitioners. A large range of wavelengths can be used to safely achieve good results for patients with fair skin. The 1064 nm Nd:YAG has become the golden standard for treating the skin of color.

Photodynamic therapy is another effective tool in photoaging treatment, especially in the presence of precancerous conditions.

In mild and severe photoaging, ablative laser resurfacing is a particularly successful technique, although requiring a more skilled hand.

New systems using fractional photothermolysis are gaining ground in the marketplace. The non-ablative group has yet to prove its advantages over established technologies. The newest trend is ablative fractional lasers. More research of the efficacy of these devices in direct comparison with existing ablative lasers will be required to prove the claimed and percieved higher efficacy and less risks.

Obviously, lasers and light-based treatments alone might not be sufficient to control all aging symptoms. Combination treatment with botulinum toxin, filling agents, chemical peels, systemic and topic antioxidants should be used to improve the final clinical outcome.

AAD launches today include the Aesthera’s acne system with the peer reviewed clinical paper titled “Treatment of Acne with Photopneumatic Therapy,” by Tina S. Alster MD et al. The paper studies the clinical efficacy of Photopneumatic Therapy for the treatment of mild to severe facial acne. “Our study noted greatest improvement in patients with severe acne. We are pleased with treatment outcomes, especially for severe acne,” said study co-investigator Dr. Alster. The study was performed using Aesthera’s ISOLAZ system, the only FDA cleared device for the treatment of Comedonal and Pustular Acne.

Aesthera is launching Profusion(TM) – (Pro for Professional and Fusion is a Combination) – a skin therapy that combines the Photopneumatic light treatments with the delivery of Aesthera’s proprietary skincare to enhance skin treatment outcomes for acne, skin rejuvenation and body tightening. “Profusion’s novel mechanism has tremendous therapeutic potential for innovative new applications. We are very excited about its clinical potential,” says Vic Narurkar, MD, Chair of Dermatology at the California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) in San Francisco, CA. “Profusion Skin Therapy is the fastest growing procedure in our practice. We routinely perform it in combination with the majority of skin treatments we offer,” he adds. New applications of the technology include body tightening and skin lightening.

Body Tightening Technology. What’s it all about?

It is about Photopneumatic(TM) Technology, a delivery mechanism, and the applicator that will allow for high treatment precision and focused energy delivery. The patient benefits of Aesthera’s unique solution will be fast, painless, and extremely precise treatments.

Photopneumatic Therapy, that powers the Isolaz(TM) and Isolaz Pro(TM) system, is a proprietary combination of pneumatic energy and broad band light. Photopneumatic devices are the only laser or light based devices cleared by FDA for the treatment of inflammatory acne, comedonal acne and pustular acne. They are also cleared for the treatment of mild to moderate inflammatory acne. Photopneumatic treatments have an immediate visible impact on acne 24 – 48 hour post first treatment and are painless. Facial treatments take approximately 10 minutes, require no anesthetics or numbing creams and provide additional cosmetic benefits such as smoother appearing skin. Additionally, Photopneumatic treatments have an immediate visible impact on acne 24 – 48 hour post first treatment and are painless. Facial treatments take approximately 10 minutes, require no anesthetics or numbing creams and provide additional cosmetic benefits such as smoother appearing skin. Additionally, Photopneumatic Therapy is also cleared for the treatment of benign vascular and pigmented lesions and hair removal.