The next generation of skin rejuvenation is here!  It’s called ProFractional, and it provides faster and better results than ever before. Introduced in early 2007, this procedure repairs damaged skin by softening fine lines & wrinkles, minimizing pore size, smoothing skin tone & texture and fading acne scars. It can also help rebuild collagen to firm the skin.

ProFractional represents an improvement over fractional skin rejuvenation, which debuted in 2004.  While non-fractional lasers deliver energy uniformly to both healthy and unhealthy tissue, fractional devices direct energy exclusively to a “fraction” of the area – the damaged sections - while leaving healthy, surrounding tissue untouched. These untreated zones help dissipate energy so that treated areas heal faster; they also make it possible to use greater energy on targeted areas, for better results.

However, the heating effects from older fractional systems could be difficult to control. This often caused discomfort during treatment. It also more required treatments and longer healing times for patients to achieve the results they desired.  ProFractional, however, contains proprietary technology that enables more precise energy delivery to targeted areas. This means fewer treatments, very little discomfort and results that appear more rapidly in a shorter recovery time.

Radiesse, a next-generation cosmetic dermal filler, offers longer lasting correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles than many other fillers. Unlike other fillers that last just a few months, Radiesse has been shown to last one year or more.

These results are possible because Radiesse is the first filler that contains calcium-based microspheres. This technology not only provides volume replacement to wrinkles and folds but also stimulates the body to produce new collagen. This unique action restores the fullness and contours of a youthful, healthy appearance.

Studies evaluating Radiesse were conducted at four different medical centers. In these studies, 117 women were treated; half of their face was treated with Radiesse and the other half was treated with collagen. Six months after treatment, 82% of patients experienced an improvement in wrinkles around the mouth and nose (nasolabial folds) with Radiesse. In 95% of the women, results from Radiesse were superior to those from collagen.

In fact, a study published the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery found that Radiesse is even more effective than Restylane. When study participants tried Radiesse on half of their face and Restylane on the other half, twice as many preferred Radiesse. Participants said that Radiesse provided greater improvement than Restylane in nasolabial fold correction, and they would prefer follow-up treatments with Radiesse rather than Restylane.

Persistent redness of the skin affects more than one million Canadians, mainly women between the ages of 30 and 50. Rosacea is believed to be hereditary, but can worsen with exposure to various triggers including extreme temperatures, sunlight, stress and certain medications and foods.

Rosacea is embarrassing – in a recent study by the National Rosacea Society, 74% of respondents said they cancel social events during flareups.

In years past, there was little help for those with skin redness. Antibiotics provide some limited benefit, but most rosacea sufferers relied upon covering their skin with layers of heavy makeup. New technology, however, now offers a way to permanently reduce redness.

Afterglow Skin & Laser Centre uses intense pulsed light (IPL) to target the tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin. The system selectively heats these vessels, destroying malfunctioning capillaries so that blood flow will be directed to the deeper blood vessels, where it belongs. The body then reabsorbs these damaged cells, naturally eliminating them along with other waste materials. Treatment is safe, fast and gentle, typically taking less than 15 minutes. In just a few sessions, and sometimes in a single treatment, the appearance can be dramatically improved. To read more about IPL treatment for rosacea, please click here.

For less severe rosacea, we also offer chemical peels. A carefully selected mixture of chemical solutions gently applied to the skin produces a separation and peeling of the skin's outer layers. This stimulates the production of new skin from beneath, evening skin texture and tone. To learn more about chemical peels for rosacea, please click here.

Stress isn’t just an unpleasant emotion: it’s the cause of a complex set of physiological changes in the body that can result in everything from dull, lifeless skin to acne flares, premature wrinkling and an increased risk of heart disease.

The effects of stress on the skin begin with adrenaline. When confronted with a stressful situation, the body produces this “fight or flight” hormone. Adrenaline prepares the body for action in emergency situations, boosting the supply of oxygen and energy-giving glucose to the brain and muscles. At the same time, however, adrenaline re-directs blood flow away from the skin, thereby decreasing the skin’s supply of oxygen.

When this happens repeatedly, such as through the chronic stress induced by ongoing tension at home or at work, the skin doesn’t receive the nourishment it needs. This can result in dull skin tone, loss of elasticity and overactive sebaceous (oil) glands, leading to acne breakouts. Over prolonged periods, stressed skin often shows signs of early wrinkling and discoloration when internal regenerative processes break down. Stress also slows the skin’s rate of cellular turnover, so it takes longer for fresh, new skin cells to reach the skin’s surface.

Aside from eliminating the source of stress, easy ways to mitigate its effects include reducing caffeine intake, increasing consumption of antioxidants and supplementing skin care regimens.

Like stress, caffeine elevates adrenaline levels by altering the chemistry of the brain. It does this by inhibiting the action of adenosine.

Stress can also weaken the immune system and inhibit the important work of antioxidants, which slow the creation of damaging free radicals in the body. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules responsible for everything from killing harmful bacteria to increasing the risk of cancer, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and skin problems. Eating foods rich in antioxidants, like brightly-colored fruits and vegetables, can help boost the body’s ability to prevent free radical damage, countering the effects of stress.

Perhaps the easiest way, though, to reduce the effects of stress on the skin is to boost the skin’s nutrient levels from the outside in. Topical products containing antioxidants enhance the skin’s ability to produce collagen and elastin. Two of the most important of the skin’s building blocks, collagen and elastin are necessary to help prevent the development of wrinkles. As levels of these substances decline with age and stress, skin develops wrinkles and other imperfections more quickly.