Mary Ann Loschelder, 64, is not a flashy woman. She wears lipstick, a little blush and eye shadow. When she attends a Rotary function with her husband, Gary (he’s past president and currently secretary of the Parma, Ohio, club), she may add some mascara to her beauty regimen. She does her hair herself and tries to exercise and watch what she eats, though she admits to being a little overweight.
If you think Mrs. Loschelder is not typical of women interested in plastic surgery, think again. Her reason for undergoing a number of plastic surgery procedures is simple, as it is for many women: self-esteem. Mrs. Loschelder had a chemical peel performed at Cleveland Clinic on her face, followed by treatments with the Plastic Surgery Department’s new Syneron elos laser.
"I had thought about it [having plastic surgery] for a couple of years," says Mrs. Loschelder. "When I had the procedures done, I felt like - well, I cannot even describe it. I felt reborn. I felt so good. It was an awesome feeling, as my skin felt like it was breathing and glowing again."
Unlike other lasers, the Syneron elos laser is refined to treat a variety of problems better and more gently.
"By using all the capabilities of this new device, we can offer skin rejuvenation, wrinkle reduction, leg vein treatment and acne treatment to patients with a wide variety of skin tones, as well as hair removal for patients with light-colored hair," explains James E. Zins, M.D., Chairman of Plastic Surgery.
Not long after the procedures, Mrs. Loschelder attended a reunion of elementary and high school classmates. "People said I looked great, that there was something different about me since our last reunion five years ago. They asked, ‘Did you lose weight?’ I just laughed and told them 'I am never going to grow up.'"
"The procedures I had at Cleveland Clinic have made a real difference in my life. I only wish I had looked into it much earlier. It has lifted me up, and was worth the money. The rest of your body can be whatever it is but your face is what everyone sees. Your beauty radiates from your face and you feel it."
Mrs. Loschelder’s laser treatments removed imperfections remaining after her chemical peel - age spots, spider veins and some unwanted hair. The procedure is quite simple, lasting minutes each session. Also, the treatment enhanced her hands by removing 85 percent of her sun and age spots.
"You can have it done on your lunch hour, and no one would know!" she comments, adding that "all my questions and concerns were answered, and I knew what to expect. This isn’t magic, it takes patience."
The elos laser combines two energy sources: radiofrequency and optical energy (intense pulse light). This coupling not only makes the laser treatments more effective, it also makes them safer. The radiowaves act as a "smart device," ensuring the laser is effective in treating the deeper layers of the skin (the dermis). A cooling device at the tip of the light prevents it from damaging the more superficial layer (epidermis) of the skin.
When a patient arrives for laser treatment, the nurse makes him or her comfortable and explains what to expect. She then cleanses the skin and pats on a topical anesthetic lotion to reduce any sensation from the laser. Special goggles protect the patient’s eyes.
"The laser treatments felt like little pin pricks or pinches. I did not experience any pain; it was really nothing," says Mrs. Loschelder. She required five laser sessions over the course of five months.
To match her new radiant face and hands, Mrs. Loschelder is changing her hair from curls to a more updated and youthful straight style. "It is really tough for me to change," she remarks. "But as a friend of mine says, 'Do whatever you can do to make yourself feel good about yourself.' "
The Syneron elos laser treats a variety of cosmetic issues, including:
Varicose veins. Varicose veins occur when healthy vein walls become weak and swell, causing blood to back up and pool inside the vein. The most common causes include hormonal changes during pregnancy, standing or sitting with legs crossed for a long time and wearing tight clothing.
After treatment, patients can expect that the spider veins and larger blue-green vessels on their legs or face will gradually fade. Each treatment session takes 20 to 45 minutes and should be repeated about every six to eight weeks.
Excess hair. This light device treats patients with light hair (blonde and gray), as well as dark-haired patients. Women typically choose hair removal for the upper lip, chin, abdomen, armpits, bikini areas and legs. Men tend to have their backs, shoulders, upper arms and necks treated. The laser also can reduce hair from the cheeks, ears, nose and nipples.
The laser works by damaging the hair follicle and preventing it from growing hair again. With each treatment, less hair will come back and what hair does reappear will be lighter, finer and slower-growing than before. Three to five treatments are necessary, because hair follicles are in different phases of the growth cycle at any given time.
Acne and wrinkles. The light device can improve the effects of sun damage and aging, restoring skin to a more youthful state. It is particularly effective in treating irregular pigment, brown spots and redness. The laser addresses moderate wrinkles by stimulating collagen growth, leaving the skin smoother and softer. The laser also reduces superficial acne scarring, enlarged pores and rough skin texture, and treats acne by targeting the underlying bacteria.
WEB EXTRA! New Contact Lens – Millions of Americans wear glasses or contact lenses because they are not eligible for vision enhancement procedures like LASIK. But now a procedure recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may change the way some people see. View or download this video podcast at http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healthedge/video/contact_lens.mp4
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 2/1/2007…#13389
