Laser Skin Tightening with Fotona SP Dynamis
Fotona SP Dynamis is an advanced and versatile laser which contains two wavelengths (Erbium 2094nm and long pulse Nd:YAG 1064nm). These can be used in many different combinations but what is unique about the Fotona SP Dynamis is that both these wavelengths can be delivered with a prolonged delivery time which gently heats the skin. These prolonged delivery times are unique to Fotona and are not available in any other laser in the world. This gentle heating causes immediate tightening of the collagen as well as switching on new collagen production for several weeks. The result is tightening of slack/sagging skin and improvement in fine lines, wrinkles and skin quality.
Listed below are various Fotona SP Dynamis modes which can be used alone or in combination based on your needs, aesthetic goals and budget. We invite you to click the links to learn about each option, or simply contact Dermatology Consulting today to book an appointment with our team to find out which treatment may be right for you.
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Fotona “Super PIANO® Mode (used alone for tightening or as part of the “4D/5D Laser Face Lifting”)
What is Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode Nd:YAG Skin Tightening?
Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode is unique to the Fotona SP Dynamis laser and involves a very slow, gentle delivery time of the 1064nm long pulse Nd:YAG wavelength. This heats the deeper layers of the skin and leaves the top layer undamaged. The 1064nm wavelength heats water in the skin, but what is unique about Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode is the prolonged gentle heating of the deeper skin. Research has shown that if the dermis of the skin is warmed to 42.5ºC–43ºC, it causes immediate tightening of the collagen. In addition, it also produces signals called “heat shock proteins,” which then stimulate more collagen production over the next few weeks. Continuous collagen production results in tightening of the skin, reduction of pores and softening of wrinkles. Because the heat is delivered slowly, the surface of the skin is not over-heated and therefore patients can have this done without any visible skin surface recovery time.
The treatment feels like a gentle warming of the skin. There is no need for local anaesthetic cream.
A very accurate external temperature camera is used to monitor the skin’s temperature throughout the entire procedure to ensure an adequate temperature is safely reached to stimulate collagen production.
If the skin temperature is maintained at 43ºC for at least 3 minutes there is optimal tightening from the Piano, hence the description as “Super Piano”.
As Super Piano has no recovery time it is a gentle treatment done by itself, but can be very useful to add before any of our other aesthetic medical treatments e.g. other Fotona modes, microneedling, Picoway rejuvenation, Lumecca IPL.
What does the skin look like after Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode Nd:YAG Skin Tightening?
Immediately after treatment, the skin looks slightly flushed. This effect usually settles within 15–30 minutes. Some patients see a pleasing immediate tightening which may settle slightly after a couple of days. However, the full effect develops after a few weeks, as more collagen is stimulated over time. Makeup can be worn immediately afterwards, and normal activities commenced straight away.
On which parts of the body can Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode be performed?
The treatment can be performed on all areas of the body. Popular sites include the jawline, neck, abdomen, inner arms and thighs. However, Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode long pulse Nd:YAG cannot be used around the eyes. For treatment around the eyes, an erbium wavelength with a unique, slow delivery called Fotona SMOOTH® Mode is used to achieve skin tightening (a technique termed SmoothEye®, as discussed below).
We also suggest not using Fotona “Super PIANO®” on skin where there is hair that you want to keep (e.g. the beard area of men) although it would take many sessions to remove hair.
When do I see an improvement with Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode Skin Tightening?
New collagen is stimulated to develop gradually in the weeks and months after the treatment. We usually recommend a series of treatments, (for example: 6 treatments) and it is usually recommended to have the treatment at intervals of 3–4 weeks to give the heat shock proteins time to signal production of new collagen.
Is Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode treatment suitable for all skin types?
The treatment is suitable for all skin types and colours, as it does not heat the surface of the skin. It can be done all year round, even if you have a tan.
How Long Do the Results of Fotona “Super PIANO®” Mode Last?
The results are permanent. For optimal results, most patients are encouraged to schedule several initial sessions, spaced around 3-4 weeks apart. This allows for continuous collagen production and more dramatic improvement. Once the desired results have been obtained, it is generally recommended that patients return every few months for a “top up treatment”, because we are all continuing to age, in order to boost collagen production.
Is Fotona “Super PIANO®” helpful to add into other treatments?
As Fotona “Super PIANO®” is gentle with no recovery time, it is a helpful treatment to add before other medical aesthetic treatments to enhance the benefit to the skin.
Fotona Frac3®
What is Fotona Frac3® Nd:YAG Treatment?
Fotona Frac3® is a setting of the long pulse 1064nm Nd:YAG laser unique to Fotona. The Nd:YAG laser is set on a very short pulse duration of high power. This very short pulse duration creates a sudden, short controlled pulse of heat in the deeper layers of the skin. This creates microscopic wounds under the skin in a fractionated way which then stimulate growth factors and new collagen production. The surface of the skin is not affected, so there is no visible recovery time. It is good for “skin cleansing”, as it heats up oil in the pores, which, when done repeatedly improves and tightens pores, improves acne, improves skin texture, and can produce some mild improvement in fine lines. It can be gently “painted” over the treatment area. In addition, when being used as an aesthetic treatment, the laser energy can be delivered in an upwards vector direction to produce tightening of the collagen, which provides a “thread-lift-like” upwards pull on the skin.
The laser is gently passed over the treatment area and, at the same time, gentle cold air may be blown onto the surface of the skin to protect it from overheating. All one should feel during the procedure is the gentle cool air. There is no need for local anaesthetic cream. When treating the face, the eyes are covered with goggles.
What does the skin look like after Fotona Frac3® Treatment?
Immediately after Fotona Frac3® treatment, the skin looks slightly flushed. This typically settles within approximately 5–15 minutes. Makeup can be worn immediately afterwards, and normal activities commenced straight away.
When do I see an improvement with Fotona Frac3® Skin and how often is it repeated?
When using Fotona Frac3® for aesthetic reasons, the signals produced by the laser treatment (called heat shock proteins) continue to signal production of new collagen after the treatment. We therefore usually recommend a series of treatments, e.g. 6 treatments every 3–4 weeks). When using Fotona Frac3® for acne, we usually suggest starting twice a week for a few weeks and then reducing the frequency as the acne improves.
Is Fotona Frac3® Treatment suitable for all skin types?
The treatment is suitable for all skin types and colours as it does not heat the surface of the skin. It can be done if you have a tan.
How Long Do the Results of Fotona Frac3® Last?
All Fotona treatments produce permanent improvement, but several sessions are needed and, when using it for aesthetic reasons, since we all continue to age, “top up” treatments are beneficial.
Fotona SMOOTH® Mode
What is Fotona SMOOTH® mode?
The Fotona SP Dynamis also contains a second type of laser called an erbium laser. Erbium laser (2094nm) has been used for a number of years as a laser for resurfacing the skin (i.e. a laser peel) and was developed as a gentler alternative to CO2 (carbon dioxide) laser. The erbium laser in the Fotona SP Dynamis is very flexible and can be used at a very light setting (similar to a microdermabrasion, with very little visible skin peeling afterwards) or a strong setting (which results in redness and swelling for several days and pinkness for several weeks, but which is very effective at reducing wrinkles and skin surface imperfections).
The erbium in the Fotona SP Dynamis is unique in that the delivery time of the laser energy (called the pulse duration) can be made very long. This results in gentle, prolonged heat delivery to the skin, called the Fotona SMOOTH® mode setting, which results in immediate skin tightening which continues to develop over a couple of weeks. This setting can be delivered anywhere on the body where it produces immediate skin tightening and it can also be used inside the mouth to tighten the cheeks and nasolabial folds.
When used around the eyes, it can produce permanent tightening of loose skin around the eyes, including heavy eyebrows (a treatment called “SmoothEye®”).
When used around the lips it can produce some plumping of the lips (a treatment called “LipLase®”).
What does the skin look like after Fotona SMOOTH® Mode Skin Tightening?
If Fotona SMOOTH® mode is used at a low setting, there is very slight pinkness afterwards lasting a few minutes and no further signs. If a higher setting is chosen, there may be pinkness lasting 1–2 days followed by some mild flaking of the skin for up to 7-10 days later. However, makeup can be worn straight away.
There is usually some immediate tightening visible which becomes more noticeable over the next few weeks.
Is Fotona SMOOTH® Mode treatment suitable for all skin types?
The treatment is suitable for all skin types and colours, but when performed on darker skin types (III- VI), i.e. Mediterranean skin types through to Asian and African skin types, there may be some slight temporary darkening of the treated skin. This fades with time but use of broad spectrum sunblock and, if desired, prescription lightening creams can speed up the resolution of any darkening.
What is “SmoothEye®” Treatment?
SmoothEye® treatment uses the smooth mode setting in a gentle, controlled heating technique to tighten the skin around the eyes.
It is done after applying local anaesthetic cream for 45–60 minutes. The erbium “smooth mode” setting gently heats the skin around the eye. Afterwards, the skin looks slightly pink and swollen, often with some faint speckled grey/white marks where the laser heated the skin. This lasts between 24 hours and 10 days, depending on the setting that was chosen.
The skin around the eyes starts to look tighter a few days later and this can continue to develop over several weeks. The treatment is best done once a month for 3–5 sessions to achieve the optimal results.
Fotona SmoothEye® Results
What is “Smooth Lip/“LipLase®” Treatment?
“Smooth Lip” treatment uses a similar technique as SmoothEyes®, but it is applied around the lips. The Fotona SMOOTH® mode can be used on both the inside of the lips and the outside of the lips to stimulate collagen production in the lips. It results in temporary plumping of the lips, and, when done repeatedly, this effect can be long-lasting. It can also be combined with the PIANO® Mode for even deeper stimulation of collagen and the Fotona company has patented this combination as “LipLase®”. It can also be combined with Frac 3 over the lips for additional improvement in texture.
LipLase®”can be used as an alternative to fillers, eliminating the risk of bruising or blocking of blood vessels.
What is “Smooth Lip” Treatment?
“Smooth Lip” treatment uses a similar technique as SmoothEyes®, but it is applied around the lips. It results in temporary plumping of the lips, and, when done repeatedly, this effect can be long-lasting. It can be used as an alternative to fillers, eliminating the risk of bruising or blocking of blood vessels.
What is the Fotona “Smooth Sculpting” Treatment?
“Smooth Sculpting” is a method devised by Dr Farrell that uses the focused tightening effect of the Fotona SMOOTH® mode to tighten specific areas of concern to tighten certain sites and “sculpt” the face. The precise locations will be tailor made with you before the procedure, but frequently treated sites include the nasolabial folds, jowls, “marionette lines” and outer jaw angle. If done at low settings there is no recovery time. If done at higher settings there will be some slight pinkness for a couple of days and slight flaking lasting up to 10 days.
Smooth Sculpting can be added at the end of other Fotona treatments.
How Long Do the Results of Fotona SMOOTH® Mode Last?
Once the desired results of your Fotona SMOOTH® mode treatment have been achieved (usually over the course of several sessions spaced about a month apart), they can be long-lasting. That said, the ageing process will continue, so regular “maintenance” treatments can help preserve your results and increase their longevity. Dr Farrell can provide a more personalised recommendation for when and how often to come in for additional sessions during a consultation.
Fotona4D® “Laser Face Lifting
What is the Fotona4D® “Laser Face Lift”?
The versatile nature of the Fotona SP Dynamis allows it to be used in several combinations and steps. To obtain the greatest benefit from the Fotona it is often best to combine four different settings, a technique known as Fotona4D® that is sometimes referred to as a “Laser Face Lift.”
The steps are:
- Step 1: Intra-oral Fotona SMOOTH® mode. The erbium laser SMOOTH® mode is used with a gentle, controlled heating setting inside the mouth to heat the inside of the cheeks. This technology is unique to the Fotona company and delivers the laser energy very slowly, resulting in heating and tightening of the inner cheeks. The Fotona SMOOTH® mode erbium technique has been used in dentistry for a number of years and results in a steady firming and tightening of the lower face. This is accomplished by heating the existing collagen and stimulating new collagen production deep under the skin. When done repeatedly, this treatment can help improve the appearance of the nasolabial folds and tighten loose skin on the lower cheeks. It is not uncomfortable, and as it is performed inside the mouth, there is no recovery time afterwards. For many patients, this treatment can act as an alternative to fillers.
- Step 2: Fotona Frac3®. The Nd:YAG laser is used at the Frac3® setting, which has a very short but high-powered pulse. This gently but rapidly creates tiny islands of heat below the surface of the skin in a fractionated pattern. It is good for improving skin texture and when done repeatedly improves pore size, acne, fine lines and achieves some tightening. There is no recovery time and it can be done with a tan.
- Step 3: Fotona PIANO®mode. The Nd:YAG laser is used at the Fotona PIANO® mode setting, which delivers heat slowly to the deeper layers of skin. Done repeatedly, it gently heats the skin, resulting in tightening and firming. The skin looks slightly pink for at most 15 minutes afterwards. Some patients see immediate tightening and this tightening effect improves over several weeks. There is no recovery time and it can be done with a tan.
- Step 4: Erbium Resurfacing Mode. The erbium laser is used to give a gentle superficial peel to the skin which helps peel away surface imperfections. The strength of the peel can be chosen according to the patient’s desires for improvement. Most clients have a very light fractionated peel, which gives a controlled, very light, partial peel without heating of the skin and very minimal flaking for a couple of days, ultimately giving a “pearl-like” finish to the skin. However, if a dramatic improvement is desired, a stronger erbium peel setting can be used, which will give redness and peeling lasting more days but will provide greater improvement of surface irregularities and pigmentation. However, very high-strength peels would not be as suitable for darker skin types as they may cause temporary darkening of the skin. Alternatively, the erbium laser can be used in the “Smooth Mode” for additional tightening in which case there will be no recovery time (if done at low settings), or slightly flaking (if done at higher settings).
The first three steps of Fotona4D® have no recovery time. The strength of the 4th step can be chosen to have very little recovery time or more recovery time depending on the setting chosen.
SmoothEye®, Smooth Lips, Smooth Sculpting and Fotona V-SMOOTH® with T runner can be added as extra steps after Fotona4D® treatment for additional tightening.
Over a few weeks, the skin of the treated area starts to look tighter and of better quality. The treatment is best done once a month for 3–5 sessions to achieve the optimal results. Although the tightening and firming results of treatment can be long-lasting, many clients then decide to do maintenance treatments every 6 months if under 50 years’ age and every 4 months if over 50 years’ age. Many patients chose Fotona4D® as an alternative to fillers.
Fotona4D® Laser Face Lifting Results
Fotona T-Runner® for Deeper Skin Tightening
What is the “Fotona T-Runner for Deeper Skin Tightening”?
The T-Runner® is a specialised scanner that applies the SMOOTH® mode rapidly , evenly and deeper into the skin. Fotona SMOOTH® modality with the advanced T-Runner® scanner and proprietary HoneyComb™ (HC6) optics for exceptional results. The controlled surface tissue heating stimulates collagen remodelling and over time improves the elasticity of the skin and reduces laxity. Research has shown that if the dermis of the skin is warmed to 42.5ºC–43ºC this causes immediate tightening of the collagen. In addition, it also produces signals called “heat shock proteins,” which then stimulate more collagen production over the next few weeks, resulting in tightening of the skin.
The T-Runner® scanner delivers the heat very precisely, rapidly and evenly to achieve an equal effect on all the areas treated. In addition, it has a built-in temperature sensor to measure both the energy delivered and the temperature reached for safety and to reduce discomfort. The treatment feels like short, intense bursts of heat. Numbing cream may be applied beforehand if one is particularly sensitive, but many patients do not need numbing cream.
At Dermatology Consulting we have upgraded to the “Honeycomb” version of the T-Runner® scanner which delivers the heat in a pattern resembling a Honeycomb. This means that heat is focused in very small areas giving small micro-temperature peaks of heat leading to intense production of heat-shock protein. The surrounding skin which is not heated allows these micro-temperature peaks to cool off more quickly and makes this a more comfortable treatment for the patient.
What does the skin look like after the Fotona T-Runner® treatment?
Immediately after treatment, the skin typically looks flushed and there may be some temporary pick wheals, and this effect settles within approximately 45–60 minutes. Some patients see a pleasing immediate tightening which may settle slightly after a couple of days. However, the full effects of treatment usually appear after a few weeks as more collagen is stimulated. Makeup can be worn immediately afterwards and normal activities commenced straight away.
On which parts of the body can Fotona T-Runner® be performed?
The T-Runner® treatment can be performed on almost all areas of the body. Popular sites include the jawline, neck, abdomen, inner arms and thighs. However, the T-Runner® scanner cannot be used around the eyes; instead for tightening the skin around the eyes, the Fotona SMOOTH® mode is used (as discussed above).
The T-Runner® can be added as an additional tightening step after Fotona4D® laser face lifting.
When does one see an improvement with T-Runner® Deeper Skin Tightening?
New collagen is stimulated to develop gradually in the weeks and months after the treatment. We usually recommend a series of treatments, since repeated sessions continue to stimulate collagen production (for example: at least 3 treatments once every 4 weeks). It is usually recommended to have the treatment every 4 weeks to give the heat shock protein time to signal production of new collagen.
Is T-Runner® Deeper Skin Tightening suitable for all skin types?
The treatment is suitable for all ages, skin types and colours and can be done all year round, although it is better if you do not have a tan.
How T-Runner® the Results of Fotona T-Runner® Last?
The results are long lasting, but as we are all continuing to age, many patients choose to do maintenance treatments once or twice a year.
Can T-Runner® be combined with other treatments?
It can be used either alone or with other treatments. In particular, for additional tightening it can be combined with the Fotona Super PIANO® mode (in which case we charge 50% of the price of the Super PIANO® mode).
