Vascular Conditions

This is a broad group of conditions include vascular birth marks such as port wine stains, facial telangiectasias, acne rosacea, poikiloderma of civatte and leg veins.

At Adelaide Plastic Surgery Associates, we have a Copper Bromide Laser (Dual Yellow - Norseld) and a Flash Pumped Pulsed Dye Laser (V-Beam - Candela). Your doctor will advise which laser will suit the condition you have. We also have an Intense Pulsed Light/Radio-frequency machine (Aurora - Incision) and a Diode/Radio-frequency machine (Polaris - Incision)

Vascular birthmarks

There are many types of vascular birthmarks but most are treatable with the V-Beam laser. It is usual to require several treatments with approximately 6 weeks between treatments. In most cases, a Medicare rebate applies for this treatment.

There may be some bruising and swelling after a treatment with the V-Beam laser but this usually only lasts a few days. Treatment is quickly and easily performed with minimal discomfit.

Visible blood vessels on the face are unsightly and easily treated with the Copper Bromide Laser. These are often caused by genetics, sun exposure, trauma such as skin cancers surgery and acne and conditions such as rosacea.

They may become more appare nt with triggers such as alcohol, heat, caffeine and emotion. They are often unsightly and associated with the stigma of being a "drinker". Usually, only a couple of treatments will clear these blood vessels. With time they do recur and maintenance treatm ent may be necessary. In some cases, a medical rebate may apply to this treatment.

Acne Rosacea

This is a condition that causes redness, flushing and often facial rash. It is socially disabling for many people. In most cases, treatment with the V-Beam laser reduced redness and flushing significantly. Some people also require topical or oral antibiot ics. Several treatments are usually required and in most cases, a medical rebate applies.

Poikiloderma of Civatte

This is discolouration of the neck and chest due to sun damage. It is usually demarcated from normal skin along the neckline of clothing. It may consist of redness, brown pigmentation and textural change of the skin. The red component is treatable with th e V-beam laser. If there is also brown pigment, Intense Pulsed Light may treat both the red and brown pigmentation. The textural change is difficult to reverse with any treatment.

Leg Veins - refer this page

Pigmentation Disorders

Disorders of pigmentation include brown (melanocytic) birthmarks, melasma and chloasma, post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation, solar and actinic lentigines and freckles. The common feature with all of these conditions is an excess of the skin pigment melan in.

In many cases, the excess pigmentation may be treatable with the Nd:YAG (Neodynium:Yttrium Aluminium Garnet) Laser. In some cases, a medical rebate applies.

Other treatments for excess pigmentation include bleaching creams, chemical peels and intense pulsed light treatments.

Scars

Hypertrophic and Keloid Scars

These scars are difficult to remove completely but improvement can be achieved with a combination of treatments including vascular lasers for colour and intra-lesional steroid and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) injections. Compression therapy with tapes or silicon gel may also be used.

Acne Scars

Scars from acne can present in many ways with some being raised and red (see Hypertrophic/Keloid Scars) and others and pitted or indented. They are often broad based or narrow and deep (ice-pick scars) and cover large areas of the face, chest and back.

Usually a combination of treatments will be required including laser skin resurfacing, facelift, subcision, excision, punch grafting as well as chemical peels, injectable fillers, laser and light based treatments. A program will be tailored to your partic ular type of scarring.

Tattoos

Traumatic, medical, amateur and body art tattoos can be treated with lasers to reduce or remove the inks or particles in the skin. At Adelaide Plastic Surgery Associates, we use both the Nd:YAG laser and the ruby laser for treating tattoos.

Some inks ar e better treated than others with black ink being the most successful. Green and light blue inks are difficult to remove completely and may leave some residual pigmentation or colour. Tattoos require several treatments over 1-2 years. Further information will be provided at your consultation.

Sun Damage and Skin Cancers

There is a broad spectrum of sun damaged skin and skin cancers. Some require surgical treatment (see skin tumours in reconstructive surgery section) and others are suitable for non-surgical treatment. Topical agents, photodynamic therapy (PDT), laser abla tion and cryotherapy are just some of the treatments that can be used. Your doctor will advise you of the best treatment method for you.

Birthmarks

Birthmarks may be vascular (red) or melanocytic (brown). Some contain hair or other features. Your doctor will advise you of the most appropriate treatment. Most can be improved with laser therapy but some birthmarks require surgical treatment.

 Other Skin treatments