For frequently asked questions, select one of the following questions:

Laser Hair Removal

What body areas can I get treated?
What are treatment sessions like?
What should I expect after treatment?
What is the difference between MediLux pulsed light and laser treatments?

Acne & Acne Scar Treatment
What is the Omnilux?
How does it Work?
What are treatments like?
How soon will I see results?

Tattoo & Lesion Removal

What kinds of tattoos and pigmented lesions can be treated?
Does it hurt?
What happens after treatment?
How long does it take?
Are there any side effects?
What are the alternative treatments?

Wrinkle Removal & Photo Rejuvenation

What body areas can I get treated?
What are treatment sessions like?
What should I expect after treatment?
What is the difference between MediLux pulsed light and laser treatments?

What body areas can I get treated?
Any area, except directly around the eyes. The face, neck, chest, arms, hands, legs, etc. can all be treated quickly and safely.

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What are treatment sessions like?
Quick and easy! After your initial preparation, your treatment provider will move the wandlike handpiece over your skin. The handpiece emits a light that disables the hair follicles. Most people perceive the light as a gentle"snapping" sensation. Once this is completed, any loose hair will be wiped away from your skin and you're ready to go.

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What should I expect after treatment?
Most people experience some mild redness and tenderness in the treated area shortly after treatment. This does not interfere with normal activities and usually subside within a day. In some cases, the redness may last longer, but will still be mild and temporary. We can explain other, less likely side effects during your consultation.

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What is the difference between MediLux pulsed light and laser treatments?
Pulsed light systems and lasers are very similar and remove hair in basically the same way. However, the Palomar Medilux uses a new technology that removes up to 10 times faster than lasers. Medilux pulsed-light treatments can fit even the busiest person's schedule.

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What is the Omnilux?
The OMNILUX represents a new paradigm in skin improvement – tailored Light-Emitting Diodes. Unlike many lasers, the OMNILUX is not expensive, delicate, dangerous, or thermally-destructive. Unlike Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) machines, the OMNILUX requires no employee or operator time and can treat any skin type safely. Unlike most existing medical skin treatments, the OMNILUX doesn’t count on thermal injuries or wound-healing responses to do the valuable post-treatment work. Rather, 2000 little light bulbs “PhotoRejuvenate” skin by shining special wavelengths of light on targeted areas for 16-20 minutes. These special light-wavelength-outputs are 99% pure, so the OMNILUX succeeds where other products fail by preventing counterproductive wavelengths from mixing with the useful wavelengths. The OMNILUX treatment is much like sitting in front of a computer screen: some light, no sensation.

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How does it Work?
The OMNILUX System takes advantage of the principles of LED-Photo Absorption Therapy. Light contains photons. If the right wavelength of light is used to treat a specific problem, then valuable photons enter the skin and interact in a useful fashion with skin, cells, and cellular processes (see “The Technology” page for more in-depth explanations). Rather than delivering a series of sharp or hot pulses of light to the skin, the OMNILUX slowly delivers pure, therapeutic light at low power. This bright red or blue light is scientifically tailored to initiate a chain of events that results in the destruction of unwanted microorganisms and the creation of a more ideal cellular environment. The OMNILUX employs the principles of Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT) to create a cytotoxic environment for unwanted bacteria (such as P. acnes) and to induce valuable biostimulation/cellular response. The light’s photons affect proton activity and mitochondria, and ultimately drive the production of ATP. The most noticeable improvements often appear several weeks after treatments have ended – proof that the OMNILUX gently induces the body to repair and improve itself. Most often, eight or nine treatments are needed over the course of a month, with no required follow-up treatments.

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What are treatments like?
Each treatment takes 16-20 minutes (depending on what issue is being treated), with each inch of skin being illuminated for the entire treatment period. There is no warmth, no snapping, and no discomfort. Following each treatment, it is useful to moisturize and drink water. Although some skin may soon appear clearer or better-toned, results usually begin to accrue within two or three weeks. Unlike many other devices, post-treatment redness does not occur in OMNILUX patients.

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How soon will I see results?
Though eight treatments are normally performed, many people experience improvements by the fourth treatment session. Improvements are gradual and accumulate with each successive session.

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What kinds of tattoos and pigmented lesions can be treated?
A tattoo's color, depth, and the chemical composition of the ink all affect how it responds to laser light. Black, red, dark orange, and dark blue tattoos will usually respond relatively quickly to treatments with the Palomar Q-YAG 5. However, green, purple, brown, light orange, and light blue colors may require more treatments. In general, most tattoos can be successfully treated, given a sufficient number of treatments.

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Does it hurt?
Since the laser light selectively targets the undesired ink or pigment, other tissues remain largely unaffected, and therefore most patients report little discomfort. Many people compare the sensation of the pulses entering the skin to the snap of a rubber band. If such "snaps" are too uncomfortable, your physician may offer you local anesthesia, but this is usually not necessary.

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How long does it take?
Depending on the size of the tattoo or lesion, each treatment usually takes about 10 to 30 minutes. Some faint tattoos and pigmented lesions will fade completely after only one treatment, though most may require five treatments or more. Treatments are spaced six to eight weeks apart to give your body sufficient time to fully eliminate loosened particles of ink or pigment.

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What happens after treatment?
Immediately after laser exposure, the treated areas may become whitish-colored and swell slightly. This whiteness subsides in about 30 minutes. The swelling may last longer, but can be reduced by cooling the skin with an ice pack. The tattoo or pigmented lesion will fade over the next few weeks.

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Are there any side effects?
Side effects are rare. When side effects do occur, they are usually mild and confined to the treatment target. We can provide you with complete details.

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What are the alternative treatments?
The alternatives for pigmented lesion removal varies, depending on the nature of the lesion.

In the case of tattoo removal, however, laser treatment is the only effective method that is unlikely to cause any scarring. The alternatives to laser tattoo removal include surgical excision, salabrasion (using salt to burn away layers or skin). These methods not only cause scar but can also be painful.

The Palomar Q-YAG 5 provides state of the art laser treatment that yields excellent results without the perils and disadvantages of other procedures.

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What body areas can I get treated?
Any area, except directly around the eyes. The face, neck, chest, arms, hands, legs, etc. can all be treated quickly and safely.

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What are treatment sessions like?
Quick and easy! After your initial preparation, your treatment provider will move the handpiece over your skin. The handpiece emits a light that breaks up the pigment in the skin. Most people perceive the light as a gentle"snapping" sensation, which causes little or no discomfort.

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What should I expect after treatment?
Pigmented lesions will darken slightly after treatment, and then fade away after about 10-14 days.

Vessels (visable veins) generally undergo immediate graying or blanching and the surrounding area may redden. The vessels then fade after about 10-14 days.

Most people experience some mild temporary redness and swelling, similar to a sunburn, in the treated area shortly after treatment. This does not interfere with normal activities and usually subsides within a day. In some cases, the redness may last longer, but will still be mild and temporary. Your treatment provider will explain other, less likely side effect to you.

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What is the difference between pulsed light and laser treatments?
Pulsed light systems and lasers are very similar and treat lesions in basically the same way. However, the process uses a new technology that removes lesions up to 10 times faster than lasers. Pulsed-light treatments can fit even the busiest person's schedule.

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