Fractional vs. Fractional

One common question I have had recently from patients is the difference between the fractional lasers.  In order to understand the differences there are a few definitions such as fractional, ablative, and non-ablative that are important to understand.

The first definition is fractional. The concept of a fractional laser is to have a laser beam that only treats a portion (or fraction) of the skin.  By leaving areas of untreated skin, the laser can penetrate more deeply as the untreated portions will lead to quicker healing and better collagen stimulation.

The next two definitions are related; ablative vs. non-ablative.  Ablation is the removal of the top layer of the skin (epidermis) with laser energy.  Non-ablative means to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin (dermis) with the laser beam without disrupting the overlying epidermis.  Non-ablative lasers, therefore, have very little downtime as the overlying skin is left intact.  Ablative lasers have some downtime associated.

In the past, older resurfacing (ablative lasers) were fraught with problems.  Because the entire epidermis was removed there was extensive downtime (at least one month) and even after the skin healed long lasting redness, scarring, and loss of pigment were side effects.  Because the new fractional ablative lasers leave some epidermis intact, the healing is quicker (usually within 7-10 days) and the risk of scarring and loss of pigment is extremely rare. 

Both ablative and non-ablative lasers are able to penetrate deeper into the dermis leading to better collagen stimulation, acne scar improvement, and tissue tightening than lasers which do not spare some normal tissue.  Both lasers are useful for wrinkles and acne scarring, however, the ablative fractional laser is much more effective and requires fewer treatments for optimal results than non-ablative technology. The quicker and superior results with fewer treatments that are achieved with the ablative fractional lasers, however, come with the cost of at least a week downtime. 

In our office we offer both ablative and non-ablative lasers to allow every patient to benefit from this technology whether they can afford downtime or not.

It’s About Time

Welcome to Atlanta Dermatology, Vein & Research Center. We tried to come up with a fancy name rather than the overused term “blog” but nothing else seemed to fit. We even spent some time with the online thesaurus finding words like sentiments, thoughts, views, opinions, rants… but everything sounded a little cheesy. So, welcome to the first official post of our practice’s blog. 

There has been a lot of discussion about the topic of our first blog. It seemed like it should be a really easy thing. But it was hard to decide if we should talk strictly about who we are, or what we do, or what we want the patients to know about medical procedures, cosmetic procedures, office procedures, or the proper use of sunscreen. Who would have thought it would be so difficult. But after some thought (and entirely disregarding the advice of Lisa, our Public Relations Director who wanted a much more cheery topic), I have decided to talk about Time.

Time is a funny thing. You can take Time, spend Time, waste Time or kill Time. You can manage Time, schedule Time, and take one’s own sweet Time. Time flies, Time stands still, and Time marches on. And so many of the concerns we hear in our office revolve around this thing we call Time.

Dr. Hamilton has been in private practice for 11 years now. In this Time, she has created a diverse practice including general dermatology, cosmetic dermatology, surgical dermatology, vein treatments and research. Her education, training, and inherent skills have made her an international expert as she strives to be the best in each facet of the fields of dermatology, aesthetics, and phlebology. Dr. Hamilton is recognized by her patients and peers not only for her expertise and artistic skill, but also for her compassion and friendly demeanor. Dr. Hamilton is able to help her patients not only cope with serious medical conditions as they arise but also works to minimize the effects of passing Time.

Everyone is feeling the effects of the current economic Times. As an employer, we have noticed the increased costs of providing health coverage to our employees and know that many of you are also experiencing a greater financial responsibility for your medical insurance coverage. Conversely, as a medical provider, we have experienced a dramatic decrease in insurance reimbursements all while our general overhead costs for supplies continue to rise. We are trying to do more with less and have noticed that the thing that is being affected the most is our patient wait Times. We feel badly about wait Times. We realize that everyone’s Time is important and we do not take it lightly. Unfortunately, every day is unpredictable. We cannot predict when a severely ill psoriasis patient, surgical patient, or study patient will cause a delay in Dr. Hamilton’s schedule. However, we do guarantee that when you are in the room with Dr. Hamilton you will receive her undivided attention and all the benefits of her expertise. 

We all experience the effects of Time. Some poor choices in our younger years have made the passage of Time a little more evident on some faces than others. Throughout the years, we have tried to thank our patients with specials and reasonable pricing on cosmetic procedures. We understand that Time marches on for everyone, not just those with unlimited financial resources. We have never attempted to be the bargain store for cosmetic procedures, but have always sought to provide state of the art, quality care at a reasonable price. Offering discounted rates and special pricing allows us to provide treatment to those who could otherwise not afford to benefit from the advances in the aesthetic field. However, this discounted pricing can affect the scheduling availability and the appointment wait Times. As an administrative staff, we are aware of these issues and are trying to find a balance that will allow us to provide quality care with reasonable pricing while also respecting our patient’s Time. This may result in a decrease in appointment availability, which will mean you may need to wait longer to get an appointment. And, as a patient, you can help us minimize the wait times by properly scheduling your appointments. Please be as specific as possible when calling to schedule your appointment so we can set aside enough time to address all of your concerns. And understand that there may be times when we will be unable to accommodate additional treatments or services if the schedule does not allow it. 

We know that we have some room for improvement and are working on better meeting your needs and expectations. In the meanTime, please be patient with us. We are trying to provide a relaxed, pleasant, and happy office environment. We will try to make any wait Time you experience as comfortable as possible with extended media offerings, great reading material, beverages, the ever-popular chocolate, and a great massage therapist who can make you almost forget you’ve been waiting at all. If you have any additional suggestions or constructive criticism, we would be happy to hear from you.

Thank you for taking the Time to read our first blog. Please join us from Time to Time as we post answers to common questions, talk about new procedures, and give advice on basic skin care. We would love to make this blog a great resource for you. If you have any suggestions for topics you would like to know more about, please feel free to email them to info@dermandvein.com.