Dr. John D. Stover DDS, MD, PhD
TRIPLE BOARD CERTIFIED:
Diplomate, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
Diplomate, American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Diplomate, National Board of Dental Anesthesiology
Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii
Most comprehensive cosmetic surgical procedures in Hawaii
LASER TREATMENTS
Brown Spot Removal
If you have troublesome brown spots, the latest laser treatments can restore even skin tone!
What is Brown Spot Removal?
Brown spot removal at Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii involves state-of-the-art laser treatment using the Lumenis One IPL or Alex Trivantage laser. These lasers, which are intense pulsed light skin therapy, are effective and painless treatments to remove brown spots.
Brown spots, sometimes called "pigmented lesions," are spots on the skin that are dark in color. They can include age spots, liver spots, birthmarks, sunburn freckles, lentigenies, and Nevus of Ota. Although most brown spots are easily ignored, many are conspicuous and can detract from your skin's natural beauty.
The laser stimulates your body to eliminate the unwanted excessive pigment of the brown spot but has little or no effect on the rest of your skin.
What Can I Expect From Brown Spot Removal?
- Most people find that brown spot removal is not painful, and anesthesia is generally not needed. Each pulse of laser light is similar to the snap of a thin rubber band or the feeling of tiny specks of hot bacon grease lightly hitting the skin.
- If you are especially sensitive, ice packs, anesthetic creams, or a local anesthetic can be used. You can also take Tylenol or ibuprofen prior to your treatment to minimize any discomfort.
- For the first half hour after your brown spot removal laser treatment, the treated area may feel hot (like a sunburn), and it might be red for the rest of the day.
- Gentle cleansing of the skin and application of an antibiotic ointment will help the treated area heal quickly after treatment. Avoid picking at or irritating the skin after treatment.
- Occasionally, the treated spots become darker in color at first and then, flake off during the next couple of weeks. This is normal.
- There may be some lightening or darkening of the treated area for several months after laser treatment. This is usually very subtle and not noticeable to anyone but you.
- It is important to protect the treated area from sun exposure until the skin is completely healed, and the skin color has returned to normal.
- If the area to be treated has a fresh sun tan or has been treated with self-tanning lotion, it is best to wait a couple of weeks for the tan to fade before having treatment.
- About 60%-80% of common freckles and age spots resolve after one treatment. Some need a second treatment, and a few need to be treated more than twice. Some blemishes do not disappear completely but will remain significantly lighter in color. It is impossible to fully predict the outcome of your treatments or the number of treatments you will require.
- It is best to wait at least 4 to 8 weeks between treatments so that the maximum amount of fading can take place.
- If there is a chance that a spot could be skin cancer, a biopsy must be performed before a treatment is performed.
Brown spot removal is a safe and painless way to remove dark spots that can make you feel unattractive.
Dr. John D. Stover is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with offices in Kona, Hilo, and Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Ms. Marné CarMichael Walsh, M.S., PA-C, a certified physician's assistant, supports Dr. Stover in diagnosing and treating a variety of skin conditions. She is board certified by the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Hawaii Association for Physician Assistants. The Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii offer the most extensive variety of non-invasive cosmetic treatments in the state.
