Cutis Dermatology has the largest portfolio of lasers in the Southern Hemisphere. This ensures patients are getting the very latest in laser tech. We have the following devices (in writing as of 2022)

Lasers to treat red necks: VBeam Prima, Perfecta, 1064 Scition, DermaV 532, 1064, Alex 755 Lumenis, IPL & BBL, Lumenis M22 & Sciton. 

Laser to treat brown pigmentation: Picoway, Picosure Pro, Hollywood Spectra, Fraxel 1927, Frax Pro, LaseMD Pro, Pastelle

Lasers to improve neck laxity & wrinkles: eCO2, MixTo, Ultrapulse, Hybrid Alma, Fraxel 1550, Sciton Joule, MC Juliette erbium

Other devices: HIFU, RFM Genius, Infini, eMatrix, Tempsure, NuEra

This will depend on the severity of your pigmentation, sun damage and the amount of wrinkles. As a guide-

• Discolouration of the neck (poikiloderma)- 4-6 treatments
• Neck rejuvenation – 3-4 treatments
• Fraxel – fractional lasers for neck and chest rejuvenation; 3-4 treatments

  

This depends on the laser we use, as a guide-

• Vascular Lasers– 3-4 days of bruising, can be covered up with make up
• Lasers for brown pigmentation- 7-9 days recovery
• Lasers for skin tightening- neck tightening 7-10 days recovery

Laser treatment for the neck, chest and décolletage area takes longer to heal compared to facial areas because of the lack of pilosebaceous or hair units. New skin is generated from these key unit areas. Unlike facial laser resurfacing, neck, chest & décolletage areas will require multiple sessions over 3-7 months

I prefer slow heating radiofrequency collagen contracting devices. These include Tempsure, Pelleve, & Nuera. Slow heating RF amplifies collagen production at regular intervals of 4& 8 week after the main procedure. These forms of RF are more comfortable than Thermage or RF microneedling (explained below)

HIFU stands for High Intensity Focused Ultrasound. This popular treatment is a safe, non-invasive method to tighten neck & facial skin. This device emits ultrasound waves to stimulate collagen, in turn reversing skin laxity & sagging.

Ultherapy is an excellent option for clients who want noticeable results & younger skin without the downtime associated with more invasive procedures. Treatment takes 10 to 35 minutes to perform & patients can resume their normal activities immediately.

HIFU is best combined with collagen stimulating fillers for best results. 

Microneedling RF is classed as high heat RF. It is a good treatment for mild to moderate laxity of the neck & lower face. 

I normally combine RFM (Genius, Infini or Morpheus8) with other skin tightening procedures such as collagen stimulation dermal fillers style=”font-weight: 400;”> & occasional low heat RF. Summary

RF microneedling 

• Improves skin laxity with minimal downtime
• Work to tighten skin
• Does not address color change
• Requires 2-4 sessions for best results
• Is frequently combined with other treatments

I love threads, however they offer marginal improvement in the neck *& chest area. Biostimulatory fillers, lasers, RFM, & HIFU are more predictable methods for rejuvenation the chest. 

We will be performing MyElevate advanced suspension threads in 2023, so stay tuned.

*If you are thinking about PDO monos, save your money for something that actually works.

In some cases I treat both face & neck in the one sitting. If the job is extensive (requiring more anesthetic), I treat these areas separated to prevent anesthetic toxicity.

Do not underestimate the healing time following bigger procedures such as ablative laser resurfacing.

I employ one of four chemical peels to treat the neck & decolletage. 

TCA peels can be very effective in treating sun damage and pigmentation on the neck and décolletage area, however lasers are safer, and achieve a more natural outcome. In the past few years, Fraxel & fractional lasers have replaced TCA Chemical peels in the context of neck treatments. I still employ TCA for facial rejuvenation.

Glycolic acid or AHA. This can be very effective in reducing brown discolouration associated with mild wrinkles. AHAs do not have downtime, however you will require 4-6 sessions for best results. Highly effective, but very under-rated. 

Jessner peels. I like a modified concentration of lactic, salicylic acids & resorsinol. I frequently combine Jessner with TCA.

Chemical peels performed by Specialists like Dr Lim can be effective, however patients will still require several treatments. Over the years TCA Peels have been replaced by Fraxel laser. Laser is safer, and is more comfortable for recovery.

The MOST important concept to grasp is BLENDING. See the transition zone from the neck, to the face above, and the chest below? The rationale behind treatments is to reduce contrast change, & not totally rejuvenate the area, otherwise the treated areas will have better skin than the rest. 

On this basis we use the bigger footprint of the IPL or a bigger spot size with our lasers. Fractional lasers such as Fraxel can deliver a natural transition zone.

Dermal fillers including Hyaluronic Acid & collagen stimulating fillers are useful in the treatment of deep neck lines. HA fillers last between 9 to 14 months, whilst collagen stimulating fillers last up to & often beyond 2 years. They are best combined with neck tightening devices like Tempsure or gentle fractional laser resurfacing.

Skin care is aimed at prevention & maintaining good skin quality after procedures. The use of vitamin A analogues such as retinol & retinoid acid can prevent sun damage & increase collagen. Antioxidants including ascorbic acid, ferric acid & tocopherol should be used as UV protectants on a daily basis.

For more advice on skin care, consult our dermal therapist & nurses at Clinic Cutis.

What is it?

Ultherapy uses ultrasound to stimulate collagen production, in turn reducing neck laxity. Although skin restoration begins immediately, Ultherapy can produce a significant lift of tissues over a 2-to-4 month period.

What is the difference from lasers?

Lasers employ light energy that is most useful for surface issues such as pigmentation. Radiofrequency can reach deeper than lasers, it does not allow for precise heating of tissues at a preset temperature. With Ultherapy, ultrasound imaging is used, which allows the clinician to see the tissue layers during treatment. This ensures that the sound energy is applied where it is most beneficial.

Who is a good candidate for Ultherapy? 

Men or women who exhibit mild to moderate skin changes including; 

• Sagging of the lower face
• Loose skin in the neck area
• Sagging skin on the eyelids

Ultherapy is typically recommended for people in their thirties or older. It can provide some lifting and a more toned and refreshed look for people who are not ready for surgery. 

How many sessions are required? 

Only one treatment is required to achieve desired results, with annual touch-up treatments to help them maintain results. Some people with a fair amount of laxity in the skin may need more than one treatment. 

What treatment pairs well with Ultherapy?

Derma fillers & IPL complement Ultherapy. Fillers are often used to draw water into the areas of dehydration. Biostimulatory fillers also improve neck lines & laxity as they stimulate collagen production. IPL is used to reduce skin color changes & improve skin quality on the neck.

What is it?

Biostimulatory dermal fillers are new in Australia, released in late 2022. This filler has been available in Europe for the past 5 years, so we know that it works well, & importantly it is super safe.

What is the difference from other fillers?

Unlike other dermal fillers, Profhilo works by simulating your own immune system to produce collagen as well as rejuvenating the upper layers of skin. This translate to better skin quality, & importantly skin tightening without the bulk seen in older fillers.

Who is a good candidate for biostimulation?

Men & women who have mild to mild-moderate- 

• Sagging of the lower face
• Loose skin in the neck area
• Wrinkles on the chest & decollage 

How many sessions are required? 

Officially 2, spaced 4 weeks apart. Given the high UV rate in Brisbane, with resultant sun damage, 20% of candidates will require a third dose. 

What treatment pairs well with biostimulation fillers?

Ultherapy, RF & IPL are typically combined with biostimulation. Remember, to achieve good neck rejuvenation, one has to treat multiple layers. Discolouration responds well to IPL, vascular lasers & fractional lasers such as Fraxel.

What are they?

These devices provide controlled heating to the deeper dermal layers of skin, sparing the epidermis. Heat increases protein known as heat-shock, in turn producing more collagen & elastin.

What is the difference from other devices?

We have several heating devices ranging from deep powerful RF microneedling with the Genius, Profound RF,  & Morpheus8 systems, to gentle devices such as Pelleve, Tempsure, & NuEra. I did have Thermage for several years, however given the consumables & low efficacy rate, my practice has switched to slow heat devices.

Who is a good candidate for radiofrequency?

Men & women who have mild to mild-moderate-

• Sagging of the lower face

• Loose skin in the neck area

• Wrinkles on the chest & decollage

RF devices work to contract collagen that is lax with minimal sun damage. For broken collagen, the number of sessions range from 3-6.

How many sessions are required?

Most cases require 3-5 sessions, depending on the device, clinical findings & expectations. Powerful RFM devices require less sessions compared to slow heat devices such as Tempsure, Pelleve & NuEra.

What treatment pairs well with radiofrequency devices?

Biostimulatory fillers such as Profhilo can compound collagen production, in turn giving superior results than monotherapy. For skin quality issues we also employ vascular & fractional lasers, or IPL.

What is Fraxel?

Fraxel is a form of fractional laser resurfacing. It uses a wavelength of light that is delivered superficially, targeting pigment & blood vessels. The actual target is water with the benefits of non-selective photothermolysis (unlike typical lasers).

What is the difference from other lasers?

It is not the laser that counts, it is the wavelength. We get similar results with high pass Frax Pro 1940 & other thulium-diode lasers. Downtime following Fraxel is typically 3-7 days, depending on the settings. 

Who is a good candidate for Fraxel?

Men & women who exhibit pigmentation on the face, neck, decollete & chest areas.

How many sessions are required? 

Most cases require 2-4 sessions for optimal outcomes. 

What treatment pairs well with Fraxel?

Fraxel resurfacing treats pigment & superficial concerns such as fine lines & wrinkles on the neck & chest.. If you have deeper sun damage & wrinkles, we often combine CO2 or other deeper laser wavelengths. 

IPL can also provide a good outcome-especially if there is redness. For patients who have neck laxity, biostimulatory dermal fillers such as Profilo can make a huge difference.

Unlike faces, chest and necks will require more sessions to get a good result.

As a guide-

• Fraxel or LaseMD laser chest & neck starts from $990 per session (2-3 needed)
• BBL or IPL laser from $390
• Vascular laser for treating red – Pricing varies with areas treated, starting from $390 (nurse)

For a formal assessment & quote, a book to see my clinical team at Cutis Dermatology

The best natural treatments include focused light, this is called a laser. A laser is one wavelength of light. You can’t get more natural than that. 

If you are into microbial rejuvenation, consider streptococcus. Add some naturally sourced good bacteria into a pot, wait for them to ferment hyaluronic acid, separate them, then treat with heat for over 110 degrees for several minutes. You now have A-grade hyaluronic acid, derived from nature’s own stock. This can be used to inject the goodness of nature into your skin, in turn reducing wrinkles, stimulating dermal collagen & correct volume loss. 

Other reported natural remedies for neck laxity & sag include neck patches & neck exercise to lift the neck.

No. This treatment is considered as cosmetic and not covered by Medicare, nor health insurance companies.