Cosmetic Dermatology

In the Section of Dermatologic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology at the Yale School of Medicine, we also offer the latest techniques for skin rejuvenation. Our range of expertise includes removal of benign growths such as skin tags and cysts to laser treatment of facial telangiectasias to the precise placement of fillers to create a youthful appearance. Below are the services we offer our patients:

Laser Treatment

In our section, patients are always treated by a board certified physician in dermatology who has the training to safely use the laser and light systems we offer. For the treatment of broken capillaries on the face due to sun damage, aging and rosacea we have a pulsed dye laser which works to specifically target and destroy these blood vessels. There is usually minimal bruising that can be covered with make-up making this procedure a success with little downtime. This laser is also used for the treatment of port wine stains and hemangiomas. For hair growth, we offer two types of lasers that work either in light or dark skin tones with medium to dark colored hair. Over a series of treatments depending on the site, a significant reduction in hair growth is achieved. We also offer tattoo removal for all tattoo colors. Depending on the color of the tattoo, complete removal is often achieved after 4 – 5 visits. There is usually redness and some swelling in the area which we advise patients to keep covered for the first week after treatment.

Fillers

Fillers are a generic term used to describe an injectable material that can be placed in the skin to replace volume loss that leads to an aged appearance or to fill in crevices caused by wrinkles. Common places to use fillers include the lips, smile lines, smoker’s lines and in the cheeks. We currently offer a range of hyaluronic acid fillers including Juvéderm®,Restylane®, and Perlane® which last up to 6 months as well as more permanent fillers such as Sculptra™ and Radiesse®. Prior to injection of any filler, we perform a cosmetic consultation to assess the patient’s expectations and areas of concern to provide the best correction possible.

Botulinum Toxin A

In our practice, the physicians have an expertise in facial anatomy and perform Botulinum Toxin A injections for patients to improve dynamic wrinkles that occur with facial expression. The result is a softening of creases and an overall “relaxed” appearance. In addition to the face, these injections can also be placed to improve neck bands and excessive sweating in the armpits, hands or feet.

Sclerotherapy

In addition to procedures for facial rejuvenation, our practice offers sclerotherapy for small and medium sized varicose veins of the legs. During initial consultation, the anatomy of the leg is mapped and the patient is checked for vein competency. In subsequent visits, the protruding vessels are injected with material that causes them to collapse and thus disappear. Patients are advised to wear compression stockings for a period of time after the procedure which usually takes no more than one hour. There is risk of bruising, but no functional downtime.