Nobel Prize for Laser Technology
A few days ago, Donna Strickland from Canada was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for her work in laser technology. She is only the third woman, after Marie Curie and Maria Goeppert-Mayer, ever to receive a Nobel Prize in physics and shares the award with Frenchman Gérard Mourou. Her scientific work to generate high-intensity, ultrashort optical pulses is credited with the latest Silicon Valley laser technology for treating pigmentary changes and tattoos, which we already use at Rivr.
As a plastic surgeon and dermatologist, I’ve had the privilege of observing the development of laser technology firsthand over the past 10 years as a laser specialist and edited a basic book on laser medicine in the U.S. to go along with it. What are the benefits of the latest leap in technology that has now been awarded the Nobel Prize?
Our newest Silicon Valley lasers (Cutera Enlighten III) work with ultrashort pulses in the picosecond range. That’s one trillionth of a second. This means faster and, in combination with different wavelengths, better results when treating pigmentary changes and removing tattoos.
It’s not just wrinkles that show our age. Pigment changes, sun spots and age spots are often responsible for making our skin look old. About 40% of all people over 40 are affected. Until now, such skin changes could be treated in isolated areas with the heat of intense light flashes. With the latest laser technology in the picosecond range, it is now possible to treat large areas without negatively affecting the surrounding tissue. This is because pigmentary changes are often not locally confined, but rather blurred over a larger area. I can now treat these areas comprehensively – even with darker skin types and at any time of year. The treatment takes about 20 minutes, is painless, vitalizes the skin and leaves only a slight redness for a short time.
Tattoos can now be removed in an average of 4-6 treatments where previously up to 14 sessions were necessary, thanks to the technological leap of Nobel Prize research. And with the different wavelengths of our latest Silicon Valley lasers, even difficult-to-remove colors like red will soon be ink of yesteryear. After all, not every quickly forgiven tattoo heart is meant to beat for the rest of its life. Every second person has a tattoo today and not everyone is still happy with it.
You can make an appointment for the removal of a tattoo or for the treatment of pigment displacements with the latest laser technology by telephone or electronically without complications. Of course, you are also welcome to make an appointment in advance with a non-binding consultation in my laser consultation hour.