For Patients
For Patients
Learn about laser and energy-based procedures, the devices behind them, and the medical specialties that use them. Browse the topics below to understand your treatment options.
From the Field
Procedures
Combination Therapies
Combination therapy in aesthetic medicine uses neuromodulators, dermal fillers, and energy-based devices together for more complete facial rejuvenation.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing uses laser energy to remodel the skin, improving wrinkles, scars, and sun damage through ablative, non-ablative, and fractional methods.
Vascular and Pigmented Lesions
How lasers and energy-based devices treat vascular and pigmented lesions, including birthmarks, port-wine stains, sun spots, and unwanted tattoos.
Tattoo Removal
Laser tattoo removal uses Q-switched or picosecond lasers to break down ink, which the body then clears, usually over a series of treatments.
Skin Tightening
How lasers and energy-based devices such as radiofrequency and ultrasound tighten sagging skin by stimulating collagen without invasive surgery.
Scars
Lasers can treat and even help prevent acne, surgical, burn, and trauma scars, improving their appearance, texture, and range of motion over time.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) combines a light-sensitive drug with laser light to destroy targeted cells, treating skin cancers, precancers, and acne.
Photobiomodulation
Photobiomodulation (PBM) uses low-level laser and LED light to relieve pain and inflammation, aid healing, and treat sports injuries without heat.
Non-Invasive Body Contouring
Non-invasive body contouring uses cryolipolysis, focused ultrasound, and radiofrequency to reduce stubborn pockets of fat with little to no downtime.
Neck Rejuvenation
How lasers and energy-based devices like radiofrequency and ultrasound treat neck laxity, tightening and lifting loose skin without surgery.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal uses selective photothermolysis to target pigment in the hair follicle, reducing unwanted hair over a series of treatments.
Laser-Assisted Drug Delivery
Laser-assisted drug delivery uses fractional ablative lasers to create microscopic skin channels that boost the efficacy of topical treatments.
Hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis is excessive sweating beyond what the body needs to cool down. Learn how lasers and energy-based devices can treat the condition.
Cellulite
How lasers, ultrasound, and mechanical energy-based devices such as Cellfina treat cellulite, smoothing the dimpled contours of thighs and buttocks.
From the Field
Devices
Devices – Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Intense pulsed light (IPL) delivers broad-spectrum light to treat broken blood vessels, pigmented spots, photodamage, acne, and unwanted hair.
Devices – Light Emitting Diodes (LED’s)
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) emit diffuse light used in aesthetic and medical care for inflammation, skin rejuvenation, wound healing, and acne therapy.
Devices – Cryolipolysis
Cryolipolysis is a non-invasive, nonsurgical alternative to liposuction that chills and destroys fat cells to reshape body contours without downtime.
Devices – Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency (RF) devices emit heat energy used in aesthetic practice for skin tightening, collagen production, body contouring, and facial rejuvenation.
Devices – Microfocused Ultrasound
Microfocused ultrasound is a non-invasive, no-downtime procedure that heats deep skin layers to lift and tighten lax skin on the face and neck.
From the Field
Medical Specialties
Ophthalmology
How lasers are used in ophthalmology, from periorbital skin rejuvenation and LASIK to glaucoma treatment, retinal photocoagulation, and cataract care.
Obstetrics/Gynecology
How lasers, radiofrequency, and other energy-based devices are used in obstetrics and gynecology, and where the evidence supports or cautions their use.
Dentistry
How lasers and light-based devices are used in dentistry, from soft-tissue surgery and tooth whitening to light-cured composites and intraoral care.
Oncology
How lasers and energy-based devices are used in oncology to detect, shrink, or destroy tumors and precancerous growths and relieve cancer symptoms.
Dermatology
How lasers and energy-based devices are used in dermatology to treat tumors, tattoos, unwanted hair, and birthmarks using specific wavelengths.
Urology
How lasers are used in urology to treat urinary stones, prostate enlargement, strictures, and cancers of the kidney, ureters, bladder, and penis.
Neurosurgery
How lasers are used in neurosurgery for precision cutting, making incisions, and ablation in the brain and spinal cord with minimal surrounding damage.
Otolaryngology
How lasers are used in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, with the CO2 laser enabling precise, hemostatic treatment of the upper airway.
Veterinary Medicine
How lasers are used in veterinary medicine, from soft-tissue surgery and incisions to therapeutic applications across a growing range of procedures.
General Surgery
How lasers and energy-based devices are used in general surgery to cut, coagulate, vaporize, or remove tissue in open and laparoscopic procedures.
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