What is CO2 Laser Resurfacing?

CO2 Laser skin resurfacing is the gold standard in laser skin treatments for the face, neck and chest. This procedure is one of our heavy-hitters –with absolutely amazing results from a one-time procedure.

Laser Skin Resurfacing improves the appearance of your skin by selectively targeting the superficial layers of the skin that contain wrinkles, scars and hyperpigmentation.

Fractional CO2 Laser - Boise, Idaho

Treatment is used to improve the following:

• Pigmentation problems (especially brown pigment)
• Age spots, sun spots and sun damage
• Moderate to severe wrinkles
• Textural irregularities
• Lip lines
• Acne scars
• Surgical scars
• Skin laxity (sagging skin) 

C02 Laser Recovery 

Because this is only a one-time treatment with major results, fractional laser resurfacing downtime is a little longer than our other facial procedures.   Right after the procedure your skin will probably appear red and slightly swollen, but this will fade within 2-5 days. For milder treatments, many patients are able to cover up the redness the next day and return to work or daily activities, but typically a return to make-up occurs around day 5.  Additionally, many patients experience some skin peeling within the first week after the treatment. Using a moisturizer will help reduce the appearance of flakey skin. 

Downtime can be adjusted by the physician. We suggest scheduling a complimentary consultation prior to your treatment to discuss your individual treatment route and downtime. 

CO2 Fractional Laser Cost

The cost of fractional laser resurfacing varies depending on what laser is used and the size of the area that is being treated. We would be more than happy to give you a personalized fractional resurfacing treatment plan and cost estimate during a consultation with one of our expert laser physicians.

This month only save $500 on a Co2 Face or Neck Treatment. 

The FDA has approved Bellafill, an injectable filler, for the treatment of moderate to severe acne scars. Acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S., affecting more than 40 million people, and this is big news for people with severe cases or lingering scars.

This new treatment is ideal for patients who have not responded to topical therapy, like Retin-A, which takes months and only improves very superficial scars; those who do not want to go through a series of five chemical peels; or those who have only a few scars.

If done properly, most patients will require only one or two treatments. And it’s permanent.

Botox is an injection that relaxes muscles just enough to smooth wrinkles that appear on the forehead and at the corners of the eyes (“crows feet”). Other nonsurgical approaches like wearing sunscreen and using anti-aging skin care products can help slow the hands of time at a topical level, while Botox is a deeper, more noticeable solution with natural looking results.

Some are wary of preventative Botox because their lines are minimal or nonexistent, but beginning treatments at an earlier age can relax muscles and prevent lines from deepening. Take a look at this recent study below.

A STUDY IN WRINKLE PREVENTION

The fore-mentioned study followed identical twin sisters for 13 years. One twin received BOTOX in the forehead, and in the region above the nose and between the eyebrows (approximately 2 to 3 times each year over the past 13 years) and in the crow’s feet (twice in past 2 years). Her twin received BOTOX only twice (in the forehead, and in the region above the nose and between the eyebrows, 3 and 7 years ago).

RESULTS

Imprinted forehead lines and lines between the eyebrows were not evident in the regularly treated twin but were evident in the minimally treated twin. Crow’s feet were less noticeable when the regularly treated twin smiled (even at 7 months after treatment) than when the minimally treated twin smiled. Untreated facial areas (eg, nasolabial folds) showed comparable aging in both twins. Neither twin experienced adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS

“Long-term treatment with BOTOX can prevent the development of imprinted facial lines that are visible at rest. BOTOX treatment can also reduce crow’s feet. Treatment is well tolerated, with no adverse events reported during 13 years of regular treatment in this study.”¹

How much Botox do you need for “preventative reasons?”

If you’re getting Botox treatments for preventative reasons it’s more individual dependent. Botox works by blocking muscle movement. To relax someone’s muscle takes the same amount at age 20 or age 50. Dosages would not change with age; it  would just be more dependent on what worked best for each individual. A free consultation will give you a much clearer idea of the amount of units that will be right for you.

Sometimes the smallest problems can contribute a great deal to an aging look.

Lip lines, also called smokers’ lines, are those little vertical fissures above your upper lip. Most women get them as the years pass, whether they smoke or not. The process is the same as it is for all facial aging: the skin loses tone and elasticity on the surface while the volume under the skin diminishes. The result is a wrinkled, sunken look.

What causes lip lines?

1. Sun Exposure

Are you surprised with this one? It seems those UV rays always take the blame for aging. Even on the coldest day, we still get UV exposure. The only way to help with the aging affects of sun exposure? You guessed it - stay out of the sun and lather up on sunscreen every single day!

2. Smoking

In addition to all the other scary health issues that come with smoking - the repeated motion of puckering up causes the tiny grooves in the skin above your lips to form more quickly, and to become more pronounced.

3. Straws

Though this has not been scientifically proven - many medical sources say that the frequent use of straws can cause lip lines to form sooner. The same is said about kissing - but you may want to weigh the benefits on that one. :-)

4. Aging

The one thing none of us can do anything about? Aging. Sort of. There are plenty of lifestyle changes that can help prevent of slow down the appearance of lines around the upper lip. Moisturize, drink plenty of water, use a Retinol, get enough sleep and eat a healthy diet.

How to Treat Lip Lines

If your genetic code or past-sun exposure or smoking has resulted in lines to your upper-lip, there are many steps you can take to minimize and even completely erase their appearance.

Our Top 3 Treatments for Lip Lines

1. Injectable Wrinkle Fillers 

2. Laser Skin Resurfacing

3. Chemical Peels 

Transformation Tuesday: Lip Enhancement

Research suggests that full lips may have as much to do with a woman's perceived age as the appearance of wrinkles.

While lips do thin as we age, sometimes people naturally have thin or un-proportioned lips. This patient came to us wanting a fuller pout, and wanted to increase the volume in her upper lip. Before picture is shown below.

She was nervous, as most first time patients are, about what her lips were going to look like after the treatment.  She stressed that she wanted her lips to look natural, not something people would look at and immediately know she had work done. At Silk Touch, we are all about natural, subtle, realistic results! Especially when it comes to lips!

The treatment:

Dr. Kerr used the filler Juvederm XC to inject both the bottom and upper lip.  The lips are now not only proportionate to her face shape, but they are proportionate to one another – the bottom lip should always be fuller than the top.  This treatment takes less than 30 minutes,  and most people have little to no bruising that fades with in a matter of days.

Injection Tip: Avoid Asprin and other blood thinners at least 3 days prior to your injectable appointment. This decreases the chances of bruising!

The patient was thrilled with her results! What do you think? Please share questions and comments below!

While no one can stop aging, we can slow down the aging process by taking care of our skin through maintenance and preventative measures. One particular preventative measure is the most important, but also the most neglected..

The No. 1 way you’re aging your skin? You may have guessed it already…. Not wearing enough sunscreen daily.

The sun is the primary cause of skin aging. The sun can reach you on cloudy, rainy, or snowy days as well. Skin-damaging UV rays can penetrate through glass, so you need to apply sun protection even indoors.

We are passionate about getting every single person who walks through our door to add sunscreen to their daily routine. Which is why we carry a ton of various types of Sunscreen, for every skin type and individual concern.

Jane Iredale Powder Me SPF

I love this sunscreen. Don’t want to add another lotion underneath all of your products? This SPF comes in powder form (tan, golden & translucent) and is great for putting on underneath your makeup, in your hairline, and other areas where you rather skip adding lotion. 

Revision Intellishade - Tinted SPF 45

This is one of our top selling products here at Silk Touch, and is my must-have summer obsession.  Do you love a quick skin care routine in the summer? So do I!

Revision Skincare Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer SPF 45 is a 4-in-1 product for all skin types. Along with broad spectrum protection against UV rays, this item also works as your moisturizer, anti-aging product and foundation makeup. The medium-coverage formula of this sunscreen moisturizer hides the appearance of discoloration, redness and dark spots for a more even tone. This product also contains anti-aging ingredients that minimize fine lines and wrinkles for a smooth texture and youthful look. 

I use this beauty tool to create a flawless complexion in a flash.

Epionce Sunscreen 

This sunscreen is great for body and face and comes in SPF 30+ and SPF 50+. This is a light, quick absorbing broad-spectrum sheer lotion, that effectively protects the skin from damaging UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) radiation. This potent lotion prevents inflammation, reduces signs of aging, and minimizes the risk of skin cancer. Yet, it's free of irritants and sensitizers so you can use it everyday as your final phase in maintaining skin health.

Skin Medica TNS Moisturizing SPF

Do you love your other TNS products? Get it in your sunscreen too! This daily moisturizer offers the ultimate combination of hydration and anti-aging protection. enriched with the patented growth factor blend TNS®, and antioxidants, this formula guards against the destructive effects of free radical damage while also providing full-spectrum protection from uva/uvb rays.

Silk Touch Rx SPF 30 with Antioxidants

This is a great antioxidant sunscreen, that contains Vitamin C & E. This is our heavy hitter of sunscreens, and is great for those who have sun-sensitive skin conditions such as Melasma. This product is fragrance free and preservative free. This sunscreen feels very glossy, and works as a primer under your foundation.

Patient Testimonial: 

After a rhinoplasty surgery with a premier plastic surgeon in California 10 years ago, I had to have a revision due to complications of tissue atrophy on the bridge of my nose. A second surgery a year later helped but didn’t completely solve the problem, so I just lived with a noticeable dent on the bridge of my nose. A few months ago, I happened across a Before/After photo on Silk Touch Med Spa’s website of a nose job revision using liquid fillers. I hadn’t even known that was possible!

At a single appointment and at a fraction of the cost, Dr. Kerr used Voluma (one of a few fillers available for this procedure, but the best option for me) to sculpt the deficit on the bridge of my nose. I could not be any happier with my results; it’s perfect. Thank you Dr. Kerr and staff! I only wish I had known about this years ago!

About The Treatment:

Traditional Rhinoplasty can be quite expensive. On top of that, it might involve numerous revisions and it requires a long recovery period – during which your face is screaming to the world “I just had a nose job!!!”

Dermal fillers have changed the cosmetic surgery playing field.  Often you can correct a nose for less in no time by just injecting temporary fillers. If you want something more permanent, Artefill is the only long lasting filler-- lasting 5 years or more.   Forget the anesthesia, the packing and the sutures – instead the only tools needed are a syringe and dermal fillers. A lot less gruesome than anything you see on Nip-Tuck. 

Sometimes we get so caught up focusing on the wrinkles on our face, that we forget that the signs of aging might be showing on our neck and décolleté area, too. Luckily there are ways to maintain a youthful looking neck – through prevention and damage reversal treatments.

Here are the proven ways to treat or get rid of discoloration, texture problems, weight gain, loose skin and wrinkles that evolve into the much dreaded “turkey neck”.

Neck Firming Creams

Creams and serums can provide an anti-aging arsenal that can help prevent signs on aging, and sometimes can help in reversing wrinkles and skin laxity. While there are a lot of products out there that claim to tighten and tone the neck, our favorite product is by Revision – Nectifirm. Nectifirm is the best product for the neck. Patients notice an immediate difference in tone, texture and firmness. It’s one of our best sellers and I wouldn’t go a day without it! 

Skin Tightening

While creams can help with the signs and prevention of aging, sometimes in-office alternatives may be necessary. When it comes to skin tightening, you don’t have to go under the knife to see results. New technology such as the non-invasive VENUS FREEZE SKIN TIGHTENING can provide dramatic results with zero downtime. Venus Freeze uses radio frequency technology to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.

Re-Texture

If you are looking to improve the texture on your neck and décolleté area,  you will see the best results from fractional laser treatments such as the CO2 Dot Therapy. Laser Skin Resurfacing re-texturizes the skin, leaving a new and improved appearance. It also helps with skin laxity, sun-damage and fine lines and wrinkles. This treatment is one of the most popular anti-aging treatments here at Silk Touch. While the downtime can last from 1-2 weeks, the results are phenomenal and you can see major results in just one treatment.

Non-invasive Slimming

Extra, unwanted fat on our jawline and neck can add years to our appearance. If you are looking to slim your neck – there is no better treatment then Smartlipo. This quick in-office procedure is minimally invasive with a short amount of downtime. Most people are back to work within a day or two. Smartlipo is the only way to take away fat in just 1 office visit.  Dr. Kerr specializes in Smartlipo for necks. Below is a recent patient of ours.

Click To Save $500 On Smartlipo 

Prevention

Creams and serums can help ward of signs of anti-aging. It’s important not to forget our neck in our daily skin care routines.  Don’t forget to protect your neck from the sun too, especially when you driving or going to be outside for long periods of time.

Exercise can help keep the neck youthful as well. Incorporate yoga stretches that tone the muscle and tighten skin.  

Getting Rid of Melasma

Patient Background:

This client was terribly sunburned as a young girl and developed melasma. Unfortunately the photos were taken with different cameras and the lighting and coloring are quite different, but you can see in the 2nd photo her melasma has faded almost entirely.  She has no makeup on except for a little lip gloss.  

The melasma patient had done many procedures including Microdermabrasion, Chemical Peels, and IPL treatments with no success. 

Treatment:

We thought we were never going to find the right treatment to help this patient – until we found the formulation for our skin lightening peel. We called her up and said, “We think we finally found something to help you, let us do this for you free of charge!”   She had a few days of down time and had to use an at-home skin care system for a few weeks, but just a month later, Shazaam! Look at her now!!!!! Aren't her results amazing??? 

Silk Touch Rx Skin Lightening System is a superficial chemical peel designed to improve the texture and appearance of hyper-pigmented skin. This facial peel is designed to eliminate sun damaged skin and melasma. This peel involves a medicated masque and an at-home skin care regimen. Downtime is a little greater (up to 7 days) but the results are amazing!!!

There is no pain and little-to-no irritation during the application of the opaque creme masque, and typically, the irritation level on the following days is more like a sunburn.

Transformation Tuesday:  Smartlipo Knees

Patient Background:

This woman came to us with extra fat around her knees that had bothered her for as long as she could remember – spending summers constantly hiding her knees. And unfortunately, no matter how many lunges one does, fat and saggy skin around the knees can be persistent. 

Treatment:

Dr. Kerr used Smartlipo to sculpt the knees,. After removing the fat using Smartlipo (Smart Lipo) laser liposuction, her knees look like those of a younger woman. Smartlipo uses a laser to melt the fat and the fat is suctioned out.  This procedure took about an hour to perform. Dr. Kerr used awake anesthesia and the patient was able to get up from the procedure and walk out of the office with no problem. Recovery time was minimal and she was thrilled with the results.