Answering Common Misconceptions About Laser Facials

Lasers can do wonders for the skin! They are beneficial in treating skin concerns such as acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles. Laser facials work by deeply cleansing the skin, shrinking oil glands, breaking up melanin to even out the complexion, and boosting collagen production. 

As a tool, lasers have proven to be dangerously powerful and are used in so many other ways. It is somewhat scary to think of its use on the skin, which is so delicate. It is no wonder that rumors and myths surround laser procedures, so let us debunk the most common ones together.

Myth 1: Cosmetic lasers are a “new” technology and still in the experimental stage

Laser treatments for the face have been around for years. From the first tattoo removal treatments performed in 1962 by dermatologist Leon Goldman, cosmetic lasers have been utilized for scarring, hair reduction, wrinkles, skin pigmentation, stretch marks, and more. 

Countless clinical studies have been conducted to ensure that it is both safe and effective. These treatments were developed to give the desired results while avoiding unwanted side effects. A professional who is an expert in laser treatments will be confident in their work to give you the best results for your skin and minimize the side effects. 

Myth 2: Laser treatments require a lot of recovery time

Having to hide out for days after doing a laser treatment is a thing of the past. New technology has improved drastically in the past decades. Minimizing the recovery time is a big one and the non-invasive process has been designed to be gentle. 

Nowadays, laser facials require no downtime at all. Sessions can be done during your lunchtime, even one after the other, and you can immediately return to your daily grind. Minor redness or swelling (which rarely occurs), usually subsides within a few hours.

Myth 3: Laser treatments are painful

Lasers work by getting the skin to heal and renew itself and are therefore believed to be a painful experience that can scare a first-timer. A tingling sensation is to be expected during a laser treatment, but it should not be painful. Some patients describe the feeling as a warm sensation.

It can vary from person to person, depending on the pain threshold of the patient. It is always safer to let your laser expert know if you are feeling uncomfortable during your procedure. They will be knowledgeable to determine whether what you are feeling is normal or needs attention. 

Myth 4: Laser treatments cause the skin to thin out or become weak

It is often believed that laser facials leave the skin thinner or sensitive. On the contrary, laser treatments to the skin encourage the production of collagen and elastin formation which replaces damaged cells to heal the skin. Collagen thickens the skin and elastin makes the skin firmer and plumper. 

The skin’s texture and tone are improved, pores and blackheads are reduced, and wrinkles and fine lines are smoother. Laser facials help to achieve healthy and radiant skin. As a rule, choosing an experienced laser expert ensures that they have a good understanding of the limits of the equipment used.

You can now schedule an appointment!

Are you looking forward to a naturally smooth and bright complexion? Quiklaser is changing the way that you care for your skin. With over 30 years of clinical experience, they are able to treat cosmetic skin problems to help you feel confident in your skin, 

For more information and to book an appointment with us, call us at 604-428-7845 or fill out our online contact form.

Revealing The Most Effective Ways You Can Reduce Wrinkles And Fine Lines

Summer is just around the corner. This means SPF, tan lines, and bikinis. Although summer is the happiest time of the year when we can show off our glowing skin, it is also the time when we have to provide maximum care and protection to our skin from more exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. 

The summer sun can be quite dangerous. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage skin cells, lead to premature skin ageing, and increase the risk of skin cancer. 

Thankfully, SPF can protect from the wrath of the mighty sun and premature ageing skin. Although SPF or sunscreen protection is an excellent preventative measure to keep your skin looking its best—it’s not the only solution to keeping your skin youthful. 

In this article, we’ll shed more light on the most effective ways you can prevent and reduce wrinkles and fine lines during the hottest season of the year. 

Protect Yourself From The Sun 

Avoid staying in the sun during peak hours — 10 am to 4 pm. 

The sun is strongest at these hours and can wreak havoc on your skin. Stay indoors, or if you have to be out, try to stay in the shade as possible. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect from forehead wrinkles

Stay Hydrated

Dehydration is common during peak summer season because the body loses water through constant sweating to keep cool. 

Increase your water intake to replenish the water content in your body—after all, our cells need water to perform almost all functions. Carry a bottle of water everywhere you go and take sips every 30 minutes. You can also eat more fruits high in water content such as watermelons, mangos, plums, blueberries and oranges. 

Use Moisturizers And Serums

The summer heat can dehydrate your skin. If you develop oily skin during summer, it is a good indicator your skin is suffering from dehydration.

As a result, your skin may soon develop premature horizontal forehead wrinkles and fine lines all over your face. Moisturizers and serums can help you beat the heat during peak summer days.

They will not just hydrate but also refresh and revitalize your skin and prevent premature wrinkle formation. To kill two birds with one stone, you can opt for a two-in-one, a moisturizer and sunscreen. 

Eat Vitamin-Rich Food

Eating a vitamin-rich diet is essential not just during the summer season but all year round. 

During the summer months, the body needs more energy to regulate a cooler body temperature to beat the heat. Luckily, the summer season allows for a more varied diet, including seasonal fruits and veggies rich in vitamins and essential nutrients. 

Vitamin A prevents skin ageing and is an essential vitamin during the summer season. Since the ultraviolet rays damage skin cells, lack of vitamin A can lead to wrinkles and fine lines much earlier than naturally expected. 

Eat foods rich in vitamin A such as broccoli, chards, zucchini, melons, grapefruit, watermelons, fish oil, and more to prevent your skin from premature ageing. 

Vitamin C is another important vitamin to prevent dryness of skin and the formation of wrinkles and fine lines. Foods rich in vitamin C are citrus fruits, green and red peppers, cauliflower, and broccoli.

Vitamin D, also known as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, is naturally produced in the body as a direct response to sunlight. Keeping high levels of vitamin D, especially when the body finds it difficult to synthesize it on its own, is important during summer. You can eat foods like dairy, fish oil, seafood, mushrooms to get your daily dose of vitamin D from food sources. 

Vitamin E has an antioxidant effect that keeps your skin and hair healthy. Consuming nuts and nut oils as salad dressings, chard, garlic, asparagus will maintain your vitamin E levels in check. 

Treatment Option: Continued Clarifying Laser Facials

A clarifying laser facial right before summer is the perfect wrinkle treatment to exfoliate and remove dead cells from your skin. Clarifying laser facials are essentially the perfect skin prep for the summer season. No matter how invasive or non-invasive it is, any wrinkle treatment should always be done in a professional clinic to avoid damaging the skin. 

Quiklaser employs cutting-edge laser treatment technology that vaporizes dirt, sweat and dead skin from the skin’s surface, minimizing pores and lightening uneven skin tones. You can get your clarifying laser facial in under 15 minutes and get that natural radiance you deserve. Quiklaser has been around for many years, constantly proving its excellence in skin treatments. You can book an appointment by calling (604) 428-7845 or via the contact form on our website.

QL VS Other Modalities Chart

Currently, these are probably the only modalities of skin treatment that we, along with many doctors, consider to be truly effective.  

 
By effective, we mean that the treatment stimulates and rearranges skin cells at the microscopic level, creating fundamental changes at the core of what makes up the skin, and within an efficient timeframe commensurate with modern lifestyles.     

 

 

In-office Chemical Peels 

Retinoic Acid

Other Laser Facial Therapies 

Quiklaser’s Quick Cleansing System with Triple-H Mask (QCS+HHH)

Access to treatment

Performed by doctors 

Doctor’s prescription required

👍

Not required to be performed by doctors in North America 

👍👍

Not required to be performed by doctors, but laser & mask protocol is designed by doctors

Ablative-ness

👎🏻

Yes

👍

No 

Yes and no 

👍

No

Side-effects

👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

Redness: may last for weeks to months. For deep peels, eyelids may swell shut initially.

Scarring: changes in skin colour, which may be permanent.

Infection: may include herpes flare-up. 

Systemic: some chemicals may cause heart beat irregularities or kidney & liver damage. 

👎🏻👎🏻

To be truly effective, retinoids of sufficient strengths frequently come with side-effects, including sun sensitivity, mild to severe dryness of the skin, redness, peeling, skin colour changes and an initial acne flare-up.  

Doctors’ supervision is required, with adjustments to dosages and frequency of application, and careful sun protection and moisturization on the part of the patient. 

👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

Heat, redness, sun sensitivity, swelling, and rebound are frequent and common, and last for hours to days

Swelling, bleeding and burns may also occur. 

If not appropriately managed and redness persists, patients may end up with long-term skin sensitivity and rosacea. 

👍👍👍

Minimal to zero heat, redness, or rebound, from the creators’ experience with thousands of patients. 

 

Pain 

👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

Mild stinging to deep throbbing pain. 

Requires painkillers, sedatives, or even local to regional anesthesia, depending on the depth of the peel.

May require cardiac monitoring.

👍

No pain. 

👎🏻

From the sensation of sparks to pain that requires pain relievers, sedation, or stronger anesthesia. 

👍

No pain. No anesthetics or sedatives required. 

The sensation is that of tingling as if from sparklers. 

Duration of procedure

👎🏻

From 45 up to 90 minutes

N.A. 

👎🏻

30-45 minutes. 

Laser-&-Light-to-Skin contact time may be operator-dependent, arbitrary and highly variable. 

👍👍

15 minutes,  including pre-and post-
procedural preps.
Laser-&-Light-to-Skin contact time is strictly limited to 30 seconds.  

Down-time after procedure due to immediate side-effects. 

👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

Patients need a ride home after medium and deep peels, due to sedation. 

Intense recovery time that includes medication, ointments, and total sun avoidance for 3-6 months.

 

Deep peels require permanent sun protection.

N.A. 

👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

Hours to days.

If sedatives or stronger anesthesia is used, customers may require a ride home.  

👍👍👍

NIL

Reduces pigmentation

Reduces pore size

Improves acne

Reduces acne scars

✔, but not for deep scars

Improves skin texture (suppleness, elasticity)

Reduces fine lines & wrinkles

Time to visible improvement 

👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

The significant duration of downtime defeats the immediate changes obtained from deeper peels.

Positive changes will take as long to appear as it takes for side-effects to subside.

👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻

Can take up to 3-4 weeks of daily application to achieve the same result as one treatment of Quiklaser’s QCS+HHH protocol. 

👎🏻

Can take up to a few days for redness and other side-effects to subside before the positive effects are appreciated.

👍👍👍

Immediate CGRS* effects and gratification with zero down-time in > 90% of cases.    

Results increase with frequent and multiple treatments, with no increase in side-effects. 

Frequent and multiple treatments are encouraged to experience the full potential of what QCS+HHH can do for you.  

 

*CGRS = Clarity, Glow, Radiance, Smoothness of skin 

 

As every individual’s skin is slightly different, we cannot guarantee that every single person will get the exact amount of glowing results experienced by over 9/10 of thousands of QCS+HHH recipients. However, we DO offer a nominal charge for up to 5 treatments before you decide on the full course of treatments in a package.

 

What You See Is What You Get.


Keep in mind that all treatment results from any effective modality might not be permanent. As you age, you’ll continue to acquire lines by squinting and smiling. New sun damage can also reverse your results and may cause changes in your skin color.

QCS VS Other Modalities

QCS (Quiklaser Cleaning System) is a system that uses laser and high-grade hyaluronic masks to rejuvenate the face and resolve many issues, from pigmentation to acne, acne scars, and sensitive skin. The laser sanitizes, stimulates collagen production, and lightens pigments while the masks Hydrate, dissipate Heat, and Heal (HHH).

We are confident that regular QCS treatment will give customers Clarity, Glow, Radiance, and Smoothness (CGRS). In addition, most will experience a reduction of aesthetic age from 3-5 years, and many will not need any make-up after 5-6 months of regular treatments. 

Below is a comparison of QCS with many other treatments available, including CO2  laser, Fraxel laser, micro needling, PICO, RF, IPL, and LED red light therapies. 

CO2 and Fraxel are ablative laser treatments that have been in existence for many years, but they can only be done by licensed doctors because the downtime and side effects require medical supervision. They result in downtime, redness, and sensitivity to sun and makeup. As a result, customers are usually given home care procedures to help with the healing.

IPL and LED are less advanced treatment modalities that are less consistent and replicable in producing results. 

Micro-needling is an iteration of treating the skin using dermabrasion. Medical students studying dermatology around 35 years ago will recall using microdermabrasion with sand particles or micro rubberized particles, commonly known as face scrub. 

The skin, as it ages, needs to ‘HURT TO HEAL’ or reboot and reformat to activate its intrinsic ability to repair, rejuvenate, and restore (RRR). 

Similar principles are applied medically across various forms for other kinds of ailments in humans. For instance, neurologists use electric shocks to treat schizophrenia, while orthopedic specialists use arthroscopic methods to scrap the joint surface to induce new cartilage formation. Neuroplasticity in dementia science is based on a principle called ‘stimulate to homeostasis’ – a steady state in the body’s function. 

From Fraxel to IPL to LED red light therapies, all the treatments listed above are centered on the idea that the body needs to ‘HURT TO HEAL.’  

In the aesthetic market over the past 1000 years, humans have experimented with all kinds of modalities to repair, rejuvenate, and reboot the skin to its original or optimal function and appearance.


Queen Cleopatra rejuvenated herself by using cow’s milk to bathe herself in her bathtub. This practice is considered effective because sour milk contains Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) and has peeling effects.

In dermatological science, the use of evidence-based, prescriptive modes ranges from the AAAs (Antibiotics, Anti-Androgens, Accutane) or lasers for repair and rejuvenation, as well as many invasive types of measures that involve downtime and possible immunological damage.

In the non-medical, non-prescription market, microdermabrasion and chemical acid peels like AHA products are all about packaging and presentation. Skincare products like peels and serums coming from Korea and Israel look enticing, but one must carefully evaluate the costs versus benefits and longer-term risks. Many of these products are nothing more than gimmicks, and it is prudent to be cautious when dealing with the skin, as any damage may be irreversible. 

While many invasive and ablative modalities may achieve faster results, the risks need to be considered. Often, they result in extended downtime and thins down the epidermis – the top layer of the skin. Subsequent treatments may likewise be problematic. 

There are risks of hyperpigmentation (PIH – Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation). There is also a minor risk of infection, and each procedure must be carefully supervised by doctors. 

Our QCS modality and treatment protocols take a conservative approach. The results are more sustainable in the longer term and are generally safer. From our years of experience of doing more than 1 million treatments, the safety and effectiveness of QCS have been proven through full scientific predictability, consistency, and replicability. 

Yes, it takes a longer time and thus requires some perseverance and patience. It may even take more than two months to achieve satisfactory results.

 

However, this should be the norm when treating the face. We need to be conservative. It’s like going to the gym — we start gradually but build up your strength and health in a more sustainable manner. 

 

Unlike many ablative and invasive treatments, the 1094 nm wavelength of a Q-Switch ND YAG  Laser machine will not damage your epidermis. Instead, the laser light goes directly into the dermis to stimulate collagen production.

Why Laser Facials Are the Best Solution for Controlling Acne

Both men and women could suffer from chronic acne. In fact, up to 85% of people are said to experience it at some point. Whether mild or severe, acne can be crippling to your self-esteem, particularly because it leaves both physical and emotional scars.

Maybe you’ve tried pharmaceuticals, chemical peels, and even birth control pills to try and clear your skin, to no avail. Thankfully, there is a new solution on the market — the laser facial

This article will discuss how the new technology of laser facials is revolutionizing the world of acne treatment.

What Causes Acne?

Acne occurs when the hair follicles on your skin are blocked up with oil and dead skin. Bacteria colonizes, populates and multiplies.  During such instances, the sebaceous glands — the glands that produce oil or sebum on the skin — generate too much sebum to lubricate the hair and skin. This sebum, along with dead skin cells, can eventually plug your follicle.

Then, these blocked pores will become inflamed, resulting in whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. This most often occurs on the face, chest, back, shoulders, and forehead — areas with the most sebaceous glands. 

Though scientists are still stumped as to why precisely these glands pump out sebum enough to block the pores, we do know that several factors can trigger acne, including the following:

1. Hormones

Hormones are believed to be the primary cause of acne. Specifically, it is largely attributed to rising levels of androgen, a hormone present in both males and females, particularly during puberty.

2. Genetics

Vulnerability to acne has been proven to be genetic, though experts are still unsure how it could be passed on. The unfortunate truth is that if you have one or more parents who suffer from acne, you have a much higher chance of developing it yourself.

3. Stress

It’s highly likely that emotional stress can contribute to the formation of acne. Stress produces cortisol, opens up the pores and allows more sebum to produce. It can alter your hormones and mess with your immune system, making it harder for your skin to heal and recover after an acne breakout.

4. Diet

Some studies have indicated that a carbohydrate-rich diet can potentially worsen acne, though further research is needed to solidify this claim. Also avoid food that may contain hormones such as milk and red meat.

Types of Acne Scars

As if acne wasn’t bad enough, you also have to deal with acne scarring. Though most marks left behind by healed acne will fade away with time, some acne spots can leave permanent scars. This is particularly true in the case of severe acne or cystic acne. 

Acne scarring is also more likely to occur if pimples and bumps are picked and squeezed during the healing process.

There are several types of acne scars, including:

1. Icepick Scars

Icepicks are narrow, indented scars that reach down into the dermis or the layer of skin beneath the visible epidermis. These scars are typically small and thin, like a mark made by an icepick, but they can also appear large and open in some cases. Icepick scars most commonly appear on the cheeks.

2. Boxcar Scars

Boxcar scars are rounded depressions with sharp vertical edges, usually found on the lower cheeks and jaw. Boxcar scars occur when your body cannot form enough collagen to repair the damage caused by acne.

3. Rolling Scars

Rolling scars are wave-like indentations that appear across the skin, and their edges are less defined than boxcar scars. The depth of these scars may vary and can make the skin look uneven.

4. Hypertrophic & Keloid Scars

Unlike the aforementioned scar types, hypertrophic and keloid scars are not indented. Instead, they are raised patches of scar tissue left behind by acne. They usually appear on the jawline, chest, back, and shoulders.

How Does Laser Facial Work?

Laser facial, or laser resurfacing treatment stimulates collagen at the Dermis ( second layer of skin ) and thus allows restoration of some connective issues that are broken. It is a process through which lasers are used to break up scar tissue on your skin.

Why Is Laser Facial Better Than Other Options?

The laser from your facial regenerates collagen and elastin in your skin without causing any damage. It reduces the pores and thus less sebum produced and less opportunities for bacteria to colonize. This encourages faster healing of acne scars and promotes bright, even, and healthy skin. Though laser facials do not ‘cure’ acne, they can stabilize your acne by keeping skin clean, clear, and controlled.

Book Your First Laser Facial Session Today

If you are wondering how to get rid of acne scars and soothe your skin to give it a more flawless look, you may want to try laser facial treatments. 

At Quiklaser, we use our patented QuikLaser Cleaning System to keep your face clean and clear by first keeping acne under control. To find out more about our acne treatment services, give us a call at +(604) 428-7845 or book an appointment online with one of our trained dermatologists.

A Closer Look at the Damaging Effects of Sun Exposure on Your Skin

Too much unprotected exposure to the sun is the main reason behind premature skin aging. This is one common truth we’ve all been taught since childhood. In the last 10 years, technological innovations in healthcare have made it possible to support this claim with numerous researches.

Skin pigmentation, melasma, lentigo, seborrheic keratosis—some of these notions might be new to you, but they’re all damaging consequences of exposure to the sun.

Down below, we describe these conditions for you along with how you can reduce your sun exposure as well as what to do in cases of skin pigmentation due to prolonged sun exposure. 

Read on to learn!

Skin Pigmentation

Skin pigmentation is one of the most common negative effects of prolonged and unprotected sun exposure.

Normally, skin pigmentation only affects the visual appearance causing irregular coloring of the skin such as brown patches or uneven skin tone. Deep penetration of the sun’s UV rays into the skin causes melanocytes (the pigment-producing cells) to produce melanin (the skin pigment) excessively and unevenly.

Melasma

Melasma is usually seen as a skin pigmentation issue. Its cause is primarily a hormonal imbalance in the body but sun exposure can activate it and only make it worse.

Melasma is most commonly found in women, and it is characterized by irregular brown or grey-brown skin patches that most often affect the face. A sunscreen regimen is the recommended first-line melasma treatment at home. Together with regular Laser Treatment and Masks, the melasma can be controlled.

Lentigo

Lentigo, also known as solar lentigo, is another skin pigmentation issue that occurs mostly in people over the age of 40.

Lentigo is a direct result of exposure to UV radiation from the sun and it is harmless. It is characterized by a small dark spot in the form of lentil with a clearly defined edge. These spots appear on sun-exposed areas of the skin and are normally harmless. However, if it is not treated it will get darker with age. Unlike Melasma, it is a structural issue and thus it will not come back once it is treated. New lentigo may appear elsewhere in the face if not enough care and maintenance is undertaken.

Seborrheic Keratosis

Seborrheic keratosis is a harmless skin growth. It appears mostly in adulthood. Although there’s no direct relation between it and sun exposure, there is evidence that these growths tend to appear on the sun-exposed spots.

Ways to Reduce Sun Exposure

Now, as never before, we have all the knowledge it takes to prevent and even reverse sun damage to enjoy a happy and fulfilling life. 

Here are the useful ways through which you can reduce unhealthy sun exposure:

  • Use a sunscreen regimen: Applying sunscreen regularly and consistently is the first-line prevention strategy for pigmentation issues related to unhealthy sun exposure. Sunscreen has proved to be especially useful in melasma treatment.
  • Avoid the sun during peak hours (10 am to 4 pm): The sun is usually the strongest during those hours.
  • Wear protective clothing: To avoid sun-damaged skin, always wear a hat that shades your face as well as tightly woven/knitted clothes that don’t let unhealthy UV lights permeate through the fabric
  • Wear sunglasses: Sunglasses can protect your eyes from ocular problems like cataracts. Choose sunglasses that block UVB and UVA lights.

Treatment Option

If skin pigmentation has occurred as a direct or indirect result of prolonged sun exposure, then laser treatment is recommended. Laser pigmentation removal is a very effective non-invasive laser treatment.

For any laser treatments, we recommend our professional team at Quiklaser. With over 30 years of clinical experience, we are revolutionizing skincare with exclusive non-invasive laser facials.

Want to Consult a Professional?

Are you suffering from any of the above-mentioned conditions and want to consult a professional for the treatment? Look no further as we are here for you!

We, at Quiklaser, offer an innovative Quick Cleaning System (QCS) which breaks down melanin pigments in the skin. This procedure uses a safe and scientific approach, allowing your body to naturally remove these broken-down particles from the system and thereby, lightening and reducing the pigmentation. 

Call us today at (604) 428-7845 or book an appointment with us by filling out our online form

Let us heal you!