Plasma Ion Therapy
What is Plasma Ion Therapy?
Plasma Ion Therapy is a very safe, minimally invasive and effective type of treatment that utilizes plasma technology. Plasma consists of ionized particles which are charged. Plasma Ion Therapy uses plasma to modify the skin by sublimation (turning the surface into gas). This beam generates heat and causes sublimation of the outermost part of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin), without damage to the surrounding or deeper structures of the skin. In doing so, the tissue underneath is protected from heat whilst the surface of the skin contracts and heals in order to effect results. Healing is quick and scar-free, improving skin elasticity and resulting in smoothness. Plasma Ion Therapy is a very precise treatment which gives good correction with minimal downtime. The results are long lasting.
Plasma Ion Therapy is still a relatively new treatment.
Plasma Ion Therapy is a very safe, minimally invasive and effective type of treatment that utilizes plasma technology. Plasma consists of ionized particles which are charged. Plasma Ion Therapy uses plasma to modify the skin by sublimation (turning the surface into gas). This beam generates heat and causes sublimation of the outermost part of the epidermis (outer layer of the skin), without damage to the surrounding or deeper structures of the skin. In doing so, the tissue underneath is protected from heat whilst the surface of the skin contracts and heals in order to effect results. Healing is quick and scar-free, improving skin elasticity and resulting in smoothness. Plasma Ion Therapy is a very precise treatment which gives good correction with minimal downtime. The results are long lasting.
Plasma Ion Therapy is still a relatively new treatment.
Areas Commonly Treated:
UPPER / LOWER Blepharoplasty (eye bag/eye lid)
Wrinkle reduction / saggy or folded skin such as on the neck and sides of the face
Perioral lines / smokers lines
Scar tissue including acne scar treatment
Wrinkle reduction / saggy or folded skin such as on the neck and sides of the face
Perioral lines / smokers lines
Scar tissue including acne scar treatment
The Treatment
Local anaesthetic cream is applied to the treatment area, after which the area is treated with the appropriate Plasma Ion Therapy device. Immediately, small brown patches will appear where the skin has been treated and in the case of wrinkle treatment, the area will show some immediate contraction. In certain cases, injected local anaesthetic (Lidocaine) will be used to give a more profound numbness. We will advise you of which anaesthetic is best suited to your procedure.
The brown spots are known as carbon crusts, which take around 5-10 days to fall off. They will look burnt and brown before falling off on their own. In this time, you will be instructed to apply Aquaphor. You must not apply any other skin-care product(s) or makeup. For 2-3 weeks after this there will be redness, flaking and itching of the treated area.
In the treatment of the eyelids (Blepharoplasty), you should expect swelling which may last up to 7 days. The eye is a very delicate area and different patients will react and swell differently - it is difficult to predetermine the extent of this. You may well be very swollen after treatment, and in the case of eyelid treatment, the extent of the swelling can be severe for several days.
Multiple treatment sessions may be required and your practitioner will inform you of this. Treatments will be scheduled 6-8 weeks apart, and a maximum of three treatment sessions are used to obtain a result.
The brown spots are known as carbon crusts, which take around 5-10 days to fall off. They will look burnt and brown before falling off on their own. In this time, you will be instructed to apply Aquaphor. You must not apply any other skin-care product(s) or makeup. For 2-3 weeks after this there will be redness, flaking and itching of the treated area.
In the treatment of the eyelids (Blepharoplasty), you should expect swelling which may last up to 7 days. The eye is a very delicate area and different patients will react and swell differently - it is difficult to predetermine the extent of this. You may well be very swollen after treatment, and in the case of eyelid treatment, the extent of the swelling can be severe for several days.
Multiple treatment sessions may be required and your practitioner will inform you of this. Treatments will be scheduled 6-8 weeks apart, and a maximum of three treatment sessions are used to obtain a result.
How Should You Prepare?
Please advise your clinician of any medication you may be taking. You must tell us if you are taking Antibiotics, blood thinners or Isotretinoin. We also need to know if you suffer with cold sores. You may not receive treatment if you have active infections or open wounds on the area for treatment.
You must be prepared to take time off work. After treatment, you will be swollen for several days. You will also have black/brown crusting on the treated area which will persist for up to two weeks after treatment. It will not look great and we suggest you prepare for this by taking time off work and informing your friends and family that you are having treatment as you will not be able to “get away with it”.
You must be prepared to take time off work. After treatment, you will be swollen for several days. You will also have black/brown crusting on the treated area which will persist for up to two weeks after treatment. It will not look great and we suggest you prepare for this by taking time off work and informing your friends and family that you are having treatment as you will not be able to “get away with it”.
What Should You Do After The Treatment?
Aftercare is as important as your treatment. If you do not perform good aftercare your results will be severely affected.
You will notice little crusts on the treated area. You must not pick or scratch these, otherwise you will scar.
You must wash the area with very mild soap (Cetaphil) twice daily, then apply antiseptic (Bacitracin) as directed. The area should then be patted dry with a clean towel. Thereafter apply Aquaphor to the treated area.
You must protect the treated area from sunlight, so the use of a high factor sunscreen (at least SPF30) for at least two months after treatment is mandatory. You must not use sunbeds in this time. You may exercise, swim and apply your normal skincare when all the crusts have come off and the wound has settled down.
The crusts can crack and ooze - if this happens, do not pick them. Apply your aftercare products (Bacitracin and Aquaphor) and leave the area to heal.
Smoking can cause problems with the blood flow to wounds and treatment areas. We advise you to quit.
You must not use products other than those we tell you to apply in the healing period. This includes moisturizers, shower gels and perfume to the area that has received treatment. Do not cover the area with plasters, it will scar!
Failure to comply with aftercare instructions can result in diminished results and poor outcome, incomplete healing, skin textural changes, scarring or pigmentation. Do not go off-piste or play jazz with your aftercare - you may think that it is better if you don’t apply the aftercare products or follow your instructions but you will get a bad result. If you are worried at all or need our reassurance then you must call us at (818) 216-6773 before deciding to change your aftercare protocols!
Your review appointments are mandatory. These will be scheduled 7 days and then 14 days after your treatment. You must attend these. Failure to attend your follow up appointments means that we cannot assess, reassure and possibly help you should you need it.
You will notice little crusts on the treated area. You must not pick or scratch these, otherwise you will scar.
You must wash the area with very mild soap (Cetaphil) twice daily, then apply antiseptic (Bacitracin) as directed. The area should then be patted dry with a clean towel. Thereafter apply Aquaphor to the treated area.
You must protect the treated area from sunlight, so the use of a high factor sunscreen (at least SPF30) for at least two months after treatment is mandatory. You must not use sunbeds in this time. You may exercise, swim and apply your normal skincare when all the crusts have come off and the wound has settled down.
The crusts can crack and ooze - if this happens, do not pick them. Apply your aftercare products (Bacitracin and Aquaphor) and leave the area to heal.
Smoking can cause problems with the blood flow to wounds and treatment areas. We advise you to quit.
You must not use products other than those we tell you to apply in the healing period. This includes moisturizers, shower gels and perfume to the area that has received treatment. Do not cover the area with plasters, it will scar!
Failure to comply with aftercare instructions can result in diminished results and poor outcome, incomplete healing, skin textural changes, scarring or pigmentation. Do not go off-piste or play jazz with your aftercare - you may think that it is better if you don’t apply the aftercare products or follow your instructions but you will get a bad result. If you are worried at all or need our reassurance then you must call us at (818) 216-6773 before deciding to change your aftercare protocols!
Your review appointments are mandatory. These will be scheduled 7 days and then 14 days after your treatment. You must attend these. Failure to attend your follow up appointments means that we cannot assess, reassure and possibly help you should you need it.
Possible Risks and Complications
Plasma Ion Therapy is a relatively safe treatment. After the initial swelling and crust formation, both of which is normal, there will be pink “baby” skin which will initially be itchy and then slowly achieve normal coloring.
The risks include:
The risks include:
- Purpura (red-purple discoloration, bruising) Swelling (this is profuse and may last up to 7 days, especially on treatment of the eyes)
- Scabbing & Crusting (so-called Carbon-crust, which usually resolved within 5-10 days but can take significantly longer)
- Skin Color and/or Textural Changes (skin can remain pink for up to 4 weeks)
- Hyperpigmentation/hypopigmentation (darkening/lightening of the skin; transient or long term)
- Scarring (rare, possibly permanent if the proper after care instruction are not upheld).
- Reactions to local anaesthetic cream/gel
- Infections at the treatment site
- Reactivation of cold sores (around the mouth) - should you suffer with cold sores please let your clinician know
Things To Consider Before Starting With Treatment
Plasma Ion Therapy is a new treatment and the procedure is relatively safe. However, complications can occur in the aftercare period if proper care is not taken.
You must take it easy for two weeks. You will need to take time off work and the scabs on the treated area look brown and scabby for up to two weeks, which can look a bit scary. You will not be able to cover these fully and this is not a no downtime procedure.
If your eyes feel gritty after the procedure, please make sure you rinse them thoroughly with running water and get in touch with us.
If you have your upper eyelids treated, you will also get swelling of the lower eyelid postoperatively. You will look very, very swollen and it can potentially take a whole week for this to resolve. This is in line with normal healing. We suggest you take an adequate amount of time off work and warn your friends and family that you will be looking less than great in the healing period.
Please do not go decorating your house, cleaning your house, on holiday, on sunbeds, swimming, or going out doing sports as this will disrupt your healing and irritate the skin. If you pick the scabs they will weep. If they are weeping, please continue with the wound care and disrupt the area as little as possible.
Plasma Ion Therapy treatment is not for the faint-hearted. The results are fantastic, but there is significant downtime. It’s not no surgery, it’s SOFT surgery. Please do not be under any impression that it will make all your skin problems disappear.
You must take it easy for two weeks. You will need to take time off work and the scabs on the treated area look brown and scabby for up to two weeks, which can look a bit scary. You will not be able to cover these fully and this is not a no downtime procedure.
If your eyes feel gritty after the procedure, please make sure you rinse them thoroughly with running water and get in touch with us.
If you have your upper eyelids treated, you will also get swelling of the lower eyelid postoperatively. You will look very, very swollen and it can potentially take a whole week for this to resolve. This is in line with normal healing. We suggest you take an adequate amount of time off work and warn your friends and family that you will be looking less than great in the healing period.
Please do not go decorating your house, cleaning your house, on holiday, on sunbeds, swimming, or going out doing sports as this will disrupt your healing and irritate the skin. If you pick the scabs they will weep. If they are weeping, please continue with the wound care and disrupt the area as little as possible.
Plasma Ion Therapy treatment is not for the faint-hearted. The results are fantastic, but there is significant downtime. It’s not no surgery, it’s SOFT surgery. Please do not be under any impression that it will make all your skin problems disappear.