Gemini Laser - Laser Skin Rejuvenation & pigmentation treatment

Quick facts

The Gemini laser emits two different wavelengths, 532nm and 1064nm, each targeted different skin conditions/problems
The laser wavelength is highly attracted to a particular target, but not attracted to the surrounding normal skin, and is therefore very specific in its treatment.
The 532nm wavelength is targeted to treating broken capillaries, rosacea, freckles, port wine stains, seborrhoiec keratosis, skin tags, sunspots and pigmentation.
The 1064nm wavelength is targeted to treating spider leg veins, deeper facial veins, venous lakes, and for laser hair removal.

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What is the Gemini Laser?

There are a number of medical lasers, each designed to target different problems. This page will discuss the Gemini laser, which has two frequencies for the treatment of skin conditions, namely, 532 nanometres (KTP), and 1064 nanometres (Nd:YAG). The light of KTP laser will be selectively attracted to the blood in capillaries and the melanin in skin, making it an ideal laser for treating broken capillaries, rosacea, freckles, sunspots and pigmentation. The Nd:YAG laser is a deeper penetrating laser that can be used to treat spider leg veins, deeper facial veins, and to selectively remove hair follicles for laser hair removal.

What can be treated?

The Gemini Laser at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute can selectively treat a variety of skin problems with minimal or no disruption to the surrounding normal skin;

pigmentation, sunspots, freckles, sun-damaged skin (532nm KTP)
capillaries, and rosacea (532nm KTP)
removal of some raised spots e.g seborrhoiec keratosis, dermatosis papulosa nigra, skin tags (532nm KTP)
permanent hair reduction even in darker skin patients (1064nm Nd:YAG)
treatment of pseudofolliculitis or ingrown hairs (1064nm Nd:YAG)
treatment of leg veins, capillaries (1064nm Nd:YAG)
treatment of venous lakes (1064nm Nd:YAG)
port wine stains (532nm KTP)

The Gemini Laser cannot treat moles or skin cancers.

It is most commonly used on the ; face, neck, chest, back, and hands.

Pigmentation

The Gemini laser treats pigmentation with the 532 nm KTP wavelength. The energy from this light is selectively absorbed by the melanin that causes pigmentation. This causes a photo-thermal injury to the melanin, and this leads to its disruption and subsequent removal by the body's immune system. It generally takes 1 to 3 treatments to lighten or remove unwanted pigmentation with the Gemini laser. With most laser pigmentation removal, the pigmentation becomes darker for approximately one week and then flakes off. The treatments are spaced at least 1 month apart. There is also usually some redness and mild swelling in the treatment areas for a few days after treatment.

Skin pigmentation in most cases is better treated with our q-switched lasers, ie the Medlite and Ruby lasers, that emit much shorter and higher energy pulses than the Gemini laser. However, the Gemini laser does have advantages, especially in those with olive or darker skins which are more prone to complications with lasers. For example, the treatment of freckles or sunspots on Asian skin, olive, or darker skins is best performed with the Gemini laser treatment as it has contact cooling that protects the skin overlying the pigmentation and in comparison to the q-switched lasers has less risk of damage to the skin.

The Gemini laser's 532nm wavelength does not penetrate very deeply, and therefore pigmentation that is too deep for the laser may not be treatable - for example, melasma, a type of pigmentation caused by the pill or pregnancy, is difficult to treat as it spans many layers of the skin. In some cases it may be appropriate to use the other lasers available at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute to remove pigment. The Q-switched Nd:YAG (Medlite) or Ruby laser, which we usually use to remove tattoos, is excellent for deeper skin pigmentation removal.

Click here for more information about skin pigmentation

Case Study 1

This 37 year asian female presented with concerns about her sunspots/freckles. She had one treatment with the Gemini's 532nm wavelength. Recovery time was 7 days where the pigmentation became darker, scabbed and fell off. Note that the moles were not treated and cannot be treated by the Gemini laser.

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Treatment of raised spots

Some raised spots or skin lumps and bumps on the face, neck and body can be treated with the Gemini laser. Note that moles (naevi) and skin cancers cannot be treated with the Gemini laser.

Seborrhoiec keratosis, which are raised brown spots that look like a 'stuck-on sultana' can be treated with the Gemini laser's 532nm wavelength. A very high energy setting is used to ablate the raised tissues. The lesion becomes grey and then scabs and flakes off. Usually 1-2 sessions are required for this treatment.

Deramtosis papulosa nigra are raised dark brown/black spots usually seen on the cheeks of olive or darker skinned patients. They look like 'stuck-on coco pops'. Again a very high energy setting is used on the 532nm wavelength which ablates these lesions.

Skin tags are skin coloured raised spots usually found on the neck, underarms, and face and can also be removed with the 532nm wavelength in a similar manner.

Raised skin lesions can also be removed with radiowave surgery or the erbium laser.

Case Study 2

This patient presents with a number of seborrhoiec keratois removed from her cheeks with the Gemini laser. She required only one treatment. A mole on her upper lip was excised surgically.

Gemini Laser Case Study - Before

Case study 3

This female in her fourties presented with skin tags on her neck that she wanted removed. The Gemini laser's 532nm wavelength was used to remove these skin tags, and the results are shown here after one treatment. There were a few skin tags remaining and she proceeded to have another treatment to remove the remaining lesions.

Capillaries and rosacea

The Gemini laser treats facial capillaries and rosacea with the 532 nm KTP laser. The energy from this light is attracted to oxyhaemoglobin, a constituent of blood. This closes off any superficial blood vessels and reduces capillaries, redness, and flushing. Usually 1 to 3 treatments are required at monthly intervals. Because of its specificity to oxyhaemoglobin, the KTP laser is one of the best lasers for facial capillaries. There usually is some facial swelling after the procedure, and this may last for 3 days. There may also be an increased amount of redness (temporary) following the treatment.

Case Study 4

This man presented with a large number of broken capillaries over his face, including a cherry angioma on his right cheek. The after picture shows his face after two treatments with the gemini laser with the 532nm wavelength which is attracted to oxyhaemoglobin (blood).

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Case Study 5

This young patient presents to The Victorian Cosmetic Institute with a facial capillary known as a spider haemangioma. Immediately after a few pulses with the Gemini laser, the spider haemangioma has been closed off, and no longer fills with blood. Click here for more information about capillaries and rosacea

Case study 6

This man presented to The Victorian Cosmetic Institute with concerns about the broken capillaries on his nose that was making his nose appear a different colour. He has previously had a lot of sun exposure. After one treatment with the Gemini laser he improved the above 'after' picture. He subsequently had another Gemini laser treatment to remove the remaining vessels.

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Laser hair removal/treatment of pseudofolliculitis (in-grown hairs)

Long term hair reduction can be achieved with the 1064nm Nd: YAG laser. The laser is selectively absorbed by the melanin present in the hair follicle. As a result, very fine, light or grey hairs can not be treated. The laser induces death of the hair follicle stem cell which can lead to permanent hair reduction - as opposed to plucking or waxing which only temporarily removes the hair. Generally 6 to 8 treatments are required at 4 to 8 week intervals. The amount of hair reduction achieved is in the order of 60 to 80%. One of the main advantages of the Nd:YAG laser is that it is the safest hair removal laser for darker skins. It is also particularly suited to the treatment of ingrown facial and neck hairs.

Click here to learn more about laser hair removal

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Treatment of spider leg veins and deeper facial veins

The 1064nm Nd:YAG is used in this circumstance to reduce the presence of small spider leg and deeper facial veins. The 1064nm wavelength penetrates through the skin and the energy from this laser is absorbed by the haemoglobin in the leg/facial veins and this closes it down. This wavelength penetrates the skin deeply, and reaches targets than cannot be reached with the 532nm wavelength. Note that only spider leg veins and not varicose veins are treatable with this laser. It generally takes 1 to 2 treatments spaced at montly intervals to improve the appearance of leg/facial veins. Mostly, these veins disappear immediately after treatment, but some can be partially disrupted and take a few weeks to reduce.

Click here to learn more about the treatment of leg veins

Case Study 7

This 28 year old female presented with concerns about her deeper facial veins that were present in both cheeks and more visible if she distended her cheek with her tongue. She had 2 treatments with the Gemini laser's 1064nm wavelength to help shut down these veins. There was some mild redness that persisted for 2 days. There were no complications from the procedure.

Treatment of venous lakes

Venous lakes are blue to violet lesions that are usually found on the lower lip or ears. They are a dilation of the underlying veins, and can be usually treated in one session with the Gemini laser's 1064nm wavelength. A distinct popping sound is heard when the venous lake is treated.Back to top

Port wine stain treatments

Port wine stains are congenital vascular malformations in the skin that lead to a reddish/purple discolouration of the skin. The 532nm wavelength from the Gemini laser is highly attracted to the haemoglobin (blood) in this birthmark. This shuts down the abnormal vessels, and reduces the discolouration of the skin. Usually multiple treatments are required, and commonly, complete resolution is not achieved.

Click here to learn more about port wine stains and their treatment

What is the cost of Gemini laser treatment?

Prices depend on the area treated and the problem treated. Also depending on the condition treated, a Medicare rebate may apply along with the Medicare Safety Net (see more information below).

The prices per session for treatment are;

Vascular laser treatments with Gemini laser

Full face	per session	$1950
Neck only	per session	$1200
Neck and decolletage	per session	$2100
Decolletage	per session	$1200
Full face, neck and decolletage	per session	$3600
Full face and neck	per session	$2750
Cheeks and nose	per session	$1300
Cheeks only	per session	$1150
Chin only	per session	$450
Full nose	per session	$600
Capillaries around the side of the nose	per session	$300
Birthmark covering less than 1/4 of the face	per session	$875
Birthmark covering from 1/4 to 1/2 of the face	per session	$1550
Birthmark covering from 1/2 to full face	per session	$1950
Campbell de morgan spots	per session	depends on number of spots and treatment areas
Minimum laser price	per session	300

Pigmentation laser treatments with Gemini laser

Full face	per session	1500
Neck only	per session	950
Decolletage only	per session	950
Neck and decolletage	per session	1650
Full face, neck and decolletage	per session	2850
Full face and neck	per session	2150
Cheeks and nose	per session	1100
Birthmark covering less than 1/4 of the face	per session	750
Birthmark covering from 1/4 to 1/2 of the face	per session	1200
Birthmark covering 1/2 to full face	per session	1500
Forehead	per session	660
Back of hands	per session	495
Minimum laser price (for small treatments only)	per session	250

Combined pigmentation and vascular treatments

Full face	per session	2500
Neck only	per session	1750
Neck and decolletage	per session	3100
Decolletage	per session	1750
Full face, neck and decolletage	per session	4500
Full face and neck	per session	3750
Cheeks and nose	per session	1850
Cheeks only	per session	1700
Minimum laser price (for small treatments only)	per session	350

* note if more than one laser is used on these areas, e.g Gemini + ruby laser, then a 10% surcharge applies.

There is a Medicare rebate for Gemini laser treatment of facial redness,capillaries, port wine stains, and particular types of brown spots. There are certain criteria that must be met to obtain the rebate e.g facial/neck capillaries must be visible from 3 metres. An example is for the treatment of broken capillaries/redness on the face; for those qualifying, there is a $117.05 rebate from Medicare for each treatment with the Gemini laser that can be claimed for 6 treatments in one year. Also treatments that attract a Medicare rebate also count towards the Medicare Safety Net. Once the threshold on the Medicare Safety Net is passed, 80% of the out-of-pocket fee is refunded to you by Medicare.

The following is an example of the Medicare Safety Net, once the threshold has been exceeded

You Pay	You receive from Medicare
Medicare schedule fee $127.25	Rebate on schedule fee $127.25
Doctor's charge $1950	Safety Net rebate $1560
Total fee paid after rebates $262.25	Total rebate $1687.25

Therefore total out-of-pocket fee is $75.59* per session

* Please note that this example assumes that the Medicare Safety Net threshold has been exceeded. Also the threshold will vary for various individuals or families. Please check with Medicare if you have any uncertainties as to your potential rebates.

The cost of treatment of Port wine stains with the Gemini laser depends on the size of the area affected. Again, there is a Medicare rebate associated with this treatment, and the amount of this rebate will also depend on the size of the area treated. The Medicare Safety Net also applies for Port wine stains.

Some types of pigmentation treatment with the Gemini laser also attract a Medicare rebate and contribute to the Safety Net, but it will depend on the type of pigmentation treated.

Laser hair removal prices depend also on the area treated. Laser hair removal is not eligible for Medicare rebates. For more information on laser hair removal and prices click here.

Why choose The Victorian Cosmetic Institute to perform your laser treatment?

At The Victorian Cosmetic Institute, we use the latest laser technology to perform your treatment. The Gemini laser is an extremely safe and effective laser for the removal of pigmentation, capillaries, unwanted hair (it is the safest hair removal machine for darker skins), and leg veins. Due to its specificity, it can be a lot safer and effective than other IPL systems/treatments.

Our doctors are also highly experienced in laser treatments, and will be able to give you the best advice for your treatment.

The first step is simply contacting us for your initial laser skin rejuvenation consultation, where we will discuss with you what is a realistic and achievable outcome, and what to expect from your laser treatment.

Making that first phone call about any cosmetic procedure can be a confronting task - many of our patients have preferred filling out our online enquiry form. We can then contact you with an understanding of the results you are hopeful of achieving and ensure the treatment is appropriate.

It's as easy as clicking either of the buttons below and completing the provided form.

Otherwise, you can phone us directly on (03) 8850 0655 (Templestowe) or (03) 9707 0888 (Berwick).

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