Plasma energy remodels the skin and stimulates new collagen and elastin production
It can be performed as one single high energy treatment, or 3 low energy treatments
High energy treatments require 7-14 days recovery, and low energy treatments require 5-7 days recovery
What is plasma skin regeneration?
Plasma skin regeneration (PSR) is the latest technique in resurfacing and rejuvenating skin. Unlike lasers which use light energy to target a specific component of the skin such as water, haemoglobin (blood), or melanin (skin pigment), PSR uses pulses of ionised inert nitrogen gas to alter structures below the surface of the skin, creating unique conditions for continuing regeneration and improvement in wrinkles, acne scarring, skin texture, tone, and pigmentation. This technique preserves the skin's outer layers, which act as a protective 'biological dressing' until new skin regenerates. Working below the surface of the skin, PSR creates the right conditions and natural growth factors for generating new skin and creating new collagen for continuous improvement in wrinkles, acne scars, skin tone and texture. It is TGA approved for these purposes. Clinical studies show continued improvements for as long as a year after treatment.
Plasma skin regeneration involves the use of molecular nitrogen that is stimulated by an electric field produced by radio frequency energy to form ionised plasma. Plasma then flushes oxygen from the treatment area, which thermally stimulates the treated area without causing any actual 'burn'. Unlike traditional laser resurfacing or deep chemical peels, the skin remains in place and acts as a biological dressing for the treated area. This reduces the post-treatment care significantly by not creating an open wound that decreases the risk of infection and scarring.
Plasma skin regeneration treatments strongly stimulate new collagen and elastin production within the skin, and this induces changes to help reverse wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, and excessive skin pigmentation.
What can be treated?
The most common problems that are treated are;
sun damage - usually a full face treatment
wrinkles - a spot treatment can be performed around the eyes and mouth, or a full face treatment can be performed
pigmentation - usually superficial pigmentation only treated (not hormonal pigmentation such as melasma/cholasma)
acne scarring - a full face or spot treatment can be performed.
skin tightening - there is new collagen formation and skin tightening as a result. Particularly effective around the eyes.
Not only can the face be treated, but the neck and hands can also be treated. Lower energy levels are used for the hands and neck as the skin here is usually finer than the face.
The following video is a demonstration of plasma skin regeneration treatment performed by Dr. Tess Przekwas and Dr. Gavin Chan at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute. The patient is a nurse at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute.
Plasma skin rejuvenation is suitable for skin affected by sun damage, wrinkles (especially around the eyes), acne scarring, and superficial pigmentation. It is also excellent for tightening skin. It does not treat active acne, capillaries, rosacea, or deep hormonal pigmentation. These conditions are best treated with the other lasers found at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute.
It can be used to treat most skin types although those with darker skin types may not be suitable.
It is not advisable for those who are pregnant, breast feeding, immunodeficient, or have had treatment with Roaccutane in the past year. A history of keloid (thick/raised) scarring is also a contraindication.
Case Study
This lady in her fifties presented to The Victorian Cosmetic Institute with concerns about her skin. She had some sun damage and mild wrinkling. She was treated with PSR, firstly passing over the full face with 3.0 joules and then double passing over the wrinkled areas with 3.5 joules. The recovery time was 1 week.
What precautions do I need to take before treatment?
Sunscreen should be used for at least 2 weeks prior to treatment, and sun exposure should be avoided before and after the treatment.
Anti-viral medication may be prescribed if you have past history of cold sores. Your doctor may prescribe these to you even if you don't have a history of cold sores. For high energy treatments, your doctor may also prescribe you a course of antibiotics.
High energy treatments: You will generally need to spend half a day at The Victorian Cosmetic Institute. Anaesthetic cream is applied for around 2 hours prior to treatment, under glad-wrap. This numbs the face for the procedure. Usually, intravenous sedation is given for the procedure so that you will be comfortable. In addition, anaesthetic nerve block injections are given to help numb the face further. Most people tolerate the procedure well with the above preparation.
The face is divided into sections with a marker, and each section is systematically covered with the plasma pulses. Usually treatment takes around45 minutes for a full face and 10 - 15 minute for peri-oral (around mouth) or peri-orbital (around eyes) only.
After treatment, your face may appear very red and sun burnt. We usually allow you to rest for an hour or two before leaving to let the effects of the sedation wear off.
Low energy treatments: For low energy treatments the treatment is similar except no sedation is required. For low energy treatments, only anaesthetic cream is required rather than injections. The overall treatment is of much lesser intensity and generally takes much less time to recover from.
What happens after treatment?
High energy treatments: For high energy treatments, your face will appear red and swollen immediately after treatment. You may feel a lot of heat energy in the treated area for the first day. You will not be able to wash your face for the first 24 hours after treatment. Over the next 5 to 7 days, the treated areas will then bronze and eventually peel. Cosmedix Rescue Balm is usually applied to the face twice a day until the peeling process is complete. It is very important that you treat your face very delicately for at least 10 days. A mineral make-up can be worn after 10 days. You will also need to use diluted vinegar (1 teaspoon of white vinegar in 200mL of water) to dab or spray on your face to reduce any itchiness that might be present for high energy treatments. The total downtime for a high energy treatment is 7-14 days. There also may be some residual redness after a high energy treatment for approximately one month.
Low energy treatments: For low energy treatments, there is significantly less recovery required. The face appears only mildly red and swollen post-procedure. Some peeling occurs after 4-5 days, and mineral make-up can be worn after this time.
For all treatments, sun protection is essential after treatment. Daily sunscreen use is important, and direct sunlight should be avoided.
The total downtime for a low energy treatment is about 5-7 days, whereas the downtime for a higher energy treatment is around 2 weeks. This is the period of time which it takes the skin to return to relative normality.
Are the results permanent?
The results gained from PSR treatments are permanent. Your skin will still be exposed to the environment and will be subject to the effects of the sun and gravity. It does not stop the ageing process, but helps in reversing any skin damage, wrinkles, pigmentation, and acne scarring present.
How much does plasma skin regeneration cost?
The cost of plasma skin regeneration depends on the energy level used and the area treated. A full face, high energy treatment costs $8500. A full face, low energy treatment costs $2500, $2000, and $1500 for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd/subsequent sessions respectively. Usually 3 low energy treatments or 1 high energy treatment are required. High energy regional treatments of the eye area and around the mouth cost $2750 and $2500 respectively. All prices are inclusive of GST.
What is the difference between plasma skin regeneration and Fraxel?
Plasma skin regeneration, unlike Fraxel, is not a laser, rather it is a unique technology using plasma energy instead. Plasma skin regeneration at high energy levels (PSR3) tends to be a much more effective treatment than even several Fraxel treatments for problems such as wrinkles, especially around the mouth and eyes, and sun damaged skin. The downtime of one high energy plasma treatment is longer however than a single Fraxel treatment, however, the accumulated downtime of several Fraxel treatments may be similar. Both of these technologies work on acne scarring.
Why should I choose The Victorian Cosmetic Institute as my provider of Plasma Skin Regeneration?
As one of the pioneers of PSR treatments in Australia, our doctors have a vast amount of experience in the use of PSR and have performed a large number of treatments. We take time to explain to you the pros and cons of treatment for your skin, and importantly, we give you appropriate advice in preparing your skin for the procedure.
On the day of the treatment, we also spend a large amount of time preparing you for the treatment by re-explaining the procedure, and taking time to prepare and anaesthetise the skin for treatment to ensure that your treatment is as comfortable as possible.
The first step is simply contacting us for your initial plasma skin rejuvenation consultation, where we will discuss with you what is a realistic and achievable outcome, and what to expect from your 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).