Ask Dr Lam Bee Lan – Laser Myths

Busting Myths about Laser Treatments

These days it’s all about having options. With that, comes dilemma and confusion. A simple 15 minute laser treatment takes hours and days of research on multiple channels – reading up on clinics who offer laser treatments online, finding out more from friends who have done laser treatments, calling up clinics to find out which laser treatment is available. Some say they love the results from their laser treatment, others are on the fence. So many conflicting opinions coupled with information overload, you may want to hear it from someone who uses laser devices. Our medical director – Dr Lam Bee Lan, busts some myths about laser treatments and saves you some time researching. 

Q: My last laser treatment removed 50% of my pigmentations. Does applying a higher laser frequency this time help to eliminate all my pigmentation today?

A: This is a request that I often encounter in the clinic. In fact, strengthening the energy level of the laser does not mean that it can cure dark spots more quickly and effectively. Excessive energy may irritate your chromophores and cause hyper-pigmentation. I will provide a more suitable laser and energy depending on the type of pigmentation.

Q: I did laser 20 years ago to remove my pigmentation in one session. I am 45 years old and the pigmentation has reappeared again, can I expect the same result now?

A: This is another common question. In fact, I wish that only one laser is needed to solve all my patients’ problems. Patients need to understand that 20 years ago, the spots on the face may be freckles when they are younger. As freckles are a kind of pigmentation on the epidermis, they are usually removed by one or two sessions of lasers. What’s more, being a lot younger 20 years ago, the recovery period of the skin would be much faster. However, after 20 years in their 40s, pigmentation may be freckles, melasma or hori’s nevus. Melasma or hori’s nevus are the spots on deeper skin. This type of pigmentation usually requires multiple treatments to be effective.

Q: I am already 65 years old, I have wrinkles, saggy skin, eye bags and dark eye circles. I don’t want to do any injections, please use lasers to help me get rid of all these problems.

This is the same principle. Again, I wish that there was a laser device that can solve all my patients’ problems such as wrinkles, fine lines, volume loss and saggy skin. But we must understand that as we grow older, our facial volume will deplete, facial muscles will become looser and the bones and skin will age, causing wrinkles, fine lines, and the face will begin to sag and skin will become loose. Therefore, it is impossible to solve all of these problems by using lasers alone. Patients need to know that fine lines and wrinkles will require Botulinum toxin injections. To replace facial volume loss, we’ll need to inject fillers such as hyaluronic acid fillers or collagen boosters. Therefore, it is not possible to solve all problems by a single treatment such as lasers. This is a myth.

Q: When there are more scabs on my skin, the result will be better.

A: In fact, more scabs does not mean the result will be better. For pigmentation on the epidermis such as freckles and sunspot, there will be some scabs after laser treatment. After these scabs fall off, the pigmentation and spots will be reduced. As for pigmentation on the dermis, such as melasma or the hori’s nevus, sometimes it does not scar after laser treatment. This does not mean that the result will not be effective.

Watch our video on getting rid of pigmentation here.

Conclusion

It would be great if we have got one simple solution such as laser treatments, to solve all of our skin and aging woes. However, it is highly unlikely that laser treatments are used alone. More often than not, lasers are combined – either with another laser device, other energy based devices or injectables, in order to achieve a holistic anti-aging approach when treating pigmentation, fine lines, saggy skin and more. 

We hope that debunking these myths about laser treatments have helped you gain better clarity and understanding on the laser treatments. Treating skin conditions such as melasma can be a complex and lengthy process so it is best to work with a trusted and certified doctor when you embark on this journey. Reach out to us if you would like to have an in-depth consultation to find a suitable treatment for your condition. 

To find out more about our treatments, please contact the doctor or therapist at Ageless Medical.

Ageless Medical
Tel ☎️: +65 6734 4007
WhatsApp (Call/Message) : +65 8181 0680
Email 📧: enquiry@iamageless.com.sg