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Plasmafibroblast

What is plasmafibroblast?

Plasmafibroblast or plasma lifting is technology to tighten skin and reduce excess skin without the need for surgery. The term ‘soft surgery’ is often used to describe plasma treatment because it delivers tightening results on skin which otherwise can only be achieved via ablative laser or surgery.

Plasma technology converts electrical energy into energised nitrogen gas to heat and ablate tiny columns of the skin causing constriction and promoting collagen production resulting in tightening and lifting of the area.

What does plasmafibroblast do and who is this treatment for?

Plasmafibroblast is a treatment aimed primarily at treating loose, excess skin, crepey skin and deep wrinkles. Usually, patients are at least 35 years old and have noticed skin that is lined and sagging or describe that they seem to have too much skin in the area. Examples are excess skin above the eyes, crepey skin and lines on the neck or deep wrinkles on the cheeks or above the lips.

Plasmafibroblast treats the surface skin, it tightens and smooths it, but it does not replace lost volume from ageing or weight loss, this would have to addressed by using dermal fillers. It is always a good idea to come to the clinic first for a consultation so it can be assessed if you are suitable for plasmafibroblast or whether other modalities such as botulinum toxin, dermal filler or a different treatment may better serve you.

How does plasmafibroblast work?

Plasma is often referred to as “the fourth state of matter”, the others being solids, liquids and gases. It is created when electrostatic energy mixes with an ionised gas. Plasma is created by electrical energy from the pen which at about 1 mm distance from the skin ionises the oxygen and nitrogen in the air to create a small electrical arc, similar to a tiny lightning bolt — the plasma arc vaporises any liquid in the skin at the point of contact, causing contraction and tightening of skin fibres around it giving a shrinking and lifting effect (sublimation). The plasma tip doesn’t directly touch the skin, but instead releases a targeted current just above the skin. The hot current creates small holes, or micro-injuries, in the skin’s layer similar to the way that fractional ablative CO2 laser works.

The thermal disruption from the plasma arc activates fibroblasts in the dermis to produce new collagen and elastin over the next few weeks giving a further tightening effect.

Each tiny plasma flash creates a dot upon contact with the skin, which will ‘crust’ or scab in the next few days and fall off.

What are the benefits of plasmafibroblast?

  • Excellent treatment for areas with excess loose skin or deep wrinkles
  • Skin tightening and textural improvements with no surgery or long recovery time
  • One area can be treated at a time or multiple areas of the face, neck or body
  • One or two sessions are usually only needed
  • Most people will respond after one session and be able to see the effect within a week
  • Long-lasting results

What areas can be treated?

  • Non-surgical blepharoplasty (reduction of excess skin, droopy, sagging eyelids)
  • Brow lift
  • Crow’s feet
  • Frown lines (Glabellar lines)
  • Upper lip lines
  • Scarring including stretch marks, acne scars and post-surgical scars
  • Navel lifting (tightening loose stomach skin)
  • Mini face lift
  • Tightening loose neck skin
  • Loose wrinkley skin around knees or elbows

How should I prepare for a plasmafibroblast treatment?

  • Discontinue use of Vitamin A derivatives (Tretinoin, Differin, over the counter products containing retinols) at least one week prior to procedure.
  • Wait 6 months following oral Roaccutane (isotretinoin) use.
  • Wait one week following a neurotoxin treatment (Botulinum toxin) to the area
  • Wait two weeks after a dermal filler procedure
  • Avoid hair removal – shaving, waxing, laser treatment or creams in the area receiving the treatment
  • On the day of the treatment, please keep your face clean and do not apply makeup, take an antihistamine to reduce swelling and continue for 2 days following
  • Purchase a colloidal silver plus aloe vera gel to use after your treatment

What can I expect during treatment?

First the skin in the treatment area is completely cleaned. Photographs of the area to be treated are taken and added to your patient record, to allow for before and after treatment comparison.

Prescription strength anaesthetic cream will be applied to the area, and you will be allowed to numb for 20 to 30 minutes before commencing with the treatment.

Fibroblast treatment takes around 30 to 45 minutes to complete, depending on the area. The treatment feels like multiple small pin pricks or a slight burning sensation, which is usually well tolerated due to the local anaesthetic.

How many treatments should I have?

Results are seen immediately after 1 treatment, depending on individual’s circumstances such as age, lifestyle and skin condition sometimes 2 treatments are needed for best results. Older, looser skin will require more than one session. If another treatment is requested, it must be at least 10 to 12 weeks after the first treatment so that the skin had time to recover fully.

What can I expect after my treatment?

During the first 24 hours after your plasma lift, the area may be red and your skin may feel like it is sunburnt, and you will have tiny little brown spots in a grid where the skin wastreated. It is advised to apply colloidal silver gel or ointment to the area for soothing relief and to keep the area protected as colloidal silver has antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties.

Swelling may intensify over the following few hours and more so when eyes are treated and may last 2-4 days. There may be a tingling or burning sensation. An anti-inflammatory or painkiller can be taken to relieve any post treatment symptoms.

Light crustations / discoloration may be present for 3-5 days. The carbon crusts will lift within 5 -12 days depending on the individual and area treated. Allow the spots or scabs to fall off naturally, don’t pick at them, otherwise there is an increased risk of infection or scarring.

Once the brown spots fall off, skin may appear slightly pinkish for anywhere between 2 weeks – 2 months. Results gradually improve over the course of the following 8 weeks. Makeup cannot be applied until scabs have fallen off. You will need to avoid sun exposure for 8-12 weeks, and a 50 SPF sunscreen or higher must be worn every day to avoid hyperpigmentation.

Skin contraction takes 1-6 weeks post-treatment and you will continue to see skin tightening and improvement as time passes. It takes about 3 months to see the final results.

How quickly will I see results?

For some people results are almost immediate with visible tightening. Improvements continue for the next three months with continued tightening and improvements in wrinkles. In some cases, more than one session may be desired for further improvements.

The final result depends upon the general condition of the skin, severity of skin laxity, any pre-existing skin or medical problems and the desired result.

Do you recommend a patch test?

Whilst it is not industry standard for plasmafibroblast I do recommend a patch test first for patients so that they can better understand the healing process from plasmafibroblast and see the end result on a small area and especially if they are unsure. We do have a €50 charge for this patch test for our time and using a single use plasmafibroblast probe in order to conduct the patch test.

How long do the effects last?

Results typically last between 3 and 5 years. As the treated skin is sublimated, the results often last years or permanently.

As Plasma Skin Tightening is more than a simple tightening treatment, (skin is actually removed), so the effects should last as long as they would with invasive surgery. Like all surgical and cosmetic procedures, the effects of Plasma treatment are not entirely permanent as it does not stop any further ageing. The positive results can last on patients’ skin 3 to 5 years, depending on the area treated. However, the ageing process continues, therefore we would recommend repeat treatment 3 years after the initial procedure depending on you aging process. Everyone is different.

Treating muscle related wrinkles will not have the same lasting power as removing excess skin in areas where there is little movement. Due to the repetitive movements of the muscles of forehead and smile lines, the results are not expected to last as long as areas like the upper eyelid or tummy tightening. The option if you have lines due to expression is to follow up plasma pen treatment with botulinum toxin to freeze the muscles and prevent them from recreating the wrinkle.

Am I suitable for this treatment?

The best candidates for this procedure are people with mild-to-moderate skin wrinkling concerns.

CONTRAINDICATIONS to plasmafibroblast:

  • You should be in good health at the time of the appointment, with no preexisting health conditions.
  • Your skin should not be inflamed in the area we are treating prior to procedure.
  • If you are prone to keloid (hypertrophic) scars you should not have this treatment.
  • Diabetes, healing disorders or lymphatic draining issues
  • If you have a sunburn/suntan you should postpone treatment for up to 8 weeks or until tan/burn signs disappear.
  • If you have a history of post-inflammatory Hyperpigmentation
  • If you have an outbreak of Herpes Simplex Virus (Cold sores/Fever blisters). If you are due to receive plasma treatment around the lip area and have experienced Herpes Simplex Virus (Cold sores/Fever blisters) in the past you must start taking anti-viral treatment 3 days before treatment and for 4 days following treatment.
  • If you have a cardiac pacemaker
  • Epilepsy
  • Patients with metal implants (joint replacements, orthopaedic implants) in the area to be treated.
  • Any oncological illness/immunosuppression
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding can’t undergo the treatment due to hormonal changes and risks of hyperpigmentation
  • This treatment is only recommended on Fitzpatrick Scales 1-3. Anyone past this scale is at risk for Hyperpigmentation.
  • If you have eyelash extensions receiving upper or lower eyelid treatment MUST have lashes removed prior to treatment and reapplied after 8 weeks. Eyelash extensions can be full of bacteria and due to the swelling, that takes place, the extensions can imbed into the eyelid causing discomfort
  • If you are allergic to any topical anaesthetic medications, such as lidocaine, tetracaine and benzocaine
  • If you are using isotretinoin (Roaccutane) for acne

 

 

What are the potential side effects?

In addition, the procedure isn’t without side effects. We provide you with detailed aftercare instructions to care for your skin following plasmafibroblast, similar to the instructions which would be given to patients following any other ablative procedure such as CO2 laser resurfacing to prevent side effects.

Examples of side effects include:

  • redness
  • swelling
  • mild bruising
  • Scabbing
  • mild pain
  • mild hypopigmentation (light spots)
  • mild hyperpigmentation (dark spots)
  • scarring

 

Treatment Summary

Procedure Time

45 mins to 1 and half hours

Anaesthetic

numbing cream

Back to work

healing takes 10 days, so readiness to go back to work depends on which area was treated e.g. eyes or neck

Results/Duration of results

6 weeks for full results, results last 3 to 5 years

Level of discomfort

mild to moderate

No. of treatments

usually just 1 treatment

Cost

from €150 to €550 depending on size of area being treated

Side effects

redness, swelling, scabbing, mild hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation

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