Hello, Warriors! Welcome to The Breast Place blog and thank you for taking time out of your active schedule to visit! We appreciate our readers to the utmost degree, as we do our patients. Hopefully, you’re taking advantage of the current climate and enjoying our lovely city in autumn. If this is your first visit to The Breast Place blog, we cover a range of topics here. From breast cancer management to anti-aging skin treatments to helpful tips for maximizing your overall health and wellness—The Breast Place is committed to sharing the best health practices and treatment options with you! Our offices are open and our staff are prepared to answer any questions you may have about your health, your breast cancer risk, and how to reach your aesthetic goals. 
 
Before we dive too deeply into today’s topic, we’d like to make you aware of a few promotions available at The Breast Place this holiday season. We know you’re currently on the hunt for the best gifts for your friends and family. Well, The Breast Place is here to help! This December, we’re premiering a reimagined BOGO sale. Buy one, gift one. You can schedule a discounted Secret RF or Laser Genesis treatment session for yourself and a loved one after Black Friday. Keep a close eye on our social media for more information on our BOGO sale! End this year with a treat and start off the new year right at The Breast Place!
 
Our last article detailed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer screenings. As we’ve discussed previously, early detection is one of the best tools we have in the fight against breast cancer. Every year, when we observe Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is with the hope more women will take their health into their own hands and participate in regular screenings. The pandemic set back this effort considerably. Many clinics which offered breast cancer screenings diverted or temporarily discontinued their services. More women stayed home than ever before, abiding by the lockdowns which characterized the early stages of the pandemic and fearful of what might happen if they sought preventative medical care. For some individuals, the pandemic influenced their decision to put off being screened and this postponement cost them valuable time in the fight against cancer. Breast cancer screening rates have yet to return to their pre-pandemic numbers and that’s why we’re doing everything we can to spread awareness. We understand the last two years have been hectic and unpredictable. However, the wonderful thing about breast cancer screenings is they take an average of thirty minutes. We think thirty minutes is a worthy trade-off for the value offered by breast cancer screening results. If you’re interested in learning more about the impact the coronavirus had on breast cancer, read our most recent article here! 
 
Today, we’re diving deep into one of our advanced skincare technologies—excel® V+ by Cutera. This laser-based treatment is incredibly popular among our patients and with good reason! Similarly to Secret RF (which we provided a comprehensive explanation of here), excel V+ can resurface the skin, bringing you one step closer to your aesthetic goals with each session. In this article, we’ll discuss how excel V+ uses laser technology to target common skin concerns. We’ll answer any questions you may have about what excel V+ can and cannot be used for. We’ll delve into a few potential side-effects, as well as how many sessions are needed to see significant results. We believe patients should have a clear understanding of their treatment, as this empowers them to make the best decisions concerning their aesthetic care. If you’re interested in learning more about excel V+, read on!
 
What can excel V+ be used for?
 
We think the better question is: What can’t excel V+ be used for? This technology specializes in targeting vascular and pigment-based issues, both of which are commonly the root cause of skin concerns. For example, excel V+ might be used to target spot hyperpigmentation such as sunspots or freckles. On the other hand, rosacea and broken blood vessels are also fair game for excel V+. The common thread between all skin ailments capable of being treated with excel V+ is their color. We’ll explain this more in detail in the next section, but simply put: the wavelengths featured in the excel V+ laser are absorbed more readily by reds and browns, then secondarily by blues and purples. Therefore, certain scars, leg veins, or angiomas can be treated by excel V+, too. Here’s a comprehensive list of eligible ailments: rosacea, angiomas, port wine stains, scars, poikiloderma or sun aging, venous lakes, facial veins, freckles, dermatosis papulosa nigra (DPN), spider veins, skin tags, acne scars, and wrinkles.
 
How does excel V+ work?
 
As we mentioned briefly during the last section, the magic of excel V+ is derived from the lasers used. Laser treatments are incredibly diverse in their intended effect. As you know, lasers can be used to remove hair, melt fat, stimulate collagen production, and resurface the skin. However, the specific purpose of a laser comes down almost entirely to its wavelength. The wavelength of a laser is responsible for allowing the laser to penetrate deeper into the skin, deliver more precise power, and be absorbed by the correct recipient. In the case of excel V+, these recipients are the chromophores (or colors) present in browns and reds within the skin. In other words, melanin, oxyhemoglobin (or oxygen-rich blood), and water. The excel V+ operates at two wavelengths: 532 nm and 1064 nm (“nm” standing for nanometers). Are you still with us? 
 
The 532 nm wavelength is absorbed the fastest and thus is used to target vascular lesions on the surface of the skin. This is the wavelength most likely to be used on rosacea, general redness, and spider veins. Now, the 1064 nm wavelength on the other hand, is absorbed more slowly and thus is used to treat vascular lesions much deeper within the skin (and legs). This is the wavelength most likely to be used on venous lakes, venous malformations, and visible veins. Both of these wavelengths are scientifically more effective than other wavelengths (such as 595 nm) at targeting the skin concerns mentioned above. For this reason, excel V+ is an award-winning cosmetic application. 
 
Now, the excel V+ wavelengths can also be distributed at varying widths, ranging from 16mm (or the size of a dime) to 2mm (or one-eighth the circumference of a dime). This gives the professional utilizing the machine plenty of control over the area they’re targeting and minimizes “collateral tissue damage.” The excel V+ also has an integrated smart cooling system, which allows the professional to adjust the temperature of the contact tip, which is the only portion of the machine which comes into physical contact with the patient. The excel V+ can be used on any skin type, which makes this laser technology a safe option for those of a darker complexion. 
 
What can you expect from your excel V+ treatment?
 
Most treatment sessions with excel V+ take between fifteen to thirty minutes, but the length of your treatment session will depend almost entirely upon the size of the area being treated. You can expect to feel the laser slightly, but any discomfort associated with the procedure shouldn’t escalate to pain. Topical anesthesia can be applied to the treatment site beforehand by your medical provider, should you request, and the excel V+ cooling system should prevent the heat of the laser from becoming too uncomfortable. After your treatment session is over, you can return to your regularly scheduled activities. This includes work, school, shopping, and exercising. While you may experience increased redness or minor swelling around the treatment area, this shouldn’t interfere with any plans you may have. There are no other side effects associated with excel V+, making this treatment incredibly easy and beginner-friendly. 
 
How many treatments do you need to undergo before you see results? One treatment session can be enough to see a visible difference in your skin concern. However, often, two or three treatment sessions are required to achieve the satisfactory resolution of certain skin concerns. Your medical provider can and should formulate a plan for handling your treatment, so you can plan in advance for multiple sessions. These sessions should be placed at least one month apart, ideally. In the days and weeks after your initial treatment, brown spots will initially darken and then “slough off.” Waiting between treatment sessions gives the skin time to recalibrate, heal, and work towards the end result you’re hoping for! 
 
 
The excel V+ Laser Genesis by Cutera is considered to be among the best technology available for the cosmetic treatment of vascular and pigment-based skin concerns. We’re excited and happy to be able to share this service with you! You can schedule an initial consultation to discuss excel V+ further or go ahead and book your first appointment through our website. If you have any specific questions about this service, we would be more than happy to answer them! Thank you for reading and we hope you’ll visit The Breast Place blog again soon!