Cosmetic Dermatology and Hair Care

With the evolution of Q-switching technology in the field of Nd:YAG lasers, the safety profile improved dramatically making the use of higher energy density to be delivered with much safety and accuracy. The availability of this laser system as a 1064 and a 532 nm ensures optimally gratifying results from the patient’s perspective for a variety of pigmentary lesions, the settings can be tweaked for a number of off-label uses which I routinely use in my clinical practice. The effects of a Q-switched Nd:YAG system are primarily because of photoaccoustic effect. Dermal heating also results in satisfying anti-aging results which develop progressively over time. We try to harness this very inherent nature of the laser system and stretch this capacity to the maximum. While some of the applications about to be discussed resulted from a working knowledge of the mechanics involved whereas others were discovered randomly across study groups. Changing the combinations like spot size, frequency and energy density resulted in development of protocols which warrant the use of it in such unique ways. Application of milli-pulse free running mode is chiefly employed for ablative and thermal purposes as we shall see. The Q-switched & fractional Q-switched modes find uses in novel pigmentary & antiaging applications. A special collimated hand-piece was also employed for subliminal excitement of nerve fibers in acute and chronic neuralgias.