At-Home Laser Wrinkle Removal

by Monica Prata

It has recently been announced that the FDA has approved the over-the-counter sale of an at-home laser device for the treatment of preorbital wrinkles. Distributed by Palomar, this device is one of the first such laser wrinkle treaments to be marketed and sold directly to consumers, without requiring a prescription before the purchase. The device is designed specifically for home usage and represents a major breakthrough in the cosmetics industry.

In response to the news of the launch of the Palomar laser, Dr. Marc Siegel, a practicing Internist and Associate Professor at the NYU School of Medicine, appeared on Fox News to discuss the safety and logistics of the process. He explains the product as “a high-intensity laser light that you point at your eye wrinkles, and it actually destroys part of the skin tissue while leaving the elastic tissue.” He did offer a qualifier, however, adding, “it doesn’t work that well” and is “very expensive.” Presumably, the At-Home Laser Wrinkle Removal device will retail at around $500, and is said to only reduce the appearance of very tiny wrinkles and fine lines, requiring usage “2 or 3 times a day for 20 or 30 minutes over a long period of time in order to get it to work.”

Siegel believes that the most effective eye wrinkle treatments are available at a professional clinic. Dermatologists and cosmetic specialists use a powerful laser called a fractioned CO2 laser for skin rejuvenation. Utilizing carbon dioxide, the CO2 laser has proven to be highly effective in removing wrinkles in the eye area. While the At-Home Wrinkle Removal Laser is a great idea in theory, the FDA would only approve a product a fraction as powerful as that which you would find in a professionals office. The At-Home Wrinkle Removal Laser may work well for touch-ups in between sessions, but it is unlikely that it will ever become a primary method for wrinkle removal in its current form. And to ensure a patient’s safety, especially for a tender area like under the eyes, a professional wrinkle removal session, be it Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Botox, or Restylane, is always the wiser course of action.

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