Hello, I am Lee Sang-ju, a dermatologist at Yonsei Star Dermatology. Today, I would like to introduce the Ultrapulse Encore laser, which I personally consider to be the most excellent among the various laser devices in our clinic, based on 22 years of rich experience. This laser is a representative device developed by a leading company in medical lasers, highly regarded in the laser industry, and is an important option for scar treatment, with excellent effects also expected for pore reduction and stretch mark treatment.
What kind of device is the Ultrapulse Encore laser?
The Ultrapulse Encore laser is a type of carbon dioxide laser. It is known as a top-tier device among carbon dioxide lasers released not only in the United States but worldwide. It is an expensive device, and in Korea, it is only available in some university hospitals and a few private clinics, making it a special laser that can only be found in specific hospitals.
The biggest reason I recommend this laser is that it possesses both powerful energy and excellent safety simultaneously. In other words, it is a device that achieves both effectiveness and safety.
Reasons for Combining Powerful Energy and Safety
Generally, many carbon dioxide lasers on the market are known to be used primarily for mole removal. However, it is difficult to treat the entire face with such general carbon dioxide lasers. Lasers must guarantee high output and safety at the same time, and the Ultrapulse Encore laser meets these conditions, enabling safe and effective treatment.
Differences from General Carbon Dioxide Lasers
General carbon dioxide lasers or mole removal lasers often cause significant thermal damage to surrounding tissues, which can result in burn-like marks during the procedure, potentially leading to secondary scarring. However, the Ultrapulse Encore laser precisely concentrates energy only on the desired tissue, without damaging surrounding tissues. This is the core technology of this laser, allowing for safe and effective treatment.
Main Application Areas of the Ultrapulse Encore Laser
This laser helps solve various skin problems, not just laser resurfacing.
- Scar Treatment: Improvement of intractable scars such as acne scars and burn scars (breaks down tangled collagen and induces new collagen formation to soften scar areas, reduce height, and improve texture)
- Pore Reduction and Stretch Mark Treatment: Improvement of enlarged pores and stretch marks
- Skin Aging Treatment: Helps restore elasticity to sagging or inelastic skin and promotes new collagen generation to rejuvenate the skin (especially for sagging skin in people in their 50s-60s, and improvement of wrinkles around the eyelids or mouth)
- Skin Tumor Removal: Removal of benign skin tumors
In particular, the Ultrapulse Encore laser has a very fine laser beam of 120 micrometers, and unlike general mole removal lasers that only reach the epidermis, it can penetrate deep into the dermis, making it effective for treating deep scars. Based on acne scar treatment, it is said that one treatment with this laser can achieve effects greater than multiple treatments with a Fraxel laser.
Procedure Process, Pain, and Expected Effects
During the actual procedure, topical anesthetic cream is applied first to manage potential pain. Pain varies by individual, but it is generally less painful than the commonly known Fraxel laser. You can think of the Ultrapulse Encore laser as causing relatively less pain because it penetrates the skin with higher energy than a Fraxel laser but causes very little thermal damage to the surrounding area.
This laser stimulates collagen in the dermal layer of the skin to create new collagen, helping to fill in depressed scars and restore elasticity to inelastic skin, leading to a more youthful appearance.
Post-Procedure Care and Precautions
Since the Ultrapulse Encore laser is a powerful laser, it is important to receive treatment from an experienced dermatologist to minimize side effects. General carbon dioxide lasers are known to cause skin wounds, often accompanied by oozing, scarring, pigmentation, and erythema. However, despite being a carbon dioxide laser, this laser selectively acts only on skin tissue, which is reported to relatively reduce side effects such as erythema and pigmentation.
- Oozing Management: Since it creates wounds on the skin, oozing may occur for about two days after the procedure. It is recommended to keep a hydrocolloid dressing well-applied during this period.
- Skin Dryness: The skin may be temporarily somewhat dry afterward, so using a regenerative cream can be helpful.
- Exfoliation: The dead skin cells that form after the procedure will naturally fall off after about a week, and skin improvement effects can be expected.
- Regenerative Treatment: Combining regenerative treatment after laser procedure further helps enhance treatment effects.
- UV Protection: It is very important to meticulously apply sunscreen to reduce side effects such as pigmentation.
Why Consultation with an Experienced Dermatologist is Important
Since the Ultrapulse Encore laser is a powerful laser, receiving treatment from an experienced dermatologist is crucial to minimize side effects and maximize treatment efficacy. If you are concerned about severe scars, have not seen sufficient effects from previous laser treatments, or have deep and thick scars such as burn scars, this Ultrapulse Encore laser may be helpful. We recommend considering the procedure after thorough consultation with a specialist.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us, and we will answer them sincerely. Thank you.