Jenni Gilbert Late last year I had dermal filler injections to offset hollows under my eyes. As a souvenir, I came away with a shiner that looked like I’d gone 10 rounds with Rocky Balboa.
It’s an unfortunate but well-known possible side effect when having injectables that bruising and swelling can occur for up to a week, even longer, if the needle nicks a blood vessel.
This is especially so beneath the eyes, where the skin is much thinner and more delicate than elsewhere on the body and circulation slower.
It also depends on the knowledge of the cosmetic injector about the best products for the given injecting area, as well as their technique.
The possibility of bruising is also increased by such factors as hormone levels at the time of treatment, if the body is depleted through stress or fatigue, poor diet, smoking and alcohol, or taking painkillers or fish oil supplements within roughly a week before treatment. And, of course, some people are far more susceptible to bruising than others.
More than a week after the injections my black eye was still big, dark and ugly and I was beginning to feel nervous that it would still be visible by the time I left for my Roman holiday. I mean, when in Rome … you just can’t have a black eye.
Note to anyone considering fillers ahead of a special event: make sure you don’t have them only a few days beforehand, and certainly not the day before!
With serendipitous timing I was invited to have the Comfort Zone Sublime Facial Treatment followed by a 20-minute session under LightStim Professional LED.
Julie Fitzhenry, Education Associate for BLC Cosmetics (distributors in Australia of LightStim, Comfort Zone and Thalgo, among other premium skincare, makeup and technology brands) told me the LightStim session would be the ideal panacea for accelerating the fading of the bruise, as well as generally revving up my skin.
She also offered to loan me a LightStim handheld (which can be used in-salon but is also a retail offering for home use by clients) until I left for Italy, to ensure my shiner lost its lustre in time.
And lucky for that. It had barely budged in the week until I had the LightStim treatment. I came home armed with my baby pink hand-held and gave myself a good “zapping” (I use that term frivolously; it’s a warm, relaxing and pleasant sensation) that evening to top up the in-treatment session.
Julie says it can be used safely up to three times a day. Great thing is that you can “zap” while watching TV, or such.
By next morning, the bruise had faded at least 50 percent. I continued zapping 2-3 times a day and within three days the bruise was the tiniest shadow of its former self and my skin looked a lot more “glowy” than it had in months.
So where’s all this going?
LED professional units, such as LightStim, can add a massive dimension to your business.
They emit UV-free, beneficial light rays that energise cells and stimulate the body’s natural process to build new proteins and regenerate cells.
Originally used by NASA scientists to test plants’ abilities to grow in space, LED’s healing benefits were discovered when they realised any wounds or pigmentation on their hands repaired quickly due to the exposure to the light and its ability to promote tissue growth.
When applied directly to the skin, these wavelengths work together to increase collagen and elastin production, reduce inflammation, speed the healing process and increase micro-circulation.
It is designed to penetrate the epidermis layer of the skin, stimulating the skin’s natural ability to produce collagen and elastin.
LED devices do not generate heat and so do not have the capacity to burn the skin or cause redness.
They work effectively pre- and post-surgery to promote accelerated wound healing, as well as before and after such treatments as microdermabrasion, dermal needling, IPL or laser, and even to help reduce existing scarring.
They’re the add-on factor to other treatments, making them attractive investment option to boost the bottom line.
The technology provides effective results in a faster time frame as it helps enhance local vascular flow, preparing
the macrophage (cells that engulf and digest cellular debris).
It can provide traditional spa treatments from healing and soothing to addressing more specific skin conditions such as collagen stimulation (to plump up the skin and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles), minimise enlarged pores, assist in the treatment of acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, and even stimulate hair regrowth.
A unit should be able to deliver multiple or single wavelengths at one time or in sequence with a choice of Red, Near Red (infrared) Green, Yellow and Blue (the latter being highly beneficial for treating acne by reducing bacteria).
LED units have been described as a work horse cash cows; a staff member that doesn’t need to be paid.
While these things may be true, eminent Sydney cosmetic physician Dr Naomi McCullum warns about being too complacent.
“LED is an effective and affordable technology for improving skin tone, clarity and texture,” says Dr McCullum, who has just expanded her practice into The Manse in Paddington, Sydney.
“It targets cells which are responsible for the synthesis and repair of the structures that support the skin. This makes it useful on its own and also as an adjunct to the procedures we perform during their healing phase.
“We have Lightstim hand-helds in our waiting room for patients to try (and for sale), because it gives them something to do while they are waiting.
“We also keep a spare professional one in another room to use if we’re running late, and at least the patient can feel like they’re getting a benefit while waiting for us, and that we are not wasting their time. So from that perspective we do treat the devices a little like extra staff members.
“However, in our business at The Manse, where patients expect the highest level of service, we don’t believe in leaving a patient alone during any treatments, unless it is their request.
“Our policy is that there should be a staff member with the patient at all times throughout their appointment. For us, the small financial benefit of leaving a patient would not be worth the negative effect on the perception of service level. The majority of our patients expect our undivided attention.
“Being a lover of efficiency myself, the best thing about patients getting the handheld LightStim is that they can literally multi-task with it at home. I recommend that they use it when they’re on their phone or computer.
“With the handhelds, the patient can also target areas of body skin that they want to improve. People like to use it on necks, chests, thighs. It’s fantastic that patients can help improve the results that we’re achieving while they’re at home.”
