Patients who notice early signs of aging are not always suitable candidates for more invasive anti-aging treatment options like facelift surgery or ablative laser resurfacing. These treatments create dramatic changes to the face, require lengthier recovery periods, and are best for more advanced signs of aging. Those who have fine lines and dull skin may find that a series of Clear + Brilliant laser treatments performed by facial plastic surgeon Dr. Alexander Donath at Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgery is a better option for more subtle facial rejuvenation.
What is Clear + Brilliant?
Solta Medical manufactures the Clear + Brilliant lasers for non-invasive skin rejuvenation. As humans age, their cellular regeneration cycles slow down. Clear + Brilliant jumpstarts the rejuvenation process that occurs naturally during our younger years. This gentle laser creates minimal irritation necessary to the skin for a clinical result, but with less downtime than other lasers.
The Clear + Brilliant lasers are non-ablative, meaning that they will not directly target the upper layers of skin. This is gentler than ablative lasers, which target the surface of the skin and leave deeper layers of skin exposed and vulnerable. Non-ablative lasers target the dermis to influence cellular activity for natural skin regeneration without the need for extensive downtime. Clear + Brilliant lasers are fractionated, utilizing modern technology to create patterns of micro-injuries, sparing nearby skin. This effectively initiates cell turnover while leaving much of the skin intact, which reduces recovery time.
Clear + Brilliant can effectively shrink facial pores, smooth out the tone and texture of the skin, and improve its elasticity and youthfulness. The laser will also improve permanent marks on the face, like acne and other scarring.
Candidates for Clear + Brilliant
The most suitable patients for Clear + Brilliant are typically people who want to maintain their youthful skin, repair early signs of aging, delay more invasive cosmetic procedures, or those who want to maintain their results from a more in-depth procedure targeting moderate or advanced aging.
Clear + Brilliant is great for women and men who work regular jobs or have busy schedules and cannot dedicate weeks of downtime to healing. The settings on the device create a custom treatment for each patient. The base laser energy does not target melanin, so it is safe for all skin tones.
How is the Procedure Performed?
First, patients are prepped with a thorough cleansing of the skin to ensure dirt and bacteria do not make their way into the thousands of tiny channels created in the skin by the laser. Next, a skin-numbing cream is spread over the treatment area – generally the entire face – and it is left in place for 20-40 minutes to ensure patient comfort during the procedure. The cream is then washed off the face and the treatment can begin.
The practitioner will review the patient’s needs and select settings and the correct attachment for the procedure. Eye protection is fitted over the eyes, and the session begins. The device is guided across the surface of the skin until the Clear + Brilliant process is complete. Some may choose a cooling mask to decrease inflammation and counteract the thermal side effects of the laser.
The non-ablative sessions can be repeated every two to four weeks for between four and six sessions for the best results. Most patients notice changes in their skin after a single session. Dr. Donath can provide patients with the skin care items needed for proper aftercare.
Recovering from Clear + Brilliant
The healing process following the procedure is minimal because much of the skin is left intact during a fractionated, non-ablative treatment. Patients may notice that the skin feels sensitive, or mildly sunburned for the first few days after treatment. There will be some temporary redness that lasts for several hours up to a couple days, and skin flaking that should occur naturally without the aid of an abrasive exfoliant. The skin may feel dry and should by hydrated as instructed. Makeup can be applied the day after treatment to camouflage any temporary discoloration or other side effects of the treatment.
Enhancing the Results of Clear + Brilliant
Dr. Donath offers a number of other procedures that can enhance patients’ results when combined with Clear + Brilliant sessions.
Patients who are satisfied with their appearance and opt for laser treatments to maintain their youthful skin can also benefit from a tailored skin care routine. Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgery offers the Skin Medica and Skinceuticals brands, and our medical professionals can advise which products may best meet an individual patient’s needs. HydraFacial is also an excellent way to promote more supple skin through a spa-like procedure.
Patients in their 20s and early 30s may notice some early signs of aging or acne scars and other marks on their face have not fully improved over time. Aside from Clear + Brilliant treatments, injectable fillers can plump divots in the skin, like icepick acne scars, and boost the volume and contour of the lips. Fillers can even be strategically injected below the eyes to eliminate under-eye darkness or a hollowed appearance. The office uses the trusted hyaluronic acid fillers Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm, to create natural hydration in the body where plumping is needed.
As hormonal changes occur in patients’ 40s and 50s, they may notice weight fluctuations which can lead to an unwanted double chin. Clear + Brilliant refreshes the skin, but will not address fatty deposits around the face and neck. Kybella is the only non-surgical treatment that is approved by the FDA for cosmetic treatment of fat under the chin. The injections dissolve the unwanted fat tissue, restoring attractive contours to the face. As people age, fat may accumulate in other areas as well. Plastic surgeries like blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, focus on under eye fat pad removal and shaping, while fat transfer provides the opposite effect, and redistributes the patient’s own fat where it is needed. Fat can be used to boost the volume in the lips, cheeks, or wrinkles around the face.
Those with the most progressive signs of aging may have already undergone transformative procedures like a facelift or cheek augmentation. Clear + Brilliant laser treatments will help patients preserve the results of their surgery for as long as possible. Skin will continue to age, but cell turnover is encouraged with each laser session, and will help the patient maintain a naturally youthful look.
Clear + Brilliant FAQs
What is the difference between Clear + Brilliant and other laser treatments?
Clear + Brilliant provides less intense laser light therapy aimed at improving the skin. Clear + Brilliant is fractionated, meaning it only damages select cells to jumpstart collagen production and the healing process, ensuring that recovery time is not as extensive as it is for other facial procedures. The laser energy from the sessions does not target skin pigment, so it is safe for any skin color. Additionally, Clear + Brilliant is ideal for patients of all ages.
Will I need to undergo more than one treatment?
Most patients notice a difference in facial skin following a single session, but for the greatest improvements, patients are encouraged to schedule four to six treatments. Clear + Brilliant sessions can be performed two to four weeks apart. Rather than undergoing more intensive treatment through a single session, the repeated sessions produce similar effects over time, without the discomfort and downtime.
Are Clear + Brilliant treatments painful?
Patients’ skin is prepped with a cream that temporary eliminates feeling in the facial skin to ensure a comfortable procedure. Clear + Brilliant is a mild laser procedure, and even without topical numbing, pain or discomfort tends to be minimal. After the treatments, a cooling mask may be applied to the skin to help control any discomfort and minimize side effects of the procedure.
What laser treatment is Clear + Brilliant most similar to?
There are a number of different types of laser, light, and thermal treatments available to patients through facial plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and medical spas. Dr. Donath prefers to offer the best, most trusted treatments in the industry, including Clear + Brilliant. The laser is most comparable to other lasers using fractionated technology. The laser heats vertical columns in the skin to eliminate cells in the channels. Sometimes referred to as microchanneling, the contained injuries heal to enhance the surrounding skin cells.
Alexander S. Donath, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Cincinnati Facial Plastic Surgery features Dr. Donath, who has dedicated his career to aesthetic facial enhancement. One of the most in-demand doctors in the Midwest, Dr. Donath was trained under plastic surgeons in New York City and Beverly Hills. He has adapted and honed these techniques, and operates his own practice to offer patients customize procedures that suit their unique needs.
Dr. Donath specializes in facial plastic surgery, non-surgical procedures, laser treatments, and aesthetic skin care at his Cincinnati practice. Call the office to schedule a Clear + Brilliant appointment with Dr. Donath today – 1-877-416-FACE (3223), or fill out the Contact Us form and we will reach out to you.