Combining energy treatments for optimal outcomes

Using combination therapies with patients is widely accepted as one of the most successful treatment approaches in the aesthetic specialty.

And Michael Gold, M.D., Nashville, Tenn., says there’s a simple reason:

“Combination therapies work really well.”

Dr. Gold says he uses several devices in tandem to get the most successful outcomes for his patients and shared those this year at Cosmetic Surgery Forum 2019 in Nashville, Tenn.

One of those devices, the Venus Versa (Venus Concept) is a multi-treatment system that includes Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), radiofrequency (RF) with microneedling and bulk heating capabilities.

The Venus Versa’s IPL applicators can be used as a photofacial machine, for hair removal or as a dual-light acne treatment.

Used with its Multi-Polar RF and Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields (PEMF) applicator, these treatments, when done in one session, bring “results [that] are pretty spectacular,” according to Dr. Gold.

“If you do a series of three of these treatments, we're finding incredible results in wrinkles, texture, tones, tightening, improvement and acne scars or other kinds of imperfections in the skin,” he says.

For facial rejuvenation, there are three InMode technologies - Lumecca, Forma and Fractora - Dr. Gold says he examined clinically and when used together may deliver long-lasting solutions.¹

“We… published a study looking at [InMode’s] IPL which they call Lumecca, their skin tightening device which they call Forma and their RF microneedling device called Fractora,” he says.

Study authors found that after completing alternate treatments of IPL in three sessions, and continuous fractional bipolar RF in three alternating sessions, three weeks apart, a comparison of baseline, six- and 12-week results showed statistically significant improvement in wrinkles (24% at six weeks, 33% at 12 weeks), pigmentation (38% at six weeks, 62% at 12 weeks), vascular lesions (29% at six weeks, 67% at 12 weeks) and laxity (37% at six weeks, 40% at 12 weeks).

According to Dr. Gold, “The improvements in the texture-tone irregularities were spectacular and documented in the long term.”

He also says using Sciton’s Halo device - a combination of non-ablative and ablative fractional resurfacing - in conjunction with their Broad Band Light (BBL) device improves texture and tone.

For the treatment of acne, Dr. Gold was also involved in a Russian study that used Aerolase’s Neo Elite - a 1064 short pulse laser device - with low dose isotretinoin for patients with severe acne. Though noted that the treatment can have many contraindications, the study authors report that “a more current version of treatment protocols and transition to lower dosages have made it possible to reduce the likelihood of side effects of the combination therapy.”²

Dr. Gold says he is always looking for the newest ways to use combination devices, bringing his patients the best possible results.

“We constantly are working on trying to improve the devices that we have,” he says. “And that's where we need to be thinking.”

References:

1. Gold MH, Biron JA, Sensing W. Facial skin rejuvenation by combination treatment of IPL followed by continuous and fractional radiofrequency. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2016;18(1):2-6.
2. Gold M, Evgenievna N, Sergeevna L, Vladimirovna E, “Treatment of Moderate to Severe Acne and Post Acne Scars with 650 Microsecond 1064 nm Laser Combined with Low Dose Isotretinoin. Lasers Surg Med. 2019;51(S31):S13-14.