Plasma Technology
Developed to rival laser resurfacing, the Portrait Plasma System from Rhytec delivers energy to the skin by passing radiofrequency into nitrogen gas through a series of plasma pulses. The Portrait PSR is FDA-cleared for treatment of facial wrinkles, superficial skin lesions and actinic keratosis. Recent research results were reported in "Evaluation of plasma skin regeneration technology in low-energy full-facial rejuvenation," which appeared in the February 2007 issue of Archives of Dermatology. The study followed eight Portrait patients, through three treatments each and for three months post procedure.

Investigators reported a 37% reduction in facial rhytids, and respondents reported a 68% improvement in overall facial appearance. Skin biopsies done three months after treatment "revealed a band of new collagen at the dermoepidermal junction with less dense elastin in the upper dermis," according to the report.

"What we like about the plasma system is the versatility if offers," says Jeffrey S. Dover, MD, SkinCare Physicians, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Dr. Dover is one of the authors of the study and an associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine. He's currently using the Portrait in his practice "for photoaging and scarring," he says. "The energy can be set from very low to very high levels so you can offer minimal results with no downtime all the way up to high energy procedures that offer significant improvement of the skin with a downtime of 7 to 10 days."

Although recovery times can rival those for traditional erbium and CO2 lasers, "the postoperative care is a little easier because we're not creating an open wound," says Dr. Dover. "The skin remains intact so there appears to be less risk of infection and fewer complications."

Medesthetics - November 2007
by Inga Hansen