As the senior population in the United States grows, so do the number of people turning to cosmetic procedures to repair the effects of aging and sun damage. In 2009 alone, there were close to 10 million such cosmetic procedures, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. The Polaris wrinkle reduction system is one of several laser-based treatments available to help repair wrinkles, with "New York" magazine calling it the "best antiaging beauty treatment" in 2004.
Identification
Polaris, also known as Refirme, was created by Syneron Inc. using their trademarked ELOS, or electro-optical synergy, technology. Unlike other laser resurfacing techniques, Polaris uses a combination of a bipolar radio frequency or intense-pulsed light with the laser. This combination enhances tissue remodeling by helping to synthesize new collagen and elastin in your skin. Most patients need three to five treatments, spread several weeks apart, with each treatment costing anywhere from $250 to $1,500.
Claims
The electric current used in bipolar radio frequency is relatively small and shallow, meaning the tissue in the treated area is heated less deeply or intensely and therefore safer and gentler. Polaris produces a special heating process that affects several skin layers, making it possible to treat fine wrinkles at the surface as well as deeper wrinkles in the same procedure.
Expert Insight
A study by Dr. M.I. Kulick and N.A. Gajjar, published in the "Aesthetic Surgery Journal" in 2007, analyzed the microscopic and clinical changes associated with Polaris treatment of facial wrinkles. Biopsies of the treated skin, computer analyses of facial wrinkle density and depth, and digital photographs were used to gauge improvement both before and after treatments. The photographic analysis demonstrated that 67 percent of patients had fewer or shallower wrinkles at their three-month visit, with the average degree of improvement 30 percent.
Risks
In the Kulick-Gajjar study, two patients received superficial second-degree burns, although they didn't require corrective treatment. Any medical laser also carries with it potential side effects including blistering, crusting and pigment changes. If you have a history of keloid scarring, dark skin, or have active cold sores or skin infections in the area to be treated, you may be advised to avoid Polaris therapy.
References
- Smart Skin Care: Bipolar Radio Frequency Plus Laser/Light Skin Tightening and Wrinkle Reduction
- Dr. Kulick: Polaris Wrinkle Reduction
- Med & Aesthetics Spa and Wellness: Polaris Wrinkle Reduction
- Reflections Center: Intense Pulsed Light Treatment Therapy
- PubMed: Analysis of Histologic and Clinical Changes Associated with Polaris WR Treatment of Facial Wrinkles
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