Want to get rid of age lines, wrinkles and sun damage but afraid of the extensive recovery time and possible complications associated with many lasers or chemical peels?  A new machine that made its debut in late July at doctors' offices across the country may be the answer.  The machine is manufactured by Rhytec (named the Portrait®PSR³) and uses plasma energy, instead of a laser, to actually reorganize the structure of underlying skin. 

One of the 40 doctors to receive the machine late last month was Miami plastic surgeon Adam J. Rubinstein, who is excited about the new arrival and has started a running list of future patients ready to improve their skin quality after years beneath the South Florida sun.  According to Dr. Rubinstein, the new Rhytec machine is a "better choice to remove wrinkles in the face and improve overall skin quality."

The Plasma Advantage

A better choice, he says, because the plasma energy offers a shorter recovery period (you can be completely healed in a week), it has not presented any complications such as hypopigmentation problems or scarring in any previous studies, and, because it uses what he calls "blind heat," it will be able to offer skin reorganization without affecting the color in people with darker skin tones. 

But if you're not ready to commit a week to recovery you have the option of choosing a sequence of low-energy sessions that can offer similar results.  In about 3 sessions, spread out at one-month intervals, you can gradually work towards a younger, rejuvenated face while reducing your recovery time to approximately one weekend per session. 

Considering the Cost

The cost of the treatment with the Rhytec machine runs about $2,000-$2,500 for the single hi-energy treatment or around $750 per session with the low-energy treatments.  Treatments, says Dr. Rubenstein, may also be used in conjunction with surgical procedures such eyelid lifts to improve overall skin quality.

While studies are ongoing, the Rhytec machine has been FDA approved for three years and continued studies have shown no instances of lasting adverse effects.