Cynosure Elite MPX

Cynosure Elite MPX is a multi-modality laser that can treat skin imperfections such as extra hair, superficial varicose veins and brown spots on the skin simultaneously. This laser system is made by a company called Cynosure and it has three different products in it:

• Alexandrite laser
• Neodymium YAG laser
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)

Combined with all three of these is a cooling device that protects the skin called the Zimmer cooler. Anytime a doctor uses any of these lasers, it is directly attached to the cooling device to protect the skin being treated. The Alexandrite laser is used for hair removal. The Neodymium YAG laser is used for vein removal. The IPL is used for brown spots. The aging process tends to bring about visible changes in the body that most people would like to hide, or remove, such as veins, brown spots and hair growing from parts of the body where it was never seen in earlier years.  In the past, these conditions required separate procedures to treat them.  Cynosure Elite MPX can perform multiple cosmetic procedures at once.

Am I a Good Candidate for Cynosure Elite MPX?

GOOD CANDIDATES for Cynosure Elite MPX include:

• Patients worried about skin imperfections such as dark spots
• Those wishing to reduce signs of aging such as sun damage and fine lines
• People who want to improve skin laxity that occurs with aging
• Patients who want to get rid of facial veins or leg veins

On the other hand, people who are NOT GOOD CANDIDATES are:

• Those with blonde or gray hair as there is not enough pigment to effectively attract the heat of the laser
• Patients who have a tendency to burn easily from the type of heat provided by a laser
• Patients who have dull skin due to smoking

How is Cynosure Elite MPX Performed?

A treatment with Cynosure Elite MPX is non-invasive and relatively pain-free.  A topical numbing solution can be applied to the area being treated if desired by the patient. The Zimmer cooler blows pre-chilled air onto the skin in order to protect the skin from burning.

Hair Removal

A beam of light energy is discharged from the machine and it is then absorbed by the blood vessels as well as the hair follicles. There are multiple lasers used by the Cynosure Elite MPX. The Alexandrite has a wavelength of 755-nm and the YAG has a wavelength of 1064-nm. The 1064 reaches deeper into the skin and treats the hair roots. The Alexandrite is a high energy laser that is good for a patient with lighter skin. When the two of them are combined, the process addresses the superficial hair and the deeper hair roots simultaneously.

Once the light is absorbed by the follicle, it converts to heat and the resulting heat destroys the hair follicle so it cannot re-grow hair.  Only active hair follicles are treated during the procedure. Follicles that are in a dormant stage won’t absorb the light from the laser so it takes multiple treatments to make sure only the active hair is treated.

Vein and Skin Imperfections

The light from the laser is focused on the visible veins or skin imperfections that the patient wants to see removed. When it comes to vein issues such as spider veins on the face and legs, the laser light is absorbed by the blood which destroys the vessel. When treating the skin, the laser light is absorbed by the body and breaks up the pigmentation that causes skin imperfections such as dark spots or rosacea. The laser also tightens the skin to provide a more youthful appearance.

Compared to Other Laser Treatments

By using two lasers, instead of one, there is no need to use as high an energy level on each individual laser. The combination reduces the number of treatments that are required so it is more cost efficient and not as hard on the skin because of the lower number of required treatments.

What is the Cost of Cynosure Elite MPX?

The cost of Cynosure Elite MPX is in the range of $400-$1200 depending on the amount of areas treated on the body, the number of treatments, the area of the country where it is performed and any fees charged by the doctor or the facility. The cost will be lower if only one treatment, such as hair removal, is performed and higher if the patient also wants to treats veins or skin imperfections.

Recovery and Downtime

The RECOVERY and DOWNTIME from Cynosure Elite MPX is not long no matter how many areas are treated. In general, a patient will experience a little bit of redness, and maybe some itching or swelling, for one or two days after the procedure. The patient also needs to avoid the sun and wear sunscreen when going outside.

Results

The results of laser treatment for skin imperfections or spider veins are not seen immediately after the treatment:

• For vein treatment, the vessels underneath the skin slowly change from dark blue to a lighter red before eventually disappearing in two to six weeks.
• The above timeframe is the same for skin imperfections since the skin pigmentation slowly changes to a lighter color and/or tightens for a more youthful appearance.

Patients should be aware of the fact that their bodies will continue to change as they get older and they will likely see further visible veins and skin imperfections as they age.

After laser hair removal, most people will see a little bit of hair regrowth as time passes. A patient might need a touchup procedure after a couple of months or a couple of years.

Limitations and Risks of Cynosure Elite MPX

There are a few LIMITATIONS patients should be aware of before having a treatment with Cynosure Elite MPX:

• If a patient has another underlying skin condition, that skin condition needs to be treated first.
• The laser hair removal process does not work as well on patients with white, gray or blonde hair or very fine/light “peach fuzz” hair. Patients with darker and thicker hair see better results.

When it comes to RISKS, some of the most common ones are:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Itchiness
• Skin discoloration
• Burning from the laser
• Blisters
• Scarring

Multiple Procedures at Once

The ability of Cynosure Elite MPX to treat multiple cosmetic procedures at once is a great opportunity for a patient.  The smaller amount of total procedures needed to treat multiple cosmetic issues means less money is spent by the patient.  It also means fewer visits to the doctor because multiple treatments are being performed during one visit. Patients should consult with a doctor skilled in using Cynosure Elite MPX laser in order to get the best results possible.

Written by Cosmetic Town Editorial Team - MA

Based on an exclusive interview with Dr. Amin in New York, NY