We recently had the pleasure of sitting down for an interview with Allen Rosen, MD, a board certified plastic surgeon who practices in New Jersey. Dr. Rosen has been using the Era erbium laser in his practice since 2007. The following is a testament to the excellent results that the Era delivers and the impact it can have on your practice.
Q:) What led you initially to purchase the Era?
A:) A gentle modality for skin resurfacing was a glaring hole in our suite of services. We only had chemical peels, which are inconsistent, or CO2 resurfacing, which is aggressive and costly to the practitioner.
Q:) What are the primary treatments for which have you been using the Era?
A:) We primarily use it for periocular and perioral skin resurfacing. Usually only a single treatment is performed, but we tend to provide one or two annual maintenance treatments.
Q:) Are you combining the Era treatments with other modalities?
A:) Yes, we always provide multi-modal treatments. For example, with wrinkles in the forehead and crow’s feet areas, we frequently treat with Botox first and then Era resurfacing after the muscles have been disabled by the Botox.
Q:) Are you using any specific techniques?
A:) Yes. Because the Era does not leave demarcation lines, it is possible to ablate partial areas of the face. For example, when treating crow’s feet, I treat along the specific wrinkle line – something that I call ‘functional unit’ – and feather around it, but I don’t need to treat the entire anatomic unit. Leaving that extra skin untreated is beneficial both in terms of reducing procedure time and minimizing the healing for the patient.
Q:) What else is included in the protocol?
A:) Aquaphor is applied to the treatment areas after the procedure. However I have found that I don’t need to prescribe antivirals such as Valtrex with each patient, so I have discontinued that.
Q:) Do you have any other feedback about the Era laser?
A:) Yes. The Era is a compact and cost-effective system that allows me to offer a uniquely gentle approach to skin resurfacing. It enables me to compete with other practices and specialties, yet with a lot less investment and less training required. This is ideal since my practice is mostly a surgical practice, with less emphasis on laser services.
(Dr. Rosen is Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is the founding partner and medical director of the Plastic Surgery Group. For over a decade he has been a distinguished spokesperson for the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, and has been recognized as one of our country’s premier plastic surgeons for ten years running through peer surveys by Castle Connolly Medical. He has owned the Era laser since mid 2007.)
