Chest and decolletage treatments

Photodamage or damage from UV radiation contributes to the vast majority of chest pigmentation.  The high UV index in Queensland leads to increased pigmentation, loss of skin tone and altered texture to exposed sites. Pigmentation is most noticeable to the ‘V’ line areas of the chest and the sides of the neck.  In severe cases persistent red scaly spots may suggest precancerous / cancerous lesions.

For mild photoaging and pigmentation a prescription of lightening agents and sunscreen can reduce the contrast and prevent progression.  Your dermatologist can assess the degree of contrast and customise a cream for you to apply on a nightly basis.

For more severe cases of chest pigmentation treatments such as Fractionated Laser/ Fraxel, IPL, Vascular laser,  TCA peels and Photodynamic Therapy are available.

The art of treatment is to blend in the treated areas with that of the surrounding skin. A sharp cut of looks unnatural and is often very noticeable.

A way to avoid this, it to use several lasers in the one sitting to blend in the surrounding skin for a more natural look

In summary, Laser Dermatology employ several techniques to treat the neck and chest area, depending on the degree of sundamage and pigmentation. We individualise treatments based upon your unique skin type to give the best results.

more

This procedure combines two ‘lasers’ into one treatment to give far superior results than either procedure alone. In the past,IPL has been a proven method of photorejuvenation, and can safely and effectively reduce superficial  pigmentation. The limits of IPL however has been hampered by the number of treatments needed (often up to 4 treatments ) and the inability to safely and consistently treat darker skin types.  Additionally, deeper pigmentation is relatively resistant to IPL/BBL treatments. With Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation we combine a more specific form of IPL know as BBL (Broad Band Light) together with a shallow resurfacing technique known as Fractionation to give far superior results then IPL alone.

BBL/ IPL address the superficial pigmentation, whilst Fractionated Laser penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin, targeting deeper pigmentation as well as stimulating collagen formation. Stimulation of collagen is necessary to improve skin tone, whilst reducing pigmentation improves texture.  Fractionation involves delivering very tiny columns of laser light into the dermal layers of the skin. The ‘ fraction’ of the skin’s surface treated is determined by your treating dermatologist, and is dependent on factors such as your skin type, the type of pigmentation and recovery time.

What can I expect after fractionated photorejuvenation?

After care is simple, and the recovery in the vast majority of patients is uneventful. A special moisturiser is to be used for 7 days, redness and crusting will decrease over 3-7 days. Gradual fading of the pigmentation will be seen 2 weeks after the procedure. Sun avoidance for 3 weeks post treatment is a must. We generally recommend 2-3 treatments for the best results. Treatment intervals range from 3-6 weeks apart.

More on Fractionated Photorejuvenation

TCA peels or Trichloracetic acid peels can be used at different concentrations to achieve the desired results. The degree and location of photodamage and the amount of downtime or recovery period would also determine the concentration used. Over the past few months, we have replaced TCA peels on the chest and décolletage areas with Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation due to the excellent results of combination laser treatments. TCA peel, however are relatively inexpensive compared to laser treatments, and may suit patients with budget constraints.

How are chemical peels performed?

TCA peels are performed in our operating suites by specialist dermatologist.  We generally recommend you prepare your skin for 3-5 weeks prior to a TCA peel. Pre-peel preparation increases the efficacy of the peel, increases recovery and reduces side effects. A dermatologist will tailor and provide a pre peel kit prior to every TCA peel.

Once the skin is cleaned a predetermined concentration of TCA is applied to the area with a gauze, the edges of the treated areas are ‘feathered’ out to blend into the surround skin. Once complete a soothing balm is then applied to the treated area.  The procedure is complete in approximately 10 minutes.

How long will I need to recover from TCA peels?

Recovery from peels depends on the depth of the peel, which is determined by the concentration of TCA. Typically, under specialist treatments, concentrations vary between 15% to 23% TCA.  Recovery time varies between 6 days to 14 days.  Absolute sun avoidance must be adhered to for at least 3 weeks post peels.

What side effects are associated with TCA peels of the chest?

more

Side effects are proportional to the depth of the chemical peel. Common side effects such as redness and itchiness are seen in almost all patients undergoing higher concentration TCA peels. These side effects subside over days (itch) or weeks ( redness.) Other side effects are exceedingly rare however will be discussed below.

• Redness - universally seen with deeper peels ( 18% or higher TCA). Settles down within a 2-5 weeks.
• Itchiness - very common in superficial to medium peels (15% TCA or higher). In higher strength peels, acne or folliculitis may contribute to the itch. In these cases antibiotics and reduced application of post peel emollient cream will help alleviate the symptoms.
• Infection - bacterial, viral or fungal. Uncommon side effect, follow up post peel will generally pick up the signs of early infection. Your dermatologist my elect to prescribe anti viral medications prior to deeper peels as a precaution- especially in patients with a history of cold sores.
• Pigment changes/Demarcation lines - TCA peels are designed to minimise the demarcation lines which are commonly seen after IPL treatments. Our dermatologist use a technique know as ‘feathering’ – blending the treated skin with the surrounding areas, minimising demarcation.
• Scarring - very uncommon.  To minimise the event of scarring, patients with a history of keloid scars are excluded from TCA peels. Scarring can occur if infections are not treated or if treatments are too aggressive. Treating physicians will ensure that the depth and concentration of chemical peel is ideal for the condition, location and skin type.

More on TCA chemical peels

For more severe cases of Photodamage, PDT or Photodynamic Therapy can be used on the chest area. This treatment is ideal for cancerous or precancerous lesions on the chest / face.  Cancerous lesions may present as persistent red areas which are often rough to touch. 

More on PDT

Fractionated laser resurfacing uses micro columns of laser energy to partially resurface the skin on the  face, neck and chest areas.  Prior to fractionated lasers, the use of resurfacing lasers on the neck and chest areas were not performed due to the risk of scarring.  Unlike traditional resurfacing lasers, only small columns of skin are treated. Untreated skin is left between these columns which in turn aids in recovery and provides an excellent safety margin. We combine this procedure with BBL to form what is known as Fractionated Photo Rejuvenation- the most effective way treat the chest and décolletage areas. This treatment is also commonly used on the face and hands.

How is this Fractionated laser performed?

Fractional resurfacing is conducted in our operating theatre. The majority of patients do not require any anaesthetic, and the procedure is well tolerated. Your dermatologist will give you the option for local numbing creams.

Resurfacing of the chest and neck area takes 15 minutes to complete. The area is then treated with an antibacterial cream. A dressing is left on for 4 -6 hours.

More on Fractionated laser

BBL or Broad Band Light can be used to treat the chest and neck area. We generally advise BBL treatment for only light areas of pigmentation.

Several treatments are needed to blend the treated areas with the surrounding skin.  Westside Dermatologist often combine BBL with Fractional laser to give better results with just one treatment. This procedure is called Fractionated Photorejuvenation.

More on BBL photorejuvenation

This laser is aimed at treating the red areas of the sides of the neck and chest. Vascular laser target the blood vessels with a beam of intense light. Treatments are very well tolerated, much like a rubber band flicking on the skin. Often 2-4 treatments are needed to achieve the desired results.

More on V Beam Vascular laser treatments

The majority of treatments are considered as cosmetic in nature, and are NOT covered under Medicare/ Private Health insurance. Patients will receive a rebate for a percentage of the consultation fee. A rebate applies only if blood vessels are visible beyond 3 meters as per Medicare ruling.

more

The first step is to be carefully assessed by one of our dermatologist prior to any treatments. This is an essential step as during the consultation we take note of any pre-existing sun spots and precancerous lesions. From there, we can provide various options for treatments.

As Dermatologist are specialist, a referral from a GP is recommended to gain a rebate for the consultation fee.

Speak to our receptionist by calling us directly on 07 3871 34 37 and make a booking or enquire about the referral process.

Enquire about chest and decolletage treatments

more

Dr Davin Lim, Consultant Dermatologist

Treatment of the chest and décolletage area was once considered a difficult undertaking for both Dermatologist and patients. With the event of new laser technology this has changed things dramatically. The combination of BBL/ IPL and fractionation is the treatment of choice for moderate to severe photodamage on the chest. It gives superior results and less downtime compared to TCA peels.

Redness on the sides of the neck can be challenging. In this situation, I often combine both BBL and Vascular V beam laser to achieve the desired outcome. For all aspects of neck and chest rejuvenation, a combination of various lasers will give the best outcome.