Birthmark removal is a laser treatment I use to lighten the look of certain flat, brown birthmarks, depending on what the birthmark is, how deep the pigment sits and your skin type.
Birthmark removal is suitable for the look of certain flat, brown birthmarks. This can include café-au-lait birthmarks.
I am a cosmetic skin practitioner. I am not a doctor or a nurse, and I do not diagnose skin conditions.
I only treat a birthmark after your GP or dermatologist has checked it. If you're under 18, I also need your parent's or guardian's consent.
It's right for someone who understands that the number of treatments and the result will depend on the type, depth and behaviour of the pigment.
Anything new, changing, crusty or bleeding needs to be checked by your GP or dermatologist first.
I'm also not going to treat anything that is changing, unusual or uncertain without the appropriate medical assessment first.
I'll ask you to wait if the skin is sunburned, recently tanned, irritated, inflamed, broken or still healing from another treatment. I also won't treat you if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, have epilepsy, or are taking medication that makes your skin particularly sensitive to light.
And if I'm uncertain about the outcome I can achieve, I'm not going to treat it. I want to be confident that the treatment is appropriate for your particular birthmark and that we have a realistic understanding of what we can achieve.
For birthmark removal, I use a Q-switched laser.
It has multiple wavelengths, which allows me to choose the wavelength depending on the type of pigment and how deeply it sits in the skin.
The treatment interval will depend on the type of birthmark, how deep the pigment is, how your skin responds and what we're trying to achieve. Some may require a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart, while others may need a completely different approach.
The downtime really depends on what type of birthmark we're treating, how deep the pigment sits and how aggressively we need to treat it. With more superficial pigmentation, you may see some darkening of the pigment, mild redness or a fine crusting, which generally settles as the skin heals.
With deeper pigmentation, I would expect a more involved healing process.
So I'm much more conservative about treatment intervals and expectations. It's not something I would treat aggressively and expect to be finished in one or two appointments. The pigment is deep, and we need to give your skin plenty of time to recover between treatments.
Every treatment carries some risk. I go through the risks and the recovery with you at your consultation before we begin.
Comfort and downtime depend on the method we use. I'll talk you through both at your consultation.
Birthmark removal can vary quite a bit depending on the type of birthmark, its size, how deep the pigment sits and how much treatment is required.
For my treatments, I would assess the birthmark first and then give you a clear price based on exactly what we're treating. Your treatment includes your consultation and assessment, the laser treatment itself and detailed aftercare advice, so you know exactly what we're doing and what to expect before we start.
Call me for a clear picture of current pricing.
I wish people understood that birthmark removal is not always a one-treatment process. Every birthmark is different, and the result depends on what type of birthmark we're treating, how deep the pigment sits and how your skin responds.
Some birthmarks can respond beautifully to treatment, while deeper pigmentation can require a longer treatment journey and a number of sessions. I'd rather take the time to treat it properly and progressively than promise you a quick result that may not be realistic.
It depends on the birthmark. Some respond very quickly, while deeper pigmentation can require a series of treatments spaced several weeks apart.
Some birthmarks can return or gradually become more noticeable again, while others can stay clear for many years. I'll talk you through what I realistically expect from your particular birthmark before we start.
Results vary from person to person.