Bellissima's acne therapy combines microdermabrasion, light, laser, and cosmeceuticals to deliver clearer skin without antibiotics or accutane in most cases. Developed by a team of nationally recognized physicians, the process combines the latest light-based technologies, microdermabrasion and physician-only topical treatments to treat acne and it’s scars — aggressively, effectively and safely.

The process treats clogged pores through medical exfoliation and cleansing, reduces oil production, and shrinks sebaceous glands with laser therapy and light-activated peels, eliminates acne-causing bacteria with light therapy and topical treatments. Scarring is treated with a combination of lasers, minimally invasive surgical procedures and microdermabrasion and peels. Our facility is physician-owned and operated.  Dr. MacDonald worked on the national faculty for this program training other physicians and their staff in these protocols. Using proprietary algorithms and protocols, Dr. MacDonald assesses each patient, stages their acne, and recommends a customized treatment plan to deliver optimal results.

 Acne treatment therapy may include: 

• Blue and red Light treatment
• Levulonic acid light-activated photopeels
• Intense pulsed light treatments
• Mid-infrared laser treatments
• Advanced medical microdermabrasion
• Chemical peels by trained medical providers
• The absolute latest in physician grade skin products and mineral makeup.
• A revolutionary photo documentation system to help record your skin’s condition.

Laser technology has developed over the last few decades to treat patients with a variety of different skin problems including the effects of sun damage, the removal of body hair and recently the treatment of psoriasis and acne. Since the early 1990s, lasers have become the high tech equivalent of dermabrasion or deep chemical peels for skin resurfacing (removal of the outer layer of the skin).

Figures from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (A.S.A.P.S.) indicate that laser skin resurfacing was the fifth most common cosmetic treatment in the U.S.A. in 2008 with over 570,000 treatments, an increase of 12% on 2007 statistics. 

So-called "ablative" or skin resurfacing lasers briefly direct an intense burst of laser energy onto the surface of the skin. This energy heats water within the surface layers of the skin, causing both the water and the tissue of the skin to turn to vapor. Every time the laser passes over the skin, some of the outermost layers of the skin are removed in a precise and controlled way to the appropriate depth.

The skin then heals over a period of time, as new layers of collagen are produced. The skin can literally resurface itself, causing an improvement in the appearance of sun damaged or acne scarred skin. After the treatment, the skin will look much healthier than it did previously.

There are two main types of ablative laser - the original machines used were carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers, and more recently erbium:YAG laser systems have been introduced. We use an Asceplion MCL 30 Dermablate erbium:YAG laser for a safe, controllable method of tissue ablation.  The wavelength of this laser is absorbed 13 times better by water than CO2 laser radiation. It is entirely converted into rapid vaporization/ablation of tissue water and cannot remain in the skin to produce non-specific heat damages. Due to its characteristics, the Dermablate significantly reduces recovery time.

Thanks to the very limited thermal effects, the procedure is less painful than with CO2 lasers. Patients do not require any anesthesia for the treatment of small lesions.  Side-effects and risks are greatly reduced for this laser.