Blog in Albany, NY

CO2 Laser

 Fractionated CO2 Laser

  The Carbon Dioxide Laser has been around since the early 1990’s. Dr. Edwin F. Williams has extensive experience with the CO2 laser since 1994. During the “90’s” it was the craze to have your doctor perform Laser treatments.  One of the functions of the CO2 laser was resurfacing of the skin.  It created an open wound taking up to 10 days for the skin to heal, and redness of the skin could persist for a number of months after the treatment.  The results were amazing for tightening, but the healing time was a true deterrent for this procedure.

The Fractionated CO2 hand piece basically delivers the laser to the skin keeping the skin intact.  This dramatically decreases the healing time, making it more attractive to patients.  Tiny pinpoint dots are created on the face by the laser that will heal over in 2 to 7 days depending upon the number of times the Laser is passed over an area.  Redness can persist from a week to several weeks and can be covered with make up anywhere from 3 to 5 days, again depending upon the number of times the laser is passed over the face.  The tiny laser Rays delivered from the Fractional CO2 Laser causes a thermal response which stimulates collagen production resulting in fewer wrinkles.  Fractional Lasers can be compared to aerating your lawn.  You still have a normal lawn but with tiny holes in between. 

How do I know if I am a good candidate for the Fractional CO2 Laser?

If you are looking to reduce wrinkling, to tighten skin and /or treat pigmentation issues, the Fractional CO2 Laser may be for you.

Click Here for FAQ’s

Acne Scarring

Acne Scarring (Combined Technique)

The treatment of facial acne scarring has traditionally been limited to dermabrasion with somewhat limited results. Over the past several years, Dr. Edwin Williams , a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon, from The Williams Plastic Surgery Specialists , Latham NY located just 6 miles from Albany NY , has achieved incredible results by combining chemical peel, carbon-dioxide laser (CO2) with dermabrasion. Dr. Edwin Williams calls this cosmetic procedure a combined technique. Combined technique is a resurfacing procedure that is performed as outpatient surgery at The New England Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center . The removal of acne scars using a combined technique usually takes approximately one hour. The recovery period for areas treated by dermabrasion is 2 weeks for the areas with CO2 laser may remain red for several weeks but can be covered with make up after 2 weeks. Occasionally, with deep or wide facial scars Dr. Williams will offer his patients an excision of the scar with the combined technique to follow 6 weeks later to obtain the best results possible.

Click here to view Before and After photographs of Ance Scarring treatments.

Combined techniques for facial-skin resurfacing was the topic of Dr. Edwin Williams’ lecture at the Fifteenth Annual Symposium for Facial Cosmetic Surgery in Newport Beach , California . He is also actively pursuing both clinical and basic-science research of various laser skin resurfacing techniques at Albany Medical College where he is the former Chief of Facial Plastic Surgery. Dr. Edwin Williams has published an article for the International Journal of Cosmetic Surgery and Aesthetic Dermatology entitled “Combined Resurfacing Techniques: A Systematic Approach.”

For more information about Chemical Peel and Lasers from the AAFPRS

Vascular Birthmarks

Click here to view Before and After photographs of Vascular Birthmarks treatments

The two most common vascular birthmarks include port wine stains and hemangiomas. Both of these vascular birthmarks can occur in infancy and while they are very different in their natural history, both can be very successfully treated with the pulse dye laser. Small spider veins, angiomas, port wine stains, and hemangiomas can be treated in an office setting, while large areas of involvement may require a general anesthetic to treat the entire region. In many cases the deformity can be successfully eliminated with one treatment while other patients with a more significant deformity may require more than one or two treatments.

Hemangiomas and Vascular Birthmarks affect both children and adults. It is said that there are about 400,000 children born every year with these diagnoses, however not all require the intervention of a specialist. Only about 1 out of every 100 affected require specialized care.

Dr. Edwin Williams’ special interest in vascular birthmarks began in the early 1990’s with the advent of the pulsed dye laser, making it possible to effectively treat hemangiomas, vascular birthmarks, port wine stains and other various vascular malformations. He was one of the original directors of the Albany Medical Center Vascular Birthmark Clinic and in 1995 was one of the original members of the Board of Directors and Co-Founder of the National Vascular Birthmark Foundation.

Since 1995, the National Vascular Birthmark Foundation has been responsible for facilitating the opening of numerous vascular birthmark clinics throughout the country and for networking over 20,000 children and adults into treatment. Dr. Williams has spoken at national and international meetings on this topic, was Chairman of the American Academy of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery’s Vascular Birthmark Committee for several years and has published extensively, including numerous articles and monographs and as an invited contributor to several books on the topic. He has been featured on The Maury Povich Show and The Learning Channel (commonly known as TLC) for his work and humanitarian efforts toward children with disfiguring, facial vascular birthmarks. Additionally, in 2002, he was honored, recognized and named Physician of The Year by The Vascular Birthmarks Foundation for his work. He continues to hold a special interest and passion for treating children and individuals with disfiguring vascular birthmarks including, but not limited to, hemangiomas, port wine stains and other various arterial and venous malformations. His unique focus centers on an aesthetically focused approach to individuals afflicted with disfiguring facial vascular birthmarks. He treats patients at an AAAHC accredited ambulatory surgery center conveniently located within a few miles of the Albany International Airport and in close proximity to many hotels with a variety of accommodations.

Click for more information about the Pulse Dye Laser from Candella Corp.

	An Aesthetic Approach to Facial Hemangioma			Management of an Arteriovenous Malformation

Services

   Hemangioma
   Portwine Stains

Droopy Nose Rhinoplasty

DROOPING NOSE

As patients age there is a natural loss of support in the area of the nasal tip and the cartilage framework that supports the tip of the nose.

Some patients are actually born with this and when they smile the tip of the nose naturally turns downward due to the action of the septal depressor muscle. Correcting this type of deformity often requires re-building support in the tip of the nose, rotating the tip upwards slightly and in many circumstances aligning the nasal tip and profile to create a more aesthetically pleasing nose.

To view before and after pictures of nasal drooping repaired by Rhinoplasty

Crooked Nose Rhinoplasty

CROOKED NOSE

Some patients are born with crooked nasal bones and nasal septal cartilage and through the process of growth and puberty the nose actually grows more crooked. Other patients have a crooked nose that results from nasal trauma.

To view before and after pictures of Rhinoplasty’s that corrected crooked nasal bones click here

Many patients with a crooked nose also have nasal obstruction and difficulty breathing due to a deviated septum and crooked external nasal anatomy. This problem requires a clear understanding of the nasal bone anatomy and septal cartilage and often requires a reconstructive effort where by the deviated septum is corrected and cartilage grafting using spreader grafts is used to re-build the nose in a more midline position.

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty, also known as nasal reconstruction, is a surgical procedure able to improve the appearance of the nose and sometimes correct breathing problems.

Revision Rhinoplasty

Revision Rhinoplasty

A first-time operation on the nose is called a Primary Rhinoplasty. When additional operations are required to correct a deformity or to achieve the final result desired then these are called Revision Rhinoplasty or Secondary Rhinoplasty.
These revision or secondary procedures on the nose are typically more difficult and challenging. Dr. Edwin Williams, a Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon and Board Certified in Otolaryngology (ears, nose and throat), has to operate through the scar tissue from the previous operation and deal with altered anatomy. The first surgeon may have also removed too much cartilage from different parts of the nose thus making it more difficult to create an ideal shape or to provide adequate support for the nose. It is often necessary, in these cases of revision rhinoplasty, to utilize cartilage grafts as well as grafts of artificial materials to reconstruct the nose and create an ideal shape.

To determine if a patient is a good candidate for a revision rhinoplasty a consultation utilizing the computerized imager and a complete facial analysis is recommended. Successful facial plastic surgery is the result of a good rapport between the patient and the surgeon. Trust, based on realistic expectations and exacting medical expertise, develops in the consulting stages before surgery.  For questions or additional information, patients are welcome and encouraged to call to make an appointment for a consultation.

Dr. Edwin Williams has extensive experience in rhinoplasty / nasal reconstruction and teaches advanced rhinoplasty on a national level. Almost half of our rhinoplasty practice consists of revision or extensive reconstructive nasal surgery.

Testimonials

Click here to view Before and after photos of Revision Rhinoplasties

Click for more information about Rhinoplasty from the AAFPRS