Review by Joeybunny - The Laser Chronicles, Part I

I am really, really into preventative skincare. Yeah I know I’m 23, but I like to be prepared for the future. It’s kind of like how I read The Zombie Survival Guide and then bought a crowbar and shotgun in preparation for the Zombie Apocalypse of 2012.

(Don't let this be you!! Read the book, grab a crowbar, head for elevated ground!)

Ok, maybe I’m just a crazy paranoid nutter, but I feel like I have a legitimate reason to be concerned. My skin is extremely dry and sensitive, and I know dry skin tends to show signs of aging faster. Also, living in NYC exposes me to sunlight (eek, UVA/UVB rays), pollution, random ickiness, the germs of other crazy paranoid nutters, etc. I just want to stay looking as cute as possible for as long as possible. When I’m in my 40s and 50s (if the zombies don’t eat my brains first), I don’t want to be kicking myself in the ass for not having been more careful when I was in my 20s.

Anyway, this is where American Laser Centers comes to the rescue! American Laser Centers takes care of pretty much any skin or body concern one might have. They offer an incredible range of treatments including :

• Microdermabrasion for the face and body
• FotoFacial (more on this later)
• Laser hair removal for any part of the face and body, including a full Brazilian bikini
• VelaShape, a really cool treatment that dissolves cellulite that's FDA-approved and totally non-invasive

In my quest to preserve my pretty, I’ve decided to undergo the following: a series of FotoFacials and microdermabrasion for my face, and laser hair removal for my under arms and lady garden (I’m going to get everything removed, yo). Yesterday, I had my first FotoFacial and my first pits lasering.

Libby Mildren is the lovely aesthetician who treated me at the Central Park South (57 W.58th St) location. First off, the office is gorgeous and extremely clean, and the staff is very sweet. Libby herself is a real gem: kind, talkative, and excellent at explaining the ins and outs of the procedures I was about to undergo. She was especially concerned with my comfort, which I truly appreciated. She apologized for the coldness of the ultrasound gel she slathered on my face, and constantly asked if I was in any pain from the lasers. Strangely enough, the lasers tickled me. Apparently, I have a large pain tolerance - most people equate the feel of the laser to the snap of a warm rubber band. Slightly annoying, but not too painful. Nope - I’m crazy and I found that it felt more like a gentle tickle. I might have scared Libby with my laughter.

Anyway, let me explain the procedures:

FotoFacial - the FDA-approved laser combines pulsed laser light with radio frequency energy. It breaks apart dark spots, brightens skin, and stimulates collagen growth. Microdermabrasion is recommended as an additional treatment because it removes the dead outer skin layer to reveal the brighter, clearer skin created by the FotoFacial laser.

Laser hair removal - again, the FDA-approved laser combined with radio frequency energy kill the hair follicle. This is usually done in a six-session series with each session separated by at least four weeks.

I’ll have to alternate the FotoFacial and pits lasering with microdermabrasion and lady garden lasering. I’m so excited, and I’ll continue to post updates about the procedures. After my first treatment, my skin feels a lot softer and my nose seems to be devoid of blackheads. See, look how freakin' happy I am! (FYI, it's 3:46am as I type this, I should look sallow and dead, but I don't! I totally credit the laser. My skin just looks much brighter than normal).

I highly, highly recommend American Laser Centers. The staff is professional and the procedures are excellent and skillfully done. If any of you NYC readers are interested in getting something done, call the Central Park South location at 212-871-0551 and say Josie referred you! You juuuust might get a very sweet discount for mentioning me!