Reflections On 18 Years Of Laser Hair Removal

Advanced Laser Clinic first opened our doors in March of 2003 as the first medical spa that offered laser hair removal in Springfield Missouri. Since then we have expanded our services to offer many new and exciting skin care and cosmetic procedures, but the one constant that Advanced Laser Clinic is known for is being the original experts in laser hair removal.

When she first opened the business in 2003, owner Shelly Baker enlisted Roberta “Bert” Riley to help her introduce a whole new concept in the world of permanent hair removal to Springfield Missouri. Bert had a previous background in electrolysis, so she knew what an upgrade laser technology would be for the process of permanent hair removal.

Bert was excited to be able to share and educate our clients about this procedure and she continues to have a passion for helping our clients look and feel their best. For our 18th anniversary, we sat down with Bert to discuss the changes that she’s seen from those early days and why she’s still so passionate about providing this service.

How Has Laser Hair Removal Evolved Since 2003?

When we first started in 2003, Shelly and I spent the majority of our time explaining and educating everyone on the concept of how laser hair removal works, because no one had really heard of this procedure before. We originally had to convince people to try it by giving away a few laser hair removal treatments just to show our clients how wonderful it was.

Now in 2021 almost everyone has heard of laser hair removal and are more familiar with its proven results, which makes our job a little easier.

The process of permanent hair removal has not really changed since the beginning, but our lasers have. I am proud to be part of a clinic that wants to have the most up to date and cutting-edge technology when it comes to facial hair removal.

Our FDA approved lasers get the very best results for our clients and we are proud of that.

What Has Stayed The Same Over The Years?

I am proud to say that the one thing that hasn’t changed over the years is our pricing. Permanent hair removal is an investment and we do not take that lightly. We want our clients to have the best result from their investment. I have always said “Paying too much for laser hair removal won’t leave you with less hair. It will only leave you with less money”.

In 2003, we were the only ones in town offering this service. Now there are several of us out there. We still feel we are the best, of course, but with so many options to choose from now, it is up to potential client to do their homework and understand why there is such a price difference.

Another thing that remains the same is that we always give you the exact pricing up front over the phone or in person. We have no hidden costs and encourage everyone to take advantage of our free consultations so they can make the best decision for their investment in permanent hair removal.

What Sets Advanced Laser Clinic Apart In The Laser Hair Removal Field?

Our experience. Shelly and I having been doing this for 18 years. We have excellent laser technicians who are certified and trained by us.

We also have a one-year written guarantee which sets us apart. Our laser hair removal program is a six treatment program, but not all people are done in six treatments.

With our guarantee, we can do free touch up treatments for one year to achieve better results. We also have a maintenance program if you need any further treatment beyond that year at a minimal cost.

Another thing that sets us apart is the way we do business. We strive to be honest and hold ourselves to a high standard of integrity and this makes me proud. We never promise more than we can deliver. If we can’t help someone meet their goals, we will refer them to someone who can.

We are so glad that Bert is part of our Advanced Laser Clinic team. If you would like more information about our laser hair removal program, please call us at 417-883-5400. Bert would love to have the opportunity to do a free consultation, so you can decide if permanent hair removal at Advanced Laser Clinic is the right choice for you.

Common Retinol Vitamin A Myths For Skin Care

Retinol and Vitamin A are often talked about as being key ingredients in advanced skin care. This information can often be confusing and it’s hard to know where to start. The following are the top four Retinol Vitamin A myths that need to be busted.

Vitamin A Thins The Skin

Regular use of Vitamin A actually compacts the stratum corneum and thickens the epidermis. This means that Vitamin A thickens the skin to produce more healthy, younger looking skin. It also influences epidermal stem cells to mature into healthy layers of the epidermis and improve your skin care.

Vitamin A Is Used To Peel The Skin

The key role of Retinol is not to peel the skin. Vitamin A is used to anti-age and normalize the skin. The peeling effect will vary greatly on the type used.

The two main types are retinoic acid and retinyl palmitate. Retinoic acid or Retin-A is the acid form of vitamin A. Retinyl Palmitate is a fat soluble form of vitamin A. As you might imagine, the acid form can be much harsher and can cause the skin to peel out of irritation.

Few products use the fat form and opt for the traditional acid form. Retinyl Palmitate makes using vitamin A much easier and gives less peeling and irritation of the skin.

Vitamin A Causes Skin Inflammation

Along with the type of Retinol being used, you also need to consider the strength. If the skin is exposed to high levels of Vitamin A too quickly, a retinoid reaction can occur. This can look like small bumps, redness, itching, and redness.

This is the due to the strength and type of retinol used. This can be avoided by introducing Vitamin A gradually into your skin care routine with Environ's Vitamin A Step-Up System.

Vitamin A Can Only Be Used In The Evening

Retinols themselves are sensitive to light. This is why they should be packaged to not be exposed to light, or air. But using Vitamin A on the skin during the day is just fine. It will not make the skin more prone to sunburn.

Clinical studies have shown that retinoids do not lower the Minimal Erythema Dose (MED) of skin, which is the amount of UV light you can take before the skin burns.

If you are wanting information about effective, easy to use form of Vitamin A, we have it. Environ’s formulations containing Vitamin A really dispels all of these common myths.

If you are struggling with your brand of Retinol and are ready to find one that is effective and that your skin likes, come and talk to us about Environ. This amazing product line makes getting one of the most important skin care essentials much easier. Call Advanced Laser Clinic 417-883-5400 to get more information.

Our Medical Grade Products For Skin Care

Advanced Laser Clinic has an array of great and effective medical grade skin care products for the face and body. It can be hard to navigate through the vast amount of skin care products out there. Even as skincare professionals, there are still skin care products and brands out there that we have never heard of.

There are many claims made by these companies. Do we just believe their marketing? Do we try each and every one to see the results for ourselves? Or do we turn to our trusted skincare gurus to do all that work for us?

All the skincare products that we offer at Advanced Laser, we personally use and love. Our staff has spent years researching and hours of training finding what we think are the best, most effective skin care products out there. A few of the lines we use and carry are SkinCeuticals, Environ, Glo Skin Beauty, and Baby Foot.

SkinCeuticals is a medical skincare line that was founded in 1997 by Sheldon Pinnell, MD, and Russell Moon. These products are based on combinations of topical antioxidants serums.

Their philosophy centers on three main pillars: Prevent, Protect and Correct. These principals work together to provide the healthiest skin possible, and optimal anti-aging results. A few of the most popular are CE Ferulic and Physical Fusion.

Environ is another medical skincare line that was developed in South Africa by Dr. Des Fernandes. After seeing too many skin cancer deaths, Dr. Fernandes was on a quest to make the skin healthier and more UV resistant.

Environ believes that skin has life and Vitamin A is the “oxygen” it needs to look beautiful and healthy for life. Vitamin A is the cornerstone ingredient in the Environ skincare philosophy. Environ introduced the Step-Up System to gradually introduce Vitamin A to the skin and sequentially add more in each level as the skin gets acclimated to using it. This makes it easy and comfortable to get high levels of effective Vitamin A into the skin on a daily basis.

Glo Skin Beauty is a very clean line of mineral makeup. Their formulas use only the best ingredients and ultra-fine minerals in a triple-millled process. This ensures that each application provides even, continuous coverage that lasts. Glo formulations deliver unsurpassed coverage with UV protection. Our favorite Glo product is their tinted primer. With a 30 SPF, it gives great coverage in a silky mattifying preparation.

Baby Foot is a peel specifically designed for the feet. Baby Foot combines 16 natural extracts. Together, these manage to hydrate your skin and exfoliate at the same time. This helps to remove all the extra dead skin and minimize calluses that build up on your feet. Caution: This product really works. Be ready to peel!

As you can see, we have done our research. We offer all of these great skin care products and more. Our staff uses and believes in all the skin care products that we offer to you. If you would like more information, please give us a call at 417-883-5400. Consultations are always free.

The Many Benefits of Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion has been around for many years. While many swear by it, others still may not completely understand what it really does for your skin and why it's such an effective skin treatment option to consider.

Microdermabrasion systems have seen many new innovations and upgrades over the years, but overall the main idea of the machines has stayed the same. Microderm uses a stream of aluminum oxide crystals paired with vacuum suction for both a deep exfoliation and pore clearing.

Exfoliation is essential to the health of the skin. Your skin has a natural cell turnover process in which it sheds its outermost layer. But as we age, this process slows down and dead skin is left to clog pores, make the skin appear dull, and can worsen the look of texture. Removing these dead skin cells is key in anti-aging, acne management, and skin brightening.

For more mature skin, assisting the skin with its shedding process is crucial. Long term exfoliation can assist in collagen production as well as helping minimize wrinkles and fine lines. Whether the goal is to focus on anti-aging or just deeper exfoliation, microderm is a great way to get there.

Microdermabrasion is also a great stimulant for blood and lymphatic flow. The vacuum of the microderm system not only removes wastes from the skin such as blackheads and clogged pores, it also gets the blood flowing to the tissue.

Extra blood flow is always a good thing. The vacuum gently sucks the skin, stimulating the motion of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is responsible for removing toxins from the body, aiding in the detoxification process and overall improving skin conditions.

Clients suffering from acne-prone skin will also benefit from this treatment. Dead skin cells can mix with dirt and sebum to clog pores, producing breakouts. Dealing with acne is always a little tricky. People with breakouts often tend to over strip the skin thinking this will help clear. The opposite is true. When the skin is over stripped, the oil glands compensate by producing more oil.

Microderm is a great way to exfoliate without stripping the skin. Keeping acne-prone skin exfoliated is very important. Using effective exfoliation techniques is proven to help not only with the cell turnover but also oil control.

Exfoliation is also a beneficial way to help our medical grade products penetrate and do their job. Skin can sometimes be a tough barrier to penetrate. Typically only a certain amount of product can pass through without the help of exfoliation removing the dead skin that would hinder the penetration process. This allows the skin to get the most it can possibly get out of each treatment.

When microdermabrasion is performed on a regular basis, people see the most improvements in their skin. Monthly to bi-monthly treatments are recommended. Microderm can be paired with other services to make it more powerful. At Advanced Laser Clinic, we most commonly pair it with light chemical peels, LED light therapy, infusion systems, and ultrasound.

Because it is such a safe and effective skin treatment, it is safe to say that microdermabrasion is here to stay. It can work wonders for all skin types. Microderm's exfoliation treatment provides customizable balanced exfoliation. This is essential maintenance for the health of the skin, aiding in all skincare routines. This staple in the esthetic industry will continue to give consistent and visible results for years to come.

Advanced Laser Clinic has a lot of success stories from clients who have achieved great results with microdermabrasion. Call 417-883-5400 today and schedule with Meagan before December 3rd to receive $15 off your next treatment.

Combat Melasma With Skin Rejuvenation

Melasma is a skin condition that effects many people. This frustrating darkening of the skin can affect women as well as men. You'll know it’s melasma when you see dark shadowing in patches on the forehead, cheeks, and upper lip. These patches will be a mirror image on each side of the face and flair up more in heat and with sun exposure.

Melasma occurs when the pigment producing cells of the skin, called melanocytes, begin to produce too much pigment. This leads to the development of large tan to brown patches on the skin.

This condition is sometimes called the “pregnancy mask” as it can occur due to increased amounts of female hormones due to pregnancy, or birth control. Sun exposure, heat, severe skin dryness, some cosmetics, and inflammation are other participating factors.

Melasma can occur in all skin tones, but is more common in patients with darker skin tones and it will sometimes be a more common occurrence within families.

Melasma lasts decades, so you will need a treatment plan that is lifelong. Treatment often begins with a skincare regimen composed of a daily sunscreen, moisturizers, and skincare brighteners.

Some of the more common skin brighteners include hydroquinone, vitamin C, azelaic acid, and vitamin A. Skin care regimens alone however, may not be the cure-all for the stubborn melasma.

It is found that chemical peels such as the Perfect Derma Peel for melasma works very well. The active ingredients are, TCA, Retinoic acid, Salicylic acid, Kojic acid, Phenol, Glutathione, and Vitamin C.

Another great option is micro needling treatments. This treatment uses needles to puncture the skin causing a controlled wound. This in turn will help shed the pigment that is surfaced and stuck in the upper dermal layers of the skin.

This causes increased blood supply to the area where new collagen and healthy cells form, allowing your skin’s texture to improve and reducing the appearance of melasma and other types of hyperpigmentation.

It might not be intuitive, but IPL or other laser treatments are not recommended and can sometimes worsen melasma, as it is exposed to both heat and light. Both elements risk having a high chance of causing a flare up within the skin, affecting the pigment which can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and potentially worsen the condition.

Our October special is a very effective way to treat melasma with skin rejuvenation in Springfield Missouri. We are combining micro needling with specific targeted treatments and products to address this frustrating condition. This package includes micro needling, a brightening Oxygeneo 3-in-1 super facial, and the Environ Youth EssentiA Vita-peptide serum for $500.

With cell turnover, you also have antioxidants that inhibit melanin production and brighten the skin. Oxygeneo brightening facials, microdermabrasion alongside a chemical peel will also assist in that added and necessary cell turnover and exfoliation.

Melasma is known to reoccur despite using chemical peels, micro needling, microdermabrasion, and other known treatments. Long term maintenance after treatment is very important. Using medical grade products and physical sunscreens must be done daily rain or shine.

If you are dealing with melasma, Advanced Laser Clinic is here to help. Call 417-883-5400 today and we can help determine what options are best for you.

Managing PCOS With Laser Hair Removal

September is PCOS Awareness Month and Advanced Laser Clinic would like to show our support with our September Laser Hair Removal special of Buy One Area Package and Get The Next Area Package 1/2 Off.

At Advanced Laser Clinic, we specialize in laser hair removal treatments for women that have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). With our 17 years of experience, we know that while PCOS is not curable, laser hair removal in Springfield Missouri can be an important part of managing one of the most frustrating symptoms: increased hair growth to the face and body.

It is important to have a clear understanding of the treatment and possible results before getting started. Here are a few things you need to know.

What Type Of Results Will I See If I Have PCOS?

In most cases, those that suffer with PCOS can achieve excellent results from laser hair removal. Since PCOS is caused by hormonal fluctuations that then cause the abnormal hair growth, a specialized laser hair removal treatment plan will achieve the best results. Typically, we see that women with PCOS will need more than the normal number of treatments, usually 6-9 over the course of their first year with 1-2 maintenance treatments each year after that.

Why Do PCOS Patients Need So Many Treatments?

Laser hair removal treatments can only treat or destroy hair follicles that are actively growing during each treatment cycle. The laser cannot change the internal hormone irregularities within the body, so new hair follicles can become active and cause new growth. Therefore, achieving permanent hair removal is not a reality, but with a treatment plan you will see results lasting weeks, months, to a year where you will not have to shave, tweeze, or wax. It is life changing for our PCOS patients.

Why Choose Advanced Laser Clinic?

At Advanced Laser Clinic, we will work with you to come up with a customized plan for all your laser hair removal needs. We will guide you through the process starting with a FREE consultation. During that consultation, our experienced technicians will walk you through how laser hair removal will work for you specifically. Advanced Laser clinic recognizes that each PCOS patient is different and we treat you accordingly.

Call us today at (417) 883-5400 to begin your journey to managing this symptom of PCOS. It will be life changing.

Environ Body Kit Delivers Skin Rejuvenation

If you've been to Advanced Laser Clinic, then you have probably heard our skin care experts raving about Environ. Environ is a medical grade skin care line that is focused on getting the most advanced ingredients into your skin. Including your body's skin. Some people think skincare starts and ends with the face.

But we have a whole body of skin that can have its own issues that need to be addressed with skin rejuvenation. The skin of your body could have sun damage, laxity, dryness, and bumpy texture. That's where the amazing body kit by Environ can help.

Environ’s preferred form of Vitamin A (plus Vitamins C and E along with Antioxidants and Peptides) can be used during the day to protect your skin from sun and environmental damage. These products boost your skin's own protection from UV rays.

The Environ body kit is made up of two highly active products:
Alpha Hydroxy Derm-Lac lotion - a “lotion” made up of Lactic Acid, Urea, and Ammonium Lactate
Vitamin A, C & E body oil - an oil that contains vitamins A, C and E and potent antioxidants

The Environ body kit was created to revitalize and nourish your skin from head to toe. Lactic acid that is contained in Derma-Lac, is known for its exfoliating and hydrating properties. Think about the bumps on the back of your arms. Using light Alpha Hydroxy, this product assists in the natural exfoliation on the skin. Leaving the skin smoother and will vastly improve texture. It’s better than scrubbing and causing irritation to the skin that has built up in these areas.

Vitamin A, C & E body oil contains vitamin A for the body. This is revolutionary. Vitamin A helps to normalize the skin. In essence, the cure all. Very few brands actually have vitamin A for the body. This oil has that and more.

It also features a free radical scavenging system consisting of essential antioxidants, beta carotene and vitamins C and E and hydrating B5. These ingredients work together to nourish and relieve the appearance of dry and sun damaged skin to deliver skin rejuvenation in Springfield Missouri.

Using this body kit is easy. Simply mix, or cocktail the two products together in your palm, and apply to the body, neck, and decollete. You may use more sparingly or just to areas of concern. To really boost the uptake of these products, use our home body cosmetic roller before application. This opens the skin slightly so more product can be absorbed. It’s truly amazing.

For a limited time, this body kit has been paired with the body roller, so you can the most out of these amazing products.

Whether you are dry, dehydrated from sunscreen use or have texture or pigment issues, this potent body kit can help. Call Advanced Laser Clinic today at (417) 883-5400 to reserve your body kit.