When it comes to skin, we have you covered—VISIA, VECTRA, and full body skin check
Posted on Fri, Aug 26, 2011
By Bayardo Aviles, Marné CarMichael Walsh, and Zoe Johnson
Dr. Stover’s Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii has the most comprehensive and technically advanced skin care diagnostic tools in the state—the only practice with VECTRA X3 3D simulation. Whether it is the skin surface or below we have multiple options to analyze and treat your complexion in the most effective way.
VISIA Complexion Analysis
I remember the days when we used to take before and after pictures with a Polaroid camera. I look at those pictures today and compare them to the pictures generated from the VISIA Complexion Analysis Imaging System (VISIA) and I tell myself, we sure have come a long way. The VISIA has become the gold standard for capturing before and after pictures in state of the art cosmetic surgery offices. However, the most important feature of the VISIA is that it allows skin care specialists to track multiple characteristics of the skin over time and to design a customized treatment plan to improve areas of concern. After capturing a patient’s image, it compares it to thousands of other pictures of patients of the same age, sex and skin type and gives it a score relative to them. The VISIA tracks:
- Spots - Any visible spots on the surface of the skin such as brown spots, moles, pimples and acne blemishes
- Pores - Identifies large pores
- Wrinkles - Identifies and outlines small fine lines and wrinkles as well as deeper wrinkles
- Texture - The texture score is a measure of the overall smoothness of the skin
- Porphyrins - Identifies pockets of acne causing bacteria
- UV Spots - It allows patients and clinicians to see sun damage underneath the skin
Based on the analysis, we design a treatment plan and monitor progress by taking identical pictures during follow up appointments. If progress is noticeable and appropriate for the chosen treatment plan, no changes are made. However, if minimal changes are observed, the treatment plan can be adjusted. This feature is invaluable because it really confirms the saying that “a picture is worth a 1000 words” and it really gives me great pleasure to see the patients’ reactions when they can see the improvement with their own eyes.
Complimentary VISIA consultations are available at all three of our Hawaii offices.
VECTRA
Do you ever wonder what you’ll look like AFTER the procedure you’re considering? That’s always the big question in people’s mind – How will I look when this is all over? A picture is worth a thousand words, and in this case, possibly even more, since the “after” images are of you specifically, not other patients who have had similar treatments.
With our VECTRA 3D system, we take a photo of your face or body, depending on which procedure you’re considering. After the 180-degree image is captured, the system renders it pixel by pixel into the accompanying software. Then, we manipulate the image to simulate your results in procedures ranging from laser skin resurfacing, facelift and rhinoplasty to breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tucks and more. The 3D simulator even includes skin textures so you can see what changes would result after your treatment with fillers or skin resurfacing.
As Dr. Stover works on building the image you desire, useful discussions result: the software offers the unique opportunity to very clearly communicate how your expectations will fit with your likely results. We even print out a copy of your “before” side by side with your simulated “after” image for you to take home!
Complimentary VECTRA consultations are available in our Waimea office only.
Full Body Skin Check
Who should get a full body skin check and what is it?
A full body skin check is a visual examination of the skin on one’s body. This includes the body, face, scalp, hands, feet and genital area. Everyone should perform his or her own full body skin check every 2 months for 2 minutes. It is important to get to know the different moles on your body because this gives you a baseline of the types of moles that are on your body. How else would you know if a mole is changing unless you checked it regularly?
It is also recommended that you get a professional full body skin check periodically from your health care provider in order to confirm that the moles you have are normal. How often a professional check should be performed can range from 6 months to 5 years, depending on personal history, family history, and the number, type, and character of the moles on your body. Mole mapping with photography or manual measurements are the two most accurate methods to document moles.
When your health care provider checks your skin, it is helpful to wear your bathing suit if you are shy. If there is a mole on the genital area or buttocks, you should point it out specifically to your physician during your full body skin check as most physicians will inquire rather than put you through such an invasive exam. The main objective of the physician directed skin check is to look for skin cancers but other pre-cancerous and suspicious lesions are often found during the exam. It is helpful to find and treat these early precursors because the treatments are often very minor compared to larger excisions required to remove them once they turn into a skin cancer.
Full body skin exams are available at all three of our Big Island offices and are covered by HMSA and HMAA.
In summary:
- VISIA – for skin analysis
- VECTRA – for 3D images to show desired results
- Full-body Skin Check – for identification of pre-cancerous spots
