Ritacca Laser Center | Chicago | Vernon Hills | Gurnee

Regret That Tattoo? We Have A Resolution

drritacca — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 23:47:11 +0000

Ritacca Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Center has been successfully removing unwanted tattoos at our Vernon Hills, IL location for nearly 15 years - that’s quite a bit of experience!

Tattoos have existed and have been used as an expression of art by man for ages - and so have the techniques to remove them. Choosing the right laser for the right tattoo color is necessary for a successful outcome. Ritacca Laser Center has the most effective tattoo removal laser of present-day technology, the q-switched laser. Research studies have shown that the q-switched laser is the most effective in removing all pigments, mainly purple and violet.

The q-switch lasers are dedicated to the practice of tattoo removal; they are the gold standard in tattoo removal. The q-switched lasers are able to treat inks of multiple colors and depths of the skin. Ritacca Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Center has a good reputation among the tattoo artists in the Midwest for our pricing and technology for tattoo removal and we pride ourselves on our expertise.

Dr. Ritacca also selflessly devotes his time to removing former gang members’ tattoos from the Gang Outreach Program in Round Lake, IL. Our tattoo removal consultations are free. Call us to book you consultation today at 847-367-8815 or visit us online at www.ritaccalasercenter.com

We now introduce the Ultimate Photofacial!

drritacca — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 22:12:58 +0000

Photofacials, also known as BBL or IPL, are laser skin rejuvenation facials that decrease hyperpigmentation from sun spots, age spots, freckles, rosacea and more. The most typical areas treated are the face, hands, neck and decollete.

Lead aesthetician, Susie of Ritacca Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Center, has experienced fabulous results with our patients by evening out skin tone and texture with our BBL (BroadBand Light). However, there is always room for improvement for results ( I think our patients would agree).

The Ultimate Photofacial was designed to leave your skin exfoliated, cleansed and re-textured in just ONE treatment! How? First, a dermasweep is performed. A dermasweep safely exfoliates the dead skin that lies on our surface of our skin leaving a dull appearance. Second, a propeelMD or chemical peel is applied for deep cleansing in the pores. Lastly, a photofacial is performed for pigment correction and decreased fine lines - who doesn’t need the Ultimate Photofacial!?

Are you interested? Call Ritacca Laser Center today to schedule your appointment and learn how you can achieve amazing skin before summer!

Your Laser Hair Removal Questions Answered HERE

drritacca — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:55:11 +0000

With laser hair removal becoming so popular and more affordable everyday, I have run into a lot of people with all kinds of questions about the treatments and procedures. Here are a few, some of the most common that I’ve heard:

1. What’s the Biggest Advantage of Laser Hair Removal?
Being able to treat all body parts and leaving you hair-free as you always dreamed. Some popular areas are: face, lip, chin, arms, chest, back, legs, bottom and brazilian bikini. All of these areas can be safely and effectively treated for the right candidate.

2. Does Laser Hair Removal Hurt?
For the most part, it’s relatively painless. But, it really depends on your pain threshold, it can feel like snapping a small rubber-band against your skin. The good news is that there are topical ointments that can be use to help reduce or even eliminate the small amount of pain! All spas are different and what they offer for pain reduction. There always alternatives and options to make your experience a pleasant and effective one.

3. Are There Side Effects?
Most people have very few and little side effects. These are usually redness and some swelling in and around the treated areas. This will only last for a couple days then everything is back to normal. If you have darker skin, please consult with you technician or spa doctor to go over what other side effect you may incurr after the treatment. With up-to-dare equipment such as the GentleLASE, most skin and hair types can be treated with great results.

4. Will One Laser Hair Removal Treatment Work?
Not usually… as the hair on your body grows in different stages and for the treatments to work and do their job they have to target the ones in the growing stage. Since your hair doesn’t all grow at the same time, you will need multiple treatments to permanently reduce hair growth in that area. With the different treatments, you are targeting different hair follicles in their growth cycle.

These are just a few of the questions I’ve hear repeated over and over and yes… there are many more to answer! I am hoping that those will all be answered here in the near future!

Weight Loss and the Darker Hours

drritacca — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:46:57 +0000

July 4th doesn’t seem to long ago when the sun was setting around 920PM…warm weather and light still present added up to the ability to perform outside exercise to hours much later than you can do now. And it will continue to get darker earlier as well as chillier. If you were using the late lightness and warmth to get out and exercise, you will be dissuaded soon by the darker and colder environment.

I encourage our patients to do the morning exercise routine. This will tend to get you the exercise in before work when there is a greater chance that you will not feel too tired from having worked the entire day. Something as simple as a treadmill or elliptical machine at your house turns this into a 30 minute venture. When you have to go to a gym, brining a change, showering in a locker room, driving to the gym, etc becomes added on time.

Morning exercise will tend to invigorate most people and give them a positive boost to their day. If you wait for nighttime, the impending darker weather will dissuade you.

-Dr. Posner

How does the buttocks augmentation with fat injection that you offer differ from implants? Will I get the same results?

drritacca — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 22:52:51 +0000

Fat Transfer is the most commonly preferred way to enhance the buttocks, rather than implants, mainly because it is a less invasive procedure. A buttocks augmentation with fat typically provides a more natural look because it is the patient’s own tissue; provides less scarring and minimal down-time. Another added benefit is that patients get some additional body sculpting from the area of the body where the fat was removed. One of the biggest risks with implants is that your body may reject the implant, which can lead to many other complications. The results of both procedures are very similar; however, a fat transfer is a much more gradual, natural feeling and looking result.

-Lindsay Gerber, Patient Coordinator

What is the best way to treat melasma?

drritacca — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:58:32 +0000

There are several ways that you can successfully improve melasma; topically with physician prescribed skin care products as well as more aggressive treatments, such as chemical peels.

The “Gold Standard” for treating melasma topically is a combination of 4% hydroquinone bleaching cream and retinoic acids, as well as a dedicated use of broad spectrum sunscreens.

A comprehensive skin care regimen should be incorporated for optimal results. Active, physician-dispensed skin care products should include a glycolic acid facial wash to exfoliate the skin, and an antioxidant serum to help correct damaged cells.

Incorporating regular chemical peels can also help minimize the appearance of melasma. The Melanage Peel is a more aggressive peel that has been very successful in helping melasma patients achieve their goals faster. There are several days of down-time but the results have been amazing. The Melanage Peel is suitable for all skin types.

Additionally, because UVA light will stimulate pigment, avoiding direct sun exposure is crucial in attempting to improve melasma, as well as in maintaining results.

-Susan Carey, L.E.

Will chemical peels help treat acne?

drritacca — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 14:52:28 +0000

Light chemical peels are very common in treating mild acne and are the most superficial of all chemical peels. A chemical peel rapidly exfoliates the skin, allowing the dead skin cells to shed more efficiently, resulting in rejuvenated, glowing skin. This will also help keep the dead skin and oil from clogging pores and thus acne can be greatly reduced.

Chemical peels are also used to even out skin texture and discoloration from acne scars, as well as to soften fine lines and wrinkles.

-Lauren Thompson, L.E.

How do you know if you are a good candidate for liposuction?

drritacca — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:51:34 +0000

The best candidates are within 10-15 lbs of their ideal body weight. They ideally have localized collections of fat that are easily identifiable and can be approached with liposuction. You should have realistic expectations and understand that liposuction is a procedure meant to help sculpt the body in areas that have not responded to diet and exercise and does not serve as a weight-loss method.

-Allan Parungao, M.D.

How is Ultherapy different from Thermage? Which one is better?

drritacca — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 14:37:12 +0000

Ultherapy is a brand new category of treatment in aesthetics. Like Thermage, it uses energy to tighten the skin but in this case ultrasound is used, which allows us to focus the energy where it is needed most. Because of this precision, we are seeing great results, even to the point of the skin being lifted or shifted back into a more youthful position.

-Lindsay Gerber, Patient Coordinator

How many photofacials are typically necessary to see a good result?

drritacca — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:44:04 +0000

Four to six treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart, are typically necessary to see optimal results. A Visia analysis of the skin shows the depth of UVA damage in the skin. What we see on the surface, which usually presents as hyperpigmentation, melasma, and photodamaged skin, is really only part of the story. Each treatment with a photofacial addresses different levels of UVA damage. It is important to remember that the sun, aging and environmental stress will continue to stimulate that deeper pigment in the skin, so four to six treatments will give the patient a “clean slate”, at which point they can maintain their results with active skincare products and vigilant sun protection, in addition to limiting their direct UVA exposure.

-Susan Carey, L.E.