ATLANTA, Sept 9 The government's "Cash for Clunkers" program may have ended, but financial incentives for improving health and appearance are still available.
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Georgia's DeKalb Surgical Associates' "Cash for Crow's Feet" program offers a top-of-the-line skin rejuvenation and repair procedure - fractional laser treatment - at half the typical cost, said Dr. David R. Fern, FACS. Dr. Fern and the Vein & Skin Laser Center are affiliated with DeKalb Surgical Associates, a multi-specialty practice in the Atlanta area that serves patients throughout the southeast. "Our 'whole-face at half-off' philosophy is in response to all the factors at play in the current economic environment," said Dr. Fern. "Patients who may have lost their jobs or are 'reinventing' themselves in new positions or as entrepreneurs starting new businesses need to look their best. And some are using this opportunity to treat long-standing skin and vein problems that need medically correcting."
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The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reported recently that professional women, in particular, see procedures such as skin rejuvenation treatments as "employment insurance" to stay or become competitive in their careers. Total cosmetic procedures and minimally-invasive cosmetic procedures have increased since 2007 (3% and 5%, respectively), while more involved surgical cosmetic procedures are down 9% overall. (See http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/aacs/36867/) "Staying youthful-looking is still a priority for people," said Dr. Fern, "especially when the treatment options are effective - and affordable."
One of the more popular skin rejuvenation treatments available today is the minimally-invasive fractional laser treatment ActiveFX, which uses the latest-generation Lumenis laser. The procedure is used to treat scars, age spots, melasma ("mask of pregnancy"), and wrinkles. A high-energy laser beam interacts with the skin's surface, causing the upper layer to peel off and regenerate a layer of new, healthy skin. The "fractional" pattern leaves small bridges of untouched skin, resulting in a much quicker healing process. "For most patients, ActiveFX can be done on the entire face with one treatment lasting less than an hour," said Dr. Fern.
Fractional laser treatments range from $2,000 to $6,000 nationwide. DeKalb Surgical Associates' "Cash for Crow's Feet" incentive offers the ActiveFX treatment for $1,750, compared to its normal cost of $3,500.
Dr. Fern and the Center also offer several types of non-surgical treatments for vein problems, including the VNUS Closure radio-frequency procedure (as seen on "Good Morning America" on September 3, 2009), laser therapy, and injection schlerotherapy. Dr. Fern is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and was in the charter class for Board certification in phlebology, which has only 248 diplomates nationwide. He has been involved in the treatment of skin diseases, skin cancer, melanoma, and vein surgery for 30 years.
The Center offers a free initial consultation with Dr. Fern and certified aesthetician Jigna Naik. For more information, call 404-508-4320.
SOURCE DeKalb Surgical Associates
