Dr. Kratschmer named Houston Top Doc 2014

 

Congrats Dr. Kratschmer for being named one of Houston Top Docs 2014!

Why Smartlipo Triplex is BETTER than traditional liposuction

1Sasaki, Gordon H. MD, FACS, “Clinical experience with the SideLaze800 fiber and the 1440nm wavelength Smartlipo TriPlex workstation for facial contouring.” 2012 White Paper. 12 patient study. Data on file.

We LOVE Feedback, Another Happy Client!

Very knowledgeable staff. It was quick and pretty easy!

Laser Sweat Gland Ablation: Frequently Asked Questions

How does Sweat Gland Ablation treatment for hyperhidrosis work?

The procedure is performed using a very small cannula (or tube about the size of the tip of a pen) which is inserted under the skin.  This canula has a proprietary laser fiber inside of it, the design of which allows the laser energy and heat to be directed upward toward the undersurface of the skin, directly at the sweat glands (and hair follicles).  The laser then destroys the sweat glands in the treatment area.

What are the advantages of Dr. Kratschmer's Sweat Gland Ablation treatment for hyperhidrosis over conventional solutions for excessive underarm sweating?

Other treatment options include topicals, injections of Botox, and traditional surgical options.  Many of these options result in recurrence and compensatory sweating.  As opposed to traditional surgical methods, Precision TX™ is a minimally-invasive, in-office procedure for which only a local anesthetic is required.  Only one treatment is needed.  Since the sweat glands are destroyed, it is a long-lasting solution.

Can anyone have Sweat Gland Ablation treatment for hyperhidrosis?

Anyone with an excessive sweating condition is a candidate for this treatment, however, we recommend a consultation with Dr. Kratschmer to evaluate your specific needs.

How many Sweat Gland Ablation treatments for hyperhidrosis are required to achieve the desired results?

Only one treatment is necessary to address the excessive sweating condition.

Does a Sweat Gland Ablation treatment for hyperhidrosis hurt?

There is little discomfort associated with the treatment for excessive sweating as patients are treated with a local anesthetic to numb the treatment areas.

Are there any side effects associated with Sweat Gland Ablation treatment for hyperhidrosis?

Since this is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, after the treatment there will be some swelling and a little soreness that can last about a week.  Patients are able to return to normal activities almost immediately.

How long does the treatment take?

On average, the procedure will take less than one hour.

How long do the treatment results last?

Since the sweat glands are destroyed, the results are long-lasting.

Will there be scarring?

The incision sites will be very small and hidden in skin folds of the underarms.  Therefore, in addition to not being in obvious locations, with proper care, any scar should be barely noticeable.  Dr. Kratschmer will evaluate your skin type and provide information on scar prevention.

How much does the Sweat Gland Ablation treatment cost?

Our pricing for this procedure starts at $2,100.  We offer convenient monthly payment plans through CareCredit.

Watch Dr. Kratschmer perform a Laser Sweat Gland Ablation procedure.

How much do you know? Online Resources to make you a Botox Expert

Botox can offer many great benefits to just about anyone’s anti-aging regimen. If you want to learn everything you possibly can about Botox and what it can do for you, call Chic Esthetiq Med Spa & Laser at (713) 909-3088 and check out these resources:

• Read this interesting article from Self Magazine to learn the importance of seeking Botox treatments from a qualified med spa.
• The Mayo Clinic explains what Botox is and why it’s used.
• Take a look at the top seven benefits of Botox as compiled by MagForWomen.com
• HowStuffWorks.com has more information about Botox.
• ModernMedicine.com explains why not all Botox treatments are created equal; only Botox and Dysport are proven to be safe and effective.

Happy Client Review!

Staff was friendly and accommodating. The office was quite comfortable. Overall, the visit was very good.

The Science Behind ACell + PRP Hair Regeneration

Dr. Robert Kratschmer has been using ACell+ PRP  (Platelet Rich Plasma) injections to help the growth of the native hair in areas of loss.   ACell is a product that is FDA approved to help wound healing. PRP is your own blood product with a higher concentration of growth factors that seem to stimulate the hair follicle.  They are both common treatments in other areas of medicine (eg. dental, dermatology, other surgical specialties including plastic/reconstructive surgery), but it is only recently that they have started to be used and combined in the treatment of premature hair loss in men and women.  

This combination injection therapy has shown some early success in regrowing hair that is in the early to mid stages of the hair loss process (i.e. before the scalp has lost the majority of its hair). Good clinical data for hair growth as a result of ACell and PRP  hair regrowth injections is still in the works, so the duration of the effect, dosing, and which patients it works best for are all still unknown, which is why any use of this treatment should still be considered experimental.

There seem to be no adverse reactions other than mild pain or bleeding at the injection sites, and the whole treatment takes under two hours.  It does not require a long recovery period (i.e. no more so than a dental visit).  Some plastic surgeons have found that a second series of injections about 6 months after the first is beneficial, but a single treatment may also have good results by itself.

Despite the lack of high-quality trial data, results from clinical studies have been encouraging, and PRP administration remains an attractive strategy given its cost-effective and minimally invasive nature.

We have included a list of references (they are very technical – sorry!) for those of you who might like to read up on this relatively new treatment.  If you are interested in Acell/PRP injections, you should meet with Dr. Kratschmer to get her opinion on whether or not this treatment has a good chance of helping you and to review the pros and cons.  We look forward to seeing the results of the new application of this treatment in hair and to watching the science continue to evolve!

References:

1) Fernandez-Barbero JE, Galindo-Moreno P, Avila-Ortiz G, Caba O, Sanchez-Fernandez E, Wang HL. Flow cytometric and morphological characterization of platelet-rich plasma gel. Clin Oral Implants Res. 2006;17:687–693.
2) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2609914/
3) Miao, Y MD et al.. Promotional effect of PRP on Hair Follicle Reconstitution in Vivo. Derm Surg 2013;39:1868-1876.