Plasmapen: Benign Skin Lesion Removal

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Plasmapen treatments are a non-surgical, safe, quick, cost-effective alternative to traditional surgical or chemical removal of skin tags and other non-cancerous skin imperfections e.g. seborrheic keratosis (Seb K).  It is precise and targets only the imperfection you wish to remove leaving surrounding healthy structures unaffected.  Your clinician will vapourise upper layers progressively and methodically working down to and leaving only healthy normal skin.

A plasmapen uses a controlled microbeam of plasma energy to create an electrical arc with a very high temperature (around 300 degrees).  At 300 degrees anything the arc touches turns to “plasma”.  The arc is directed to a needle sized area of skin, for a fraction of a second.  The arc vaporises or sublimates the top layer of the lesion (e.g. skin tag etc) turning the substance to plasma, leaving only carbon.  At the same time any vessels present are cauterised, eliminating the chance of spot bleeding.  Our clinician moves the pen across the lesion a millimetre at a time, progressively layer by layer turning the lesion into carbon.  Once a layer is treated the carbon remaining is wiped away with gauze to reveal the next layer.  The process is repeated until the lesion is completely removed and only healthy normal skin remains.

From a medical perspective, treatment of non-malignant sun or age-related imperfections by a plasmapen is a good alternative to having the growth removed by traditional methods, namely, local anaesthetic then scalpel and sutures, which can leave a visible scar.

Local anaesthetic is used, so there is little or no pain, downtime or inconvenience.  There may be some crusting or scabbing and a very small possibility of post inflammatory hypopigmentation which may need to be treated with steroidal creams.  The results are instantaneous.  We apply numbing creams (topical anaesthetics) and/or local anaesthetics to increase comfort.  It’s both quick and cost efficient compared to most alternative treatments.  All our plasmapen treatments are performed by trained medical / skin professionals.

Benefits

  • The pen produces a point of action less than a millimetre in diameter.  This allows our clinicians to target only the lesion you want removed.  The pen completely removes the tissue it touches.  What occurs afterwards is your normal skin healing process.

  • Downtime is low, and the healing process usually takes between 3 – 7 days.  In most cases, the treatment area can be covered with foundation or a small spot dressing, allowing patients to continue their normal daily activities.

  • The tiny and precise area of operation, and the process of removing individual layers one at a time, allows the operator to accurately target only the affected lesion.  Plasmapen treatments have few side effects, and the treatment area can be as small as the lesion being removed.  Any side effects experienced after treatment are generally minor and usually resolve themselves within 3 – 7 days after treatment once the scab has healed.

  • The plasmapen can be used on all skin types and most parts of the body.  It’s completely non-invasive and safe.  It’s effective in removing all defective, non-malignant skin lesions.  We are more cautious with treatments performed on patients with higher Fitzpatrick skin types as there is a greater risk of post-inflammatory hypopigmentation or hyperpigmentation.

Pricing

  • Single lesion: $150

  • Each additional lesion (same session): $25

 FAQs

  • Our treatment protocol involves the application of local anaesthetic to the treatment area.  After treatment, when the anaesthetic wears off, clients report no or very mild sensitivity in the treatment area.  Any sensitivity encountered is well tolerated by most patients.  If needed, clients can take Panadol as per manufacturer instructions to increase comfort.

  • The formation of a scab depends on several factors including the size and type of the lesion removed.   Any scab that forms will resolve itself naturally within four or five days.

  • Common side effects include some redness, dryness, tenderness and a small scab over the treatment site.  Less common side effects are infection or hyper / hypo pigmentation.  Most side effects resolve naturally without intervention.  If an infection persists, our Cosmetic Doctor may prescribe a low dose antibiotic cream or oral antibiotic.  Hyperpigmentation is rare and may be treated with a prescribed compounded lightening cream.

  • We don’t use our plasmapen to perform any functions other than removal of skin tags and non-malignant lesions.  We have other better modalities for skin tightening and improving skin tone and texture.

  • Our clinician will provide you with our post treatment plasmapen care plan and step you through all necessary after care.  As a minimum, we ask clients to apply a good sunscreen with a minimum of 30+ SPF to the area where your lesion has been removed for up to a month after treatment.  Clients should avoid tanning beds and spray tans for a few weeks post treatment and refrain from using anti-inflammatory medications (e.g. aspirin or ibuprofen / nurofen) for two weeks post treatment.

  • The lesion removed cannot return.  It has been vapourised and no longer exists other than as its individual elements.  However, other non-malignant skin structures can appear at any time, including to the previously plasma pen treated area.  The best protection against the growth and appearance of skin tags, moles etc is the consistent application of sunscreen and maintaining a good daily skin care routine.