Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor

✨ Skin rejuvenation with Fotona StarWalker — combining FracTAT® + Nd:YAG

At Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor, we can combine different StarWalker technologies to target pigmentation, uneven skin tone and overall skin quality.

FracTAT® delivers very high-energy fractional pulses into tiny microscopic points within the skin, producing a predominantly photoacoustic rather than thermal effect. Depending on the settings used, it can create microscopic fractional channels while stimulating skin renewal and keratinocyte turnover. Because we are limiting unnecessary heat, this can be particularly useful when treating difficult pigment conditions such as melasma. (Fotona⁠)

We then combine this with the 1064 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG wavelength from the Fotona StarWalker.

The Nd:YAG penetrates deeper into the skin and uses short, high-energy pulses to selectively fragment unwanted melanin. Fotona protocols also use 1064 nm Nd:YAG modes to address some of the vascular and inflammatory components that can contribute to melasma, while promoting collagen remodelling and overall skin rejuvenation. (Fotona⁠)

Together, the aim is not simply to “resurface” the skin.

It is a more targeted approach to:

✨ Uneven pigmentation
✨ Melasma
✨ Sun-related pigmentation
✨ Skin tone and texture
✨ Enlarged pores
✨ Overall skin rejuvenation

Melasma is complex and recurrence is common, so treatment needs to be conservative and individualised — particularly when heat, sun exposure and inflammation can all aggravate pigmentation.

Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor
Fotona StarWalker laser treatments

✨ Eyebrow Tattoo Removal with the Fotona StarWalker ✨

Eyebrow tattoo removal is something we see more and more in clinic. Over time, cosmetic tattooing can fade, change colour, become uneven, or simply no longer suit the shape or style you want.

At Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor, I use the Fotona StarWalker to selectively target tattoo pigment while trying to minimise unnecessary damage to the surrounding skin.

The interesting thing with eyebrow tattoos is that they aren’t always made from one simple pigment. Cosmetic tattoo inks can contain combinations of black, brown, red, orange and other pigments, and different colours can respond differently to laser treatment.

The StarWalker delivers extremely short pulses of laser energy into the tattoo pigment. That energy breaks the larger pigment particles into much smaller fragments, which the body can then gradually clear through its natural processes.

Sometimes we’ll see a darker component respond first, while warmer red or orange tones become more noticeable as treatment progresses. Certain cosmetic pigments can also temporarily change colour after laser exposure, which is one of the reasons we assess the tattoo carefully and generally work progressively rather than trying to remove everything aggressively in one session.

Most eyebrow tattoos require a series of treatments, with adequate healing time between sessions. How many treatments someone needs depends on the pigment used, how deeply it was implanted, how much ink is present, how old the tattoo is and how their individual skin responds.

For some people, the goal is complete removal. For others, we simply want to lighten an old tattoo enough to allow a new shape or colour to be created.

Every eyebrow tattoo is different, so assessment before treatment is really important.

— Sharon
Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor

LaserTattooRemoval NewcastleNSW EyebrowTattoo

✨ Why I Choose Fractional Laser Once a Year ✨

One of my favourite treatments for my own skin is fractional laser with the Fotona Dynamis, particularly across the neck and décolletage.

These areas can often show ageing earlier than the face; with sun damage, pigmentation, fine lines, crepey texture and a gradual loss of firmness.

I personally have this treatment around once a year, and I love the improvement I see in the overall quality and texture of my skin.

Fractional laser works by creating thousands of controlled microscopic treatment zones in the skin. This stimulates the skin’s natural repair process and works on multiple levels:

• At the surface, it helps refresh the epidermis and improve uneven texture, pigmentation and sun-damaged skin.
• Deeper within the dermis, the heat stimulates new collagen production and remodelling, helping improve firmness, fine lines and that crepey appearance we often notice across the neck and chest.

Over the following weeks and months, the skin continues to regenerate and strengthen, which is why the result isn’t simply a temporary glow — we’re encouraging the skin to remodel itself.

For women wanting to rejuvenate the neck and décolletage, I think this is an area that should never be forgotten when we’re treating the face.

I love maintaining my own skin with this treatment, and for me, once-a-year fractional resurfacing is a great way to keep improving skin quality over time.

Sharon

CollagenRemodelling LaserResurfacing NewcastleCosmeticDoctor NewcastleSkin

MELASMA | FRACTIONAL LASER TREATMENT ✨

Melasma is one of the more challenging forms of pigmentation because it isn’t simply caused by sun exposure — it is influenced by a combination of UV light, visible light, heat, hormones and genetics.

Common triggers can include:
☀️ Sun and UV exposure
🔥 Heat exposure
🤰 Pregnancy and hormonal changes
💊 Hormonal medications
🧬 Genetic predisposition
🌡️ Inflammation or irritation of the skin

In this treatment, Dr Bart is using the fractional scanner on Sharon’s cheek with the Fotona Dynamis.

Fractional laser works by delivering the laser energy in thousands of controlled microscopic treatment zones rather than treating the entire skin surface at once. This stimulates controlled skin renewal and can help improve uneven pigmentation, texture, sun damage and overall skin quality while leaving surrounding skin intact to support recovery.

Melasma does require a careful and conservative approach. Excessive heat or aggressive laser treatment can actually stimulate melanocytes and make melasma darker, which is why treatment settings, skin type and the individual pattern of pigmentation need to be assessed before treatment.

For many patients, the best approach is a combination of:
• Strict daily broad-spectrum SPF
• Visible-light protection, particularly tinted/iron-oxide sunscreen
• Prescription or medical-grade pigment treatments where appropriate
• Carefully selected laser treatments
• Ongoing maintenance and trigger management

Melasma usually isn’t a condition we promise to “cure” — the aim is to control the pigment, improve its appearance and reduce recurrence over time.

📍 Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor
👨‍⚕️ Dr Bart Scanlon
⚡ Fotona Dynamis Fractional Laser

NewcastleCosmeticDoctor NewcastleNSW SkinRejuvenation LaserTreatment

✨ Treating Sunspots & Pigmentation with Fotona StarWalker ✨

This lovely client has a number of solar lentigines; commonly known as sunspots — across the face, caused by cumulative sun exposure over time.

Using the Fotona StarWalker, we can selectively target the larger and darker areas of pigmentation to help create a clearer, more even-looking skin tone.

The laser energy is absorbed by the excess melanin within the sunspot, breaking the pigment into smaller particles. Immediately after treatment, the spots will often appear darker before forming a fine, superficial crust.

Over the following 5–7 days, that treated pigment gradually comes to the surface and flakes away naturally. It’s important not to pick or scrub the areas during this process and to allow the skin to heal in its own time.

The StarWalker is particularly effective for treating suitable superficial pigmentation and solar lentigines in Fitzpatrick skin types I–III, allowing us to precisely target individual spots while minimising unnecessary treatment of the surrounding skin.

Some pigmentation may require more than one treatment, and daily SPF 50+ sun protection is essential afterwards to help minimise further sun damage and recurrence.

📍 Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor
⚡ Fotona StarWalker Laser
☀️ Pigmentation & Sunspot Treatments

LaserPigmentation NewcastleNSW

Perioral lines around the mouth are a common part of ageing, but treatment doesn’t always need to be about simply filling the lines.

At Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor, we can use Fotona intraoral laser treatment from inside the mouth to gently heat the deeper tissues and stimulate your own collagen and elastin. This helps improve support from within, which can gradually strengthen the skin and tissue around the mouth.

The treatment is generally very comfortable, with no significant pain. The mouth can feel a little dry afterwards, but there is usually minimal downtime.

For a more complete approach, intraoral treatment can also be layered with other Fotona treatments depending on the skin and the degree of ageing, including:

• Laser peel around the mouth
• Fractional laser resurfacing
• Smooth Mode treatment

By combining treatment from both inside and outside the mouth, we can target different levels of the skin and support gradual improvement in fine lines, skin quality and firmness.

The aim is to stimulate your own collagen and elastin and improve the integrity of the dermis over time, rather than simply chasing individual lines.

Treatment recommendations are tailored to each patient following consultation.

Sharon Leayr
Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor
Newcastle, NSW

Sun damage and ageing often don’t stop at the face. The neck, chest and décolletage can also develop pigmentation, uneven skin tone, fine lines and loss of collagen and elastin over time.

In this treatment, Sharon is working on a fair-skinned patient with visible sun damage across the upper chest and décolletage.

The first step is targeting areas of pigmentation using the Fotona StarWalker laser. This is followed by fractional laser treatment with the Fotona Dynamis to help improve overall skin texture, fine lines and stimulate collagen remodelling.

The patient also has a previous skin cancer scar in the area, which Sharon will carefully treat with the aim of improving the appearance and texture of the scar.

Treatment is always tailored to the individual patient, their skin type, degree of sun damage and treatment goals.

If you are concerned about sun damage, pigmentation or ageing of the neck and décolletage, a consultation is the best place to start.

Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor
Laser treatments with Sharon

Broken capillaries around the nose are one of the most common vascular concerns we treat at Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor.

In this treatment, Sharon is using the Fotona Dynamis to target the visible vessels around the nose, followed by a light fractional laser treatment across the entire face.

The fractional component helps improve overall skin tone and texture, leaving the skin looking smoother, fresher and more refined. Many patients also notice that makeup sits more evenly once the surface texture of the skin has improved.

But the benefits are not only on the surface. Fractional laser treatment also stimulates and remodels collagen and elastin within the skin, helping support longer-term skin rejuvenation, firmness and overall skin quality.

A great combination treatment when you want to address both visible redness and the broader tone, texture and quality of the skin.

Treatments are tailored individually following consultation.

Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor
Fotona Dynamis Laser Treatments

Thinking about laser treatment at Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor?

Sharon is available for laser consultations to talk you through the treatment, what to expect, skin preparation, downtime and whether the treatment is right for you.

We currently have six online bookings available for new-client laser consultations.

For laser treatments, a consultation is required before treatment and is completed on a separate day. This gives you time to prepare your skin if needed, plan for downtime and, most importantly, have time to think about the treatment before deciding to go ahead.

If you have previously had laser treatment with us within the last two years, you may not require another consultation.

If you have had laser previously with Sharon, feel free to message the clinic through social media or call us and we can help organise the appropriate booking.

Sharon
Newcastle Cosmetic Doctor

Two laser treatments, one complete skin-rejuvenation session ✨

Sharon begins with a targeted vascular laser treatment using the Fotona Dynamis, focusing on broken capillaries around the nose, with additional treatment to areas of redness on the cheeks and chin.

This treatment targets visible facial vessels and can help reduce the appearance of broken capillaries, redness and uneven skin tone.

She then performs a fractional laser treatment. The laser creates controlled microscopic channels through the epidermis and into the dermis, stimulating the skin’s natural healing response and encouraging new collagen and elastin production.

In the short term, the skin may appear smoother, brighter and more even once the initial healing has settled.

Over the longer term, collagen remodelling can help improve skin texture, fine lines, enlarged pores, sun damage and overall firmness.

Downtime is generally around seven days, although this varies depending on the depth of treatment, individual skin type and how reactive the skin is. Strict sun protection is essential while the skin heals and should remain part of your ongoing skincare routine.

Every treatment is adjusted to the individual and their skin concerns.