Do you have a tattoo you regret, an embarrassing scar, or maybe you just feel like decorating yourself a little?
– You don't have to live your whole life with a problem that impairs your quality of life. Many problems are also often a bit taboo and not something you discuss in your circle of friends. Then it's easy to feel alone. For me, it's important to convey that there is a solution to the problems. Ailments that may have been there since late childhood can be gone within a few hours, says Elin Ovedal , a cosmetic nurse and intensive care nurse with special expertise in laser and IPL treatments.
Elin is one of the most experienced cosmetic nurses in the country, with over 20 years of experience in the field. The gentle southerner started Rogaland Laserklinikk in 2006, ran it until it was sold thirteen years later, and then chose to come to us at Stavanger Plastic Surgery.
“The goal is not perfectionism,” she emphasizes.
– But for many, small problems can grow into big ones, making people insecure, and thus controlling parts of their everyday lives. We can solve many of these problems. We see the need, and we want to help.
Laser too small, laser too big
For those involved in skin enhancement, lasers are perhaps the most important tool. In the right hands, lasers can be used for most types of skin enhancements: removing wrinkles, scars, stretch marks and other irregularities, treating large pores, visible blood vessels or pigment spots, removing hair and tattoos – or simply just to freshen up the skin. A special laser treatment, the so-called Mona Lisa Touch, even tightens the vagina. And few can do lasers better than Elin.
– We choose the laser and set it according to the task it will perform and what you can tolerate. For wrinkles, for example, we use fractional CO2 lasers that remove the top layer of tired or damaged skin. The skin will then grow back smoother, the damage is repaired and the skin becomes more elastic, she explains.
– But lasers also have their limitations, warns Elin, with a smile.
– When you are 60, your skin doesn't look like 25!
During the consultation beforehand, she is careful to explain what she thinks you can achieve, what is needed to get a good result, and what you can do to make the effect last longer.
– much can be improved
Many people also want Elin's help with scar removal.
– We can perform scar removal or improvement anywhere on the body, including the face. Different customers have different needs, but we can usually help. Not everything can be completely removed, but a lot can be improved, says Elin.
She says that self-harmers are part of the customer base, and she has something to contribute here as well.
– If the cuts are so deep that the scars are white, they may be difficult to remove, but the treatment will have a good effect on unevenness. We can also lighten spots and scars after injections.
Elin can also help with surgical scars.
– Here, the patient must wait until at least six months have passed after the procedure before we can do anything. Skin that forms keloids, an overgrowth of scar tissue that appears as nodules or larger areas that rise above the skin surface and beyond the original wound, can become unsightly. Therefore, it is important that we do a proper assessment in advance, she explains.
– We can even treat scars after cesarean sections, but it must be considered whether the area on the sides needs liposuction first.
Sun, acne and hair
Raised on "the soft coastal strip," Elin is no stranger to the effects of the sun's life-giving rays.
– We Norwegians love the sun, but not as much about applying protection. That's why we see and treat a lot of sun damage and pigment spots. Pigment spots are often treated with IPL (Intense Pulse Light), she says.
– The same applies to rosacea, or if you are red for other reasons. This can also be combined with laser.
She also deals with some acne problems, but recommends taking it slow.
– If we bring someone in with acne, we don't touch it while the acne is active. Large pores or "holes in the skin," also require some treatment before we can use the laser, but this can also be improved.
In addition, lasers can be effectively used for hair removal – all over the body.
– And, she smiles.
– Hair treatments are also for men.
Tattoo removal
Tattoos are popular, but not always well thought out, which is why Elin notices a lot of demand on the removal front.
– Some want them completely removed, others just want to tone them down in advance of a cover-up. But remember that cover-up tattoos on top of laser-treated skin are even harder to remove! She says this for a reason: the same people come in time after time to have tattoos removed.
– Color is more difficult to remove than black. This is because black easily absorbs energy from the laser. Removing yellow and pink, on the other hand, is almost impossible. In any case, it is a good idea to allow plenty of time, as the treatment almost always has to be performed several times. It is not something you start with the week before the wedding!
The removal itself is easy and relatively quick. If you want anesthesia, you can apply Emla cream at home one hour before. However, you will not be able to eliminate all pain; unfortunately, removing a tattoo is not without discomfort – but no worse than most people manage it just fine.
– The treatment can cause up to 2nd degree burns, which look bad, but it will eventually heal completely. After 4-6 weeks, you are ready for the next treatment.
She says that since 2001, a lot has happened on the tattoo front: there was bad stuff in the beginning, but the technology is significantly better now.
– Customers should look for practitioners who use the latest technology; this is a clue as to whether they are up to date. Several clinics still use old laser technology for tattoo removal, but those who are up to date know that picosecond lasers are the ones to use.
Injections and fillers
Elin can do more than just use lasers; she is also an expert in injection treatments* and fillers. The former is injected to paralyze the muscles in the forehead, eyebrows and around the eyes, which in turn removes wrinkles. The treatment may need to be repeated, with 3-4 months between each treatment at first, but eventually it will not be needed more often than 1-2 times a year. For treatment of sweating, the injection* is injected under the arms, in the abdomen and on the hands. It can also be used for clients who grind their teeth, and for tension headaches.
Fillers are used purely cosmetically.
– They are used wherever you need volume, typically lips, or in the area from the nose to the jawbone. It tightens the skin by stretching it, explains Elin, adding that sometimes instead of injecting fillers, she refers you to a plastic surgeon.
Not for everyone
Not everyone who wants it should be treated, and then Elin lets us know.
– Not everything can or should be done, and we can't perform magic. We reject some people because they are already fine and treatment is simply unnecessary. Then we are careful to tell them that, she says.
– We never use injections and fillers on people under the age of 18, and if laser treatment is required, such as scar correction or tattoo removal, it is always done in collaboration with guardians. She emphasizes that these are cases where the patient/customer is particularly affected or inhibited by what they may want to remove.
– But as I said; we see a need and we want to help. For me personally, the motivation is that I like working with people and find it incredibly fun to meet new people, she smiles warmly.
*) In injection treatment of wrinkles, a prescription drug is used. Patients must therefore be assessed by a doctor before the first treatment. After assessment and approval by our doctor, you can book an appointment directly in online booking.
