The 550 filter is commonly used during the first procedure to target 
the shallow vessels. Later they should increase the filtration to 
570, 590, and 645nm, sometimes higher.

The ispropyl alcohol irritated the skin enough to cause the shallow 
and intermediate vessels to flush. This is great. Later on, when 
deeper feed vessels are targeted with higher filters, you can induce 
dilation in the deeper vessels by drinking a couple of cups of hot 
coffee while waiting for the numbing cream to take effect. Let the 
beverage cool just enough that it doesn't burn your mouth. Then take 
deep sips, and hold the hot beverage in you mouth before swallowing, 
then take another sip. I can assure you that this technique is quite 
effective. 

My thanks to Dr Nase for mentioning this in page 184 of his book, and 
to Brian for bringing it to my attention ~ as fortune would have it, 
right before my TX 13, which targeted the deep feeder vessels and 
thermoregulatory shunt vessels via 695nm filter and YAG 1064nm laser.

~Jim

**********************************************************
Hi everyone,
I am sitting here at work, Mon a.m. I had my first photoderm 
treatment on Saturday in Melbourne, FL, by Dr. Steve Pindiak. I got 
his name from one of you and he is also on the Dr. Bitter trained 
list. I had a consult with him prior to setting up this treatment. I 
could not wait to get in this morning and write to you all. I know 
you guys will understand.

I get there an hour early so they can put on the numbing cream. I 
said to the assistant, wait, won't this affect my procedure..due to 
constricting my blood vessels, etc. This fact, I got from you all. 
She said NO, we wash it off before your treatment. Obviously, she did 
not understand my question. The doctor was in a room treating someone 
else, so I did not push the issue. I let her put it on. My face 
turned cold and WHITE. I decide to relax, and tell myself the doctor 
must know what he is doing.

About a half an hour later, I go to wash the numbing cream off with 
water, I cannot feel my skin on my face.. that was nice...no burning 
feeling. Wish we could put this stuff on when we are in pain from a 
flare! My face was pretty white too. I could still see a few of my 
bigger veins, they were still red. 

I then go in the room for the procedure. I asked Dr. Pindiak about 
the numbing cream and the constriction of my blood vessels..I could 
see my white nose from the corner of my eye. He said yes, some of the 
creams constrict, but not this one. Hmm, I sure looked white. He 
turned the machine on, which had a computer on top. He said, darn 
this thing is out of water. GREAT!! It had to happen on the day I was 
getting treatment. He said he had to add water, and has not done that 
before, it may take a minute. Here I am watching him struggle with 
this task.. 
I was so nervous. I had to keep calming myself. He assures me that 
when he is done, the computer would do alot of diagnostic testing and 
would never let the photderm function if it was not ready. OK, I felt 
better. 

He booted it up fine. He applied some alcohol to my face to make it 
flush. Normally, I would have been beat red with the anxiety, and 
being warm.. so I really feel like the cream was constricting my 
blood vessels. I am not sure if the alochol made me flush..I could 
not feel anything. He then applied the cooling cream and began to 
zap. I could feel it. I couldn't imagine how it would feel without 
the numbing cream!

The skin between my lip and nose was the most sensitive. I jumped. It 
took about 30 minutes of zapping and I was done. He had told me 
throughout the procedure that my face was responding just fine. 

When we finished, I was afraid to look in the mirror. I did, and I 
looked FINE. Probably because the numbing cream was still 
constricting 
my vessels.. not sure.

I was fine all day, then at night I looked a little red and swollen. 
i was almost glad, because it didn't look or feel like I just had my 
whole face lasered (for lack of a better word). I thought about the 
person that posted about the photoderm that did not do anything to 
her skin because it was not set high enough.

Today, I seem less flarey. I am not sure how I feel. I am ecstatic 
that I do not have blisters and welts, which is what I was afraid 
of... but my face feels really good. 

I will keep you all posted. I plan to have 3 total, that was the 
package deal. My next one is June 2. I feel like the whole thing was 
no big deal...why did I stress so much??!!!

Oh yeah, he used 550 filter all over..and said if we miss any deeper 
veins, he may get those with a laser. So I am thinking, that even if 
the filter was not high enough, he will get them next time. Overall, 
I felt like he was caring and listened to me, and maybe being on the 
conservative side is better at first. I can always get more!