AST - Advanced Surgical Technologies

Real Patient Stories

Laura Matkin

Doctor: Dr. Gregory Nikolaidis Westlake Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery Austin, Texas www.westlakedermatology.com Back in the Game As an avid soccer player and a busy soccer referee, Laura Matkin has spent a lot of time in the hot Texas sun. She recently turned 50 and wanted a way to reverse the sun damage and restore a more youthful appearance. When she's not playing soccer, being a soccer referee or taking college classes toward a degree in Organization Communication, Laura likes to jog, spend time with her 22-year-old daughter, read fashion magazines and watch foreign films. Laura entered the "Make 50 the New 40 with Fraxel® Laser Treatment" contest to erase her skin damage and build up her self-esteem. "Fresh skin would really boost my spirits," she says. Fraxel Laser Treatment Laura's first treatment on her face, neck and chest left her with some swelling, redness and slight burning. The tingling disappeared after a few hours and the swelling continued to decrease over the next couple of days. Laura started to notice the positive results quickly. The crease of her smile line had diminished and lines under her eyes and between her eyebrows were fading. Her face continued to look sunburned, but she was excited about the prospect of her next treatment. "Dr. Nikolaidis was terrific, and his staff was very attentive," says Laura. After her second treatment, Laura really started to notice significant improvements in her skin. "The wrinkles around my eyes had really been reduced, especially the vertical lines," recalls Laura. Even better, the second treatment produced very little swelling, which left Laura eager to see the end results of her treatment regimen. The third treatment brought even more progress. Her skin was getting firmer and appearing even smoother than after her second treatment. The skin above her upper lip, which was a focal point of concern for her, was greatly improved. She also began to see fewer large freckles and sun spots, and the skin on her neck and chest looked and felt prettier and more youthful. With three treatments complete and one more to go, Laura has seen a remarkable difference in her sun-damaged skin. And that has given her self confidence a big boost. "I have always felt and thought 'young,' but now I look youthful as well," says Laura. Gregory A. Nikolaidis, M.D. - Dermatologist Dr Nikolaidis received his dermatology specialty training at the University of California San Diego, after a pediatrics internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Dr. Nikolaidis graduated cum laude from Trinity University in Texas and went on to graduate at the top of his class with honors in the Basic Sciences from Baylor College of Medicine. He is a national leader in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures. Dr. Nikolaidis is board certified by the American Board of Dermatology and is a Fellow of the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Society for Mohs Surgery, the Texas Medical Association and the Travis County Medical Society.