Z Skin Center | Dermatology Services

Dermatology Services

BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport:

BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport are FDA-approved treatment for the temporary reduction of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows. Dr. Zanelli's administration of BOTOX® Cosmetic or Dysport is a safe and highly effective office-based medical procedure to soften lines of frowning and aging on the forehead, “crows feet” next to the eyes, and tension bands in the neck. His uses advanced ininjection techniques of Botulinum Type A (Botox and Dysport ) for treating the lips, chin, and other areas of the face.

Botulinum type A had been used in medicine for many years for spastic muscle conditions of the eyes and face before its cosmetic use approval . BOTOX® is in fact also very effective for the problem of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) under the arms.

All procedures are performed by Dr. Zanelli himself, not a nurse or medical assistant.

Laser & Intense Pulsed Light Treatments:

There are many lasers used in medical treatment today. Dr. Zanelli has been using lasers and intense pulsed light devices for skin treatments since 1989 while still in medical school. At the Z Skin Center for Aesthetic & Medical Dermatology we use the Palomar Nd:YAG laser and Fractional 2940 lasers and intense pulsed light devices (IPL) for treatment of dilated (“broken”) blood vessels and redness of the face, certain scars, leg veins, irregular pigmentation and sun damage, wrinkles and skin resurfacing, and hair removal. These procedures are available in office without the need for sedation or hospitalization. All laser procedures are administered by Dr. Zanelli, not a nurse or medical assistant.

We offer permanent hair reduction procedures with the Palomar StarLux system. This pulsed light system may be used on all types of skin, even darkly complexioned patients. You can finally have long-term reduction of unwanted dark hair on any part of the body.

Laser treatment of various conditions has received much publicity in recent years. Although lasers can be very useful for certain conditions, they do not always meet patient expectations in others, and patients have been misled by tremendous media hype. Dr. Zanelli will explain the risks and benefits of the procedures for your particular condition.

Again, it is Dr. Zanelli who performs the treatments, not a non-physician.

Chemical Peels:

Superficial skin peels with agents such as beta-salicylic acid or Jessner’s solution are very useful for exfoliating and freshening the skin to improve acne, dyspigmentation, and fine wrinkling. Deeper peels with stronger agents such as TCA (trichloroacetic acid) can provide remarkable improvement for wrinkled and mottled sun damaged skin, as well as clearing pre cancerous keratoses.

Collagen Replacement & Facial Fillers:

Collagen, the most abundant protein of the skin, becomes damaged by the sun and decreases with age, leading to wrinkling and depressions in the face, and thinning of the lips.

Whether you would like to soften wrinkles or plump and rejuvenate your cheeks & lips, the artful placement of collagen replacement filler materials into the skin can help you retain a more youthful look and boost your self esteem.

Restylane and JUVÉDERM® Injectable Gel, FDA approved hyaluronic acid gels, are used for augmentation of lips and filling lines, hollows and wrinkles.

Facial Fat Loss (Lipoatrophy):

Dr. Zanelli is regarded as one of the nation’s experts in facial restoration after fat loss from HIV disease and treatment. He has been performing corrective treatments for facial lipoatrophy for more than 14 years, and he is the only physician in Northern California who performs microdroplet silicone injections for permanent correction of HIV lipoatrophy.

Loss of fat (lipoatrophy) in the face contributes to an aged appearance, and if severe can make a patient look ill when in fact they may feel very well. Mild facial fat loss may be due to normal aging and severe fat loss may be secondary to HIV and treatment regimens. Facial fillers such as Sculptra are now available for correction of lipoatrophy. For permanent correction Dr. Zanelli uses an FDA-approved medical-grade silicone, which is approved for intraocular injection; Its use for lipoatrophy thus is considered off-label. The superior result that hundreds of patients have received with microdroplet silicone treatments for lipoatrophy has changed their lives.

Fractional Laser Treatments:

Dr. Zanelli performed fractional laser treatments with the Palomar 1540 and 2940 lasers. Palomar developed and patented Fractional Photothermolysis to create a revolutionary treatment: soft tissue coagulation and non-ablative skin resurfacing with high efficacy and no downtime.

Hair Loss:

There are many causes of hair loss in addition to hereditary patterns, and it is important to determine the particular cause early to prevent further loss. These may include anemia, thyroid problems, stress of traumatic events, and hormone imbalance in women. Although the hair loss of certain conditions can only be slowed and not reversed, we now have Propecia, an effective treatment for male pattern hair thinning, and Dr. Zanelli can evaluate your particular condition to determine if you would respond well to treatment.

Hair Removal Treatments:

Dr. Zanelli has been performing laser and pulsed light hair removal for 11 years, and has used the Alexandrite, Diode and YAG lasers, and Epilight and Starlux pulsed light systems. After those years of experience with the various devices, he finds the Palomar Starlux to be the best of the pulsed light systems. It is less uncomfortable than the other devices, with superior results. At the Z Skin Center for Aesthetic & Medical Dermatology it is Dr. Zanelli himself who performs all treatments, NOT a nurse or medical assistant.

The Palomar StarLux system may be used on all types of skin, even darkly complexioned patients. You can finally have long-term reduction of unwanted dark hair on any part of the body.

Scar Treatments:

Unsightly scars can make us feel self-conscious and can often be an unpleasant reminder of past episodes of severe acne or of an injury or illness. Dr. Zanelli utilizes different treatment modalities to improve scars including laser resurfacing, intense pulsed light, excision, and fillers. Often, a combination of methods provides the best results.

Treatment of Moles, Lesions & Skin Cancer:

Today’s active and aging population has spent much leisure time in the sun, and as a result is more than ever at risk for the development of skin cancer. Changing moles and new growths should be evaluated as soon as possible for the healthiest outcome.

Dr. Zanelli completed a year’s postgraduate work as a Fellow at the University of California San Francisco’s Melanoma Center, and is thus regarded as a clinical expert in the diagnosis and treatment planning of this most dangerous form of skin cancer. As a dermatologic surgeon he has performed thousands of diagnostic, therapeutic, and cosmetic skin surgery procedures.

Wart Treatments:

Warts are caused by various strains of the human papilloma virus, also known as HPV. Various treatment methods are used for treating warts, and Dr. Zanelli has experience and training in wart treatments of all kinds including laser surgery, liquid nitrogen, acids, and immune therapy. For stubborn warts, especially on the feet, he utilizes a revolutionary treatment utilizing Candida antigen which then induces the patients’ own immune system to then recognize the wart virus and eliminate it. Unlike surgical laser treatments this method does not scar, and has a much higher chance of eliminating the warts altogether. For treatment and prevention of genital HPV the Z Skin Center for Aesthetic & Medical Dermatology offers the new Gardasil vaccine from Merck, which has been approved to help prevent HPV-induced cervical cancer in women, and has been shown to help prevent HPV recurrence in men.

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