Anara MedSpa & Cosmetic Laser Center, LLC

Thinking about starting a chemical peel series? A little preparation beforehand—and knowing how a series is spaced—makes a real difference in your results.

In the days before your peel, avoid new sun exposure or tanning, and pause retinoids or strong exfoliating acids for 5-7 days or as recommended by your physician. For some medium-depth peels, a short priming regimen at home helps the peel absorb more evenly across the skin (Fischer TC, Perosino E, Poli F, Viera MS, Dreno B; Cosmetic Dermatology European Expert Group). Chemical Peels in Aesthetic Dermatology: An Update, 2009. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2010;24(3):281-292).

One thing worth mentioning at your consultation, even if it feels unrelated: a history of cold sores. Chemical peels can reactivate the herpes simplex virus (cold sores or fever blisters), and for deeper peels, providers sometimes prescribe a short course of antiviral medication beforehand as a precaution. It's a routine question, not a red flag.

And here's something patients often don't expect going in: one peel rarely tells the whole story. A course — often four to six superficial peels spaced two to four weeks apart — produces cumulative improvement that a single treatment usually can't match on its own.

At Anara, chemical peels—including VI Peel and VI Peel Body—are performed under the medical direction of Dr. Ram Chandra, MD. We're in East Brunswick, open Monday through Friday with extended hours Thursday until 7 PM, plus the first Saturday of most months.

Individual results vary. Some peel series require multiple sessions. Candidacy and peel depth are determined at a consultation with Dr. Chandra.

Anara MedSpa & Cosmetic Laser Center
9 Auer Court, Suite C-D, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
732-777-9577

Ever Wonder What Actually Happens Once the Laser Touches Your Skin?

Here's a brief overview of the sensation, the typical post-treatment reaction, and the number of sessions required.

Modern lasers pair the beam with a cooling tip, cold air, or a cryogen spray protecting the skin's surface while heat reaches the hair follicle underneath. Most patients describe the feeling as a quick, warm rubber band snap rather than a burn—brief and very tolerable for most treatment areas.

What should you expect right after?

Mild redness and slight puffiness around each treated hair for a few hours to a few days. That's actually a positive sign: it means the follicle absorbed the energy it needed, not that anything went wrong (Ibrahimi OA, Avram MM, Hanke CW, Kilmer SL, Anderson RR. Laser Hair Removal. Dermatologic Therapy. 2011;24(1):94-107).

The question we get asked most: how many visits will the treatment take?

Most areas need roughly six to eight sessions, spaced four to six weeks apart. That spacing isn't arbitrary—it's timed to catch hair follicles as they rotate through their active growth phase, since only follicles in that phase respond to treatment. A few things that help between sessions: Keep shaving as needed—it doesn't affect the follicle beneath the skin. Skip waxing and plucking for the whole series; both remove the follicles the laser needs to target. Wear sunscreen on the treated area and hold off on retinoids or strong exfoliants for 5-7 days after each visit. These should also be stopped 5-7 days before the laser session.

At Anara, laser hair removal is performed by Dr. Ram Chandra, MD, whose background is in cosmetic laser medicine. We're in East Brunswick, open Monday through Friday with extended hours on Thursday until 7 PM, plus the first Saturday of most months.

Individual results vary.

A series of sessions is required.

Candidacy and settings are determined at a consultation with Dr. Chandra.

Anara MedSpa & Cosmetic Laser Center 9 Auer Court, Suite C-D, East Brunswick, NJ 08816 732-777-9577

Not every chemical peel is doing the same job—and knowing what yours is meant to address makes a real difference in what you should expect.

Superficial peels are generally used for dullness and uneven texture—a quick refresh with minimal downtime. Medium peels are often chosen for sun damage and mild pigmentation. Deeper peels can improve fine lines and some acne scarring, depending on the person (Rendon MI, Berson DS, Cohen JL, et al. Evidence and Considerations in the Application of Chemical Peels in Skin Disorders and Aesthetic Resurfacing. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2010;3(7):32-43; Kontochristopoulos G, Platsidaki E. Chemical Peels in Active Acne and Acne Scars. Clin Dermatol. 2017;35(2):179-182).

What you do afterward matters just as much as the peel itself:

Sunscreen, every day, no exceptions. Freshly peeled skin is more reactive to UV light, and unprotected sun exposure raises the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation—a well-documented consideration, especially in medium-to-deep skin tones (Soleymani T, Lanoue J, Rahman Z. A Practical Approach to Chemical Peels. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2018;11(8):21-28).

Let flaking skin fall on its own. Picking or peeling it manually can cause scarring or uneven healing—the opposite of what a peel is meant to do.

Pause retinoids and strong exfoliants for the period your provider recommends, then reintroduce them gradually. This is a minimum of 7 days prior to the procedure itself.

At Anara, chemical peels—including VI Peel and VI Peel Body—are performed under the medical direction of Dr. Ram Chandra, MD. We're in East Brunswick, open Monday through Friday with extended hours Thursday until 7 PM, plus the first Saturday of most months.

Individual results vary. Some peel series require multiple sessions. Candidacy and peel depth are determined at a consultation with Dr. Chandra.

Anara MedSpa & Cosmetic Laser Center
9 Auer Court, Suite C-D, East Brunswick, NJ 08816
732-777-9577

New hours at Anara: longer Thursdays and one Saturday a month.

Most of our patients work weekday hours, and a mid-afternoon appointment means taking time off just to get here.
Two changes to fix that.

Thursdays are now 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM. That's an hour earlier and an hour later than the rest of the week, so you can come before work or after it instead of in the middle of the day.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday stay 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM.

We're also open one Saturday a month, 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM.
We opened for our first one this month.
The dates ahead: • Saturday, October 3
• Saturday, November 7
• Saturday, December 5
• Saturday, January 2

It's usually the first Saturday of the month, though the date shifts when that lands on a holiday weekend—so go by the dates above or our hours on Google rather than assuming.

Both are full appointment slots, not a reduced menu: consultations with Dr. Chandra, aestheticians, laser treatments, injectables, facials, and body treatments.

Saturday slots are limited and tend to book out first, so calling ahead helps. Call 732-777-9577, text 732-947-4618, or send us a message here.

All treatments require a consultation to determine candidacy.

Anara Medspa & Cosmetic Laser Center · 9 Auer Court, Suite C–D, East Brunswick, NJ 08816

STRETCH MARKS: WHY THEY FORM AND WHAT TREATMENTS CAN REALISTICALLY DO

Stretch marks, also referred to as striae distensae in medical terminology, are among the most challenging cosmetic issues to treat. Both patients and doctors find them frustrating.

The reason behind their formation: When skin is stretched faster than it can adapt—a pubertal growth spurt, pregnancy, a rapid change in weight—the collagen and elastin fiber network in the dermis gets disrupted, leaving a band of thinner, structurally altered skin. Genetics plays a real part in who develops them, which is why two people can go through the same pregnancy and end up with very different skin. Certain medications, like long-term steroids, and endocrine disorders, like Cushing's syndrome, can also cause stretch marks.

The stage of the stretch marks decides the treatment plan.

Early, pigmented marks (striae rubrae)—pink, red, or brownish, still with active blood vessels. This is the more responsive stage. Non-ablative fractional lasers at 1540, 1550, and 1927 nanometers are commonly used here, and intense pulsed light (IPL) is sometimes appropriate for the color and redness component, in those with lighter skin tones.

Mature marks (striae albae)—white, flat, or slightly depressed, with the color long gone. Here the aim shifts to rebuilding dermal structure, and microneedling with specific topicals applied concurrently is the usual approach.

Four honest expectations:

• No treatment eliminates stretch marks. The realistic goal is reducing how visible they are—narrower and closer to the surrounding skin in color and texture.
• One session will not do it. This is a series and often a combination of approaches rather than a single one.
• Earlier is easier. Marks that still show color give us more to work with than ones that have already faded to white.
• Skin tone changes the plan. To lower the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or skin darkening following a procedure, settings must be carefully selected for deeper skin tones.

Individual results vary, and typical results are not guaranteed.

Multiple sessions will be required.
This procedure may not be suitable for every patient; all patients must be evaluated by the physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure.

No medical procedure is risk-free, and associated potential risks and complications—including irritation, prolonged redness, blistering, infection, scarring, and temporary or lasting pigment change—should be discussed with the physician rendering the procedure.

This post is educational and is not medical advice. Picture credit: Dermapen World

Anara MedSpa & Cosmetic Laser Center—East Brunswick, NJ. Message us to book a consultation with Dr. Chandra.

Are you tired of chasing skincare "quick fixes"? ✨

When Dr. Chandra and our aesthetic team recommend a skincare regimen, we aren't just looking at how your skin appears right now. We are looking at the big picture: your long-term skin health.

While the right products absolutely deliver rapid, visible benefits, maintaining a flawless complexion requires consistency. It is all about:
💧 Delivering deep, lasting hydration
🛡️ Building and protecting a resilient skin barrier
🧬 Supporting overall cellular health

That is exactly why we proudly choose Epicutis® for our patients at Anara Medspa & Cosmetic Laser Center. Their minimalist, science-first approach aligns perfectly with ours. By utilizing clean, patented ingredients, Epicutis allows you to care for the skin you have today while actively supporting its health for the years ahead. 🌿

Ready to build a routine with your skin's future in mind?

📍 Visit us at 9 Auer Ct in East Brunswick, NJ, or ask us about integrating Epicutis® into your daily regimen at your next appointment!

Learn more at: https://tinyurl.com/3azp83sr

Why fall is a practical time to start body skin treatments

Now that school is back in session and the beach days are behind us, we see more patients starting treatments for the body. There's a clinical reason for that timing, not only a scheduling one.

Less sun means a safer healing window. Chemical peels, microneedling and non-ablative laser resurfacing all leave the skin more sensitive to ultraviolet light for a period afterward. Lower sun exposure means a lower risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — darkening of the skin after a procedure — which is a particular consideration in deeper skin tones. Fall and winter give the skin a quieter period to recover.

Body skin works on a slower clock. It is thicker than facial skin and turns over more slowly, so results build over a series rather than a single visit. Starting in September gives that series time.

Depending on your skin and your concern, Dr. Chandra may discuss:

• Chemical peels, including VI Peel Body — a blend of glycolic, lactic, mandelic and trichloroacetic acids formulated for body skin
• Microneedling, to encourage collagen remodeling in the dermis
• Non-ablative fractional lasers such as 1540, 1550 and 1927 nanometer lasers
• Prescription topical therapy and consistent at-home aftercare

What we're asked about most this time of year: stretch marks (striae), body acne and the marks it leaves behind, uneven tone after a summer outdoors, and surgical or injury scars. Stretch marks have no cure — but newer pink or red marks tend to respond better than older white ones, so timing shapes what is realistic.

Photo: clinical image supplied by Vitality Institute, the maker of VI Peel, as part of the social media assets it provides to its certified providers. This is not a patient of Anara MedSpa.

Individual results vary and multiple sessions will be required. This procedure may not be suitable for every patient; all patients must be evaluated by the physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure. No medical procedure is risk-free, and associated potential risks and complications — including irritation, prolonged redness, blistering, infection, scarring, and temporary or lasting pigment change — should be discussed with the physician rendering the procedure. No result is guaranteed. Not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. This post is educational and is not medical advice.

Anara MedSpa & Cosmetic Laser Center — East Brunswick, NJ. Message us to book a consultation with Dr. Chandra.

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