The philosophy of the Asarch Center for Dermatology & Laser is to offer a "Continuum of Care" to our patients. We will provide our patients with the latest skin care information, products, and proven medical treatments to keep their skin as healthy as possible. Just as we have learned to eat healthy and to exercise to stay fit, we need to give our skin the same kind of constant care and nutrition.

The skin is a living organ, in fact, the largest in our bodies. As dermatologists, we specialize in the understanding of the structure and function of your skin, and any treatment from topical agents to more sophisticated laser procedures on the skin requires a thorough knowledge of those facts. Before any procedure is performed, your skin needs to be in its most optimal state. An individualized regimen will be discussed and provided for you to insure your skin is as healthy as possible. This pre-operative treatment plays a significant role not only in allowing your skin to heal faster, but minimizes any problems that might occur. The continuum of care needs to be continued after any procedure is performed. An effective program is designed for you to provide comfort and speed the recovery process. A long term plan of cleansers, moisturizers make-ups, and medications will be prescribed so that you can maintain all of the benefits you are enjoying from your daily skin care regimen.

When he’s not with patients, chances are that Dr. Richard Asarch is in the middle of his research. But that doesn’t mean that he’s stuck in a science lab somewhere. Instead, he tends to look at any and everything as his next great experiment, more likely than not to result in a topical skin care preparation or a new cooking adventure for the doctor who’s been practicing in Englewood for 25 of his 30 years. His interest in photography has helped fine tune his visualization of skin changes and what is necessary to improve the appearance of our skin.

His research uncovered the fact that many of the over-the-counter cosmetic products said to stop or rectify the aging process of the skin didn’t do much at all. But cost a lot. The next setting for his research was Europe where he uncovered the chemistry behind products that really did work their anti-aging powers. Then he went to work making his own line of anti-aging, restorative skin care products and calling them the dermaSpa Skin Nutrition line.

An innovator in skin health, Dr. Asarch published his first book, “Turn Back The Face Years” after studying the aging process of patients’ skin over decades. His theories on how skin ages and how that process could be remedied included dietary aspects in his second book, “Beautiful Skin Diet Book” containing recipes with ingredients that promote healthier skin.

The two pieces, the skin care product line and the diet, are two facets of what Dr. Asarch calls the four spheres in a complete skin care regime, the other two spheres being prevention and procedures. He practices his four-sphere theory out of his offices at S. Clarkson St. and Hampden Ave. where he was the first medical spa in the state which he opened nine years ago.

His credentials start with earning his undergrad and medical school degrees at the University Iowa. After, he completed his internship at Good Samaritan Hospital in Oregon, he served as a General Medical Office at McChord Air Force Base in Tacoma, Washington. He studied for a year in the Department of Otolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Iowa followed by another year of general surgery residency at the same institution. In addition to his private practice, he is currently an Associate Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in the Department of Dermatology.

Dr. Asarch introduced Mohs Micrographic surgery, the procedure that has the highest cure rate for all skin cancers, to the State of Colorado in 1977 after he had studied with Dr. Frederic Mohs in Madison, Wisconsin. Another Colorado first is that beginning in 1983 Dr. Asarch incorporated lasers in his procedures to correct skin issues. His current practice now houses seven state of the art lasers.

The reason Dr. Asarch set up his dermatology and medical spa practices across the front hall from each other, is the instant access it provides for patients when medical and cosmetic dermatological issues intertwine. Here, you’ll find lasers and pulsed light devices to clear unwanted facial discolorations and blood vessels, radio frequency units that tighten loose skin, sunless spray tanning, laser hair removal, a machine to reduce cellulite, salt macrodermabrasion plus any number of individualized treatments which Dr. Asarch has approved.

Dr. Asarch is married and has four sons and one daughter.

Moh's Surgery
Mohs micrographic surgery is a precise method for treating skin cancers. The procedure is named in honor of the physician who developed the basic technique, Dr. Frederic Mohs. Although Dr. Mohs concept was developed more that 50 years ago, relatively few dermatologists were trained in its use until recently. Only in the last few years has the technique become widely available throughout the country. Mohs micrographic surgery provides the highest possible cure rate of all skin cancer treatments.

Thermage
The Asarch Center for Dermatology and Laser has introduced a new, remarkable technology, The ThermaCool TC System. The radio frequency technology used in this system causes both a contraction of the skin and the release of growth factors, without damaging the surface of the skin. This office procedure minimizes wrinkles and tightens drooping skin, often in just one treatment.

Dr. Asarch, the first physician in Colorado to perform the Thermage™ procedure, is very impressed with the technology. Patients see a tightening of their skin without the extreme pulled appearance that often accompanies invasive procedures. Unlike laser resurfacing or a traditional facelift, patients do not need to take time off from work to recover or undergo the risk of anesthesia.

Botox
Many of you have probably heard of the use of Botox for the treatment of lines and wrinkles. Botox injections are now available in the Aesthetic Laser Surgery Center for the treatment of deep and persistent wrinkles especially between the eyebrows, the horizontal forehead lines and the "crow's feet" area. This procedure can be used by itself or in conjunction with laser resurfacing. The following are common questions regarding Botox. Many wrinkles are actually creases that have been worn into the skin by making the same expression thousand of times. These "expression lines", often called frown lines or crow's feet, are due to the contraction of a muscle under the skin in that area. We have known for years that surgically cutting that muscle will improve the wrinkle. Botox is a purified protein toxin which has no serious side effects. This is because, for the treatment described, it is used in extremely small amounts and does not spread throughout the body. A few drops of Botox are injected with a tiny needle into the muscle that creates a wrinkle. When Botox is injected into a muscle, it blocks the nerve impulse from reaching that area, and as a result, the muscle weakens. As the muscle weakens, the skin overlying the muscle relaxes and the wrinkles in the skin gradually soften and often disappear. The effects of Botox usually last three to five months, at which time another injection is required. After several treatments, the effects of Botox may begin to last longer, sometimes up to six to eight months. Botox has been used safely and successfully in ophthalmology for over 10 years, and for wrinkle therapy for over 6 years. Side effects are very unusual. Even if they should occur, they are temporary and localized to the area of injection.

Collagen
Collagen is a vital component of our skin, essential for proper wellness and support of the body's skin structure. With time and sun exposure, it fragments and weakens. This can lead to unwanted changes in the appearance leading to the formation of lines and wrinkles. Collagen injection can be used to reshape and minimize these grooves and depressions.

Soft Form
Dr. Asarch uses these in the deeper furrows where the cheek meets the nose and upper lip. They are made of a material which has been used in blood vessel surgery for many years. This material rarely causes a reaction to it which makes it an ideal product to use. The implant is a hollow tube that is placed beneath the surface of the skin. This is a minor surgical procedure which is done in our office. There is a small amount of local anesthetic placed in the areas to be treated. A very tiny incision is made and the material is carefully placed to fill in the depression. There are very small sutures used to cover the small incisions, usually a total of 4 You can feel a ridge under the skin in the area which has been treated. With time, the collagen in the deeper layers of your skin, incorporates and grows into the hollow tube, making it less and less noticeable. You may have some bruising in the area as well as swelling. These gradually disappear over the next 7 to 10 days.

Sculptra
Sculptra™ is used for restoring volume and improving facial contours. Sculptra works differently from other injectable products such as botox, collagen and restylane injections. With Sculptra, tiny particles of PLA are diluted in a suspension of sterile water, carefully implanted in the skin, and then molded for optimal results. The particles of PLA stimulate the formation of new collagen in the skin, adding volume over time.

Juvederm
Juvederm™, a natural dermal filler with a malleable smooth gel that flows easily into the skin, is newly available at the Asarch Center. Juvederm smooths wrinkles, fills in lines and uneven skin surfaces and volumizes the face. Compared to all other approved hyaluronic acid dermal fillers that utilize a gel particle suspension, Juvederm has the highest concentration of non-animal cross-linked hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin and adds volume, properties that provide optimal results, often with only a single treatment. The results in the majority of patients treated last up to six months or longer. Juvederm is safe and effective in patients of all skin types and it is available in two different formulations allowing the flexibility to tailor each treatment to the particular needs of the patient. Plus, this advanced filler is a naturally occurring, biodegradable complex sugar found in the human body and in all living organisms.

Laser Procedures
Fractional
TriActive Laser
MicroLaserPeel™
Laser Blepharoplasty
Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser Wrinkle Reduction
Facial Blood Vessels
Brown "Age" Spots
Laser Hair Removal

Asarch Center for Dermatology in Englewood provides various aesthetic treatments including juvederm, chemical peels, and laser rejuvenation.