As summer quickly approaches, so does the time for skin-baring apparel. Because warm weather begs for smooth, blemish-free skin, Oscar Hevia, M.D., provides us with four profitable skincare treatments to help clients who want to shed their winter clothes and reveal radiant, bikini-ready skin.

1. LASER HAIR REMOVAL. Let clients know that the key to saving time and money during the upcoming season is laser hair removal. Hevia recommends clients opt for three to five treatments every three to four weeks, with patients experiencing a 75 to 95 percent reduction in hair. Results last from six to 12 months, and treatment duration varies from a few minutes to an hour. The suggested cost per treatment is $250 to $1,200, depending on the size of the area.

2. LEG AND FACIAL VEIN REMOVAL. With this summer's fashions featuring flirty skirts and short shorts, help clients zap away unsightly spider veins that can result from sun exposure, genetics, or estrogen. For the legs, Hevia suggests clients opt for sclerotherapy, which is the injection of a solution (generally a saline solution) directly into the vein. The solution irritates the lining of the blood vessel, causing it to swell and stick together, and the blood to clot. Over time, the vessels turn into scar tissue that fades from view. Most clients require three to five monthly treatments. For facial vein removal, laser treatments are the most effective, with some patients experiencing a 75 percent clearing after two treatments. The suggested cost per treatment of both removal procedures is $500.

3. LASER SKIN TREATMENTS. For clients who are experiencing wrinkles or blotchiness, usually due to sun damage, laser therapy is a minimally invasive treatment with no downtime, ideal for improving skin texture, fine lines, acne scars, and overall skin appearance. Hevia recommends clients have a least three treatments, with a suggested cost of $1,000 each. For brown spot removal, pigmented lesion laser removal is the most effective. It is relatively painless, and the spots fade away in one to two weeks.

4. LIPOSUCTION LIPOSUCTION is the ideal treatment for individuals who have unwanted, hard-to-rid bulges in stubborn areas. With today's technology, the procedure can even be performed without general anesthesia. Unlike typical liposuction, where larger incisions are made in fatty areas for the insertion of long cannulas (needles with holes at the end), a newer procedure, called tumescent liposuction, involves small incisions and micro-cannulas. This technique allows for a targeted treatment and a more controlled removal of fat, which permits the doctor to contour the area with precision. Consequently, the treatment is safe, relatively painless, and doesn't require sutures. The patient is in and out in less than two hours and usually can return to work the next day.

Oscar Hevia, M.D., is a board-certified dermatologist at Dr. Brandt's Cosmetic & Skin Associates, a comprehensive laser and cosmetic dermatology practice in Coral Gables, FL. Considered an expert in his field, Hevia's notable medical career spans almost two decades.