What Is Laser Resurfacing?
After a certain point, visible signs of aging like deeper wrinkles, skin laxity and discoloration are impossible to treat with skincare. But surgical lifting procedures aren’t the answer either, since they only address excess skin and the underlying musculature. A wonderful complement to surgical lifts (or on its own), deep laser resurfacing addresses damage on the skin’s surface by removing the uppermost layers and allowing it be replaced with fresh, new, younger-looking skin. This procedure provides dramatic improvement for deep wrinkles, finer lines around the eyes and mouth, and discoloration.
How does laser resurfacing work?
Fractional Laser Resurfacing removes layers of skin tissue in a fractionated method (columns of skin are removed, leaving the skin surrounding each column intact to aid in healing) to help reduce “age-spots” (also called sun freckles, liver spots, and lentigines), fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, uneven coloration, skin laxity, textural irregularities, dull tone, and a thinned collagen layer of the face, neck, and chest.
What skin conditions can Fractional Laser treat?
Laser skin resurfacing can treat many skin conditions and is a practical choice for patients who are looking for results beyond over-the-counter creams and serums. Patients can expect an improvement in:
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Age spots
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Scars
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Acne scars
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Fine lines and wrinkles
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Crow's feet
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Sagging skin
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Uneven skin tone
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Enlarged pores
What can I expect from laser skin resurfacing recovery?
While laser skin resurfacing is nonsurgical and includes minimal downtime, there is a varying amount of recovery time, depending on the course of treatment chosen.
Before a resurfacing procedure, the skin may need a series of treatments to prepare it and help it to tolerate the laser procedure. Proper preparation can decrease recovery time and limit side effects.
On the day of treatment, Dr. Papanicolaou applies a topical anesthetic to limit discomfort and cleans the treatment area to ensure it is free of dirt and bacteria.
The laser is targeted on the designated treatment areas, and the treated skin is dressed to protect it while it heals.
Healing typically takes between 3-10 days, depending on the area treated and the type of procedure chosen. During the recovery time, you must avoid areas where germ exposure is likely (i.e., gyms and schools).
Skin treated with a resurfacing procedure will be sensitive to the sun for up to a year, and proper sun protection is necessary. For this reason, autumn is a popular time for laser skin resurfacing.
To find out if you’re a candidate for deep laser resurfacing with our CO2 Fractional laser, call to schedule a consultation today.
