Laser Skin Resurfacing

While laser resurfacing may be a potent approach to skin renewal, the results are generally quite dramatic and long lasting. Laser resurfacing appears to achieve its best results as a spot treatment. Patients expecting complete elimination of their wrinkles will not be satisfied. Ask to see before and after pictures of other clients. After all it is your face, if they can’t make you comfortable with them find someone else.

Laser resurfacing will not improve puffy eyelids or bags, drooping eyebrows, deep cheek folds, forehead furrows, jowls or hanging skin. Resurfacing deep enough to improve severe wrinkles may cause some permanent lightening of the skin, especially in darker skin patients.

Antiviral medications are usually started several days before the procedure. Laser resurfacing is performed under local anesthesia. An oral sedative may also be administered to make the patient more comfortable and relaxed. The eyes and area surrounding the face are shielded to catch stray beams from the laser.

Following laser resurfacing, you must avoid sun exposure until the redness of your skin has gone.  In fact, it is better to avoid the harmful effects of the sun permanently with sun block and head coverings.  A scab may or may not form over the treated skin but you will be advised about this and cleansing your skin by your doctor. Camouflage makeup can be used usually within two weeks of resurfacing and you should be able to return to work within a week to ten days. But this can vary depending on the results of your procedure.

CO₂ laser
CO₂ laser resurfacing continues to be a method used for eliminating moderate to deep lines and creases due to aging and photo-damage. This approach to skin rejuvenation precisely removes layers of skin to correct fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, smooth and tighten eyelid skin, soften pucker marks, and repair skin discoloration.

The effect of skin resurfacing using a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is similar to the results obtained using chemical peels and dermabrasion. The laser, however, removes skin layers by vaporization rather than with chemicals or sanding. The laser produces a tightening effect on the skin which is especially beneficial when used on the lower eye lid.

Normally Good For: fine to moderate wrinkles around the lips, mouth and eyes. Risk of complications is low (under 5%) and as in all these procedures is related to the depth and extent of the resurfacing.

Issues For Some: There is risk of infection,  scarring, and skin color changes. Extensive post-op wound care, crusting and oozing. Raw resurfaced skin must be kept moist to allow for rapid regrowth of the epidermis.  

Erbium lasers
The Erbium lasers are comparatively newer systems which also vaporize tissue, often to a lesser depth.  Erbium lasers are often used for younger patients with less wrinkling and less skin damage and also recommended for darker skin patients.

Using a wand like laser hand piece, undesired skin cells and wrinkles literally disappear in a puff of mist and are replaced by fresh skin cells. This is sometimes called laser peeling. The advantage over traditional techniques for skin resurfacing is that treatment is relatively bloodless. The procedure also offers more control in the depth of penetration of the skins surface, and allows a new degree of precision and safety in treating delicate areas, such as on or near the lips and around the eyes.

Normally Good For: wrinkles, acne scars, sun damage, and irregular pigmentation

Issues For Some: In general, the erbium is gentler, with fewer side effects and a shorter postoperative recuperation (one week instead of two), but it does not produce as much tightening of the skin and does not give the same dramatic results as the CO2.

Cool Touch Laser
Also referred to as cool laser or thermescent laser treatment, this special kind of machine shoots out a cooling agent to lower the temperature of (and thus protect) the epidermis , so that it is not burned by the beam directed to the collagen -producing layer below. The treatment can be performed on any facial area and takes only 15 to 30 minutes. It usually requires three to six treatments every two to four weeks; patients often start to see a tightening of the skin as well as a reduction of fine wrinkles and small scars after the third treatment. The minimal reddening of the skin usually fades in a few hours.

Normally Good For: diminishing acne scars, especially on the cheeks, and fine lines around the mouth, upper lip and eyes.

Issues For Some: This is a gentle procedure that produces gradual, rather than dramatic, results. Patients are spared the prolonged redness and healing time that follows many skin resurfacing techniques. While it's not effective for brown spots or uneven pigmentation, this procedure does work on all pigmentation and skin types.

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These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.