One of the cosmetic medical procedures gaining popularity nowadays is the laser skin resurfacing which is also known as skin rejuvenation. It is a very safe, convenient, and effective kind of procedure. Laser skin resurfacing is a new type of treatment that can improve the texture and overall appearance of one’s skin such as fine lines or wrinkles. Aside from this, it can also reduce or remove acne, including acne scars, chickenpox scars, pigmentation, and facial thread veins to name a few. Laser heats the deep layers of skin in order to stimulate collagen production. In several cases, this results in less bruising, bleeding, and post-procedure discomfort.
Types of Laser Skin Resurfacing
There are some types of laser skin resurfacing. One is the Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser treatment, a commonly used type of treatment, used to treat deeper facial lines and wrinkles. This uses very short pulsed light energy or continuous light beams to remove thin layers of skin with minimal heat damage. Recovery time is usually two weeks.
The next commonly used type of treatment is the erbium laser. This treatment removes superficial lines to moderately deep wrinkles with less pain, fewer side effects, and a more rapid recovery. It provides a milder and less invasive treatment.
Another type is the Fraxel laser skin resurfacing. This minimizes signs of aging such as fine lines, crow’s feet, and various skin discolorations. This treatment is a noninvasive procedure which allows doctors to rejuvenate skin with no downtime and a more comfortable time for patients. It involves few risks and is a safe way to improve skin quality with short recovery time period.
Laser Skin Resurfacing Procedure
Laser skin resurfacing is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. There are some safety measures to be considered before and after the procedure. One, doctors may ask the patient to keep away from direct sunlight. In addition to this, antiviral and antibiotic medications may be given to avoid a herpes flare up and a bacterial infection respectively.
The patient will be sedated and anesthetized to numb the skin. Extensive procedure may require general anesthetic. The procedure takes 10-90 minutes depending on the amount of skin being treated. The patient’s eye is shielded as well as the surrounding of the face. Laser, an intense beam of light energy, is directed at the area to be treated which destroys the outer layer skin and underlying skin to stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers. Results of this are having a smoother, tighter, young looking skin.
After this procedure, severe facial burn will be experienced and your skin may be swollen. Ice and medications may be given for this. The patient will be given instructions on proper care like moisturizing the area with over-the-counter products such as gels or bandage, cream, or ointment to protect the treated skin.
A partial-face treatment takes 30-45 minutes while full-face takes 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
No procedure is risk-free. Some of the risks are pigmentation changes, burns, scarring, prolonged redness, bacterial infection, and acne breakouts. In some cases, laser treatment may trigger viruses like herpes or infections.