Rufus R. Noble If acne, aging, or excessive exposure to sunlight has left your skin with scars, blotches, wrinkles, or lines, laser skin resurfacing could make your skin appear more youthful and healthy.
Laser skin resurfacing also referred to in the form of laser vaporization, laser peel, or lasabrasion, removes skin layer by layer with accuracy. Skin cells which grow in the process of healing provide the skin with an enlarger, more youthful skin surface. The procedure can be performed in conjunction with other cosmetic procedures for the face.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Laser Skin Resurfacing?
If you’ve got wrinkles or lines around the mouth or eyes, or on your forehead, superficial marks from acne, or skin that is not responding following a facelift, you could be a suitable person to undergo laser refractive treatment. It is also possible to be a great candidate if you suffer from:
- Warts
- Spots of age or spots on the liver
- Birthmarks on the skin cause scars
- Skin damaged by sun
- Oil glands that are larger on your nose
- Birthmarks, such as epidermal lines, nevi
It is possible that you are not eligible for laser resurfacing if: are
- Sagging or excessively stretched skin
- Deep wrinkles
- Acne active
- Breastfeeding or pregnant
- A weak immune system
- Deeper skin tone
If you have extremely dark skin, laser resurfacing procedures could result in irritation or discoloration following the procedure. It’s important to remember that deeper shades of skin could also pose the risk for the formation of keloid scars.
Your dermatologist can utilize the Fitzpatrick scale that matches the amount of pigment (melanin) on your skin to the chances of getting sunburn as well as skin cancer. The scale is ranging between 1 and 6. If you’ve got very dark skin, it could be either a 6 or 5, according to this rating. This also means that there is less threat of skin-related damage. But everyone is at risk for the risk of developing skin cancer.
In the end, you must discuss the possibility of laser resurfacing the right choice for you through consultation with your doctor prior to taking the procedure.
Types of Laser Resurfacing
CO2 Laser Resurfacing
This treatment has been employed for many years to treat a variety of skin conditions, including wrinkles, scars, warts, and larger oil glands on the nose, as well as other conditions.
The latest technology of CO2 laser Resurfacing (fractionated CO2) utilizes extremely short pulsed light energy (known by the name ultrapulse) and continuous light beams scattered in a swath to eliminate the skin’s thin layers without causing any damage to the skin. The process can take between two and three weeks.
If you’re with a color, this form of laser resurfacing can result in scarring or hyperpigmentation.
Erbium Laser Resurfacing
Erbium laser resurfacing is a technique to eliminate surface-level or moderately deep lines as well as wrinkles on the face, neck, hands, or chest. One of the advantages of Erbium laser resurfacing is the less burning of the surrounding tissues. This laser is less likely to cause negative side effects, like bruising, swelling, and redness; therefore, your recovery time will be quicker than that of CO2 laser Resurfacing. In some instances, the recovery time may be as short as about a week. Discuss with your doctor the length of recovery it will likely take for you.
If you are an individual with a color difference, the erbium laser resurfacing procedure may be a better option for you. However, there is the chance of skin discoloration that occurs after the procedure.
Neodymium Yag Laser
If you are experiencing more dark-toned skin (4 from 6 to 4 on the Fitzpatrick Scale), You may want to think about a laser known as Neodymium Yag or Nd:YAG. This laser type is a more powerful wavelength that penetrates deeper into the skin, effectively eliminating any melanin within the upper layers of your face. Here are some benefits of using this type of laser:
- Removal of body or facial hair
- Removal of tattoos
- Removal of birthmarks
- Acne that is inflamed
- Hyperpigmentation
- Vascular reduction
It is possible that you will need to attend longer sessions as your physician usually starts with the lower settings. They could also alter the temperatures of the laser to make it more comfortable as well as more relaxing for you.
Remember that the possibility of injury due to laser therapy can be present in any skin color. Therefore, you must be confident and comfortable with the person who will administer the laser therapy. Select a dermatologist who is board certified or an expert who has experience in the treatment of different skin types.
Pulse-Dye Lasers
Sometimes, they are referred to as blood vessel lasers Pulse-dye lasers can be utilized to treat skin problems that are related to blood vessels. It is a great alternative if you are struggling, that causes redness and hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and Rosacea. Lasers are generally non-ablative and utilize concentrated yellow light that heats the skin while absorbing pigments.
Fractional Lasers
Fractional lasers only target just a small portion of the skin at a time. This method can be utilized to treat many age-related skin imperfections and remove hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and acne scars. The energy of the laser is split into thousands of small beams that treat only a tiny portion of the skin area, which minimizes downtime. Fractional lasers are either ablative or non-ablative.
IPL (intense pulsed light)
Technically speaking, it is true that IPL ( intense pulsed light) treatments aren’t lasers, but they are frequently employed to treat a variety of similar skin issues as lasers. This technique utilizes light energy to pinpoint a particular shade of your skin. It is a great way to treat scarring and stretch marks, sun damage as well as acne, rosacea hyperpigmentation, and birthmarks, as well as getting rid of hair that is not needed.
Preparing for Laser Resurfacing
Begin by speaking with an aesthetic surgeon or dermatologist to determine whether you’re a candidate.
Before you undergo laser surgery for your skin, try not taking any supplements or medications. They could affect the process of clotting the procedure.
Inform your physician if you have fever blisters or cold sores on your lips. Laser skin resurfacing may trigger breakouts in those at risk.
If you decide to proceed with laser skin resurfacing, your physician will instruct you to avoid taking any medication or supplement like aspirin, Ibuprofen, or vitamin E, which could alter the clotting process for a period of 10 days prior to surgery.
Should you be a smoker, do not smoke for two weeks prior to and following the procedure. Smoking may delay the healing process.
The doctor might prescribe an antibiotic prior to the appointment to avoid bacterial infections and also an antiviral drug for those who are susceptible to fever sores or cold blisters.
What to Expect During and After the Procedure
Laser resurfacing is performed by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. It’s an outpatient procedure that means you won’t have to stay for a long time.
The doctor can tackle wrinkles in your mouth, eyes, or forehead in a single session or treat the entire face. For smaller areas that are not numb, the doctor will treat the areas being treated using a local anesthetic and could also relax you. It is possible to need general anesthesia if your entire facial area will be treated.
The treatment of just a few areas of the face can take between 30-45 minutes. For a full-face procedure, it can take approximately two hours.
