Laser Resurfacing

How Laser Skin Resurfacing Works ?

Laser resurfacing is the technique using laser surgery to remove acne scars, spider veins, wrinkles, and to tighten the skin after liposuction. It works by removing the top layers of the skin to reveal better quality skin underneath. There are a number of different lasers used for laser resurfacing. This is a treatment that should be done under the supervision of a cosmetic surgeon for the best results. There can be complications or scarring, if the laser is too harsh for your type of skin.

Laser resurfacing does work for wrinkles by evening out the surface topography of the skin. However, it may take several treatments to reduce very heavy wrinkles. If you opt to try to treat heavy wrinkles with a more intensive laser treatment, you raise the risk of scarring. Therefore there are definite trade-offs as to how deep the laser can work and how long it will take to heal and the potential for scarring.

Not all people can even take advantage of laser resurfacing. Darker skinned people with more melanin in their skin may find that instead of helping their skin it can produce uneven pigmentation in the skin. For that reason, darker skinned or olive complexioned people need to be particularly careful of the cosmetic surgeon they pick to do this procedure. The results will be directly affected by the experience of the cosmetic surgeon, how many people they’ve treated with a similar skin type, and their knowledge of the risks involved. In this case, it pays to check out the plastic surgeon’s credentials and see a few of the results from past patients with similar skin type.

Laser resurfacing does need about two weeks to heal. During that time your face may be red, oozing, and sensitive. You won’t be allowed to wear any make-up or cosmetic products during the healing period. There is pain associated with laser resurfacing. Painkillers are prescribed for the first 1 to 4 days. Even after healing, the red “burn” of the laser resurfacing process may take more time to fade. However, the good news is that the longer it takes to fade the better you will look afterwards. You will be required to wear sunscreen for three to six months following the laser resurfacing procedure. Although the treatment may seem like a quick fix, it can take months for it to really settle in. During that time, you will need to be particularly vigilant to keep the face free of infection and sun exposure.

Procedure Cost

Laser resurfacing for cosmetic purposes is not covered by insurance. The procedure can run in the thousands of dollars and will most likely need several sessions. If you have severe acne scars, this is definitely a treatment that has been shown to produce dramatic results. For wrinkles, it might be more costly than other procedures and have a higher risk too. You can reduce the cost and the risk associated by discussing the different types of lasers and treatments available with your cosmetic surgeon.