Laser Skin Resurfacing: The 8 Most Important Things You Should Know

What is laser skin resurfacing? 1. When should I have laser skin resurfacing? 2. Treatments may or may not hurt 3. Having darker skin won’t stop you from laser resurfacing 4. It matters who performs your laser resurfacing treatments. 5. Certain medications or conditions affect how the skin reacts to laser treatment 6. Different lasers are optimized for different ailments and skin types; CO2 Lasers, Erbium Lasers, Pulsed Dye Lasers, Fractional Lasers, IPL (intense pulsed light) 7. Plan to have multiple treatments 8. Depending on the treatment, you may need some downtime…

What is laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is a proven way to help reduce wrinkles, age spots, acne scars and other blemishes as well as tighten skin and balance the tone. But because lasers can do so much and can vary widely in how they act on your skin, it’s hard to know where to start when researching treatment – ​​even the most rigorous research reveals a host of competing devices and methods.

1. When should I have laser skin resurfacing?

Did you know that autumn is considered “laser season”? Because laser-treated skin is very sensitive to sun exposure for up to a year following certain procedures, many cosmetic surgeons recommend that the daylight hours are shorter and you spend most of your time indoors. laser skin resurfacing in autumn or winterrecommends doing it.

Regardless of the time of year you have your laser procedure, apply a broad spectrum 30 or higher daily and repeat as needed. This not only ensures that your results look optimal, it also protects against skin cancer and helps prevent additional premature aging.

2. Treatments may or may not be harmful

Patients and physicians often compare the sensation felt during laser treatments to a rubber band sticking to the skin. However, how laser resurfacing feels depends on the laser, the depth and scope of the treatment, and the person’s tolerance for pain.

Deeper ablative (where some outer layers of the skin are removed) laser treatments may require injections of local anesthetics or intravenous sedation to keep the patient comfortable. Examples of ablative lasers CO2 lasersand Erbium YAG lasers.

Some non-ablative laser treatments (where the laser goes through the skin without removing the layers) cause little or no pain and only require a topical numbing cream to relieve the discomfort. Non-ablative lasers have pulsed dye, ND: Yag and Alexandrite lasers in the middle. A measure of tenderness in the treatment area can be expected following the procedure. If necessary, he will suggest faithful ways to control discomfort after laser resurfacing.

3. Having darker skin does not prevent you from laser resurfacing.

A common misconception is that laser skin resurfacing is only safe for light skin types. While it is true that some lasers pose a higher risk for cell damage or discoloration in darker skin, there are reliable and effective skin resurfacing options. For lighter skin tones, Skin resurfacing with Erbium laser sometimes it can be a neat option and poses less of a risk for discoloration. For patients with darker brown or black skin, radio frequency treatments or microneedlingmay need to consider other skin resurfacing options.

The smoothest way to provide a reliable and effective treatment for your skin type? Consult a specialist who has extensive training and knowledge of laser resurfacing procedures and experience working with patients with darker skin.

4. It makes a difference who performs your laser skin resurfacing treatments.​

In the hands of a highly trained, knowledgeable professional, laser resurfacing is a faithful way to valuablely enhance the appearance of your skin. In the hands of an inadequately trained person, lasers can be ineffective and even dangerous. Choose a laser resurfacing provider based on the individual’s experience, education, and qualification. Don’t just make your choice based on who has the best offer or who owns the brand laser platform.

5. Certain medications or conditions affect how the skin reacts to laser treatment

Always be open and honest with the laser skin resurfacing specialist about your medical history and the medications or support you take. For example, laser treatments can cause acne breakouts if you are prone to herpes or fever blisters. Acne medications containing isotretinoin (i.e. Accutane) can cause poor beautification or scarring from laser resurfacing, while common over-the-counter products such as aspirin can increase the risk of post-process bleeding.

Diabetes and other chronic conditions can also affect the safety and results of laser skin resurfacing. Also, to avoid complications related to straightening and to give your body the best chance to achieve optimal results, laser treatments should be treated with at least a minimum of 2 weeks before and after smokingyou should quit.

6. Different lasers are optimized for different issues and skin types

The reason there are so many different laser options is that no single laser can cure all patients and all skin concerns. Here are a few types you might come across in your research:

1. CO2 Lasers are ablative lasers that are most often used to treat scars, warts, wrinkles and other deep skin imperfections. In the middle of its recognized brands are AcuPulse from Lumenis, MiXto Pro laser from Lasering USA and CO2RE from Candela.
2. Erbium YAG Lasers It can be ablative or non-ablative. They promote collagen remodeling, making them recognized choices for treating fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity and age spots.
3. Pulsed Dye Lasers are typically non-ablative lasers that heat the skin and absorb pigments to reduce redness, hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and rosacea. One of the most recognizable pulsed dye lasers is Candela’s Vbeam Perfecta.
4. Fractional Lasers Divides laser power into thousands of tiny beams to treat only a portion of the skin in the area, reducing downtime. It may or may not be ablative and is used to treat age-related blemishes. In the middle of recognized fractional laser brands are Fractora from inMode and Fraxel from Solta Medical.
5. IPL (intense pulsed light) Their treatments are not technically lasers, but are often used to treat laser-like rushes such as sun damage, vascular lesions, acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. In the middle of recognized skin resurfacing brands are Vasculaze by inMode and Lumecca by inMode.

When choosing a laser skin resurfacing treatment, focus on your individual goals: What skin issues do you want to address and what results do you hope for? The neat news is that you don’t have to determine this on your own: A council-certified cosmetic surgeon or trained skincare professional trained in laser resurfacing will be able to recommend the best treatment for you based on your skin type.

7. Plan to have more than one treatment

In some cases, a single laser treatment can relieve the patient’s fuss, while many of the non-ablative lasers require a series of treatments to achieve the most satisfactory results. This is the trade-off that comes with a treatment with no downtime, but the results are long-lasting once the treatment series is complete.

8. Depending on the laser treatment, you may need some downtime.​

Although laser treatments are generally considered non-surgical, not all are seamless. The duration of laser resurfacing varies depending on the type of laser used, the health of the person and the rate of beautification.

While non-ablative lasers usually require no downtime, ablative lasers are dependent on depth before the new skin is completely beautified and definitive results become apparent. A 2 to 3 week beautification processmay require.

This does not mean that you have to stay in the residence for one month; it just means that your skin will become raw, red and crusty as it gets better. You may not feel comfortable in certain social situations and will need to change your activities to avoid situations where infection is possible (swimming, gym workouts, etc.).

If you are considering laser treatments to smoothen your skin, with a board-certified cosmetic surgeonWe suggest you meet.