A dermatologist or medical professional can easily conduct a technique called laser skin resurfacing. It involves applying lasers to help boost the texture and appearance of the skin.
Depending on your needs, your dermatologist may choose ablative or non-ablative lasers. Ablative lasers use erbium or carbon dioxide (CO2). CO2 laser resurfacing treatments can eliminate deep wrinkles, warts, and scars. Erbium laser resurfacing treats fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. Both types of ablative lasers remove the skin’s upper layers.
Non-ablative lasers, on the other hand, do not remove skin layers. Fractional lasers, pulsed-dye lasers, and pulsed-light lasers are among them. Non-ablative lasers can cure rosacea, spider veins, and acne-related skin problems.
For additional information about the procedures, types, aftercare, potential adverse effects, and other topics keep reading.
Laser skin resurfacing could make your skin appear younger and healthier. If age, acne, or spending too much time in the sun has caused blood spots, scars, wrinkles, or lines on your face.
Laser skin resurfacing may make your skin appear younger and healthier.
Healing causes new skin cells to develop, giving the skin a tighter, more youthful appearance.
Laser resurfacing can be used to treat:
To discover if you’re a good candidate, speak with a dermatologist or plastic surgeon first.
Types of Laser Treatments.
Ablative and Non-Ablative
Ablative and non-ablative laser resurfacing are the two basic forms. The main focus of this discussion is ablative laser resurfacing.
The top layer of your skin is removed via ablative laser resurfacing (the epidermis). This makes your skin’s deeper layer visible (the dermis). Your skin tissue becomes tighter as a result of the laser’s heat, which also encourages the growth of new collagen fibers. A lengthy, fibrous protein called collagen gives your skin its strength and structure. You’ll develop new skin that is softer and less wrinkled or scarred than the old skin when the wound heals.
Non-ablative laser resurfacing cannot remove your skin’s top layer is not removed. Instead, it raises the body’s core temperature to promote the development of new skin and collagen. Although non-ablative laser resurfacing is gentler on your skin than ablative laser resurfacing, that’s why the effects are less pronounced.
C02 Laser
The CO2 laser for skin resurfacing is a type of ablative laser. Co2 laser resurfacing helps to remove a layer of skin and heats the skin, which helps to tighten and constrict the tissues. The results are considered the “gold standard” for laser resurfacing, although Co2 laser resurfacing typically causes extensive recovery times, skin redness, scarring, and a gradual loss of pigmentation in the skin (hypopigmentation). This technique is carried out anesthetized in a surgical environment.
Erbium lasers were introduced as an alternative to the Co2 laser to address its shortcomings. It has a shorter recovery time and fewer side effects while still being an effective method of laser resurfacing. Co2 lasers cause more skin contraction/tightening than erbium lasers due to skin heating. The erbium laser resurfaces the skin by removing a very tiny slice of its top layers, yet it does so without using much thermal energy. Typically, many passes are required to obtain an acceptable penetration depth. Erbium laser resurfacing provides faster recovery but does not provide as much skin contraction or outcomes as the Co2 laser.
Fractional laser resurfacing has lately become a popular alternative to conventional carbon dioxide or erbium laser resurfacing in laser treatments. Fractional lasers only treat a portion of the skin, as the name implies. They do this by directing laser energy columns into the skin while mostly sparing the skin around the columns. In some ways, this lessens the procedure’s effectiveness while simultaneously shortening the recovery time and lowering the hazards associated with it. Given the potentially lengthy recovery times connected with fully ablative carbon dioxide/erbium laser resurfacing, for many patients, this is a workable compromise. An excellent compromise between recovery durations, risks, and outcomes is offered by fractional laser resurfacing.
Preparing for Laser Resurfacing
Consult a plastic surgeon or dermatologist to see if you are a good candidate.
Inform your doctor if you feel a skin infection or fever. The persons who are at risk, laser skin resurfacing can cause outbreaks.
If you opt to proceed with laser skin resurfacing, your doctor will instruct you to refrain from taking any medications or supplements that can impact coagulation for 10 days before surgery, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E.
How exactly does laser skin resurfacing function?
Light beams are the key to success. Short, focused pulses of light are directed at the uneven skin by your surgeon using the laser. One layer at a time, this precisely eliminates unwanted, damaged skin.
Because laser skin resurfacing is focused, there are fewer issues with hypopigmentation, or skin whitening, following operations like laser acne scar removal.
Your outermost layer of skin, known as the epidermis, will be removed by the laser beam utilized in laser resurfacing. It also warms the dermis, the layer of skin underneath the epidermis. This activity encourages the development of new collagen fibers. The newly formed skin is smoother and firmer when the treated region recovers.
After the Procedure of laser Resurfacing.
It’s crucial to follow the surgeon’s recommendations to avoid infection, manage discomfort, and guarantee the best outcome. This advice will cover specifics on maintaining the area’s cleanliness and protection, avoiding severe temperatures, committing to using sunscreen or avoiding exposure to the sun, and taking any prescribed drugs.
For tracking the healing process, follow-up treatment with the doctor is essential. If there are any odd symptoms, such as a fever, severe discomfort, or bleeding, you should call your doctor right once.
Results of Laser Resurfacing
After the surgery, your skin should look more youthful and vibrant. Naturally, if you have gone to lessen the symptoms of wrinkles, acne, or other concerns, they will have been substantially reduced or even erased depending on your surgeon’s expectations.
