Laser Resurfacing
Laser Resurfacing is a treatment used for severe wrinkles, abnormal pigmentation or the deep scars caused by acne. It is an invasive medical procedure and needs a bit of downtime to recuperate from it. It employs the use of a laser beam, trained on the outer layer of the skin and burns it. This in turn triggers collagen production in the fibroblasts to replace the burnt skin.
This treatment is best used to reduce fine lines, abnormal pigmentation and cross hatched lines. It is able to diminish the fine lines in the mouths of people who smoke and whistle. It can also fix damaged capillaries and diminish the appearance of a few acne scars. Unfortunately, if your skin problem is a sagging skin, thermal lifts or surgical face lifts are the recommended treatment, and not skin resurfacing.
Since this is an invasive procedure, the skin goes into repair mode. When you get a first and second degree burn, it signals the immune system to start repair. Recovery is estimated at three weeks with antibiotic therapy to prevent an infection to occur. Pain relievers are also prescribed to help ease the pain of the burn. And to be able to achieve your desired look, several sessions are needed.
Side effects of surface resurfacing include burn scars, and abnormal pigmentation. Before proceeding with this procedure, make sure that your physician knows exactly what he is doing and does not have a heavy hand since additional weight from the doctor's hands may cause a thicker layer to burn. It is also better to have several sessions rather than doing it all in one sitting since it allows the skin to recover fully and lessens the possibility of having undesirable effects.
C02 Laser Resurfacing
CO2 laser resurfacing is a procedure to minimize fine lines, wrinkles, and scarring on the skin. Lasers are still awe-inspiring weapons in science fiction stories, but the truth of the matter is our daily lives depend on them. Manufacturing, medical, and now cosmetic applications of lasers use the concentration of light particles to great benefit of all.
CO2 laser resurfacing is marketed as a more convenient solution to the traditional face lift. There are two main types of lasers used in skin resurfacing, CO2 and erbium lasers. CO2 lasers have a weaker wavelength and therefore particle concentration than erbium lasers, and are the most used laser on the facial area. Erbium lasers are used primary for large body area resurfacing, or deeper problems like scars.
Since CO2 laser resurfacing is an elective cosmetic surgery, insurance is not going to foot the bill. For years of wrinkle removal, the costs associated with CO2 laser resurfacing are more economical than short-term solutions like Botox or derma fillers.
However, laser resurfacing is a cosmetic surgery procedure, and patients should only seek the care from a licensed and experienced cosmetic surgeon. Unlike derma fillers and other injection based wrinkle control, CO2 laser resurfacing does use a local anesthesia to numb the treated area. Since more skin area is damaged to force a deep repair, the risks of CO2 laser resurfacing may be too much for some patients.
Typical facial resurfacing can last from a half hour to two hours, largely based on the size of the treated area. After the procedure, side effects are generally consistent with a moderate sun burn. For the first few days, treated skin will sting, itch, and feel mildly burned.
For the first 24 hours, there will be a sterile dressing over the area treated by a CO2 laser. After this, patients will need to regularly clean the area per the doctor's instructions to ward off infection. A topical cream should also be prescribed and applied to prevent scabbing.
Since your skin was effectively damaged by the laser to force it into super repair mode, CO2 laser resurfacing patients must take extra precautions while healing. Small cold sores and skin infections can become stubborn to heal, so hygiene is a must. Also, daily sunscreen and even hat coverage for prolonged sun exposure will reduce the likelihood of new damage to the sensitive resurfaced skin.
Full healing from CO2 laser resurfacing takes a couple of months. After a few weeks, skin is fine for makeup coverage, and most patients hide any lingering redness with green based cosmetics. Since CO2 laser resurfacing is cosmetic surgery, and involves local anesthesia, patients should review their entire medical history with their doctors to avoid any larger health risks.
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