Treatment FAQ

what is laser skin resurfacing treatment

by Katarina Reichert II Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Laser resurfacing uses lasers to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars, to even out skin coloring (pigmentation), to tighten skin and to remove lesions, both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant. The laser technique directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin.Mar 22, 2021

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Laser resurfacing is a skincare treatment using laser energy to improve the texture and tone of the skin (for wrinkles, scarring, etc).

How long does it take to heal from laser resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is a type of skin care procedure performed by a dermatologist or physician. It involves using lasers to help improve skin texture and appearance. Depending on your individual...

What are the benefits and risks of laser skin resurfacing?

Feb 11, 2020 · Laser skin resurfacing may be just the treatment need to rejuvenate your skin’s natural beauty. This treatment uses lasers to resurface your skin and increase your skin’s collagen production. Types of Laser Resurfacing Treatments We Offer. There is a variety of different lasers used for resurfacing treatments, and they put into two categories:

What are the pros and cons of laser skin rejuvenation?

Oct 03, 2021 · Resurfacing can deal with so many different issues because it penetrates deeply and fixes the root of issues. The laser removal of outer layers of skin helps diminish scars, spots, and wrinkles on the skin, while collagen production encourages the growth of plumper and tighter-looking skin. False: laser treatments are all the same

Can laser resurfacing give you better skin?

Dec 10, 2021 · The laser is used to pinpoint small areas of skin to correct small cosmetic concerns while leaving the surrounding tissue untouched. This procedure can be ideal for certain types of acne scars, whereas full field resurfacing is …

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Is laser resurfacing good for the skin?

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 tone.Mar 17, 2021

How long does laser resurfacing results last?

On average, patients can expect laser skin resurfacing results to last anywhere from 3-5 years from having the procedure done. It's possible for patients to extend their results beyond five years.Mar 8, 2019

How long does it take to recover from laser skin surgery?

The procedure removes superficial skin layers, stimulating the formation of new collagen fibers that lead to healthier, firmer, and tighter skin. Most people report recovering within 5 days to 3 weeks after laser skin resurfacing treatment.Jan 14, 2022

Which is better chemical peel or laser resurfacing?

Laser treatments are superior to chemical peels in how controllable and precise it is. It's easier to just target an acne scar or a few spots on the skin with a laser. The laser is also better for deep collagen remodeling. If you are trying to address wrinkles or sagging skin, lasers will be a better option.Dec 11, 2020

What does your face look like after laser resurfacing?

Immediately after treatment, your skin will be red and feel sensitive and sunburned. Redness, swelling, itching or stinging may last for a few days. Depending on the treatment, skin may even appear raw, ooze a yellow liquid and even blister.Mar 22, 2021

What are the side effects of laser treatment?

RisksRedness, swelling, itching and pain. Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation. ... Acne. Applying thick creams and bandages to your face after treatment can worsen acne or cause you to temporarily develop tiny white bumps (milia) on treated skin.Infection. ... Changes in skin color. ... Scarring.Mar 2, 2022

How much is laser skin resurfacing?

The average cost of laser skin resurfacing is $2,509 for ablative and $1,445 for non-ablative, according to 2020 statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This average cost is only part of the total price – it does not include other related expenses.

Can I put moisturizer after laser treatment?

Moisturize your treated skin Right after the treatment is done, you'll have ointments applied to the area to help the healing start and to prevent infection. Once you stop using the ointment, you'll need to keep the skin moisturized with approved lotions and protective skin care treatments.

What are the side effects of laser treatment on face?

Potential risks of the procedure include:Burns or other injuries from the laser's heat.Scarring.Changes in the skin's pigmentation, including areas of darker or lighter skin.Reactivating herpes cold sores.Bacterial infection.Jul 26, 2021

Is laser better than microneedling?

Laser treatments can often provide quicker, more dramatic and long lasting results than microneedling treatments. Because lasers deliver heat to the skin we see more side effects (such as temporary darkening or bruising) and longer downtime due to post-treatment swelling and redness.Jul 22, 2021

Which laser resurfacing is best?

The best in class for wrinkle removal, treatment of crow's feet, sun damage removal and overall skin rejuvenation is the Fraxel Re:pair laser. Yes, there is some downtime with Fraxel, but after a couple days looking like you have a sunburn, your skin will look 10 years younger, tighter and completely refreshed.

What are the benefits of laser resurfacing?

Six Benefits of Laser Skin ResurfacingReduce fine lines and wrinkles. ... Treat brown spots, redness, or discoloration. ... Tighten skin and encourage collagen production. ... Improve acne scars, traumatic scars, and surgical scars. ... Reduce the appearance of prominent blood vessels. ... Reduce the size of enlarged pores.

What is laser resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing is a skincare treatment using laser energy to improve the texture and tone of the skin (for wrinkles, scarring, etc).

Does laser resurfacing hurt?

Light or non-ablative laser treatments can feel like a rubber band snapping against your skin and generally patients tolerate these treatments without any anesthesia other than cold air. Sometimes topical anesthesia ointment is helpful.

Who is a good candidate for laser resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing can be done safely on almost everyone, but because melanin-rich skin is at a higher risk of discoloration with deeper treatments, it is very important to choose a doctor who is very experienced in treating all skin types. At CLARA, we use an Erbium YAG laser for resurfacing.

When is the best time to get laser resurfacing?

Skin that has been treated with lasers is extra sensitive to sun exposure. For that reason, many dermatologists consider fall and winter to be unofficial “laser season”, because we tend to get less sun exposure at these times of year.

What can I expect after laser resurfacing?

Depending on the depth of resurfacing, you should plan for between 1-2 weeks of downtime. Patients undergoing light to moderate treatments will have about 1 week of healing, during which time you will have to follow a specific cleansing and moisturizing regimen. Your skin will remain slightly pink for a few weeks after treatment.

What is laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is a type of skin care procedure performed by a dermatologist or physician. It involves using lasers to help improve skin texture and appearance. Depending on your individual needs, your dermatologist may recommend either ablative or non-ablative lasers. Ablative lasers include carbon dioxide (CO2) or Erbium.

What type of laser is used to remove skin?

Both types of ablative lasers remove outside layers of the skin. Non-ablative lasers, on the other hand, don’t remove any skin layers. These include pulsed light, pulsed-dye lasers, and fractional lasers. Non-ablative lasers may be used for rosacea, spider veins, and acne-related skin concerns.

What is ablative laser?

Ablative lasers include carbon dioxide (CO2) or Erbium. CO2 laser resurfacing treatments are used to get rid of scars, warts, and deep wrinkles. Erbium is used for finer lines and wrinkles, along with other superficial skin concerns. Both types of ablative lasers remove outside layers of the skin. Non-ablative lasers, on ...

How long is skin sensitive after laser skin resurfacing?

Your skin may be sun sensitive for up to one year following each laser skin resurfacing procedure. Wearing sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30 can help reduce your risk for sunburn and sun damage.

How much does a laser cost?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), non-ablative laser treatments cost about $1,031 per session, while ablative treatments are about $2,330 per session. Your overall cost also depends on how many sessions you need, as well as the area being treated.

How long does it take for a laser to heal?

Healing usually takes between 3 and 10 days. As a general rule, the bigger the treatment area and the deeper the laser, the longer the recovery time. Recovery from ablative laser treatment, for example, may take up to three weeks.

Can laser skin resurfacing be used for acne scars?

Laser skin resurfacing can be used to treat one or more of the following skin concerns: age spots. scars. acne scars. fine lines and wrinkles.

Types of Laser Resurfacing Treatments We Offer

There is a variety of different lasers used for resurfacing treatments, and they put into two categories:

What Should You Expect with Laser Resurfacing?

After treatment with a non-ablative laser, you may experience some skin redness and sensitivity. You can expect to have redness, swelling, and extreme skin sensitivity after an ablative laser treatment. Because your skin will be sensitive and susceptible to burning from sun exposure, you must use sunscreen after your procedure.

What Conditions Can Be Treated with Laser Resurfacing?

While laser skin resurfacing treatments are not effective for treating moderate to severe wrinkles, it can improve the appearance of facial skin affected by:

What does laser resurfacing feel like?

However, what laser resurfacing feels like depends on the laser, the depth and area of treatment, and an individual’s tolerance for pain.

Why are there so many different laser treatments?

The reason there are so many different laser options is that no one laser can treat all patients and all skin concerns. Here are a few varieties you are likely to come across in your research:

What are some examples of ablative lasers?

Examples of ablative lasers are CO2 lasers and Erbium YAG lasers. Some non-ablative laser treatments (where the laser passes through the skin without removing layers) cause little-to-no pain and require only a topical numbing cream to offset discomfort.

What is fractional laser?

Fractional Lasers break up the laser energy into thousands of tiny beams to treat only a fraction of the skin in the area, which reduces downtime. Fractional lasers can be ablative or non-ablative, and are used to treat a number of age-related blemishes.

What is IPL laser?

IPL (intense pulsed light) treatments technically are not lasers but are often used to treat similar concerns as lasers, such as sun damage, vascular lesions, acne, rosacea, and hyperpigmentation. Popular IPL skin resurfacing brands include Vasculaze by inMode and Lumecca by inMode. Learn more about IPL treatments.

How long before laser resurfacing can you smoke?

Diabetes and other chronic conditions can also impact safety and results with laser resurfacing. You should also quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to and after laser treatments to avoid complications with healing and provide your body with the best chance for optimal results. 6.

What is pulsed dye laser?

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 popular pulsed-dye lasers is the Vbeam Perfecta by Candela.

True: laser resurfacing can treat many different skin issues

One of the most important things that you should know about the benefits of laser resurfacing is that it is an ideal treatment for a large number of popular skin concerns. If you are looking to reduce scarring from acne, dark spots, sagging skin, wrinkles, drooping eyelids, enlarged pores, or sunspots. Laser resurfacing could be perfect for you.

False: laser treatments are all the same

This one should be easy to figure out on your own, but it’s still important to go over just in case. To put it simply, if all laser treatments were the same, then there would not be so many different options.

True: Laser resurfacing can be just one part of a larger skin rejuvenation plan

One thing that is quite interesting and unique about laser resurfacing is that it does not make it impossible for patients to receive other skin treatments. That is very different from more invasive and surgical treatments that make it impossible for patients to have other skin treatments for quite some time.

False: There is no need for downtime after laser resurfacing

While it is true that laser resurfacing is considered a non-invasive treatment, people should be prepared to have some downtime following their procedures. Of course, it is not rare for people to return to their daily activities right after receiving a laser resurfacing treatment.

True: Treatment is quick and painless

No matter what kind of treatment a person decides to get, it typically doesn’t take a very long time to be performed. People can usually expect a resurfacing job to last approximately 30 minutes. Sometimes it takes even less time.

False: Laser resurfacing has the same effect as surgery

It should not come as so much of a surprise that laser resurfacing and surgery do not render the same results. While a face-lift or different is best for when people have experienced significant sagging or drooping on areas on the face, laser resurfacing is better for slight drooping.

What is Skin Resurfacing and What Does It Do?

Skin resurfacing is a mechanism in many cosmetic procedures that can reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and discoloration. When a procedure “resurfaces the skin” that just means that it strategically and carefully removes the top-most layers of skin. Once the old, damaged skin cells are gone then new, healthy skin can grow.

What Is The Best Laser For Skin Resurfacing?

There is no one laser that is the best for skin resurfacing. Laser treatments are customized to the patient’s individual needs and goals. Some of the lasers that are currently providing the best results are Sciton laser, ablative lasers, erbium laser, and fractional CO2 laser.

Sciton Laser For A Fully Customized Procedure

Since your skin is so unique, your laser treatment should be too. This is why Qazi Cosmetic Clinic now offers the Sciton laser. The level of ablation and the depth is completely customizable. It can penetrate deeply into the skin to correct deep creases or lightly resurface the skin to get rid of pigmentation and fine lines.

How Ablative Lasers Offer Superior Skin Resurfacing

The term “ablative” describes a type of laser rather than a brand. Ablative lasers are also called “wounding lasers” but don’t worry, you have nothing to worry about. You will not walk out of your ablative laser treatment looking like the Phantom of the Opera.

Erbium Laser: The Best Laser For Skin Resurfacing

An erbium laser is a type of ablative laser that uses intense heat to vaporize skin cells. The result is that damaged skin cells are removed and new skin cells can grow. The biggest benefit of the erbium laser is that it has more effective wave absorption than other lasers, so there is significantly less damage to the surrounding tissue.

Tried & True: The Fractional CO2 Laser

If this type of laser sounds familiar, that is probably because it has been around for a long time. The CO2 laser is a type of ablative laser that can be customized to use either short pulses of energy (ultrapulse) or continuous light beams. The effect is that this laser only removes thin layers of skin in order to give you a faster recovery time.

Combination Laser Treatments Only Available at Qazi Cosmetic Clinic

Two is almost always better than one. This is why Qazi Cosmetic Clinic offers unique combination laser treatments. If you are considering Sciton, ablative, erbium, or CO2 laser treatments, you have the option of combining it with LaseMD or Fraxel laser.

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Why It's Done

  • Laser resurfacing can be used to treat: 1. Fine wrinkles 2. Age spots 3. Uneven skin tone or texture 4. Sun-damaged skin 5. Mild to moderate acne scars
See more on mayoclinic.org

Risks

  • Laser resurfacing can cause side effects. Side effects are milder and less likely with nonablative approaches than with ablative laser resurfacing. 1. Redness, swelling, itching and pain.Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation. Redness may be intense and might last for several months. 2. Acne.Applying thick creams and bandages to your face after treatment can w…
See more on mayoclinic.org

How You Prepare

  • Before you have laser resurfacing, your doctor will likely: 1. Ask about your medical history.Be prepared to answer questions about current and past medical conditions and any medications you are taking or have taken recently. Your doctor might also ask about previous cosmetic procedures you've had and how you react to sun exposure — for example, do you burn easily? rar…
See more on mayoclinic.org

What You Can Expect

  • During the procedure
    Your doctor may do laser resurfacing as an outpatient procedure. Your care team will numb skin with medication. For extensive resurfacing, such as treatment to your whole face, you might be sedated. During ablative laser resurfacing, an intense beam of light energy (laser) is directed at y…
  • After the procedure
    After ablative laser resurfacing, the treated skin will be raw, swollen and itchy. Your doctor will apply a thick ointment to the treated skin and might cover the area with an airtight and watertight dressing. You may take a pain reliever and use ice packs. New skin usually covers the area in on…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Results

  • After ablative laser resurfacing, your skin might stay inflamed for up to several months. But once the treatment area begins to heal, you'll notice a difference in your skin quality and appearance. The effects can last for years. Results after nonablative laser resurfacing tend to be gradual and progressive. You're more likely to notice improvements in skin texture and pigment than in wrink…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Prevention

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Regardless of what time of year you have your laser procedure, wear a broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher sunscreen daily and reapply as needed. This not only helps to keep your results looking their best, it also provides protection against skin cancer and helps prevent additional premature aging. The best way to ensure a s…
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Society and culture

  • Patients and doctors commonly compare the sensation felt during laser treatments to a rubber band snapping against the skin. However, what laser resurfacing feels like depends on the laser, the depth and area of treatment, and an individuals tolerance for pain.
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Treatment

  • Deeper ablative (some outer layers of skin are removed) laser treatments may require local anesthetic injections or intravenous sedation to keep a patient comfortable. Examples of ablative lasers are CO2 lasers and Erbium YAG lasers.
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Results

  • Some non-ablative laser treatments (the laser passes through the skin without removing layers) cause little-to-no pain and require only a topical numbing cream to offset discomfort. Non-ablative lasers include pulsed-dye, ND: Yag, and Alexandrite lasers. Following the procedure, some degree of tenderness in the treatment area can be expected. Your provider will recommend safe ways t…
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Safety

  • A common misconception is that laser resurfacing is only safe for light skin types. While it is true that certain lasers pose a higher risk for cell damage or discoloration in darker skin, there are safe and effective resurfacing options. For lighter-toned African American, Hispanic or Asian skin tones, Erbium lasers can sometimes be a good option, posing less risk for discoloration. Patient…
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Qualification

  • Your best bet? Choose a cosmetic surgeon board certified by the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery. Every ABCS certified surgeon has undergone a rigorous training fellowship that includes non-surgical treatments such as laser skin resurfacing.
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Risks

  • Always be upfront and honest with your provider about your medical history and any medications or supplements you are taking. For instance, if you are prone to cold sores or fever blisters, laser treatments may induce breakouts. Acne medications that contain isotretinoin (i.e., Accutane) can lead to poor healing or scarring from laser resurfacing, while common over-the-counter product…
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Varieties

  • The reason there are so many different laser options is that no one laser can treat all patients and all skin concerns. Here are a few varieties you are likely to come across in your research:
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

Prognosis

  • Although laser treatments are generally considered non-surgical, not all are downtime-free. Laser resurfacing recovery time varies depending on the type of laser used as well as an individuals health and healing rate.
See more on americanboardcosmeticsurgery.org

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