ABCS recommends that you quit smoking for at least two weeks prior to this procedure. Smoking after laser resurfacing can also increase your risk for side effects. Still, downtime and recovery are necessary to make sure your skin heals properly. This reduces your risk for side effects and helps you achieve the desired results. 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. During recovery, your skin may be extremely red and scab over. Slight peeling will occur. You can use ice packs to help reduce any swelling. A daily moisturizer can also help with the healing process, but be sure to run this by your doctor first. 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.
Make sure to reapply as needed throughout the day. Ablative lasers, on the other hand, may correct your concerns in one treatment. Individual results vary based on the extent of the initial concerns being treated. You may need to repeat the procedure at some point. Rather than settling on the first dermatologist you find, you might consider interviewing a few different candidates. Board certification ensures that you are working with a dermatologist who has extensive training and practice.
Cosmetics can contain ingredients that are harmful to you and the environment. Here's how to be an informed consumer of healthy cosmetic products. Your lifestyle has an enormous impact on your skin's health and the development of wrinkles. Learn about lifestyle changes that can minimize wrinkles. IPL is a type of light therapy that's used to treat wrinkles, spots, and unwanted hair. Find out how it works, how much it costs, and more. If you have cellulite, there are many treatment options you can try.
We explain treatment methods, plus ways to prevent and reduce the appearance of…. Overview Laser resurfacing is a facial rejuvenation procedure that uses a laser to improve the skin's appearance or treat minor facial flaws. It can be done with: Ablative laser. This is a wounding laser that removes the thin outer layer of skin epidermis and heats the underlying skin dermis , which stimulates the growth of new collagen fibers.
As the epidermis heals and regrows, the treated area appears smoother and tighter. Types of ablative treatments include the carbon dioxide CO2 laser, the erbium laser and combination systems. Nonablative laser. This is a nonwounding laser that stimulates collagen growth, which over time helps improve skin tone and texture. This approach can be done with various types of lasers as well as intense pulsed light IPL devices.
Nonablative laser resurfacing is less invasive and requires less recovery time than does ablative laser resurfacing. But it's less effective. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. How laser resurfacing is done Open pop-up dialog box Close. How laser resurfacing is done During ablative laser resurfacing, a laser destroys the outer layer of skin epidermis.
Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references AskMayoExpert. Laser resurfacing adult. Mayo Clinic; Edmonson KG, et al. Laser skin resurfacing: Cosmetic and medical applications.
In: Fitzpatrick's Dermatology. McGraw-Hill Education; Accessed Oct. Laser resurfacing. American Society for Dermatologic Surgery. Flint PW, et al. Management of aging skin.
Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed Jan. Genetics can play a role in collagen production. This is why some people seem to not age at all while others seem to age more rapidly and dramatically. As our production slows and collagen breaks down, it weakens the deeper layers of our skin, causing our face to lose its anchor.
Certain weaknesses in the dermis create different sized areas of volume loss. Some can be smaller, as when our skin falls to create small lines and wrinkles. Other areas can be larger, and we can lose volume in places like our cheeks and cheekbones.
The decline in collagen also allows our cells to damage more easily, causing age and sunspots, discoloration, and uneven texture.
Restoring collagen is the key to reversing these signs of aging. As this laser is moved across your skin, your doctor will target deeper layers of skin that have been damaged by loss of collagen. The heat from the laser creates enough disruption for your skin to replace all those layers of skin, but to do that, it has to produce a lot of new collagen. As this healing process continues, newly regenerated skin cells slowly replace those damaged layers of skin with healthier ones.
The foundation of these layers of skin is made strong again, removing those weakened areas and firming up the anchor for your face.
The results can include:. Choosing to have any cosmetic treatment can be a daunting proposition given the vast number of options available. Your doctor will help you with the process.
Having an in-depth consultation with your doctor is the only way to determine if Co2 laser resurfacing is the right option for you. They will do a physical examination of your skin to determine its condition. Each patient is different, so pre-treatment instructions may vary.
There are typical recommendations, however, that will make your treatment more effective and expedite your healing process:. Your doctor may also recommend a specific take home product to use that will prepare your skin for treatment.
These will increase your tolerance for the treatment and decrease the already low likelihood of adverse side effects. Your skin will be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized. You and your doctor will have already discussed any extra sedation and, if planned, they will administer it before the treatment.
Once the local anesthetic has sufficiently numbed the treatment area, your treatment specialist will move the laser around your face, targeting precise areas to achieve maximum results. When the treatment is done, your doctor will apply a protective balm or salve to the treatment area and may dress it in protective wraps. This treatment is done in the office, and you can leave afterward. You will be given specific instructions to make your recovery comfortable and maximize your results.
Special cleansers and moisturizers may be necessary for a few weeks following treatment. Sunscreen usage is essential, every day, no matter the weather. Your skin will be more sensitive to sun damage for up to a year after treatment. As your skin heals, it will reveal brighter and more even tone. The real results come as your collagen builds up and regenerates new layers of skin.
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