Laser resurfacing does not have permanent results. Many people notice immediate results on their skin. This may continue to get better for up to a year. With changes to the skin because of aging, new wrinkles and expression lines appear. Thus, as per your need, you may need a laser resurfacing again.
What is laser resurfacing?
Laser resurfacing is a cosmetic procedure done to provide a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance to the skin. It is also called a laser peel, laser vaporization, and lasabrasion. It can reduce the age-related changes on the skin, such as facial wrinkles, scars, and blemishes. It acts by removing the superficial layers of the skin resulting in the formation of new collagen fibers that render a healthier, firmer, and tighter skin. It also helps to remove unwanted or damaged skin and treat uneven skin tone. Advances in laser technologies have evolved this procedure that allows the plastic surgeon to make the required improvements to your skin with great precision, especially in the delicate areas.
What is laser resurfacing done for?
Laser resurfacing is beneficial in treating the following skin issues:
- Fine lines or wrinkles around or under the eyes, forehead, or mouth
- Acne scars
- Age spots
- Scars from infections like chickenpox
- Sun-damaged skin
- Nonresponsive skin after a facelift
- Liver spots (flat tan, brown or black spots on the skin due to aging)
- Dull yellowish or grayish skin tones
- Warts
- Birthmarks or moles
- Enlarged oil glands
- Uneven skin
- Crow feet
- Sagging skin
Is laser resurfacing painful?
That depends on the type of laser resurfacing sought. How laser resurfacing will feel depends on several factors, mainly:
- The type of laser
- The depth of treatment
- The area of treatment
- The person’s tolerance for pain
The laser treatments, which results in removing the outer skin layers (ablative lasers), one may feel like a rubber band snapping against the skin.
Thus, different people may experience varying levels of discomfort during therapy. Your doctor may administer local anesthetic injections or IV sedation to keep you comfortable. This is especially done in the deeper ablative (involving the removal of some outer layers of skin) laser treatments, such as CO2 lasers and Erbium YAG lasers.
In nonablative laser resurfacing procedures, the laser passes through the skin without removing the skin layers. Nonablative procedures cause little to no pain at all. They may require only a topical (applied on the skin) numbing cream to keep away any pain or discomfort. Pulsed-dye lasers are commonly used nonablative lasers.
After the laser resurfacing procedure, your skin may stay red or pink for up to several months. For up to a year after the procedure, your skin may be extra sensitive to sunlight. There may be some amount of tenderness in the area treated. Your doctor will recommend ways to minimize the discomfort after the procedure. You may need to avoid sun exposure and apply sunscreen daily and liberally.
Are there any complications of laser resurfacing?
Complications of laser resurfacing include:
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Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
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- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
Electrolysis vs Laser Hair Removal
Electrolysis is a method of hair removal in which an electrical current is sent through a hair follicle. Laser hair removal is a method of hair removal in which a laser (a concentrated beam of light) is used to remove unwanted hair.
How Much Does It Cost for Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Laser resurfacing is a procedure that removes layers of the skin and improves its appearance or treats minor facial flaws such as blemishes or acne scars by using lasers.