All You Need to Know about Facial Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is a dermatological procedure performed by a certified dermatologist to reduce the signs of aging, reduces acne scars and blemishes. Lasers are doing wonders in the modern world and laser resurfacing is another high-tech dermatological procedure. This procedure involves the removal of top layers of the skin and the healing process that produces new skin cells result in a tighter and younger looking skin.

Laser Resurfacing Options According to Your Skin:

A number of different laser options are available to choose from because no single laser can treat all skin concerns.

1. Erbium Lasers promote collagen remodelling and help reduce signs of aging such as wrinkles, fine line and age spots.
2. CO2 lasers are ablative lasers and help treat wrinkles, scars and warts.
3. Fractional lasers can be ablative or non-ablative and help treat age-related skin issues. These type of laser break the laser beam into several tiny beams to treat a small part of the skin.
4. Intensed Pulse Light (IPL) are not lasers but address skin concerns such as acne, rosacea, sun damage and hyperpigmentation.

How to Prepare for the Procedure

Firstly, consult your dermatologist or plastic surgeon that whether you are a good candidate for the procedure or not. Acne prone skin in not an ideal skin for facial rejuvenation procedure as this procedure exacerbates breakouts. Your doctor will advise you to stop taking any medication or supplements 24 hours before the procedure such as vitamin E supplements, ibuprofen or aspirin. If you are a smoker, you will need to quit smoking as smoking prolongs healing.

What to Expect During the Procedure:

Your dermatologist will first explain the entire procedure to you. This is an outdoor procedure and it requires to be done under anaesthesia. If you wish to receive treatment for only a small area of your face such as forehead or under eyes, your doctor will use local anesthesia to numb the desired area. Whereas, if you wish to receive treatment for your entire face, then this procedure will be done under general anesthesia. It takes about 30-45 to treat a particular area of the face and about 2 hours to treat the entire face. 

After the procedure, your doctor will bandage the treated area. Your doctor will then advise you to use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection. Moreover, you will need to apply ointment such as petroleum jelly four to five times a day to prevent scabs from forming.

What to Expect After the Procedure:

You may feel irritation or stinging on the treated area for 12 to 72 hours after the procedure which will vanish thereafter. Your skin will dry and peel off after some days. You will need to apply sunscreen regularly which filters both ultraviolet A and B rays. Moreover, limit sun exposure especially between 10 am to 2 pm. Reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours if your are sweating or swimming.

See Also

How to Tighten Facial Skin After Weight Loss

Risks and Side Effects of Laser Resurfacing:

1. Burns from the laser’s heat
2. Bacterial infections
3. Skin pigmentation
4. Scarring

CO2 Laser Resurfacing Procedure

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