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People are increasingly choosing non-surgical beauty treatments over surgical ones; it is one of the fastest-growing areas of medicine worldwide. With so many non-surgical treatments available, how do you choose which is best for you? So many treatments offer the same promises, but what makes laser skin resurfacing different? This blog will address frequently asked questions about laser skin resurfacing.
FAQS ABOUT LASER SKIN RESURFACING
● WHAT IS LASER SKIN RESURFACING?
The Laser Skin Resurfacing method is popularly known as a treatment where laser beams are used in removing the outer layer of the skin. The method is also known as laser vaporization, lasabrasion, and laser peel. Once the layers are removed with precision, the skin reveals a tighter, smoother, and younger-looking facade. Studies suggest that Laser Skin Resurfacing is best in treating wrinkles, acne, scars, sunspots, and aging as it makes the skin look younger and healthier by creating collagen.
● WHAT ARE THE VARIETIES OF LASER SKIN RESURFACING?
When you read articles about Laser Skin Resurfacing on the internet, there are several types of it, and more varieties are continuously being added. In this blog, we will be emphasizing Erbium Skin Resurfacing. Erbium is an effective ablative laser that does an excellent job of resurfacing the skin. Your provider can do this treatment on your face, hands, neck, legs, and chest. An individual can choose the depth of an erbium laser skin resurfacing treatment, a mild treatment with no downtime, or more aggressive treatment with a week of downtime and worthwhile results. Studies recommend that it is best in treating surface wrinkles, crepey skin, and fine lines. It is also incredible for lip lines and the eye area. It can eliminate severe hyperpigmentation or sun damage. Experts agree that one can see surprising results in one treatment only with the right settings. However, if you want better and complete correction, you may need to add another to sustain it.
YAG lasers produce tremendous short pulses of infrared energy (2940nm) during treatment. This wavelength targets water, permitting precise tissue ablation (vaporization) without surrounding heat damage. As a result, this laser acts similarly to a dermabrasion device with significantly more control. It can give you the results of a CO2 laser (the strongest laser available) with the absence of downtime/recovery. Erbium Lasers cause minimal injury to the skin to help encourage healing, and the effects are unbelievable. Erbium lasers for resurfacing the skin are generally safe and are FDA approved. Remember that it is your own body doing the work so that results may last up to five years.
● WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF LASER SKIN RESURFACING?
Since there are different types of Laser Skin Resurfacing, the benefits also vary depending on the laser, the settings, the number of treatments, etc. Erbium has notable advantages that make people love it. Here is the list of some of Laser Skin Resurfacing’s benefits:
> Laser Skin Resurfacing has aesthetic advantages: We have been talking about wrinkle reduction and erasure of fine lines, but most importantly, it gives us a healthier and more enhanced appearance. It reduces the appearance of acne, surgical, and traumatic scars; it reduces enlarged pores. It also tightens the skin and stimulates collagen production.
> It is minimally invasive and has minor downtime: Laser treatments have variable downtime depending on the intensity. Erbium has significantly less downtime than CO2 when a light setting is used. That said, we can tailor our approach and balance the results and the acceptable downtime to get the best outcome for you. We recommend using our prescription numbing cream for more aggressive treatments to make it more comfortable.
The only question now is, are you a good candidate for Laser Skin Resurfacing?
● AM I A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR THE PROCEDURE?
Generally, anyone with skin issues such as wrinkles, fine lines, acne scars, etc., could be a great candidate for Laser Skin Resurfacing. However, you are not a good candidate if you have very dark skin (this can cause darker pigmentation) or active acne. For sagging skin and deep wrinkles, we suggest a combination approach with RF Microneedling.
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When it comes to Erbium Skin Resurfacing, you are a good candidate if you specifically want to correct wrinkles and fine lines on your face, neck, chest, hands, and legs. This treatment can address a wide range of patients, but make sure to put yourself in the good hands of a trusted provider.
● WHAT ARE THE AFTER-EFFECTS OF LASER SKIN RESURFACING?
As reiterated earlier, the procedure can have minimal downtime and is non-invasive. With more aggressive treatment, you will have better results but can have about 5 days of downtime (redness, peeling).
Erbium does have some potential risks such as infections, burns, and scars from the laser’s heat, skin pigmentation changes, and reactivation of herpes cold sores. Be sure to let your provider know if you have a history of cold sores, and we may be able to prescribe medication to prevent a flare.
FACTS ABOUT LASER SKIN RESURFACING
LASER SKIN RESURFACING PROCEDURE
The first step would start by consulting your provider and ensuring that you are a good candidate for the treatment. If you skip this part, Laser Skin Resurfacing can cause issues for non-suitable candidates. Suppose you are a good candidate and have decided to push through. In that case, your provider will ask you to avoid taking medications and supplements like Vitamin E, aspirin, and ibuprofen ten days before the procedure because this can affect your blood clotting. It would be best to avoid smoking before and after the procedure because it will prolong your healing process.
Your provider will prescribe a topical numbing cream to be applied for about 45 minutes. This is typically benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine. The procedure will only take 30-45 minutes. In terms of healing and downtime, you will be red when you leave; how red depends on how aggressive we are. It can vary from a few hours to several days. Aftercare includes applying Aquaphor.
Everglow is a highly rated boutique medical aesthetics office in lovely Kennebunk, ME. We have several options available for Laser Resurfacing. Erbium is our most aggressive for best results (with downtime) to our newest resurfacing laser, LaseMD Ultra, which provides great results with less downtime. Book your appointment today!