At Dr. Hetzler’s, we use laser resurfacing to remove areas of damaged or wrinkled skin. We find the CO2 laser used is effective for removing fine lines around the mouth and the eyes. It is also great for reducing areas of uneven pigmentation caused usually by sun damage.
How is laser resurfacing done?
The laser energy is key to this procedure. The energy is directed onto the target areas of the skin, where it instantly vaporizes the upper layers of damaged skin. This may sound random, but the penetration of the laser is precisely set and controlled.
Laser resurfacing has advantages over other resurfacing methods such as dermabrasion. Thanks to the laser energy, there is little (if any) bleeding and much less post-procedure discomfort. This is not true of dermabrasion, where a rotating head (usually a wire brush) is used to abrade the outer layers of the skin.
How does laser resurfacing improve the skin?
Laser resurfacing works by first removing the damaged outer layers of skin. With these gone, the body gets busy creating new skin cells and collagen to repair the area. As the new cells form, the skin becomes smoother, tighter, and younger looking.
The laser energy can be set to different depths depending on the amount of resurfacing desired. For superficial or medium resurfacing, the laser is limited to the epidermis and papillary dermis. For deeper resurfacing, the upper levels of the reticulas dermis can also be removed.
After your session
You will have some mild swelling and discomfort after your laser resurfacing session. Ice packs and ibuprofen help with this stage. For lighter resurfacing, this will pass quickly, often in just a day or so. When resurfacing is deeper there will be more recovery. You may need to apply ointment to keep the skin from scabbing, but there will be some crusting. This phase generally runs its course in a week to 10 days. Again, this only applies to deeper peels. How long your skin will remain pink is also directly correlated to the depth of the treatment.
Interested in getting rid of that dull, outer layer of your skin, along with the pigmentation issues and fine lines therein? Call Dr. Hetzler’s Little Silver offices at (732) 219-0447 to make an appointment or to ask any questions you may have about laser resurfacing.
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