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Laser Skin Resurfacing
If aging, acne, or too much
time in the sun has left
your face with blotches,
scars, wrinkles, or lines,
laser skin resurfacing may
help your skin look younger
and healthier.
Laser skin resurfacing
removes skin layer by layer
with precision. The new skin
cells that form during
healing give the skin a
tighter, younger looking
surface. The procedure can
be done alone or with other
cosmetic surgeries on the
face.
Preparing for Laser
Resurfacing
Start by consulting a
plastic surgeon or
dermatologist to find out if
you're a good candidate.
Tell your doctor if you get
cold sores or feverblisters
around your mouth. Laser
skin resurfacing can trigger
breakouts in people who are
at risk.
If you decide to go ahead
with laser skin resurfacing,
your doctor will ask you to
not take any medications or
supplements -- such as
aspirin, ibuprofen, or
vitamin E -- that can affect
clotting for 10 days before
surgery.
If you smoke, you should
stop for two weeks before
and after the procedure.
Smoking can prolong healing.
Your doctor may prescribe an
antibiotic medication
beforehand to prevent
bacterial infections and
also an antiviral medication
if you are prone to cold
sores or fever blisters.
What to Expect During and
After the Procedure
Laser resurfacing is done by
a plastic surgeon or
dermatologist. It's an
outpatient procedure,
meaning you'll not have to
stay overnight.
The doctor may treat
wrinkles around your eyes,
mouth, or forehead
individually or treat your
entire face. For small
areas, the doctor will numb
the areas to be treated with
a local anesthetic and may
also sedate you. You may
require general anesthesia
if your whole face is being
treated.
Treating just parts of the
face takes about 30 to 45
minutes. A full-face
treatment takes up to two
hours.
Following the laser
procedure, the doctor will
bandage the treated areas.
After 24 hours, you will
need to clean the treated
areas four to five times a
day and then apply an
ointment such as petroleum
jelly to prevent scabs from
forming.
Swelling after laser skin
resurfacing is normal. Your
doctor may prescribe
steroids to manage swelling
around your eyes. Sleeping
on an extra pillow at night
can also ease swelling.
What to Expect During and
After the Procedure
continued...
You may feel itching or
stinging for 12 to 72 hours
after the procedure. Five to
seven days after laser
resurfacing, your skin will
become dry and peel.
Depending on the problem
that was treated, healing
typically takes 10 to 21
days. Once the skin heals,
you can wear oil-free makeup
to minimize redness, which
usually fades in two to
three months.
You will also probably
notice that your skin is
lighter for a while after
surgery. It is particularly
important that you use a
"broad-spectrum" sunscreen,
which screens ultraviolet B
and ultraviolet A rays, to
protect your skin during
that time. When selecting a
sunscreen, look for one
specially formulated for use
on the face with a sun
protection factor (SPF) of
30 or higher. Limit your
time in the sun, especially
between the hours of 10 a.m.
and 2 p.m., and wear
protective clothing, such as
long-sleeved shirts, pants,
and a wide-brimmed hat.
It is also important to keep
your new skin well
moisturized. If you use
Retin A or glycolic acid
products, you should be able
to start using them again
after about six weeks or
when the doctor says you
can.
Benefits and Risks of
Laser Resurfacing
Although skin resurfacing
cannot produce perfect skin,
it can improve the
appearance of your skin.
Potential risks of the
procedure include:
•Burns or other injuries
from the laser's heat
•Scarring
•Changes in the skin's
pigmentation, including
areas of darker or lighter
skin
•Reactivating herpes cold
sores
•Bacterial infection
Cost of Laser Skin
Resurfacing
The average cost for laser
skin resurfacing was about
$2,300 in 2011, according to
the American Society of
Plastic Surgeons. However,
costs vary widely depending
on where the procedure is
being done.
Because laser skin
resurfacing is considered a
cosmetic procedure, most
medical insurance companies
will not cover it. There may
be an exception if you get
the procedure to modify
scars or remove precancerous
growths on your skin. |
