Laser Skin Resurfacing

When you look in the mirror, do you see fine lines, uneven pigmentation and sun damage? You’re not alone. Generations of sun worshippers are seeing the same thing. Fortunately, LazaDerm Skincare Centre offers Laser Skin Resurfacing as a solution for more beautiful, youthful skin. The procedure is most commonly used to minimize the appearance of fine lines, especially around the mouth and the eyes. However, it is also effective in treating facial scars or areas of uneven pigmentation. Laser resurfacing may be performed on the whole face or in specific regions. Often, the procedure is done in conjunction with another cosmetic operation, such as a facelift or eyelid surgery.

How Does Laser Skin Resurfacing Work?

The technique directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin. Laser skin resurfacing removes skin very precisely, layer by layer. This popular procedure is known by several other names, including lasabrasion, laser peel or laser vaporization.

Who Is a Good Candidate?

If you have fine lines or wrinkles around the eyes, mouth or on the forehead, scars from acne, or non-responsive skin after a facelift, then you may be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing.

If you have active acne or if you have very dark skin, you may not be a candidate. This technique is also not recommended for stretch marks. When you come in for your consultation, the staff at LazaDerm should be able to tell you if this procedure is right for you.

What Can Be Expected?

Laser skin resurfacing is performed on an outpatient basis, using local anesthesia (pain relief at the site of the procedure) in combination with orally- or intravenously-administered sedative medications to help you relax during the procedure.

Wrinkles around the eyes, mouth or forehead may be treated individually, or a full-face resurfacing may be performed.

How Long Does It Take?

A partial-face procedure takes 30-45 minutes and the full-face treatment takes 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

What Happens After Laser Resurfacing?

Following laser resurfacing, a sterile dressing is applied to the treatment sites. When the dressings are removed (usually after 1 to 3 days) the patient then cleans the treated areas two to five times a day with cool tap water saline or a dilute vinegar solution. An ointment is then applied. This wound care is intended to prevent any scab formation. In general, the areas heal in 10-21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated.

Once the areas have healed, makeup may be worn to camouflage the pink to red color that is generally seen after laser skin resurfacing. Green-based make-ups are particularly suitable for this camouflage since they neutralize the red color. Oil-free make-ups are recommended after laser resurfacing. The redness in the laser-treated sites generally fades in two to three months but may take as long as six months to completely disappear. The redness generally persists longer in blondes and redheads.

Patients with darker skin tones have a greater risk of healing with darker pigmentation. This may be minimized by use of a bleaching agent before laser skin resurfacing as well as continued use of this agent after healing.

What Are the Possible Complications?

Laser skin resurfacing is one of our more invasive procedures, which means you may experience a number of minor side effects during the healing process—which can take up to 21 days. However, unlike many of our other procedures, the effects of laser skin resurfacing can last for years. Discuss your options with Dr. Hansen, and find out if you are a good candidate for this treatment.