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With the UltraPulse Carbon Dioxide Laser and the newer Erbium/Yag Laser, laser surgeons are now able to perform cosmetic skin resurfacing, a precise and safe procedure to remove wrinkles.
Lasers have been used for decades in removing and vaporizing specific skin lesions. Now, the UltraPulse and Erbium lasers provides a new technological breakthrough by producing a single pulse of high energy that is able to remove the sun-damaged skin layer with minimal heat damage and no scarring to surrounding tissue. Complete skin resurfacing is performed pulse-by-pulse, sculpting wrinkles and irregularities away.
The powerful light of the UltraPulse and Erbium lasers removes thin layers of the skin surface, vaporizing the high ridges of wrinkles and smoothing out the surface of the skin.
Once these surface irregularities from the sun damaged collagen are vaporized leaving a much smoother, more even surface, the natural healing mechanisms of the body stimulate new collagen layer formation to replace this damaged layer that has been removed.
This new outer layer of skin is composed of healthy new skin, resulting in a younger-looking, smoother appearance. Skin tightening also occurs, resulting from collagen fibers shrinking.
While specific areas can be targeted, such as frown furrows, crow’s feet, laugh lines, smoker’s lines and fine wrinkling, full-face resurfacing produces even more dramatic results.
The UltraPulse and Erbium laser may be useful in improving acne scarring, sometimes in combination with other procedures. Pre-cancerous sun damage and skin growths can be eliminated as well as lipstick “bleeding” into wrinkle lines may be diminished, with a fuller, healthier appearance. Not only is the skin surface smoother after treatment, but irregular pigmentation is removed as well.
Laser Resurfacing is an outpatient surgical procedure, done in our laser suite, by a Laser surgeon. The preparation, procedure and after-care are complete with a morning or an afternoon session.
For regional areas, a local anesthetic combined with a topical anesthetic and/or an oral sedative is all that is required. For more extensive full-face laser resurfacing, I.V. sedation is recommended.
The initial post-operative appearance looks like an abrasion where the surface of the skin appears red and weepy. This appearance lasts for 7 to 14 days at which time most patients can return to work or social engagements. The skin can remain pink for up to 8-12 weeks, but may be covered with cosmetics.
Wound care is simple and consists of soaking the skin and applying topical ointments or special bandages which promote rapid healing and prevent infection. Avoidance of dry crusting is important. Oral antibiotics and analgesics are often prescribed.
In most cases, all of the wrinkles will not be entirely removed because this would result in a plastic, rigid appearance without the normal lines of facial expression. Instead, the goal is to improve the appearance by giving a smoother, more even surface contour. If necessary, specific areas can be retreated after approximately 3-4 months. We recommend the use of sunscreen to protect your newly resurfaced skin. The use of other medications and creams to improve and prolong the results will be discussed with each patient.
Most laser resurfacing procedures are considered cosmetic, and therefore not covered by insurance. Individual fees can be obtained or quoted after a consultation. All payments are expected prior to treatment |
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