What is laser resurfacing in Scottsdale?
Laser resurfacing is a non-surgical procedure that uses specific lasers to treat undesired skin marks. Two of the most commonly used treatments are carbon dioxide and erbium lasers. Dr. Henderson will evaluate your skin during the consultation to determine which treatment is best for your particular problem area.
The carbon dioxide laser, commonly called a CO2 laser, is used to treat problems on the surface, such as scarring, wrinkles, and age lines. The type of CO2 laser chosen, ie fully abative or fractional ablative, will be chosen depending on the depth of wrinkles, the patients expectations and skin tone. Alternatively, erbium laser resurfacing addresses more superficial concerns such as surface texture and pigmentation. Ultimately, the laser is combined with specific techniques to treat the area of concern and different lasers may even be combined.
Am I a good candidate for laser resurfacing?
While both treatments offer very few side effects and can be utilized by patients with different skin tones, lighter skin tones tend to have better results over all due to the ability to be more aggressive with the treatment because of lower concerns related to changing pigmentation. A topical retinoid with or without a bleaching agent may be prescribed to improve the results prior to treatment and will require avoiding exposure to excessive sunlight. Any patients who are suffering active and aggressive acne are not considered usually to be good candidates for such laser resurfacing appointments, nor are patients who have very dark skin. It should be noted that those who have a history of herpes (cold sores) will likely be prescribed rounds of antiviral medicines both prior to and following the laser resurfacing procedure in most instances.
What should I expect during and after the procedure?
Prior to the procedure, patients will receive twilight sedation or topical anesthesia often combined with local anesthetic infiltration or nerve block, depending on the treatment they are undergoing. This may be combined with other oral or injectable medications for relaxation to help the patient feel more comfortable during the procedure. The procedure itself can be performed fairly quickly and typically requires little downtime. This is generally determined by the specific treatment.
Healing times vary depending on the specifics of the treatment and patients may experience a period of exfoliation or a bit more rawness that can last a few days or a couple of weeks. Some weeping may occur and can be treated with cool compresses and a recommended moisturizing lubricant. The skin will appear pink as it heals over time. It is very important to avoid sun exposure throughout this healing process, as the skin is very fragile.
