Laser skin resurfacing is a procedure that uses a laser to improve the appearance of skin or treat minor facial flaws by precisely injuring the skin in a controlled manner. This controlled injury stimulates the skin to repair itself, causing new collagen formation and evening of pigmentation. The new skin that forms during healing gives the skin a tighter, brighter and younger-looking surface.
At North Texas Facial Plastic Surgery, Dr. Pero uses a Fractionated Carbon Dioxide (CO2) laser that is effective in treating wrinkles, scars, pigmentation irregularities, and other conditions. The term fractionated refers to only a fraction of the skin is targeted, allowing for an untreated “halo” of surrounding uninjured skin that allows for rapid regeneration and quick healing with minimal downtime.
Traditional “Ablative” lasers treat the entire skin surface, relying on skin cells lining oil glands and hair follicles to grow onto the skin surface for healing. This prolongs healing with longer redness prior to the final result when compared to fractional laser treatment.
Laser skin resurfacing is most effective in treating:
You would not be a good candidate for Laser Resurfacing if you have active acne or very dark skin.
During your consultation, Dr. Pero will review your medical history, conduct a physical exam, and discuss your expectations. If you have a history of herpes infections, an antiviral medication will be prescribed for you to take before and after treatment to prevent viral infection. An oral antibiotic may be prescribed to prevent bacterial infection.
Before you have the treatment you may be asked to apply a topical retinoid on your skin for about 4 weeks before the procedure. You should also avoid any excessive sun exposure a week or so before and after treatment.
Additionally, for 10 days before surgery, you should avoid taking any medication or supplements that can affect clotting, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E. If you smoke, you should stop for 2 weeks before and after the procedure, as smoking can prolong healing.
Laser resurfacing may cause some mild discomfort, but medication is often given to help the patient relax during the procedure and topical anesthetics to reduce pain.
As with any medical procedure, there are potential complications. For laser skin resurfacing, some of those may include:
After treatment, a dressing is applied to the treated area. You will be required to rinse or soak the area, apply ointment, and reapply a new dressing to the treated area after the first 24 hours and then on a daily basis thereafter.
After laser skin resurfacing, swelling is normal. It is also normal to feel tightness, itching or stinging for 12 to 72 hours after the procedure. Within 2 to 3 days after treatment, your skin will become dry and peel. Depending on the depth of the skin resurfacing, healing may take 7 to 10 days.
You may wear oil-free make-up after the skin heals. Make-up will help to minimize redness, which usually fades in 1 to 3 weeks. Check out the Jane Iredale Mineral Make-Up line here.
For a partial treatment–treating wrinkles around your eyes, mouth, or forehead–the procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes. For a full-face treatment, the procedure can take up to 1-2 hours
Laser skin resurfacing is performed on an outpatient basis at our North Texas Facial Plastic Surgery location.
Yes, laser skin resurfacing can be done alone or with other cosmetic surgeries on the face.
Dr. Pero is a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, who has performed hundreds of cosmetic procedures.
Click here to view our photos of some of our patients “before and after” photos.
Dr. Pero is a surgeon you can trust:
Click here to request your consultation with Dr. Pero.
If you are interested in discussing Laser Skin Resurfacing with Dr. Pero, please call (214) 382-5100 to set up a consultation.
For New Year's Eve week, we will close the office from December 31st at noon to January 1st.
We will be open during normal business hours on Thursday, January 2nd.
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