Photo: SLAYTINA

What does your skin look like after laser resurfacing?

Immediately after treatment, your skin will be red and feel sensitive and sunburned. Redness, swelling, itching or stinging may last for a few days. Depending on the treatment, skin may even appear raw, ooze a yellow liquid and even blister.

my.clevelandclinic.org - Laser Skin Resurfacing - Cleveland Clinic

What is the world's unhealthiest food?

List of the Most Unhealthy Foods in the World Super-Sweet Cereals. Breakfast cereals are commonly loaded with sugar. ... Sugary Coffee Drinks. Many...

Last updated Feb 3, 2019

Does all alcohol turn to sugar?

Some sources claim that alcohol is converted into sugar by the liver. This is not true. Alcohol is converted to a number of intermediate substances...

Last updated Jun 10, 2018

Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

You may not be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have: You may be an ideal candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have: The laser technique directs short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin. Laser skin resurfacing removes skin very precisely, layer-by-layer by vaporizing it. Lasers remove the outer layer of your skin – the epidermis – and heats the underlying layer, called the dermis . The lasers stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers resulting in new skin that is smoother and firmer. This popular procedure is known by several other names, including lasabrasion, laser peel or laser vaporization. Laser resurfacing uses lasers to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and scars , to even out skin coloring (pigmentation), to tighten skin and to remove lesions, both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant.

Procedure Details

How does laser skin resurfacing work?

There are two forms of laser resurfacing. First there’s carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium lasers. These lasers create a uniform injury to your skin in the treatment area. The other form of laser resurfacing is called fractionated CO2 laser treatment. Fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing involves using the laser to drill numerous narrow columns of holes deep into the layers of your skin, but with the surrounding skin remaining untreated and intact.

CO2 laser resurfacing

CO2 laser resurfacing has been used for years to treat different benign and malignant skin conditions. A newer generation of CO2 laser resurfacing uses very short pulsed light energy (ultrapulsed) or continuous light beams that are delivered in a scanning pattern to very precisely remove thin layers of skin with minimal heat damage to the surrounding structures. CO2 laser resurfacing has been successfully used to treat wrinkles and scars as well as other benign skin growths such as warts, birthmarks, rhinophyma (enlarged oil glands on the nose), and other skin conditions.

Recovery time with CO2 laser resurfacing is up to two weeks.

Erbium laser resurfacing

Erbium laser resurfacing is designed to remove superficial and moderately deep lines and wrinkles on your face and should require only local anesthetic. This laser can also be used on your hands, neck or chest. One of the benefits of erbium laser resurfacing is minimal injury of surrounding tissue. This laser causes fewer side effects than CO2 lasers, such as swelling, bruising and redness, so your recovery time should be more rapid. If you have a darker skin tone, erbium laser resurfacing may be a good choice for you.

Recovery time with erbium laser resurfacing is one full week.

Fractional laser resurfacing

Because fractional CO2 laser resurfacing delivers many narrow columns of laser light to your skin, much of your skin is not injured. Your skin tightens as the collagen between the treated laser holes contracts. The benefit of this type of laser is that less skin is injured. The risk is that because the laser light penetrates more deeply than other lasers, there’s a greater risk of complicated healing and scarring.

Recovery time with fractional laser resurfacing is one full week.

Do you remove seeds when juicing?

Remove any seeds and hard pits, too, especially those in stone fruits. Not only can these damage your juicer and create a bitter taste in your...

Last updated May 10, 2020

Is it OK to drink straight pineapple juice?

Drinking a cup of pineapple juice every day has several health benefits, including boosting your immune system and improving digestive health....

Last updated Mar 19, 2019

Traditional “juice” activates 24/7 fat-burning

A scrumptious morning smoothy based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

Your doctor will determine which type of laser resurfacing treatment is best for you after a full evaluation of your medical history, current physical condition and desired results.

What can be expected during and after laser skin resurfacing?

In general, all forms of laser resurfacing are performed on an outpatient basis, using local anesthesia in combination with orally or intravenously administered sedative medications. Wrinkles around the eyes, mouth or forehead may be treated individually, or a full-face laserabrasion may be performed. Here is what to expect during and after resurfacing: Areas of the face to be treated are numbed with a local anesthetic. General anesthesia may be used when the entire face is treated. A partial-face laserabrasion takes 30 to 45 minutes, and the full-face treatment takes 1-1/2 to 2 hours.

Your face or area to be treated with be thoroughly cleaned.

Following laser resurfacing, a nonstick dressing is applied to the treatment sites for 24 hours. You will then cleans the treated areas two to five times a day with saline or a diluted vinegar solution (see instructions below). An ointment such as Vaseline® or moisturizing creams such as Eucerin®, or Aquaphor® are then applied. The purpose of using ointments or creams is to prevent any scab formation. In general, the areas heal in five to 21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated and type of laser used. 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 makeups are particularly good choices for camouflage since they neutralize your red skin color as your skin heals. Oil-free makeups 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 up to a year to disappear. The redness generally persists longer in people with blonde or red hair. If you have a darker skin tone, you have a greater risk of healing with darker pigmentation (hyperpigmentation). A bleaching agent after laser skin resurfacing may be used to lighten your skin color. Your doctor will consult with you.

How should I prepare for laser skin resurfacing?

my.clevelandclinic.org - Laser Skin Resurfacing - Cleveland Clinic

Why do konjac noodles not digest?

Konjac starch is gelatinous and clings to itself, which makes it ideal for forming into noodles. Shirataki noodles are unique because of the starch...

Last updated Feb 22, 2021

What is the healthiest soda?

Healthy Sodas Sierra Mist is often considered one of the healthiest sodas you can drink because a 12-ounce can contains 140 calories, 35 milligrams...

Last updated Jun 8, 2021

Common yard weed melts 60lbs of fat?

Made into a potent powdered supplement blended right into water or your favorite beverage to be appreciated as a scrumptious morning smoothy.

Learn More »

Promotion

How do I reset my hormones and melt fat?

10 Natural Ways to Balance Your Hormones Eat enough protein at every meal. ... Engage in regular exercise. ... Maintain a moderate weight. ... Take...

Last updated Sep 5, 2021

Purple weed obliterates 72lbs of flab

The main ingredient for a potent powdered supplement, based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

Does detoxing make you smell?

Answer: Yes, detox can make you stink. Body odor from alcohol detox is a side effect of the detox process, but one that should not typically cause...

Last updated Nov 3, 2019