How to Know if Laser Resurfacing is Right for You

February 17th, 2018 Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation
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You cannot stop the hands of time. Your body, hair and skin will change as you age, but that does not mean you cannot slow the process. Your skin is one of the most noticeable areas for aging, especially on your face. This skin is delicate and exposed to the sunlight and elements, making it more likely to age quicker. However, there are options to help you fight the aging process, including laser resurfacing.

Benefits of Laser Resurfacing

There are many different types of laser therapy for the skin, from removing scars to eliminating hair growth. For rejuvenating aging skin, the fractional Co2 laser is one of the best options. This form of laser therapy is used for resurfacing the skin, giving it new life. The thermal energy is used to remove dead skin cells and bolster collagen production, slowing the hands of time on your face as your skin repairs itself. Some skin issues that can be treated with laser resurfacing include:

  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Loose or sagging skin
  • Crepe-like skin
  • Scarring
  • Large pores

Laser skin resurfacing can address these specific issues and improve the overall appearance of your skin. It can help the texture and tone, creating even, more youthful appearing skin. This procedure can be performed outpatient at a facial plastic surgeon’s clinic on its own, or combined with other options like platelet-rich plasma or dermal fillers to help give you a more youthful look.

If you want to slow the aging process and keep your skin looking fresh and youthful, visit the med spa at your local plastic surgery clinic to learn about options like laser resurfacing.

Posted on behalf of:
Sanaz Harirchian, M.D.
9230 Katy Fwy Suite 600
Houston, TX 77055
713-791-0700

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Sun Damage Treatments

November 6th, 2013 Posted in Skin Rejuvenation
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Years of basking in the sun can wreak havoc on your skin. The dewy youthful glow is gone, and in its place, rough leathery skin, sun spots and wrinkles. But the damage doesn’t have to be permanent. Many are finding very pleasing results with dermatological advancements in skin resurfacing and rejuvenation such as chemical peels and laser skin therapy. 

Chemical peels use a chemical solution made of salicylic, glycolic, lactose or other type of acid to remove the outer layers of the skin, revealing the fresh, newer skin below.  Which solution to use on your skin largely depends on your skin type and type and extent of skin damage. To see significant results, it usually takes between four and six treatments. 

Laser skin therapy, on the other hand, uses short bursts of light aimed directly at the wrinkle or sun spot to remove the skin’s outer layers. Recovery time lasts about two weeks, and a typical therapeutic program usually consists of four treatments spaced four weeks apart. 

It’s important to remember that if you are using a chemical peel or laser therapy to remove sun damage, you must stay out of the sun. Period. Any treatment that removes the outer layers of the skin leaves skin sensitive and vulnerable to sunburn and other damage. If you must venture out, wear a sun block or sunscreen with very high protection. In addition, a long term skin care regimen recommended by your dermatologist is an absolute must.

Posted on behalf of Benjamin Stong, MD, Kalos Facial Plastic Surgery, LLC 

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Skin Resurfacing: One Goal, Many Options

March 7th, 2013 Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation
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Do you long for smoother, clearer, younger looking skin? Fortunately for you, the fountain of youth really does exist – to a degree – right in the offices of your local plastic surgeon.  Modern skin rejuvenation procedures can produce remarkable results, taking years off your appearance without the need for costly plastic surgery or long recovery times. 

There are a number of options available for skin rejuvenation, also called skin resurfacing. They fall into several groups: 

Superficial Peels –  Superficial peels include those using glycolic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid. Such peels work by removing the very outer layer of the skin, allowing the newer, fresher cells to come to the surface. Some may experience redness and tingling during and immediately after the peel, but there is generally no down time associated with these types of peels. 

Medium/Deep Chemical Peels –  Jessner solution and TCA, or Trychloroacetic acid, are considered medium chemical peels, while a Phenol acid peel is considered the strongest. The results for these peels are more dramatic and longer lasting, but there is more down time. Phenol peels can take seven to 10 days for recovery, with swelling, redness and pain. Skin remains sensitive for awhile, and sunscreen is an absolute must. 

Traditional and Fractional Laser Therapy –  Laser resurfacing uses intense light to treat wrinkles, sun damage and other signs of aging. The two main types are CO2 and erbium. CO2 produces the most dramatic results, but also requires the longest healing times. Erbium tends to be more gentle and have a quicker recovery time. All forms of laser skin resurfacing produce a certain amount of redness and swelling. Healing can take a number of months, but the results can last for years. Laser therapy can be much more costly compared to other procedures, sometimes costing thousands of dollars. 

Dermabrasion –  With dermabrasion, the cosmetic surgeon or dermatologist uses a small rotating brush to remove the damaged outer layers of the skin. Swelling and bleeding can occur, and recovery can take weeks to several months. Lasers have largely replaced dermabrasion as a skin resurfacing technique, but dermabrasion is still used to treat targeted areas such as acne scars or small lines and wrinkles around the mouth.

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Advantages of Pearl Fractional and Pearl Fusion Lasers

May 9th, 2012 Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation
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Lasers have come a long way in recent years for facial cosmetic procedures.  The latest cutting edge lasers such as the Cutera Pearl Fractional and Pearl Fusion lasers are the state of the art in facial laser resurfacing.  They work miracles in improving skin tone and texture, restoring lost volume, repairing sun damage, and reducing wrinkles, acne scarring, pore size and other skin irregularities.

Pearl Fractional laser treatments work by exposing a fraction of the skin to pulses of tiny laser beams. These laser beams remove small amounts of damaged tissue and stimulate the body’s natural process for creating new skin full of healthy collagen.

The Pearl Fractional and Pearl Fusion laser have the advantage of producing excellent, immediate results with only a single short treatment, minimal discomfort, and short recovery time.  The procedure is virtually painless and only takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.

In addition, these laser techniques have a very fast recovery time.  You can expect only about three to five days of “social downtime”.  During this period, patients should avoid sun exposure are encouraged to relax at home for at least two to three days.

Following the procedure, the skin will look and feel sunburned.  A natural protective dressing will form as part of the healing process.  The redness will start to face after two days and the protective dressing will begin slough off after about 3 days revealing fresh, healthy skin.

Most patients will experience the desired results after a single treatment.  The patient will see noticeably more vibrant, youthful skin shortly after the procedure and the process of natural collagen production will continue for months.  Some patients may wish to schedule follow up treatments for optimal results.

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Winter Facial Laser Treatments

February 21st, 2011 Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation
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If you are considering facial laser skin resurfacing or rejuvenation, now may be a great time to see your facial plastic surgeon about having the procedure done.  According to a recent article in the New York Times, winter is the best time of year for laser skin treatments including skin rejuvenation, hair removal, facial resurfacing, treatment of brown spots, or tattoo removal. 

Dermatologists suggest winter as the ideal season for laser skin treatments because the skin is not tanned.  Melanin, the natural pigment in the skin, can temporarily reduce the effectiveness of some laser treatments.  In addition, some laser procedures take several laser treatments over a period of weeks and in the winter, there is less sun exposure throughout the duration of the treatment.

If you schedule your facial laser skin treatments in the winter, tanning will not be as much of a concern.  If you are planning a winter cruise or vacation to a milder climate, consider planning your facial laser treatment after Halloween, but well before your scheduled departure to allow time for your skin to heal.  Alternatively, plan your treatment well after you have returned to allow your tan to fade.

By scheduling your procedure during the winter months, you can maximize the effectives of the procedure and have plenty of time for your skin to heal before the sunny days of spring arrive.

The seasons are not the only consideration when scheduling your facial laser skin treatments.  Be sure to consult with your facial plastic surgeon or dermatologist.  They can help you determine when to schedule your procedure for the best possible results.

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Types of Laser Skin Rejuvenation Treatment

December 16th, 2010 Posted in Laser Skin Rejuvenation
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Laser rejuvenation has become a very popular cosmetic procedure for improving the appearance of skin damaged by age or other causes. There are traditionally  two different types of lasers used for laser rejuvenation

Ablative lasers are used for resurfacing the skin. They treat the top layer of the skin (called the epidermis)  while non-ablative lasers treat deeper layers of the skin (the dermis) without affecting the epidermis.  Non-ablative lasers stimulate the growth of collagen in the dermis, resulting in smoother, more youthful skin.

Ablative laser treatments use high temperature lasers to remove unwanted tissue.  This type of laser skin resurfacing treatment is very effective for improving the appearance of sun damaged skin, and treating moderate to severe skin damage including acne scars, freckles, enlarge pores, and rosacea.

The downside of ablative laser treatments is that your skin will be swollen and red similar to a sunburn for several days after the treatment.  Full recovery time can be as long as two weeks.

Non ablative lasers have very few side effects.  Because they work by stimulating collagen growth rather than by removing tissue there is very little, if any, redness or swelling after the treatment.  They are effective for treating mild skin damage and reducing mild to moderate wrinkles.

Fractional lasers are a recent development that are similar to ablative lasers, but they only treat a percentage of the depth of the epidermis.  This procedure produces excellent results like an ablative laser with much reduced down time. 

Some fractional lasers also have a non ablative component for stimulation of collagen growth.  These combine the benefits of ablative and non ablative lasers while minimizing side effects and recovery time. 

Talk to your facial plastic surgeon about what types of laser rejuvenation treatments will be most beneficial to you.

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Laser Removal of Age Spots

October 28th, 2010 Posted in Skin Rejuvenation
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Age spots are simple discolorations in the face, hands, and other tender skin areas that occur after prolonged exposure to the sun and through the aging process. Age spots are simply spots of pigmentation that have ‘settled’ in that area of your body.

Age spots are often treated with over the counter lotions, and many clients find that they are not happy with the results.  The fading that occurs is uneven, does not last a long period of time, and may cause a burning sensation or redness to appear.

An alternative to lotions to treat age spots is laser treatments.  There are several different types of laser technologies that can help remove red and brown spots from your skin, as well as help smooth fine lines, and increase collagen production to the area.  All of these things together will give your skin a younger, healthier appearance.

Laser treatments can also treat spider veins, decrease pore size, and treat rosacea.  Laser treatments are performed in the office of your facial plastic surgeon.  You can generally return to work that same day, and there is minimal to no discomfort.  When you receive the laser treatment, you will be asked to wear dark protective glasses during the treatment to protect your eyes.  For best results, laser treatments are usually performed as a series, with treatments being spaced about 2-4 weeks apart.

Laser treatments are a great way to help rejuvenate your skin in a cost effective manner.  To see if your skin would benefit from a laser rejuvenation, contact your local facial plastic surgeon today!

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Laser Skin Rejuvenation

October 22nd, 2010 Posted in Skin Rejuvenation
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The word laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.   A laser is a single wavelength source of high-energy light that can be accurately focused to transmit that light on to a very small area.  The use of lasers in skin rejuvenation has given patients many options for softening the signs of aging without “going under the knife” or undergoing facelift procedures.  Lasers can also be used to improve imperfections in the skin due to other medical factors besides aging.

There are basically two different types of lasers:  ablative and non-ablative.  Ablative lasers vaporize the top layers of damaged skin.  Ablative laser procedures generally produce significant effects with just one treatment.  Because the top layer of skin is destroyed, down time is necessary for ablative laser procedures.  Non-ablative lasers work deeper in the skin without removing or otherwise damaging the top layers of the skin.  They also stimulate new collagen growth.  The lack of down time required for non-ablative laser procedures offers significant benefits to patients.  However, non-ablative laser procedures usually require multiple treatments to have significant effects.

The use of lasers in facial cosmetic procedures has revolutionized skin rejuvenation.  It has also greatly increased the options for patients who desire to look younger or to improve their appearance but are not willing to undergo plastic surgery.  Lasers are currently used for the following cosmetic treatments:

•  Fine lines and wrinkles
•  Skin tightening
•  Pigmented lesions (sun spots, age spots, melasma and other forms of
    hyperpigmentation)
•  Removal of precancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses
•  Vascular lesions (broken blood vessels on the face, veins on the legs, spider nevi,
    hemangiomas and birth marks such as port wine stains)
•  Tattoo removal
•  Acne and acne scar removal
•  Hair removal

Different types of lasers are better suited for treating different types of conditions.  The Fraxel or other fractionated lasers may be the best for treating wrinkles around the eyes.  The CO2 or Er:YAG are well-suited for treating acne scars.  IPL may be the best to treat vascular lesions and to improve the skin’s texture and color.  The good news is that so many different types of treatments are available.  If you are interested in laser skin rejuvenation procedures, consult a licensed, experienced dermatologist or plastic surgeon in your area.

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