About Procedure
Before & After
« Laser Skin Resurfacing
« Surgical Procedures
Men and women of all ages may benefit from laser resurfacing. The best
results from the procedure are typically seen in individuals with fair,
healthy, non-oily skin.
You may be a good candidate for laser resurfacing if you have any of
the following conditions:
• fine lines, especially around the eyes
• vertical lines around the mouth
• facial scars caused by injury or accident
• cars caused by acne
• areas of uneven pigmentation, such as "age spots"
• lines on the cheeks caused by sun damage
You may wish to discuss other resurfacing options with your plastic surgeon
if any of the following applies to you:
• you have skin that is olive, brown or black
• you have taken Accutane® during the past 18 months
• you are prone to abnormal (keloid-like) scarring
• you have an active skin infection
A personal consultation is the first step for every patient considering
laser resurfacing. During this meeting, your surgeon will assess your
physical health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for the procedure.
You should arrive at the consultation prepared to provide complete information about:
• previous surgical procedures, including cosmetic facial peels or dermabrasion
• any abnormal skin condition that has been diagnosed or previously treated
• medications you are taking or previously, including nutritional and herbal remedies
• skin allergies, acne or facial injuries you have had
During your physical evaluation, your plastic surgeon will evaluate the
quality, thickness and color of your skin and perhaps take photographs
for your medical record.
Often, people who undergo laser resurfacing choose to have other facial-rejuvenation
procedures at the same time, such as a facelift, browlift, or eyelid surgery.
Be sure to let your surgeon know if you are planning to have any other
cosmetic procedure in the future.
In laser resurfacing, a beam of laser energy is used to vaporize the
upper layers of damaged skin with accurate precision. As new cells form
during the healing process, a smoother, tighter, youngerlooking skin surface appears.
During the procedure, the activated laser is carefully passed back and
forth over the skin until the surgeon reaches the safest level that will
make the wrinkle or scar less visible. When imperfections are deep, your
surgeon may recommend that the resurfacing be performed in two or more stages.
Precision and predictability are the major advantages of laser resurfacing.
However, laser resurfacing isn’t the only method that plastic surgeons
use to refinish the facial skin. Alternative methods include:
• Retin-A® treatment – a light skin-refinishing
treatment that involves regular applications
of a vitamin A-enriched cream.
• glycolic acid peel (sometimes called "fruity"
acid peel) – a light resurfacing treatment that
involves use of a prescription-strength facial wash or cream.
• dermabrasion – a more aggressive method in which the surface
layer of skin is removed
with a motorized brush.
• chemical peel – a resurfacing method in which a chemical
solution is applied to peel away
the top layers of skin, allowing a fresh
new layer to emerge.
Lighter resurfacing options offer shorter recovery times. However, they
may need to be repeated several times to achieve results that are comparable
with those achieved by more aggressive techniques. Your plastic surgeon
will advise you if one of these other methods may be a better option for you.
Each year, thousands of men and women undergo laser resurfacing and experience
no major complications. However, it is important for you to be informed
of the risks as well as the benefits.
One of the most important parts of your consultation is the discussion
that you and your surgeon will have about the possible complications of
laser resurfacing. In addition to listening carefully to what your surgeon
tells you, be sure to raise any questions that you may have about the
safety of the procedure.
By carefully following your surgeon’s advice and instructions – both
before and after surgery – you can do your part to minimize some of the risks.
