Laser Skin Resurfacing

The first step in preparing for a laser treatment is to schedule a consultation. Our provider will collect a thorough medical history, review any cosmetic procedures you may have previously had, physically assess your skin condition, and discuss your skin concerns and personal aesthetic goals. Photographs will be taken of the treatment area to track your future progress and enhance the discussion of your treatment plan. Once it is determined that the laser is the best course of treatment, the procedure may be performed on the same day or scheduled for a later date, depending on preference and time allowance.

One hour before your laser treatment, a topical numbing cream should be applied to the skin to help eliminate any potential discomfort that may be experienced during the procedure. After the topical anesthetic cream has been on the treatment area for about one hour, it will be removed, and your skin will be sterilized. For the duration of the treatment session, you’ll wear protective goggles for your eyes. Our medical provider will then perform the treatment, passing the handheld device over the skin’s surface to deliver fractionated energy to the dermis. Each laser treatment session takes approximately 15 minutes to complete when performed on the face, although larger body areas, such as legs and arms, may take up to 30 minutes or longer to perform. Immediately after the procedure, your skin will feel warm, as if it had a mild sunburn. Cold-water compresses will be applied to the treated area, which can be repeated at home if necessary. Afterward, patients can apply moisturizer but must practice strict sun avoidance.

Non-ablative lasers are associated with much fewer side effects and risks than ablative laser treatments. The most common side effects include a mild amount of swelling, redness, and tenderness in the treated area, which tend to resolve within 48 hours of the treatment. If there is a history of acne breakouts, you may be advised to take an oral antibiotic to be used immediately after your laser treatment. If there is a history of herpes simplex (cold sores), you may also be advised to take Valtrex on the day of the procedure to prevent an outbreak.

One of the biggest benefits of the laser is that there is minimal downtime and few potential side effects. When laser is performed with the 1550 nm setting, mild redness and swelling for 48 hours are expected. When laser is performed with the 1927 nm wavelength, treatment is associated with an additional 3 to 7 days of peeling, where the skin may feel like rough sandpaper. Patients should avoid picking and scratching at the skin while the treated skin is flaking off. Following treatment, patients should avoid strenuous exercising, hot tubs, and saunas for 48 hours. It is essential to keep the skin moisturized using a plain, gentle moisturizer and to avoid direct sun exposure, as treatment makes the skin sensitive to the sun. Patients should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 50 and wear sun-protective clothing, including a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

How soon can I see results?

Immediately after a laser treatment session, the treated area will exhibit common side effects such as redness and swelling. Patients addressing acne scarring and uneven skin texture with the 1550nm setting may experience mild redness and swelling for up to 48 hours. Those treating sun damage and pigmentation with the 1927nm setting will have an additional 3 to 7 days of shedding dead pigmented skin cells. Results from a single treatment for acne scars or wrinkles using the 1550nm setting will become visible 4 to 6 months later. Patients using the 1927nm setting for sun damage can expect to see results from a single treatment session within four to six weeks. However, patients using the 1550nm setting may only see the complete results from treatment four to six months later. To achieve optimal outcomes, most patients typically need three to six treatment sessions spaced four to six weeks apart.

Some patients may achieve excellent rejuvenation results with only a single treatment session. However, most patients require at least three laser treatment sessions, each spaced approximately one month apart, to achieve the best results. Since each laser session targets approximately 25 to 40 percent of the treated area at a time, multiple treatment sessions are required to have the best rejuvenation results. While there is an immediate improvement in the first weeks after the laser treatment, new collagen is formed for months after each laser treatment for continued rejuvenation. When you have laser treatment at Southern Skin & Electrology, photos will be taken of the treated area before each treatment session to track progress, and our provider will assess your skin condition to determine approximately how many treatment sessions may be needed for the best cosmetic results.

Fractional lasers uses non-ablative, fractional laser technology for skin rejuvenation. In the past, the primary type of laser utilized for skin resurfacing was ablative. Ablative laser treatments essentially create an open wound by removing the outermost layers of the skin (epidermis) and heating the underlying skin (dermis). This ablation creates a controlled thermal injury to the skin. As the top layer of skin regrows, new collagen fibers are generated, and the treated skin becomes smoother. However, due to the thermal injury created with ablative lasers like carbon dioxide or CO2 lasers, there is significant downtime as the skin takes time to heal.

Non-ablative lasers can stimulate new collagen and improve skin tone and texture with minimal recovery time because of the revolutionary fractionated laser technology. Fractional lasers treat highly targeted areas while leaving surrounding skin untouched, promoting faster healing and less downtime. This approach to laser skin resurfacing gives greater precision while minimizing the risk of complications and unwanted side effects. The minimal downtime associated with fractional laser is also convenient for patients with busy lives who cannot set aside many days to heal.