Cosmetic Laser Resurfacing

Post-operative:

Intense burning sensation, swelling, redness and acute sensitivity to the sun.

Recovery:

Formation of new skin: 3 – 5 days. Normal activities: 7 – 10 days. Full healing and fading of redness: 3 – 6 months.

Results:

Improved texture with obliteration of fine lines and wrinkles.

Before/After Animation:

Due to new regulations, I have had to temporarily remove the sample pictures.

For sun-damaged skin, wrinkles and acne scars.

Laser resurfacing smooths out fine and moderate wrinkles around the eyes, mouth and cheeks using a carbon dioxide or erbium laser to remove the skin’s top layers. It restores blemished and unevenly pigmented skin and also improves the appearance of sun-damaged and acne scarred skin.

The Aging of Skin

The skin consists of two layers of cells, the dermis and the epidermis. The normal dermis contains a matrix of collagen fibres. Collagen, the basic building block of skin, supplies structure and support to the skin in much the same way that steel girders do to a building.

The skin ages in two ways. Chronological aging is the normal aging process. Solar aging results from chronic exposure to sunlight and this is clinically characterised by multiple facial wrinkles, deep furrows, pigmentary alterations, benign and malignant growths as well as a thickened, leathery appearance. This appearance corresponds to changes in the structure of the epidermis and dermis.

Sun damage degrades collagen and the normally arranged elastic fibres of the dermis are replaced by abnormal solar ‘elastotic’ fibres. These abnormal ‘elastotic’ fibres do not have the elastic and resilient properties of normal skin. This results in the sagging, wrinkled and deeply furrowed skin characteristic of sun damaged skin.

Laser resurfacing improves wrinkled, sun damaged or acne scarred skin by stimulating a healing response. This results in increased amounts of collagen being deposited immediately below the surface layer of the new skin. The new collagen restores the skin to a state which more closely resembles undamaged, unscarred skin with a corresponding improvement in appearance.

Not all patients are suitable candidates for laser treatment. Fair-skinned patients generally do better than those with darker skin.

Laser surgery can be performed under general anaesthetic or local anaesthetic with sedation. A full-face treatment usually takes one and a quarter hours.

Pre-Laser Care

Antibiotics and anti-virals are taken one day before the procedure and continued for four days after.

Post-Laser Care

On completion of the treatment, in some cases, a full face dressing is applied and worn for three days. The mask will absorb the ‘ooze’ emitted by the skin.

More commonly Vaseline is applied to the face immediately after the procedure and then four times a day for the first six days. It is important to moisturise the skin and keep it from drying out and tightening.

The skin will be virtually healed by the seventh day.

From day ten the pinkness of the skin can be concealed with green cosmetic base and normal make-up.

What to Expect

There will be a certain degree of pain and discomfort for the first 48 hours and pain-killers will be prescribed.

On day one the skin will be dark red.

From days seven to ten the skin will be a dark pink.

From day ten to approximately three months the skin will return to its normal colour.

It is essential to protect the skin with a sunblock of SPF60. The most suitable is Heliobloc.

Combination Procedures

It is possible to combine laser resurfacing with other procedures. Procedures which can be done simultaneously include liposuction to the chin, endoscopic brow lifts, partial face lifts and neck lifts.

Summary

Laser resurfacing is a relatively simple procedure for improving the texture of the skin and removing fine lines, wrinkles and acne scaring. Should you have any further questions, I would be happy to answer them.