Laser Skin Rejuvenation
About the Procedure
As we age, we lose volume in our face and are susceptible to discoloration from cumulative sun damage as well as hormonal changes. Droopiness, wrinkles, and textural abnormalities like acne scars and solar-induced irregularities are matched with color changes like chronic redness from blood vessels, freckles and growing patches of pigment that often become unsightly. When it comes to treating these problems and signs of aging, you have a number of choices. For many patients, laser skin rejuvenation is the choice that provides the greatest results with the lowest risk of complications.
Intense Pulsed Light, or IPL, is a type of light-based laser, used to reduce pigment like freckles and sun spots as well as weakened facial vessels that cause diffuse redness. Also referred to as a photofacial, IPL is usually done over the entire face.
Fractional laser is an excellent tool for stimulating collagen, tightening skin, reducing acne scars, stretchmarks and reducing melasma. Fractional laser is able to be done on the entire face but is more commonly used to treat problem areas where wrinkles or scarring proliferate. These two lasers can be done separately or together, depending on your concerns with the issues that each address.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Also Known as Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin rejuvenation or resurfacing refers to various procedures that are intended to improve the tone and texture of the skin. The esthetician provides non-ablative resurfacing treatments with Icon’s fractional laser that stimulates collagen and elastin. It is excellent for acne scarring and other scars, breaking up scar tissue to encourage repair of the area with healthy, smooth skin and reduced scar tissue over time. Downtime for fractional laser is minimal and normal activity, with few exceptions, can resume almost immediately.
The procedure performed by the doctor uses CO₂ and laser energy to remove the outer layer of the skin known as the epidermis while simultaneously heating and shrinking the dermis, causing collagen production and a tightening effect. As the area heals, new skin forms on the surface that is smoother, firmer and has fewer imperfections. Recovery from CO₂ is more involved, having more downtime.
Services performed with the Icon laser are performed by our esthetician. Dr. Schlechter performs skin rejuvenation services with the CO₂ Laser.
Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Frequently Asked Questions
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How is Laser Skin Rejuvenation Performed?
Laser skin rejuvenation treatments performed by the esthetician begin with numbing cream, followed by the laser treatment and finish with a light application of hydrating serum and sun protection.
Treatments performed by the doctor are done on an outpatient basis. If the areas of concern are localized, local anesthesia is used to numb the areas. If the entire face is being treated, the doctor may recommend IV sedation. Small areas can take as little as half an hour while full-face treatments last up to 1 ½ hours. Laser energy is delivered into the skin with a handheld laser.
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Am I a Candidate for Laser Skin Rejuvenation?
An ideal candidate for laser skin rejuvenation in the medspa is someone with mild to moderate laxity of the skin of the face, neck, and body. Moderately deep to very deep skin tones do not fare well due to the laser’s attraction to pigment and the tendency to overheat deeper skin tones while not changing the underlying issue (eg. freckling). Light to medium skin tones respond the best to IPL, addressing pigment and redness. All skin tones respond to the fractional 1540 laser when texture, scarring and collagen production are the issues.
When considering the CO₂ Laser, Dr. Schlechter meets with each patient to determine if the CO₂ Laser will properly correct the patient’s skin issue. When it is not needed, he will make personalized recommendations regarding which skin rejuvenation service should be performed by the esthetician.
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Recovery from Laser Skin Rejuvenation
With minimally invasive laser skin rejuvenation performed in our medspa, immediately following your treatment, your skin will radiate heat mildly and feel like you have a mild sunburn. You may have redness that comes down over the course of 1-2 hours.
When laser skin rejuvenation is performed by Dr. Schlechter with the CO₂ Laser, immediately following your treatment, antibiotic ointment will be applied to your skin and proper bandaging will be put in place. Before leaving your appointment, the doctor will give you personalized, detailed instructions on cleaning the area and application of ointment to promote healing. You may experience some swelling and stinging the first night after the procedure. For the days following, you may experience itching as healing takes place. Within about a week to ten days, the skin will be healed, but have a pinkish to a reddish hue. Make-up may be worn at this time. The entire healing process usually takes two to three weeks. The redness is common and may last up to several months.
