Laser skin resurfacing is a popular treatment for restoring youth and vitality to aging skin on practically any area of the body. This noninvasive procedure can be used to reduce the signs of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, acne scars and other types of scars, as well as to restore the skin’s elasticity.
Far less risky than surgical procedures, laser skin resurfacing can produce natural, fast results that solve many aging and beauty issues. If you’re considering laser skin resurfacing, however, there are a few things you need to know.
The results of laser skin resurfacing are immediate, but most people require multiple laser treatments to completely eliminate imperfections. This varies based on the severity of wrinkles or scarring, but patients with mild imperfections should expect to undergo at least three treatments. Those will more severe wrinkles or deep scars should expect six or more treatments.
Once you complete your treatments and get the results you want, the results can last up to five years. It’s common to schedule laser treatments for the future to maintain the results, however. These treatments are typically touch ups and aren’t nearly as involved as the initial treatments, and are usually done to eliminate new scars or signs of aging.
Laser skin resurfacing is a noninvasive procedure, so there’s no downtime following sessions. The side effects are minimal as well and can be managed with cool compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers. Redness and swelling usually last an hour or so following the treatment. In rare instances, mild acne breakouts occur, but clear up quickly.
Laser treatments take about 20 minutes to complete, so the total time is around a half hour. Many patients schedule their appointments during a lunch break, in fact, and return to the office afterwards. Healing takes about four weeks, but because lasers target the lower layers of your skin, the side-effects aren’t obvious.
One of the main benefits of laser skin resurfacing is its ability to trigger the natural production of collagen deep within the skin. Collagen is the protein responsible for the elasticity and youthfulness of our skin, which slows down as we age, but the natural collagen boost can prevent new wrinkles from forming and help the skin maintain its youthful glow.
Laser treatments cause microscopic wounds within the skin, which causes the body to produce collagen and send it to the injury sites and form new skin cells. This healing effect prevents new wrinkles from forming.
Though it’s safe and approved, laser skin resurfacing is a still a medical procedure that involves sophisticated technology. Not all laser types and laser technicians are created equal, so it’s important to choose a treatment center with qualified laser technicians trained on the specific laser type they’ll be using.
The laser type is important too. Nonablative fractional lasers work best for laser skin resurfacing, due to their ability to target the deepest layers of the skin without damaging the surface layers. Nonablative lasers also have the fewest side effects and don’t require downtime. A different type of laser treatment has the potential to cause severe side effects and leave you unsatisfied with the results.
Laser skin resurfacing has been proven effective in treating a variety of cosmetic skin conditions, but it’s important to do your research before choosing a medical spa for your procedure. At Love Your Body Medical Spa, we use the latest technology in laser treatments to give our clients excellent results with a customized treatment plan. Contact us to schedule your free consultation today to get that beautiful, youthful skin you’ve always dreamed of!
