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Laser Resurfacing - How Can I Get the Best Results for the Least Cost?

asked 3 years ago by greentea
Latest answer by Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD
Question viewed 1,417 times
Tags: costs

I am 42 and I have fair skin with gold undertones. I also have spots on my lower cheeks close to my jaw line from tanning, oily skin with enlarged pores, pimples, mild acne scarring and if that weren't enough, broken capilaries around my nose and fine lines under the eyes. I have worn foundation everyday since I was 14 yrs old.

Is there a laser resurfacing treatment that will give me noticeable results without spending thousands? TY

11 answers to Laser Resurfacing - How Can I Get the Best Results for the Least Cost?

Too Much for Just One Treatment

No. There's lots that could be done to give you dramatic improvements, but the multiple problems you describe could not possibly be covered in just one treatment with just one modality (type of laser or peel). Different lasers work best for different problems. Fractional laser is a great tool for overall improvement of color, tone, and texture, but it could make some of the red areas worse, and is limited in improving spots and scars. Get a couple opinions from... more

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Laser Resurfacing

You will need several different lasers and/or medications to deal with some of the problems, and some of these problems will not be cured with one treatment of a laser. Acne is usually chronic and tends to recur over time, involve hormone changes, genetics, and require medical attention by a dermatologist, etc. The blood vessels need a vascular laser, and fine lines another laser entirely. Thus, meeting with a Board Certified Dermatologist and/or Plastic Surgeon... more

Sonia Badreshia-Bansal, MD
San Francisco Dermatologic Surgeon

www.elitemdspa.com

The good news is that your fair skin puts you at the least risk for a post-treatment negative outcome.

The good news is that regardless of the type of procedure you choose to address your concerns about the skin on your face, your fair skin puts you at the least risk for a post-treatment negative outcome. Complications related to post-treatment hyperpigmentation is uncommon in patients with fair skin. To address the broken capillaries around your nose, I suggest that you seek a treatment that uses a laser specifically designed for that function. The type of laser that I use to address... more

Michael R. Macdonald, MD
Bay Area Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.drmmacdonald.com

Alternatives to laser resurfacing are out there.

Laser resurfacing is an excellent treatment for fine lines, acne scars, brown spots and sun-damage but not broken capillaries or pimples. An alternative and less expensive option is photodynamic therapy (PDT) and Intense Pulse Light (IPL). This light based treatment utilizes a topical medication called Levulan which is activated by the laser like IPL. It is very effective against brown spots, sun-damage, pimples, broken capillaries, pore size, fine lines and texture. A... more

Susan Van Dyke, MD
Paradise Valley Dermatologist

www.vandykelaser.com

Best laser treatment for spots, blood vessels and acne scars

If your acne scars are shallow, the laser treatment that will be of most benefit to you is something called the South Beach Peel. South Beach Peel combines Broad Band Light (BBL, a form of intense pulsed light) with the Micro Laser Peel. The BBL adresses both the brown spots and the dilated blood vessels, while the Micro Laser Peel removes part of the epidermis for an overall smoother and silkier appearance. This peel produces results with minimal down time. However,... more

Emily Altman, MD
Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

Laser treatment for facial problems

You are describing multiple aesthetic facial issues, including acne, red vessels, tan pigment, and fine wrinkles. These may all be amenable to laser treatment, but different lasers are incorporated to manage each of these problems. Personal consultation with a plastic surgeon or dermatologist with several laser platforms is your best first step. Several consultations to compare cost and recommendations is even better.

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Fractional CO2 Is Currently the best Option for most Patients

Loose skin, wrinkles, acne scars, brown "sun spots" are all best treated in my opinion with an ablative laser. After years of experience with Erbium and CO2, and more recently with the Fractional CO2 Ultrapulse laser (Active/Deep FX) I believe fractional CO2 gives the best bang for the buck and for the downtime. The laser vaporizes the outer layer of skin ( removing surface blemishes and irregularities) and then the heat from the laser leads to skin tightening and... more

Roy A. David, MD
San Diego Facial Plastic Surgeon

Laser resurfacing costs

Costs will vary depending on the type , depth, and # of treatments needed. Depending on the severity of your issues a microlaser peel coupled with IPL/BBL treatment may be all you need vs full laser resurfacing. The best way to determine what you need is tobe evaluated and get a treatment plan formulated especially for you

Joanne Lopes, MD
Virginia Beach Plastic Surgeon

Laser resurfacing can be costly

Laser resurfacing can be a costly option. There are alternatives that are less expensive which might work well for your situation. Your first recommended step is to visit a good cosmetic dermatologist. You'll want to get your pimples under control and your skin tone evened out. Often proper skin care regimens can make a huge difference in how your skin looks and behaves, so rather than jumping to the big gun first, explore the basics first. Some options: Salicylic acid peels - great for... more

Rebecca Fitzgerald, MD
Los Angeles Dermatologist

Laser skin smoothing is not cheap

Laser skin smoothing with CO2 is the gold standard for improving skin texture but will not eliminate visible blood vessels. For those you need additional treatment with a vascular laser, like an Aura Starpulse, which we have found very effective. Regarding price, the CO2 will cost thousands, the Aura treatment hundreds. This technology is not without its costs!

Steven Yarinsky, MD
Saratoga Springs Plastic Surgeon

Laser treatment

It sounds like you have several skin issues. Unfortunately, there is not one laser that will take care of all of your issues. Fractionated lasers (CO2 or erbium) will do well with the acne scar, brown spots but will not do much for the spider veins. Adding in an IPL treatment would be best for the vessels. Laser treatments vary widely in cost depending on the market. It does pay to shop around. There is also another option. A chemical peel (tca 30%) could be done in place of fractional laser... more