How to Prevent Scars or Scarring from a Laser Treatment?

Choosing the right physician is key in preventing a scar following laser skin resurfacing. A very experienced doctor/surgeon will be able to determine the proper treatment plan and individualize it for each patient. The skin color, amount of sun damage, texture, wrinkles and degree of irregular pigmentation are some of the important unique issues that must be considered. A physician who only uses one type of laser does not have the "armament" to treat all skin conditions. It is important to consider the physician's years in practice, his volume of patients and his reputation. A great physician will also know how to handle any complications that may occur. Proper preparations prior to Fraxel laser treatment and post-laser skin care will greatly help to diminish the risk of scarring. I hope you find this helpful. Good luck! 

The key to scar prevention with resurfacing treatments is choosing the right provider. Be sure to find someone who specializes in facial aesthetic procedures and can show you expected results of any skin resurfacing treatment. Any procedure (surgical and non-surgical) has risks, but these risks can be minimized through proper patient selection, technique, and experience.Luckily, most of the lasers on the market today are designed to reduce the risk of adverse events and are generally very safe and highly effective when used properly.All the best,

Scarring from lasers are rare in capable hands.  Pigment irregularity is the more common problem, especially in ethnic patients, but it is usually temporary and can be avoided with pre-care and after-care with bleaching creams and sunscreen.*

Whether you use a Fraxel type of CO2 laser or traditional CO2 laser, the risk of scarring always exists. Any laser treatment that ablates the skin can result in scarring although the risks are small. Certain areas like the neck and bony prominences of the face are more prone to scarring. Even in careful experienced hands this unfortunate occurrence can occur. To tell you otherwise would be not true. The reason why Fraxel has been touted as causing less scarring is because normal skin bridges are left intact between treated areas. However, if you are the type of person prone to scarring, this can still occur despite your surgeon's best efforts. That being said in 16 years of practice, the occurrence of scarring is still very rare and can usually be treated if noted early. A more common occurrence is skin lightening over the period of years.

Obviously, every procedure carries with it the risk of complications. However, the beautiful thing about fractionated lasers is the consistency of depth achieved with the settings used. So when used properly by a Physician experienced in the cosmetic use of lasers, the risk of scarring is very low. Lasers are a resurfacing tool, but the tool will only be as good as the practitioner using it.