Laser Resurfacing: Q&A
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Laser Resurfacing Results Vs. Downtime
Hi - I am considering laser resurfacing, and I have a couple of questions:
1) What kind of results can I get for the least amount of downtime?
2) What kind of results can I get if I opt for a laser treatment with the highest amount of downtime?
3) Please give me some examples of lasers that would fall in the ranges described in questions 1 & 2. Also if there are any middle-of-the-road options, please let me know about those as well.
Thanks, Diane.
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13 Doctor Answers |
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anon
+5
Laser Skin Resurfacing Works Great!
Laser skin resurfacing has been very effective at tightening skin and reversing sun damage. The gold standard is traditional resurfacing with a CO2 (carbon dioxide laser by Coherent , now Lumenis). The downtime can be 7-10 days on average. Most patients have rosiness to their skin for another 8-12 weeks. The results are beautiful causing a major improvement in sun damage and diminishment in wrinkles. (Answer to question # 2)
Since many people do not want to have so much downtime,...
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Laser resurfacing downtime
A general rule of thumb is the better the results the longer the downtime. Microfractional CO2 laser resurfacing alone can smooth and tighten skin up to 60% and dramaticaly reduce pigment. Our patients are able to return to work in 7 days with a minimal powder makeup to cover redness. The neck area takes 2 additional days to be presentable and is usually covered by a silk scarf and the chest/decellotage area is covered by a closed blouse until day 14. If a patient needs deeper...
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Laser Resurfacing Results And Healing Time Go Hand in Hand
The results you get from any resurfacing procedure will depend on how aggressive the procedure was done. This also directly correlates to healing time. Sadly, this is a very confusing subject for patients becuase there are so many technologies out there along with a lot of mis-information. The newer non-ablative treatments have minimal down time, but create minimal effects. This is great for the 40-year-old who wants to liven up their skin. If your problems...
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There are many options you can choose from
Laser resufacing can be done with as little downtime as you desire to the most downtime and most results. Very simply, more risks can lead to more results and vice versa. For more superficial results, all you have to do is turn down the energy on the laser and decrease the density that the lasers create with their spots that remove skin.
Lumenis makes the Active FX system and this is the most versatile system out there and can be tailored to fit almost any person. There are an almost...
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Fraxel may offer you what you are looking for
Hi Diane,
1) Usually, the least down-time procedures involve minimal results but the arrival of the Fraxel Restore laser, has allowed people to have some redness, mild swelling and peeling with some bronzing for three to five days. Most people though, continue to do their normal routine. Fine lines, acne scars, uneven brown discoloration and texture and pores can improve with this technique. IPL light sources, are not lasers, and they can improve uneven discoloration but do not help...
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Many options
Greetings Diane,
The answer to your questions lie in what your conerns are - are you concerned about wrinkles or age spots or possibly both. The second half of the question is - how much of a result are you looking for versus how much of a downtime can you take. For some people, downtime is the key and even if they don't get the best result possible, they will be happy with some result. For patients with deep wrinkles, often deep laser treatments or at least multiple superficial treatments...
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Laser resurfacing and downtime
Hi, Diane,
I would respectfully disagree with Dr. Berkowitz about one aspect. Traditional CO2 laser can indeed give you the best results in terms of tightening of the skin and removal of wrinkles. The downtime, however, is much longer than a week. It can take up to a month of redness and edema, and sometimes patients might stay red for up to 6 months or longer.
Fractional CO2 downtime is much less. The results, are as well, less dramatic, but usually good enough to justify the procedure. We...
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+2
Laser Resurfacing
Usually “low” downtime results in poor long term results (downtime less than 3 days). Longer downtime results in a more profound improvement. The goals and the problem to address must be discussed first. You may not need to have an aggressive treatment. If you have lines present without moving your face, then an aggressive treatment is needed. If your skin is dark, then an aggressive treatment may have a higher risk of pigmentation and scarring...
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Laser Resurfacing
These techniques improve fine wrinkles, uneven pigmentation, and general sun damage. They act by stripping away the superficial layers of the skin. New skin cells migrate to the treated areas and produce new, smooth, natural collagen.
Chemical peels such as trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can be applied to the entire face and neck (avoiding the eyelids). Dermabrasion uses a spinning wheel with a rough (diamond encrusted) surface to abrade the skin; this is especially good for the pitting of...
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The degree of effectiveness of laser resurfacing is proportional to the amount of down time.
An easy way to consider my response to these questions is that, generally speaking, the degree of effectiveness is proportional to the amount of down time. The more aggressive lasers, when more aggressive results are desired, generally have greater down time associated with them. I think of down time, as it relates to effectiveness, along a continuum. On that continuum, the least aggressive treatment with the least down time would be a series of light chemical peels designed to address...
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