Laser Resurfacing: Q&A
Ask a QuestionHow Does Skin Look a Month After Laser Resurfacing?
I know what patients look like right afterwards (too red and raw to go out for about a week) and what they look like after three months (fully healed and gorgeous) -- but what do they look like in the middle, when you are still healing, but don't have to stay indoors?
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9 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
newtoski
in Here
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What to Expect After Laser Resurfacing
This is a great question. You are correct that the first week after a deep laser resurfacing procedure requires a week's downtime. The skin is very delicate, red and denuded. Over the next few weeks, the treated skin can appear pink and this pink skin can last for several months (so expect to be slighlty pink in one month). I normally explain to my patients that they can appear rosy for a few months after resurfacing but the rudiness will eventually subside. This mild discoloration can...
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Skin A Month After Laser Resurfacing
As you stated, the skin is red and raw appearing for about a week or so. This redness gradually reduces over time until it usually completely abates within several months. In the meantime, the face is pink. In other words, the redness gradually reduces, day by day and week by week. You can cover the pink skin with make-up.
Freehold Facial Plastic Surgeon
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Facial resurfacing recovery
The answer to your question depends on which laser or device is being used to resurface, the depth of the treatment, the density of the treatment, was there overlapping or stacked pulses, etc. Fraxel Restore, the nonablative laser, can create significantly different convalescence among patients depending on the energies used for superficial photodamage or deeprer acne scarring. Usually after a week there are no residual changes. Fraxel Repair, or ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser can...
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So this is my third laser in the last 2 yrs. going through the itchy stage as I type this....
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Skin color after laser
Yes, the skin is very red and raw after a deep laser peel, and then the color gradually improves over several months. The deeper the peel the redder the skin the longer the redness stays, and then the potential for hypopigmentation( light skin)
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Healing varies based upon the patient
Everyone heals differently and there can be variations based upon the laser or the laser energy used.
In general, most patients will be red, raw and crusty during the first week, just like you mentioned. During the second week, the skin is red and fragile and still requires extra moisturizer and strict sun protection. Usually the redness subsides in about 2-4 weeks.
Variations occur based upon more intense treatments, the more aggressive the treatment or the deeper the treatment, the...
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Healing after skin resurfacing
Each and every person heals differently. For example, patients have a certain skin type which is classified by the way it reacts to the sun (Fitzpatrick skin type). Your Fitzpatrick skin type is a very important factor in how aggressive your surgeon can be and how you will heal. Also, patient's with red hair will typically have a prolonged inflammatory phase in their healing and will have a longer period of a reddish hue to the skin.
It also depends of the type of laser used (ablative vs...
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Healing after laser resurfacing depends upon depth and type of laser
Laser resurfacing has improved significantly since its development 15 years ago when the procedures were generally all done with full field carbon dioxide devices with deep depths of resurfacing.
Current devices - erbium, YSGG and carbon dioxide allow superficial as well as deep depths and the ability to do fractional treatment (a % of the area - ie 20% coverage). The more superficial depths and the fractional treatments heal much faster than the deeper treatments and patients may look...
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Interim appearance after Laser resurfacing
Having done well over a thousand laser resurfacing procedures in the last sixteen years, I will tell you that no two people heal the same so these are general guidelines. Typically, at 10 to 14 days, your skin goes from bright red and raw to pink in color. Over the next two to four weeks, the intense pink lessens to a medium pink. Over the next month, the pink starts fading with blotchy pink areas. Finally, at about 3-4 months, the pink subsides to skin color. However, I've seen some...
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Looks one month after laser resurfacing
I assume you mean the traditional ablative CO2 resurfacing. Usually one month after CO2 resurfacing, most patients look good with cover make-up, otherwise they are still pink and shiny. Some patients are dealing with a few acne flare-ups and milia.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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