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How Does Skin Look a Month After Laser Resurfacing?

asked 2 years ago by newtoski in Here
Latest answer by Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD
Question viewed 871 times
Tags: healing, recovery, time between

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?

8 answers to How Does Skin Look a Month After Laser Resurfacing?

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.

Sigmund L. Sattenspiel, MD
Freehold Facial Plastic Surgeon

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... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

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)

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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... more

Edgar Franklin Fincher, MD, PhD
Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

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... more

John Burns, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

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... more

Jason Pozner, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.spsboca.com

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... more

Scott Trimas, MD
Jacksonville Facial Plastic Surgeon

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.

Peter T. Truong, MD
Fresno Oculoplastic Surgeon

www.facialsurgerydr.com

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