I would like a second opinion: How often should you do laser treatment? (Photo)

Question

My doctor proposed doing 3 sessions of Youlaser MT on me (CO2+GaAs). He explained that doing regular CO2 was too harsh since my scars aren't deep and that by using this laser I could benefit from both skin tightening and resurfacing. I don't understand why he wants to do 3 sessions over the course of 3 months instead of doing one and only session with a higher setting. I'd prefer having more down time and seeing results faster rather than waiting. It seems like an unusual approach. Thank you

Harold J. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Hello Nuri.  Too often we see patients in our practice that are skeptical of laser resurfacing procedures because they've had, one, two or three very light resurfacing treatments and now believe it won't help them.  Because acne scars are deeper in the skin, they require a deeper resurfacing to revise.  While one deep resurfacing treatment may not reach your goals, you will definitely see nice improvement.  Whereas with the treatment being proposed for you, we are not sure if you will see any.  You are certainly not in need of skin tightening.

In most cases, practices that are offering light resurfacing are doing so because the patient wants less downtime.  We understand that getting time off of work or school is difficult, we would rather do the correct procedure than one that will disappoint our patient.

Finally, and this is most important, have them show you before and after photos of their OWN patients.  If they cannot, you are at the wrong practice.  Best of luck.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

you would do great with agressive co2 or halo and then go into moxi+fractora, TCA can help as well as some subcision and filler. the more combination you do the better.   at home peels like cosmelan, enlighten and aerify along with dermarolling (Emerageskin roller with anteage MD AERIFY ampules weekly) should be started now (see link to emeragecosmetics).

if you have post inflammatory hyperpigmentation/melasma/discoloration that needs cosmelan or enlighten peels at home which we can do virtually and send to your home along with aerify peels regularly, vivatia foam, restorsea 10x, faith essence serum, and cosmelan 2 cream.

Acne scar treatment needs a combination approach for improvement.  For the best results, one should target the acne scar type.  As everyone has a unique pattern of acne scarring, the best solution is a tailored one.  Typically you need fillers like bellafill and sculptra for atrophic indented type scars with or without subcision.  Subcision for depressed tethered scars.  Vascular lasers like yellow laser, aerolase, excel V or IPL for redness or thick scars. And lasers such as fraxel, halo, maxi, pro fractional laser/erbium, co2 or fractional radiofrequency like venus viva, skinfinity, intensif or fractora microneedling RF for textural issues and superficial scarring.  Deep ice pick scars and narrow box car scars are best treated with TCA CROSS and punch excision.  All lasers are combined with microneedling and PRP to get even better results and improve healing times.   The majority of patients will have a collection of different scar types, and hence a tailored treatment plan is needed by an expert physician.  It is never about the laser or product that gives the results, its about the expert behind the equipment that gets you the outcome.  Scars cannot be cured and will need life-long treatments to maintain and build on the results.  For those at high risk for hyperpigmentation (darker skin types or asian or hispanic or mixed ethnicities) we already pre-treat the skin with cosmelan or enlighten lightening peels to prevent complications from energy-based or chemical-based treatments.  Best, Dr. Emer.

I would like a second opinion: How often should you do laser treatment? (Photo)

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I would like a second opinion: How often should you do laser treatment? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about CO2 Laser

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