Could resurfacing help aged skin (51 year old male)? (photos)

Question

Hello. I am a 51 year old man who's skin universally has prematurely aged as an unfortunate side effect of a medication. It is particularly bad on the side of my face that I sleep on and crinkly expression lines appear on that side when I smile. Even at rest the skin on this side of my face looks rough. I was wondering whether a resurfacing treatment would help e.g. CO2 laser or phenol. I include a photo of that side at rest and with me bunching up the skin to show the damage.

Nick Slenkovich, MD · Answer

Hello! I’m Lauren, the aesthetic injector here at Colorado Plastic Surgery Center.  CO2 laser resurfacing could be a good option for your situation. It works by removing the damaged outer layers of skin and stimulating collagen production in the deeper layers. This can improve skin texture, reduce deep lines, and help smooth out the roughness you're seeing especially in areas with sun damage, sleep related compression, or medication related aging. Just be aware that downtime and aftercare are important, and results can vary depending on skin type and depth of treatment.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Resurfacing treatments, such as CO2 laser and chemical peels with phenol, can be effective options for improving the appearance of aged or prematurely aged skin. These treatments work by removing the outer layers of skin, promoting collagen production, and encouraging the growth of new, healthier skin.

CO2 Laser Resurfacing:

Benefits: This treatment is particularly effective for reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and rough texture. It can also improve skin tone and stimulate collagen production for a more youthful appearance.
Considerations: Recovery time can vary, but it typically involves several days to weeks of healing, during which the skin may be red and sensitive. It's important to follow post-procedure care instructions to ensure optimal results and minimize risks.
Phenol Chemical Peel:

Benefits: Phenol peels are among the strongest chemical peels available and can provide significant improvement in deep wrinkles and sun-damaged skin.
Considerations: This treatment requires a longer recovery period, and it is essential to have it performed by an experienced dermatologist due to its potency and potential side effects. It may also result in skin lightening, which is an important factor to consider.
Before proceeding with any treatment, I recommend consulting with a dermatologist who can evaluate your skin in person and tailor a treatment plan to your specific needs. They can assess the condition of your skin and discuss the potential benefits and risks of each option, as well as any alternative treatments that may be suitable.

If you have any further questions or need assistance in finding a dermatologist, feel free to reach out.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Fractional laser is an amazing and highly effective treatment in our office. We use the laser treatment to help with acne scars, large pores, fine wrinkles, tissue collagen loss, scars, sebaceous hyperplasia, active acne, and for brightening dark pigmentation. Although there are very strong fractional lasers such as CO2 laser, we use lighter treatments for corrective skincare and maintenance of results. Our Thulium fractional laser, clear and brilliant laser, and Ultra Thulium laser are excellent options in our clinic. We also perform CO2 fractional and erbium depending on skin tone and tolerance for downtime. Patients do have to use a Melarase cream before and after treatment to help further reduce pigmentation after laser.  Melarase AM, Melarase PM, and Melapads can seriously improve surface sun damage and UV related pigmentation. Dark spots can improve with these treatments. I recommend fractional laser for incisional scars as well, especially after plastic surgery.  
Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Barbara Padilla, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! Laser resurfacing is effective for treating sun-damaged and aged skin. It can help improve fine lines, wrinkles, scars, and overall skin quality. At our practice we use Pearl and Juliet treatments for laser resurfacing. Pearl reduces wrinkles, uneven texture, acne scars, freckles, hyperpigmentation and sun damage with fewer treatments and less overall recovery time than other technologies to provide a healthy, pearl-like glow. The Juliet system treats only a small portion of the skin while leaving the surrounding areas intact, resulting in faster healing and less downtime than more aggressive approaches. It is especially effective at treating the delicate areas around the eyes (such as crow’s feet) and mouth.

James R. Gordon, MD, FACS, FAAO · Answer

Thank you for sharing your questions and posting your photos. Yes, lasers can improve the quality of your skin and help regenerate collagen. The texture will improve along with its elasticity. See an experienced oculoplastic surgeon for evaluation and guidance. 
Good luck!

Anil R. Shah, MD · Answer

Hello, John! I'm Landry, an esthetician at Aesthetic Skin - Winnetka here to help answer your question regarding laser resurfacing.

Premature aging is a common occurrence amongst the general public. While sometimes we can't fully reduce or correct the cause of premature aging, treatments are available to help the signs of aging. Laser resurfacing such as CO2 and radiofrequency devices such Morpheus8 would be two great options to address these concerns. Morpheus8 uses both radiofrequency and microneedling to remodel the penetrated tissue and stimulate collagen growth. This alone can address the concerns you have such as fine lines, wrinkles and sagging skin. Repeated sessions can help you get to your desired results.

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

in short: yes. either of those would be a good starting point but you should be mindful that you may require more than one treatment and that skincare is an investment, not a short term quick fix.