Can I prepare my skin over the next 12 months to be suitable for C02 laser resurfacing?

Question

I had a few chemical peels 20 years ago which went well. I am looking to get CO2 laser resurfacing next year with the Lumenis Ultrapulse for acne scars, lines and a better tone. However the last year or two my face tingles and feels sensitive and I seem to have aged all of a sudden. I have been using salysic acid, tea tree oil, vitamin c and retinol. Unknown to me I may have damaged my ph level. Can I still get CO2 laser in the future? Can I do anything over the next year to prepare my skin?

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

yes the skin should be prepared with skin care, peels, and lighter lasers like moxi or clear and brilliant. consult us.

at home peels like cosmelan, enlighten and aerify along with dermarolling (EmerageSkin roller with anteage AERIFY MD ampules weekly, see link) should be started now to prevent further aging.

For facial rejuvenation,  I would suggest a combination approach of 
1) skin care with products and PRP/microneedling
2) PDT light therapy few times a month with growth factors
3) laser treatments like clear and brilliant or moxi regularly and a few times a year Fraxel/halo Viva, Co2/Erbium
4) Sculptra injections a few times a year for collagen production with fillers like juvederm/restylane/belotero/radiesse/bellafill
5) thermage/ultherapy for yearly skin tightening with or without PDO or cone based instalift threads for lifting
6) botox every 2-3 months to stop movement lines and prevent lines at rest
7) deep microneedling RF like Fractora/morpheus8/pixel8 for tightening of the skin
8) Vascular laser like vbeam/excel V or BBL forever young treatment every quarter (3-4 months)

Best, Dr. Emer.

Shelin Tkatch, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Work with a provider experienced in C02 laser resurfacing to prepare your skin for your procedure. They will ensure your procedure is scheduled only after proper preparation and evaluate you for any skin conditions that may need to be treated prior to laser treatment. Best, Dr. Tkatch

Elizabeth Wick, MD · Answer

The short answer is YES you should still be able to get CO2 laser and/or other acne scar treatments in the future. However, its sounds like you are having sensitivity to the Retinol and Vitamin C. I recommend you reduce the number of days/nights that you use the Retinol and make sure to add a good night cream to replace moisture. Sensitivity to Retinol and Vitamin C is common. However, skin sensitivity alone is not a reason to avoid CO2 laser treatments. You should still consult your cosmetic dermatologist or facial plastic surgeon regarding your appropriateness for laser and scar treatments because you may have additional skin goals that different lasers may be better suited for. Additionally, I sometimes recommend up to four weeks of topical hydroquinone prior to laser treatments in patients that are at risk of hyperpigmentation after laser. This usually includes patients with olive or dark skin tone. Patients with melasma are also at greater risk of post treatment hyperpigmentation.

Can I prepare my skin over the next 12 months to be suitable for C02 laser resurfacing?

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