Is there a full body laser resurfacing treatment?

Question

I have a tiny scar on my foot, ankles and legs. I also have age spots on my legs, stretch marks on my knees and ankles. I have stretch makers on my inner thighs, upper hips and cellulite on the back of my thighs and inner thighs. Is there a fully ablative laser resurfacing treatment like the CO2 resurfacing for the face but in this case for the body? I will pay for as many treatments necessary, downtime is no issue, money is no issue either.

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. 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

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Richard O. Gregory, MD · Answer

The brief answer is No there is not a laser that would do well on all of these areas or lesions. Several different lasers used with parameters appropriate to the place and lesion would work best.

Jason Pozner, MD · Answer

Interesting question - can you do full body laser resurfacing. The answer is yes and no. I have done full body erbium peels - (sciton nanopeel) but the depths you can do on the body are no where near what you can do on the face. In other words you can get smoothing and some color improvement but it does not get rid of cellulite or deep wrinkles or most pigment. However, if we use a combination of lasers and other energy devices we can improve most if not all of the skin issues you mention. We regularly use fractional lasers for scars, pulsed light (IPL or BBL) for body pigment, radiofrequency devices for cellulite etc etc. Best advice  is to see a very experienced plastic surgeon or dermatologist with extensive laser experience and multiple devices.

Karen Stolman, MD · Answer

I often do Fraxel Dual Restore (Fractionated CO2) on arms and legs for skin tightening and brown spots, and then do spot treatment with other fractionated 1540 laser for scarring.  Fully ablative CO2 or Erbium are rarely advised on body except possibly in very fair skinned people, because of risk of permanent discoloration.

Is there a full body laser resurfacing treatment?

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