If loving the sun, having acne, or just getting older has left your face with sun damage, uneven pigmentation, superficial scarring, crow’s feet, smile lines, or vertical lines around your mouth, laser skin resurfacing can return your facial skin to its tighter, smoother appearance.
What is laser skin resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing, also called a laser peel, laser vaporization, and lasabrasion, eliminates damaged surface level skin cells using a focused carbon-dioxide (CO2) laser to remove surface imperfections and dramatically reduce lines, to rejuvenate your appearance.
Laser skin resurfacing results in a tighter, smoother and more rejuvenated appearance.
Your Annapolis Laser Skin Resurfacing Consultation
How do you decide if laser skin resurfacing is right for you? To help clarify your needs and set your plan, we recommend a consultation at our main office in Annapolis or one of our one satellite offices in Easton or Prince Frederick.
During the consultation in one of our comfortable exam rooms, we’ll review your goals and your medical history. You’ll discuss things like:
- Your goals: why do you think you want to have laser skin resurfacing and what outcome are you hoping for?
- Your medical history and your lifestyle. You’ll talk about things like:
- Are you taking any prescription or nonprescription drugs and/or herbal supplements?
- Do you smoke?
- Your body. The doctor will examine, measure and, evaluate the areas of your face that could benefit from laser skin resurfacing.
- The procedure. You’ll have time to ask whatever you need. We recommend writing down your questions, so you won’t forget anything.
During your consultation, you can also discuss any other facial rejuvenation procedures you’re considering combining with laser skin resurfacing. Some patients choose laser skin resurfacing to enhance eyelid surgery or a face lift.
Understanding the Laser Skin Resurfacing Procedure
Laser skin resurfacing is performed under general or local anesthesia. Treatment time can range from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the amount of resurfacing needed. The extent of the resurfacing needed will determine if your laser skin resurfacing procedure will be done by one of our specially trained doctors in our fully accredited, state-of-the-art, ambulatory surgery center in Annapolis or in our office in Annapolis or by our highly qualified medical staff in the PSS MediSpa.
After cleansing your face, the light from the laser, either the Sciton Broadband Light Laser or the SmartXide DOT CO2, is moved over the area requiring treatment, directing short, concentrated pulsating beams of light and precisely removing skin layer by layer, to uncover a fresh layer of skin underneath. Depending on the depth of wrinkles, scars, sun damage or discoloration, the laser may be moved over the area repeatedly. Once that fresh layer of skin is exposed, healing begins, and for new skin that looks younger and smoother.
Many patients only require one treatment, but to penetrate deeper areas, laser skin resurfacing may sometimes be performed in two or more sessions.
After your Laser Skin Resurfacing: Recovery and Results
Following laser skin resurfacing, some patients experience mild swelling, redness, minimal bleeding and slight discomfort. We’ll give you instructions for gently washing and caring for your skin as it heals. After the initial recovery period of ten to 14 days, you can begin to wear makeup.
Laser skin resurfacing reveals a refreshed, more youthful-looking appearance that can last for several years, with a reduction of fine lines, scars, discoloration and other inconsistencies in the skin.
What are the risks of laser skin resurfacing?
You may have several days of discomfort, but that should be easily controlled with medication.
Contact us to schedule a consultation, to get the information you need to decide if laser skin resurfacing will provide the results you want.