The Face: Laser Resurfacing or Wrinkle Treatment With Laser

Among the newest techniques to address aging changes within the skin is the use of the C02 laser. The laser has advantages over traditional resurfacing methods like chemical peels and dermabrasion including a quicker recovery period and reduced patient discomfort. "Laserbrasion" can be programmed to use specified amounts of energy and for that reason brings much more control and safety to resurfacing procedures designed to deal with changes within the skin such as complexion abnormalities and fine lines and wrinkles.

As we age, we acquire wrinkles around the eyes and lips and across the cheeks. These develop due to deterioration in the collagen and elastin fibers which connect the cells of our skin. These changes are accelerated by cigarette smoking, stress, and cumulative lifetime sun exposure. The laser is used to create a controlled burn of the most superficial layers of the skin in order to stimulate the formation of new fibers, which are more organized and plentiful in number. The result after healing is skin of better tone and a refreshed and more youthful configuration. Patients report a softer, silkier, and smoother appearance to their skin following laser treatment.

The technique can be used for regional treatment, for example around the eyes or around the mouth, or can be used to treat the entire facial region. The optimal number of sessions of treatment required depend on the severity of the problem. Laser treatment is not a substitute for formal surgical face-lifting which is done to redrape and reposition tissues that have become loose and sagging over time. There are, however, many patients who are candidates for laser resurfacing at an earlier age who have not yet become candidates for formal surgical face-lifting. Occasionally, surgery and a laser treatment are used in combination during the same sitting to simultaneously treat both loose skin and fine wrinkles.

Laser resurfacing may be done under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation as an outpatient procedure or under general anesthesia when combined with other cosmetic procedures or if the whole face is to be treated. Compared to alternate resurfacing methods, patients generally enjoy a shorter recovery. There is redness and swelling but minimal discomfort throughout the treated region.

Postoperative treatment includes cleansing and coverage with a moisturizer, bandage or some other wound care regimen, particularly during the first week. Within 2 weeks, the swelling has largely resolved and the redness has begun to fade to a color that can be easily controlled with cosmetics. Complete resolution of the redness may take several months. Patients are encouraged to aggressively apply sunscreen products since ultraviolet light exposure is counterproductive to achieving and maintaining a revitalized configuration for the skin. Occasionally, patients will develop irregular hyperpigmentation (brown spots) during their healing interval but this is typically self-limited and, if it does not resolve, spontaneously may be treated with a bleaching medication.

In order to determine whether the patient is a candidate for laser resurfacing in combination with or as an alternative to traditional surgical rejuvenation methods, a consultation with the physician is necessary. It is important to identify any previous viral infections that involve the facial skin or lips, sun sensitivity, the use of a medication called Accutane? within the past year, and any medical history that would suggest problems with healing.