Is your complexion looking less than fabulous? If so, you may be able to benefit from a laser procedure. Laser skin resurfacing can greatly diminish the effects of aged or sun damaged skin, acne scars, discoloration and other facial blemishes. There are two types of lasers that can be used during the procedure depending on the severity of your facial lines and blemishes.
Ablative
If you are experiencing severe skin damage that covers a large part of your face, deep wrinkles, or acne scars, you will probably require ablative laser resurfacing. During this type of laser resurfacing, an intense beam of light is directed at the skin, destroying the damaged layer. The heat from the laser also causes collagen fibers to shrink, lessening the appearance of scars. Ablative laser resurfacing produces significant results, but there are a few things to keep in mind if you require this type of laser.
This is an outpatient procedure sometimes requiring a local or general anesthetic and can require up to a week of recovery and downtime. You may experience some symptoms such as swelling, scabbing, oozing, and redness.
Non-Ablative
If you have mild facial discoloration or blemishes, you might opt for a non-ablative laser. This type of laser resurfacing, because it is fractional in nature does not produce as dramatic results as ablative lasers; however, multiple treatments can still greatly diminish the look of brown spots, redness, and fine lines.
One major benefit of non-ablative laser resurfacing is that there is minimal downtime and very few side effects after. You may still experience some swelling and redness that should fade within a few days.
Are you interested in laser skin resurfacing to rejuvenate your complexion? If so, schedule a consultation at Salzman Cosmetic Surgery and Spa to determine which type of laser skin resurfacing is right for you!