Laser skin resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is an effective treatment to reduce facial wrinkles and skin irregularities, such as blemishes or acne scars.

The technique directs short, concentrated, pulsating beams of light at irregular skin, precisely removing it layer by layer. This popular procedure is also called lasabrasion, laser peel or laser vaporization.

What is laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing uses ablative or non-ablative lasers to renew the skin: ablative lasers remove it layer by layer, while non-ablative lasers heat the deeper layers without removing the surface. New skin cells form for a tighter, more youthful appearance. It can reduce wrinkles and age spots, minimize scarring and balance skin tone.

Why lines and wrinkles occur

Lines and wrinkles are among the best-known signs of aging. They develop when the skin begins to loosen, and wrinkles form in the resulting slack. This happens because of a reduction in collagen, a protein that gives the skin fullness and keeps it tight. The body produces collagen naturally, but not always in the same quantities.

As you age, the amount of collagen your skin produces begins to drop off, and less collagen means less tightness. When you see crow’s feet next to your eyes or wrinkles around your mouth, a lack of collagen caused them.

Sunspots

Another sign of aging is sunspots. While many people call them age spots, they are caused more by sun exposure than by the simple passage of time.

To protect itself against the sun’s harmful UV rays, the skin produces more melanin in response to sun exposure. Since melanin is what gives skin its pigment, more of it leads to darker skin in the form of a tan. When this process is repeated over time, the melanin starts to concentrate in spots. Instead of a smooth, even tone, the skin ends up with dark spots scattered across its surface.

How resurfacing helps fine lines and wrinkles

Laser skin resurfacing can be done with a variety of lasers, which give different results and treat different issues. Your dermatologist will choose laser treatments specific to your skin and your goals. Here are a few commonly used lasers:

During and after treatment

During the procedure, the laser delivers pulses of light in a pre-selected pattern to resurface the top layer of skin, while sending heat to the deeper layers for longer-term benefits. A natural protective dressing forms on the skin to minimize downtime while it heals. On day 3 or 4, this dressing peels or sloughs off, leaving new, healthy, vibrant skin underneath.

As with most cosmetic procedures, one treatment isn’t a lifetime cure-all. In many cases one laser treatment can address your concerns, but more often a series of treatments will give you the lasting results you want. Depending on the type of laser (ablative or non-ablative), you may have no downtime or some rawness for a few weeks.

Hybrid fractional laser

The Halo is a hybrid laser: it is both ablative and non-ablative, which aims to give strong results with less downtime.

What it improves

Halo can treat the top layer of the skin, which heals quickly, separately from the deeper layers, which remodel more slowly over time. It calculates the amount of energy to deliver for your skin. A Halo treatment improves tone, texture and pigmentation.

Conditions it treats

• Aging skin
• Brown spots
• Acne scarring
• Melasma
• Wrinkles
• Large pores

Book a skin resurfacing consultation

If you would like to know more about our laser skin resurfacing treatments, come in for a consultation with Dr. Rao. He will assess your skin and recommend the best treatment plan for achieving your desired results.