Who Makes a Good Candidate for Laser Resurfacing? | Zochowski Plastic Surgery (2024)

FAQs

Who Makes a Good Candidate for Laser Resurfacing? | Zochowski Plastic Surgery? ›

Good candidates for laser skin resurfacing are encouraged to be in good health, with a positive attitude and real expectations about their results from the procedure. Candidates should have some sun-damage, fine wrinkles, or a leathery texture to their skin that they are unhappy about and would like to address.

You may not be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have: Active acne. Very dark skin. Deep wrinkles.

“Lasers are great tools that can help improve various problems of the skin, such as acne scarring, fine lines, wrinkles, sun spots, and even tattoos and loose skin,” says Tara Rao, MD, a dermatologist with Mount Sinai in New York City.

Fraxel (CO2 Laser)

While more invasive than fillers, Thermage, and Ultherapy, Fraxel Re:Pair and other CO2 systems offer quick and dramatic results as they have the power to reduce the volume of jowl-causing sagging skin within a single treatment.

Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure. You actively participate in contact sports.

Contraindications. Cold laser therapy should not be used over any suspicious cancerous lesions, or carcinoma, over the thyroid, on pregnant patients, and there should not be direct irradiation of the eyes, as the laser can cause permanent damage to the eyes.

A history of poor wound healing, keloids, or hypertrophic scarring may be an indication to avoid aggressive skin resurfacing. Patients who tan easily may be at risk for hyperpigmentation after their laser session.

You'll have some redness and swelling. You may also experience itching or stinging for a few days after the procedure. Depending on the treatment, some people may have what looks like a severe sunburn. The skin will be raw, oozing and may even blister.

It usually takes many weeks for people to notice that the treated area is healing. During this time, the area may turn a red or blackish color, and a crust may form. The crust should slowly go away 1 to 2 weeks after treatment.

What is the downside of CO2 laser resurfacing on face? ›

Disadvantages of CO2 Resurfacing

The patient's skin will be weepy for two weeks and will require thorough cleaning four to five times daily, along with application of ointment to keep the skin from scabbing. The areas can take up to three weeks to heal. After that, the skin will remain pink or red for more time.

Laser resurfacing can cause treated skin to become darker than it was before treatment (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation). Permanent changes in skin color are more common in people with dark brown or Black skin. Talk with your doctor about which laser resurfacing technique reduces this risk. Scarring.

One of the best lasers for skin resurfacing, Fraxel Repair effectively treats deep lines and wrinkles, sunspots and age spots, uneven skin tone and texture, hyperpigmentation, scarring, and melasma. The laser is also renowned for producing long-lasting results.

Endolift is an innovative and minimally invasive non-surgical facelift treatment that effectively addresses jowls, double chin, and nasolabial folds. This procedure involves the use of a specialised laser device inserted through small incisions to deliver controlled laser energy directly to the underlying skin tissues.

One of the best-known skin tightening treatments, Ultherapy uses ultrasound waves to penetrate the deep layers of the skin, stimulating collagen and elastin production. Elevated collagen and elastin production firms and tightens the skin, minimizing facial lines and making skin appear more supple and resilient.

Ultherapy is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that can be used to treat sagging jowls. Unlike dermal fillers, which add volume to the area, Ultherapy utilizes focused ultrasound energy to stimulate collagen production and tighten the skin.

Fortunately, you can start laser treatments at any age as long as your parents agree. However, most dermatologists recommend that female patients wait until they start their menstrual cycle before beginning laser treatment. For some, this may start at age 10 or even age 16.

Laser therapy can result in misdirected or excessively intense burns, bleeding from the choriocapillaris, damage to macular and other ocular structures, and breaks in Bruch's membrane.

The skin resurfacing laser works by sending a beam through the skin to create tiny columns within it. The skin will naturally go to work to repair those columns by pushing out old skin and replacing it with new skin. The newer and healthier skin can make people look up to ten years younger very quickly.

While there is no rule against starting this treatment in your 20's at the first signs of skin laxity, our patients typically tend to range in age from 30 to 65. Ideally, you will want to start treatment before significant collagen loss has taken place, but successful results can still be achieved later in life.