Wrinkle Removal With Laser Treatment

Laser wrinkle treatments are a popular alternative to invasive plastic surgery. To combat the signs of aging skin, laser resurfacing is a safe viable option. Laser treatment can remove years from your skin and improve tone and texture. Your doctor will discuss the best treatment plan, guide you through the process and explain what laser treatment can do for your skin. Sun exposure and some activities must be limited during recovery so schedule your treatment when you can take time to heal comfortably. After laser treatment, your doctor will suggest skin care to maintain your results.

What Causes Wrinkles

As your skin ages proteins in the skin, collagen and elastin begin to break down faster than the body can replace them. Skin loses its elasticity and wrinkles develop -- crows' feet around the eyes, vertical lines between your eyebrows and across your forehead. Sun damage is also a factor in aging skin. Brown spots, sun damage and hyperpigmentation all make skin lose its glowing healthy appearance.

How Do Laser Treatments Work

Laser treatment of wrinkles is available for wrinkle correction and skin rejuvenation. A laser is a high intensity light source. Laser light has one specific color, organized in a very tight direction. Normal beams of light like flashlights have random light patterns. The tight pattern of the laser light allows it to be finely focused as the laser light is passed over the skin. The laser used for wrinkle treatment is the CO2 laser. The CO2 laser precisely removes the outer most layer of skin, allowing for wrinkle free regrowth of healthy skin.

What to Expect And How To Prepare

Once you have decided on a doctor to perform your laser wrinkle treatment, prepare for your treatment by avoiding direct sun exposure. Too much sun causes irregular coloration on your skin, so do not tan. Your doctor may also recommend an antibiotic medication before and after your treatment to combat infection. Laser Wrinkle removal treatment with the CO2 laser is painful. Your doctor will numb your skin with a topical anesthetic, and you may be given a sedative to help you relax.

During The Procedure

Laser treatment takes between thirty minutes to two hours, depending on the area being treated. Your skin will be cleansed of any remaining topical anesthetic. Your eyes will be covered to protect them from the intensity of the laser light. Your doctor will also be wearing protective eyewear. The laser will be passed over the skin to "ablate" or remove the damaged skin to the depth necessary to prompt your body to generate a new healthy skin layer.

After The Procedure

After the procedure, your skin will look like you have a severe sunburn. It will be raw, ooze and may blister. You will experience pain after the procedure and may have a burning or tingling sensation. Your doctor may prescribe pain medication or Tylenol. A mask or ointment dressing may be used. While you are recovering from your laser treatment, limit your activity and avoid sun exposure. Expect a healing time of at least one to two weeks

Home Care

Your skin will be sensitive to the sun, so it is critical to use sunscreen and avoid sun exposure for up to a year after your treatment. You may notice an immediate difference to your appearance and gradually over the next six to twelve months see continued improvement. Laser wrinkle removal treatments can last for years.

Skin Care Tips and Warnings and Costs

Your doctor will probably have an asethcian on staff to help you with your skin care needs. An aesthtician is a skin care specialist. Educating yourself about your skin will help you get the most out of your treatment. Make healthy lifestyle changes moisturize and use sun screen. CO2 laser treatments are not recommended for any ethnic skin types, so discuss your risk factors with your doctor. Wrinkle removal with laser treatment costs between $1500 and $4000 and may require followup treatment.

References

• Fraxel Treatments
• Laser Resurfacing