About Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is a cosmetic procedure to restore and rejuvenate the skin. A non-invasive, anti-aging solution, laser treatment has soared in popularity among an increasingly large scope of consumers. It serves a much more vast socioeconomic range of consumers than the narrow cosmopolitan market it served less than a decade ago. Due to its effectiveness, near-permanent to permanent results and lack of the risk and cost associated with plastic surgery (among other benefits), laser treatment has become a prevalent, favorable option for reversing and fighting the skin's signs of aging. Rapid advancements in laser technology and technique since the turn of the millennium have yielded a wide variety of treatment options for an even wider variety of skin conditions. Despite diversity in treatment types, the ultimate result of treatment remains the same: revitalized skin that is even-toned, smooth and radiant. Does this Spark an idea?
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Treatable Conditions
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Resurfacing the skin improves its clarity, texture, tone and overall appearance. Patients want younger-looking skin by way of a smooth, even skin tone and restored radiance. This objective typically requires corrective treatment of a wide range of skin conditions. Skin discoloration, technically referred to as hyperpigmentation, is a common condition of laser resurfacing patients whose skin shows visible sun damage. Age spots and liver spots are forms of hyperpigmentation; so, too, is melasma, though it's caused by pregnancy, not sun damage. Vascular conditions are also treatable--from visible blood vessels on the surface, to lesions, to facial redness. Scars of various depths and sizes can be corrected as well but also to even the color, as resurfacing does for unwanted birthmarks. Fine lines and wrinkles are also a common condition of laser resurfacing patients. Static wrinkles are those visible at all times and don't change with facial expressions. Dynamic wrinkles often appear as fold when the skin is not moving and then deepen with facial expressions. Laser resurfacing restores skin tone and skin structure by stimulating collagen and elastin fibers that have weakened and decreased in the aging process.
How It Works
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The term "laser" is actually an acronym: Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser resurfacing involves use of one of the different types of laser technology and applied technique to address the target skin areas. High-intensity laser beams that are intensely concentrated with energy (commonly plasma energy) are emitted from either a lamp-like or a wand-like device. The beam travels straight in one direction, channeling through the outer layers of the skin to the undesired cells and skin tissue beneath. Those cells are immediately dissolved and destroyed, without affecting the surrounding healthier cells. Collagen production and cell regeneration is instantly stimulated, and fresh skin cells replace the targeted area. For wrinkles and other textural corrections, the process works like a filler from the inside out as the new cells emerge from the layers beneath up to the surface.
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Benefits of Modern Non-Ablative Technology
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Non-ablative means there is no incision made into the skin. Older laser techniques can't guarantee the procedure will be completely bloodless. The latest laser technology used for resurfacing is designed to work beneath the skin's surface, unlike laser technology that heats and removes the top skin tissue. This below-the-surface approach is the reason collagen growth can be stimulated and the underlying skin can be tightened. Patients benefit from this latest laser technology--not just with its aesthetic results but with its minimal side effects, rapid healing and lack of downtime. The latest technological developments also offer more control in the laser's pulse duration and penetration depth, optimizing precision and safety, especially for delicate skin areas.
Effectiveness
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There's no question that laser resurfacing can dramatically improve the skin's overall appearance and restore youthfulness. However, the time and frequency of treatment sessions required to achieve the desired results completely depends on the patient's skin condition, expectations of treatment and the type and quality of technique and technology used. Obviously, the more dramatic the skin condition, the more sessions required to smooth the skin's color and texture. One session of laser resurfacing yields an intense improvement in complexion, and can correct many discoloration ailments. One session also results in more radiant, softer skin. On average, most skin conditions can achieve treatments objectives after no more than three resurfacing sessions, although intense wrinkles and scars may require continual, consistent treatment over an extended period. Laser resurfacing results are long-term to permanent.
Sources of Treatment
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Laser treatment's skyrocketing demand has expanded its availability. It was once a service exclusively offered by dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and evolved into a treatment offered by non-medical practitioners such as aestheticians and electrologists. The number of "MedSpas" (businesses that combine salon and spa treatments with cosmetic medical procedures) has increased to over 2,500 in the United States, and laser treatment is a typical service of MedSpa offerings. State and national medical boards are now pushing for regulation, because the technology and technique involved in laser procedures require extensive yet particular knowledge and training. Regulation actions will soon ensure that non-medical professionals are required to undergo special training and certification in order to legally offer laser treatment. Patients should seek treatment from a doctor who specializes in the field.
Warning
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Despite all of the positive aesthetic results, the treated skin has a downside: It is substantially more sensitive to UV rays. So sun damage is a lot more threatening. After laser resurfacing treatment, patients must take special care to apply an ultra high-strength daily sunscreen, regardless of weather. In direct sunlight, a wide-brimmed hat is recommended for additional protection.
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References
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- Photo Credit Photo by Bio.Skinergy (flickr.com/creativecommons)
