Nonablative Laser Treatment
There is a variety of nonablative laser types designed to perform an even wider variety of nonsurgical cosmetic functions. Many cosmetic rejuvenation treatments use laser technology as an effective anti-aging solution, and the recent developments in laser technology have yielded various types of nonablative, or intense light lasers, versus the more aggressive ablative laser types. Does this Spark an idea?
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Uses
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Nonablative laser treatment is used to correct skin irregularities in color and texture to reveal more a youthful appearance. Skin discoloration is usually caused by sun damage, which reveals itself as people age. Sun spots and liver spots--visible flat, brown spots at the skin's surface--are treated with nonablative lasers. Melasmas, unsightly irregularities in skin pigmentation also can be corrected with nonablative laser treatment. Broken capillaries, visible veins, redness caused by Rosacea, scars and moles are treatable as well. Nonablative laser treatment patients also seek correction for fine lines and wrinkles, as well as scne scars. The ultimate goal is rejuvenated skin that appears smoother, more even in skin tone and texture and younger-looking overall.
How Nonablative Lasers Work
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Nonablative laser technology uses energy-filled lasers or pulses of light, emitted from either a handheld or lamp-like device, to treat the target skin area. The beams target specific areas of the face (or the skin of other body parts, though the face is most common) and penetrate the skin to the layers below the surface, leaving the surrounding skin tissue unaffected and undamaged. The lasers use precision, aided by computer technology, to "zap" the unwanted cells. These cells are dissolved and destroyed. New cell growth is stimulated and the healthy new cells replace the old ones, in a process that works like "controlled injury."
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Nonablative Versus Ablative
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Ablative lasers were the first used for nonsurgical cosmetic procedures and are still used for the same purpose. These lasers use a thermal (heat) approach to literally burn the skin's surface tissues. Ablative laser treatments, such as those that use CO2 and YAG laser technology, target the whole skin tissue layer of the entire face, burning off the epidermis layer. Nonablative laser treatments do not use heat to burn off the skin surface. Instead, energy and light pulses are used to penetrate below the epidermal skin layer to the roots of the skin condition beneath. Nonablative lasers are designed for precision as well, so the only skin cells involved in the treatment are those of the unwanted skin condition.
Benefits
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The benefits of using nonablative laser treatment include recovery time and safety. Because nonablative laser treatment uses precision and does not affect the entire surface layer of the skin, downtime is much shorter than with ablative treatment. Patients can return to normal daily activities after the treatment session is finished, in most cases. Also, the risk of side effects and complications, due to the precision of the lasers, is much lower than with the more aggressive ablative laser treatment. Nonablative lasers, such as the Fraxel laser and the Intense Pulse Light (IPL), are adjustable in intensity and color to optimize treatment for specific skin conditions.
A significant benefit of choosing nonablative laser treatment as an anti-aging solution is the treatment's ability to not only correct skin irregularities, but function as a preventative as well, since the light and energy used stimulate healthy cell and collagen growth.
Cost
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Cost varies for nonablative laser treatment, depending on skin condition, source of treatment, geographic location and the type of technology used. The average cost per session for nonablative laser treatment is $845 as of 2009, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). This is significantly lower than the average ablative laser treatment session, which the ASAPS reports is $2,341. Nonablative laser treatment, however, usually requires multiple sessions to achieve the desired results.
Considerations
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Consult a dermatologist or plastic surgeon to determine which type of laser treatment is right for your skin condition and type. Ablative laser treatment is more effective for deeper skin conditions, such as severe wrinkles and all-over acne scars, than the mild to moderate skin irregularities treated by nonablative technology.
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