This procedure is used to remove or to conceal various face defects. The treatment, also know as lasabration or laser peel, uses laser energy targeted at specific site to remove skin layer by layer by removing superficial skin cells.
The technique is suitable for gentle wrinkles around the eyes and the mouse and on the forehead. Acne scars and face-lift operation that left wrinkled skin also can be treated. It is not recommended for people with dark skin and those with active acne.
There are two types of lasers, the one uses CO2 and the one uses erbium. CO2 laser resurfacing is been used for years. It treats several skin defects such as scars, wrinkles, warts, overgrown oil glands on the nose (called rhinophima) and skin tumors. It uses very short light wave energy in a periodical matter targeted to specific location or a continuous beam which is scattered around the area. This insures that only minimal heat is applied to the skin creating minimal heat damage to the surrounding tissue. Healing time from this treatment is usually two weeks. Erbium laser resurfacing is used to remove superficial to slightly deeper skin lines on the face and neck. He's causing even less heat damage then the previous technique. There is much less swelling and redness after the treatment and the recovery time is about a week. It is also more effective for people with dark skin.
Both of the techniques can be performed using local anesthetic combined with sedative drugs. Partial treatment last for 30-35 minutes, full-face treatment last for 1.5-2 hours. After the treatment a sterile bandage is applied to the area, which can be removed after 1-3 days. Complete healing usually takes place after 10-21 days. Once the area is healed make up can be used to hide the redness that usually appears.
Every procedure has its ricks and complications. This one includes pigmentation changes either to darker or brighter skin color. Small white spots may appear. Face swelling may persist several weeks. Infection and cold sore can also happen. It is recommended to stop smoking for better healing of the area.
The treated area may look and feel like sunburned for some time. You have to wear sunscreen to protect the resurfaced skin. You should choose the one which blocks UVA and UVB and has a sun-protecting factor of 15.