A look at your skin

The skin is the body's largest, most visible organ. It's no wonder so much effort goes into maintaining its appearance. Actually, the skin itself works around the clock to stay healthy and functional. Its five layers continuously migrate upward as they mature, providing new cells to replace those lost from the outermost layer during normal abrasion, such as cleansing. Despite this natural regeneration process, factors such as aging, skin disease, nutrition, exposure to sunlight, illness or personal habits can lead to such unwanted features as fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and eyes, chicken pox scars, sun damaged skin, and some acne scars. Each year, thousands seek cosmetic improvement with over-the-counter or prescribed creams, collagen iluections, chemical peels, dermabrasion, or minor cosmetic surgery. In recent years, "laser skin resurfacing" has been shown to be an effective and potentially advantageous option for many people.

What is laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is performed by a physician using a high energy pulsed carbon dioxide (C02) laser. Applying laser energy in quick, intense bursts, the physician can actually vaporize unwanted tissue and smooth surface indentations - without damaging the layers beneath and without significant risk of scarring. In some cases, the procedure is used after a facelift or eyelid surgery to eliminate remaining lines. In each case, the number and duration of treatments vary depending on the specific condition being treated.

Treatable conditions with laser skin resurfacing:

Facial lines and wrinkles due to aging Crows feet at the corner of the eyes Lines and wrinkles under the eyes Laugh or "frown" creases Lines and wrinkles around the mouth Scars from acne, chicken pox, trauma or some surgeries

Is the procedure painful?

Local anesthesia or light sedation is administered prior to treatment. During the procedure, some patients may experience a moderate, continuous stinging sensation.

What to expect after treatment

Following laser resurfacing, patients generally experience swelling in the treated area for up to two weeks and redness for a period of one to three months. Certain precautions must be followed according to the physician's advice to avoid risk of infection.

What are the main advantages of high energy pulsed laser resurfacing over other treatments?

Compared to a chemical peel, dermabrasion or other forms of laser treatment, this procedure offers:

• More accurate visualization of the treated tissue
• More accurate depth controls chemical peeling
• More precise elimination of fine lines
• Less risk of certain infections due to a bloodless field

How do I know if laser skin resurfacing is right for me?

This procedure may not be right for certain patients and skin conditions. People who have trouble with healing of skin wounds are particularly unlikely candidates. A temporary darkening of the skin may occur in darker pigmented people, but usually returns to normal over several weeks or months. One should consult his or her physician to learn if laser skin resurfacing might be right for his or her specific condition.