One of the newest cosmetic procedures that is slowly becoming more and more popular is laser resurfacing. Sometime called "laser peel", laser resurfacing involves the use of a laser in removing, layer by layer, areas of the skin that are damaged or wrinkled.
Although this procedure is most commonly used to minimize the appearance of fine lines, especially around the mouth and the eyes, laser resurfacing has also been proven to be effective in the treatment of areas of uneven pigmentation, as well as facial scars.
Laser resurfacing, which may be performed on the whole face or in specific areas, is often done in conjunction with other cosmetic surgery procedures such as blepharoplasty or a facelift. Although a relatively new procedure, laser resurfacing has shown that, compared with other resurfacing methods, it produces less bleeding, bruising and post-operative discomfort, which probably explains why more and more people are turning to the procedure to help improve their appearance.
Typically performed as an outpatient procedure, an individual could choose to have laser resurfacing done in a surgeon's office-based facility, in a hospital or in an outpatient surgical center. Most cases only require local anesthesia combined with sedation, but general anesthesia may be used in some cases. Normally, a laser resurfacing procedure can take a few minutes to one and a half hours, depending on the size of the treated area according to
www.artoffacialsurgery.com.
The types of laser used by Toronto facial plastic surgeon Dr. David Ellis in performing laser resurfacing include the Erbium laser and the CO2 laser. The Erbium laser, which is generally less aggressive to the skin, is used in treating shallower lines, as well as irregular and pitted scars. The CO2 laser, on the other hand, comes in handy when treating deeper lines and acne scarring.
Among the effects of laser resurfacing on patients are some mild swelling and discomfort after the procedure. This can be relieved with the application of ice packs to the treated area, as well as pain medications to be prescribed by the surgeon who did the procedure.
Redness or pinkness can last for several weeks to several months. A person treated using the Erbium laser usually has to wait about six weeks before the resulting pinkness disappears, while CO2 laser-treated patients have to wait much longer at three months. Normally, a laser resurfacing patient can go back to work two weeks after the operation, although he or she has to avoid more strenuous activities for the next four to six weeks. Patients are also advised to avoid exposure to the sun for several months.
As with other cosmetic procedures, laser resurfacing can also give rise to potential complications, such as infections, scarring, burns or other heat-related injuries and abnormal changes in the color of the patient's skin.
Additional information on
laser resurfacing can be found on
Toronto Facial Plastic Surgery specialist Dr. David Ellis' website. The Art of Facial Surgery also provides useful information about rhinoplasty and other related topics.
