Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing is a broad term for laser treatments that improve common skin concerns such sun damage, acne, acne scarring, melasma, fine lines, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and more.
Types of Laser Resurfacing
Lasers are either ablative or non-ablative. Ablative lasers like carbon dioxide (CO2) remove the outside layers of your skin. This is similar to a skin peel, where there is more redness and more recovery. Non-ablative does not remove skin layers but instead uses pulsed light to treat conditions such as acne, spider veins, and rosacea. At Oppenheimer Plastic Surgery, we offer multiple laser methods to target different skin concerns. Sometimes a combination of lasers is recommended, depending on your goals.
IPL Photofacial
What is an IPL Photofacial?
IPL (intense pulsed light) is a broad spectrum light treatment that improves a variety of skin concerns including acne, sun damage, broken capillaries, dark spots and redness. IPL works by delivering light energy in short bursts that directly target the blood vessels or pigment in your skin. This promotes new cell growth and fresh collagen. IPL is a quick and comfortable treatment with minimal downtime. The most common areas we treat are the face, neck, chest and hands.
What skin conditions does an IPL Photofacial address?
IPL effectively treats common skin concerns including:
What can I expect during my treatment?
An IPL treatment typically takes 20-30 minutes. First your skin will be cleansed. Next, a cool ultrasound gel is applied as a conductor to help the laser easily glide over the treatment area. The laser will pulse short bursts of light when it comes in contact with your skin. You may feel a bit of a warming sensation, but the treatment is typically well tolerated. We also provide you with a handpiece that blows cool air for maximum comfort.
What is the recovery process after an IPL Photofacial?
Recovery time varies slightly from patient to patient, and also depends on the skin condition being treated. You can expect anywhere from 3-5 days of swelling and redness. Some patients say their skin feels like they got a minor sunburn. Within one week, you will notice your dark spots getting darker. These spots will become dry and flake off within 1-2 weeks. You'll want to avoid working out for 48 hours after your treatment. SPF 30 or greater should be applied daily to protect and maintain the results of your IPL Photofacial.
When will I see results?
Most patients notice a visible improvement in their skin immediately after the treatment. Your skin will appear smoother and brighter, and you may notice your pores appear smaller. These results will continue to improve as collagen production increases in the weeks following your treatment. Brown spots will become darker as they rise to the surface of the skin. Over the course of the next couple weeks, they will flake off like little coffee grounds. Depending on your goals, a series of 4-6 treatments is recommended for best results.
ResurFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing
What is ResurFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing?
ResurFX is a non-ablative fractional laser that uses heat energy to stimulate the deeper layers of the skin to produce new collagen and elastic fibers. This treatment effectively evens out skin tone and texture, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and smoothes mild acne scarring. This is a quick treatment with minimal downtime and can be used to treat areas of concern on the face, neck and chest.
What skin conditions does ResurFX address?
ResurFX effectively treats common skin concerns including:
What can I expect during my treatment?
A ResurFX treatment typically takes 20-30 minutes. First your skin will be cleansed and a topical numbing treatment will be applied to the area. Once the skin is numb, Sarah will make passes with the laser to stimulate the layers of your skin and induce the process of creating new collagen. The laser may feel warm but our device has a cooling feature to make the treatment as comfortable as possible. This treatment can also be combined with IPL, known as a "Photofractional treatment" for more dramatic and long lasting results.
What is the recovery process after ResurFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing?
Recovery time varies depending on the intensity level of the laser. After the treatment you can expect your skin to be a bit red, swollen, dry and warm to the touch for 3-7 days. A cold compress can be applied to decrease swelling as needed. Excersise and any activities that will heat up the skin (anything that makes you sweat) should be avoided for 3 days after your ResurFX treatment. SPF 30 or greater should be applied daily to protect and maintain your results.
When will I see results?
Most patients notice an improvement in skin tone, clarity and texture 1-2 weeks after their ResurFX treatment. These results will become more noticeable in the following weeks as your skin stimulates deep collagen regeneration. Results will continue to improve for up to 6 months. Depending on your goals, a series of 3-6 session is recommended for optimal results.
Laser Skin Resurfacing FAQ's
Am I a candidate for laser resurfacing?
If you have any issues with acne, age or sun-related problems, including fines lines or wrinkles around your eyes or mouth, you are a good candidate for laser resurfacing. However, anyone with active acne or very dark skin may want to find an alternative solution.
Scars can also be improved with ablative laser resurfacing. If you have post surgical scars from tummy tuck, breast augmentation, or facelift, we can resurface these scars to make them thinner and more smooth.
What results can I expect from laser resurfacing?
Final results can take months, because the treated area needs to heal before you start to notice an improvement in your skin quality and appearance. New cells need to grow into place. The positive effects can last for years. However, keep in mind that your results will be influenced as you continue to age, which includes squinting and smiling, and exposure to the sun.
What can I expect during my recovery from laser resurfacing?
Recovery ointments, cleansers and pain medications will be provided to improve your results and ensure the best recovery. We are available if you have further questions as you recover at home. Feel free to call our nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We make it our goal to make your recovery as comfortable as possible.
Here are some tips to keep in mind during your recovery:
Types of Laser Resurfacing
Lasers are either ablative or non-ablative. Ablative lasers like carbon dioxide (CO2) remove the outside layers of your skin. This is similar to a skin peel, where there is more redness and more recovery. Non-ablative does not remove skin layers but instead uses pulsed light to treat conditions such as acne, spider veins, and rosacea. At Oppenheimer Plastic Surgery, we offer multiple laser methods to target different skin concerns. Sometimes a combination of lasers is recommended, depending on your goals.
- Intense Pulsed Light (IPL): treats acne, sun damage, broken capillaries, dark spots and redness
- ResurFX non-ablative fractional laser: improves skin tone and texture, sun spots, acne scarring and melasma
- Photofractional: combines IPL and ResurFX for a complete skin rejuvenation treatment
- CO2 lasers: mostly ablative lasers for the treatment of scars, skin spots, flaws, and deep wrinkles
IPL Photofacial
What is an IPL Photofacial?
IPL (intense pulsed light) is a broad spectrum light treatment that improves a variety of skin concerns including acne, sun damage, broken capillaries, dark spots and redness. IPL works by delivering light energy in short bursts that directly target the blood vessels or pigment in your skin. This promotes new cell growth and fresh collagen. IPL is a quick and comfortable treatment with minimal downtime. The most common areas we treat are the face, neck, chest and hands.
What skin conditions does an IPL Photofacial address?
IPL effectively treats common skin concerns including:
- Sun damage
- Active acne
- Broken capillaries
- Rosacea
- Redness
- Dark spots/hyperpigmentation
- Uneven skin tone
- Dull complexion
What can I expect during my treatment?
An IPL treatment typically takes 20-30 minutes. First your skin will be cleansed. Next, a cool ultrasound gel is applied as a conductor to help the laser easily glide over the treatment area. The laser will pulse short bursts of light when it comes in contact with your skin. You may feel a bit of a warming sensation, but the treatment is typically well tolerated. We also provide you with a handpiece that blows cool air for maximum comfort.
What is the recovery process after an IPL Photofacial?
Recovery time varies slightly from patient to patient, and also depends on the skin condition being treated. You can expect anywhere from 3-5 days of swelling and redness. Some patients say their skin feels like they got a minor sunburn. Within one week, you will notice your dark spots getting darker. These spots will become dry and flake off within 1-2 weeks. You'll want to avoid working out for 48 hours after your treatment. SPF 30 or greater should be applied daily to protect and maintain the results of your IPL Photofacial.
When will I see results?
Most patients notice a visible improvement in their skin immediately after the treatment. Your skin will appear smoother and brighter, and you may notice your pores appear smaller. These results will continue to improve as collagen production increases in the weeks following your treatment. Brown spots will become darker as they rise to the surface of the skin. Over the course of the next couple weeks, they will flake off like little coffee grounds. Depending on your goals, a series of 4-6 treatments is recommended for best results.
ResurFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing
What is ResurFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing?
ResurFX is a non-ablative fractional laser that uses heat energy to stimulate the deeper layers of the skin to produce new collagen and elastic fibers. This treatment effectively evens out skin tone and texture, improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and smoothes mild acne scarring. This is a quick treatment with minimal downtime and can be used to treat areas of concern on the face, neck and chest.
What skin conditions does ResurFX address?
ResurFX effectively treats common skin concerns including:
- Uneven skin tone
- Rough and uneven skin texture
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Age/sun spots
- Hyperpigmentation
- Dull complexion
What can I expect during my treatment?
A ResurFX treatment typically takes 20-30 minutes. First your skin will be cleansed and a topical numbing treatment will be applied to the area. Once the skin is numb, Sarah will make passes with the laser to stimulate the layers of your skin and induce the process of creating new collagen. The laser may feel warm but our device has a cooling feature to make the treatment as comfortable as possible. This treatment can also be combined with IPL, known as a "Photofractional treatment" for more dramatic and long lasting results.
What is the recovery process after ResurFX Fractional Laser Resurfacing?
Recovery time varies depending on the intensity level of the laser. After the treatment you can expect your skin to be a bit red, swollen, dry and warm to the touch for 3-7 days. A cold compress can be applied to decrease swelling as needed. Excersise and any activities that will heat up the skin (anything that makes you sweat) should be avoided for 3 days after your ResurFX treatment. SPF 30 or greater should be applied daily to protect and maintain your results.
When will I see results?
Most patients notice an improvement in skin tone, clarity and texture 1-2 weeks after their ResurFX treatment. These results will become more noticeable in the following weeks as your skin stimulates deep collagen regeneration. Results will continue to improve for up to 6 months. Depending on your goals, a series of 3-6 session is recommended for optimal results.
Laser Skin Resurfacing FAQ's
Am I a candidate for laser resurfacing?
If you have any issues with acne, age or sun-related problems, including fines lines or wrinkles around your eyes or mouth, you are a good candidate for laser resurfacing. However, anyone with active acne or very dark skin may want to find an alternative solution.
Scars can also be improved with ablative laser resurfacing. If you have post surgical scars from tummy tuck, breast augmentation, or facelift, we can resurface these scars to make them thinner and more smooth.
What results can I expect from laser resurfacing?
Final results can take months, because the treated area needs to heal before you start to notice an improvement in your skin quality and appearance. New cells need to grow into place. The positive effects can last for years. However, keep in mind that your results will be influenced as you continue to age, which includes squinting and smiling, and exposure to the sun.
What can I expect during my recovery from laser resurfacing?
Recovery ointments, cleansers and pain medications will be provided to improve your results and ensure the best recovery. We are available if you have further questions as you recover at home. Feel free to call our nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We make it our goal to make your recovery as comfortable as possible.
Here are some tips to keep in mind during your recovery:
- You may find that your skin might be red or pink for several weeks, maybe even months
- It is normal for your skin to be dry and peel off after a few days
- Downtime depends on which laser is used: non-ablative lasers has little to no downtime while ablative lasers can take up to three weeks
- You will need to modify your exercise activities that can involve infection
- You can expect your treated skin to be red and swollen
- There may be some itchiness for a few days
- You can also use ice packs for pain relief
- After new skin completely covers the treated area (one or two weeks), you may use cosmetics to conceal any redness
- Keep your head elevated when you go to sleep; it will help to ease swelling
- Always wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher when out in direct sunlight