One of the most significant changes in cosmetic work in the last decade has been the increasing trend to enhance facial clarity without traditional plastic surgery. While some people still opt for plastic surgery for a wide variety of things such as chin, cheek and nose reconstruction and facelifts, when it comes to signs of aging, more people today are looking for alternatives to traditional surgery. There are a wide variety of options for people who want to reduce the signs of aging on their face and neck areas with one of the more popular trends being facial laser resurfacing in AZ.
1. What is Laser Resurfacing?
Laser Resurfacing using short light pulsations directed at specific areas of the skin to remove blemishes. Because a laser tool is used, the surgeon can work very precisely on specific areas to remove damaged or unwanted skin.
By contrast to traditional surgeries, facial laser resurfacing does not require surgery or anesthesia unless the entire face is being done simultaneously. If a patient chooses to have their full face done, they may get general anesthesia. For people who decide to get laser resurfacing for specific areas, the doctor will numb the areas to be treated, and the patient stays awake during the procedure. The laser works at removing the top layer of skin (epidermis) and then sends heat to the subsurface layer of skin, which aids in regeneration and healthy growth.
The best candidates for laser resurfacing are people that are looking for:
• Reducing the Appearance of Fine Lines or Wrinkles around the Eyes, Forehead or Mouth
• Removal of Facial Scars from Acne, Chicken Pox or other Small Scars
• Reduction of Brown Liver Spots
• Improvement of Aging or Sun Damaged Skin
• Removal of Birthmarks
2. What to Expect from the Laser Resurfacing Procedure?
When laser resurfacing is done on sections of the face, the procedure generally takes between 30 and 45 minutes. For entire face treatments, the process typically takes two hours. Bandages will stay on the treated area for the first 24 hours. After this time, the patient is recommended to clean the treated area four to five times a day.
Patients who are on blood thinners or clot altering medicines should consult with their doctor before having this procedure done. Our plastic surgeon in AZ will likely ask them to stop taking these medications 8-10 days before the procedure. Patients are usually given an antibiotic or antiviral medicine after the procedure to help in the healing process and protect against infections.
