Face
Signs of skin aging include dullness, rough texture, blotchy pigmentation, sunspots, wrinkles and fine lines. Best correction usually requires ablative skin resurfacing techniques: chemical peels, dermabrasion, or laser resurfacing. While yielding excellent results, these techniques require deep sedation or general anesthesia and are associated with discomfort, risk of scarring, skin pigmentary changes and significant downtime. This may also be followed by weeks to months of erythema (skin redness).
Now available is a new option: Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing. This resurfacing is accomplished using an Erbium laser to create tiny ablative zones wherein the epidermis and upper dermis are destroyed or ablated. The surrounding areas of intact skin cells repopulate the ablated zones within 24 hours. Becuase of this reservoir of intact skin, delicate skin areas such as the neck, chest, hands and arms can be resurfaced—areas which were always “off limits” to prior ablative techniques. Healing is rapid, and as it triggers production of new collagen, it is an excellent treatment for acne scarring.
This procedure takes about 20–30 minutes. The Zimmer Cooler is used making resurfacing virtually painless. Following treatment, a tolerable, tingling, sunburn-like sensation is noticed for 2–3 hours. This is easily managed with Ibuprofen or a steroid cream. Slight swelling (generally perceived only by the patient) may occur for a day or two. The skin may appear “tanned,” and as new skin replaces dead tissue, mild flaking (not peeling) will occur. Skin looks better almost immediately and steadily improves over the next few months. Generally three to five sessions spaced two to three weeks apart yield the best results.
Providing the effective results of ablative resurfacing without its prolonged healing period, this procedure combines the best of both worlds.
For more information log onto www.almalaser.com
To make an appointment, please call 717-560-4460.