Laser Resurfacing: Who is a Good Candidate?

 

Fillers and other injectables (like BOTOX^®) make folds and some wrinkles less noticeable, but what can you do if it’s the overall tone and feel of your skin that you’re not happy with? Age spots, sun damage, or dull skin can make you look much older than you really are. There’s little sense in getting improved facial contours with cosmetic procedures if your skin’s surface is still weathered and etched. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, the most effective way of making your skin smoother, more “even,” and, less wrinkled is by using a laser type of controlled injury to “jump start” the healing process. When it comes to fine lines and wrinkles that can’t be significantly reduced by other methods, blotchy patches of skin, sun damage, scars, and acne scars, laser resurfacing is what Denver’s AboutSkin Dermatology recommends. Unsure as to whether this method is right for you? Laser resurfacing can be beneficial for many people, but there are some factors that might make it less effective or more of a risk (such as smokers or those who get unprotected sun exposure). A board-certified dermatologist can evaluate your skin and help you make a decision, but the following are some of the qualities that would make a person more of an ideal candidate for a laser procedure:

You Have Fine Lines and Shallow Wrinkles

Sun damage, repetitive facial expressions, smoking, pollution, and natural aging are some of the contributors to the small wrinkles that appear when collagen and hyaluronic levels have dropped in the skin or the fibers have become damaged. Laser skin resurfacing treatments work well for etched wrinkles around the eyes and mouth.. You can use lasers in combination with other treatments—such as fillers for volume replacement in folds and BOTOX^® to minimize repeat muscle contractions from imprinting lines. .

You Have a Lighter Skin Tone

Although there are lasers that can be effective on all skin tones, certain types of ablative skin resurfacing lasers—such as some fractionated treatments and CO2 lasers are best used on more fair-complected patients. Fractional erbium is often best for darker skin types.  

Your Skin is Firm and Elastic

Our skin doesn’t only become wrinkled as we age, but can also sometimes develop a more deflated appearance. This happens when the fat pads and bone density of the face become thinner, while the skin itself becomes papery as it no longer contains as much collagen to keep it thick and supported. People who used to have firm facial contours when they were younger may have more loose skin around the lower face later in life. Laser resurfacing might be able to tighten up lax skin to some extent, but it isn’t meant to improve significant sagging or excess skin, such as jowls. For this type of sagging, patient often receive fractional radiofrequency (like GeniusRF) or contouring procedures like Evoke or Ultherapy.

Taking Time Off to Recover Won’t Be an Issue

Another thing to consider when you’re planning a laser resurfacing treatment is how long the recovery time will be. Some laser treatments require minimal downtime (like Thulium and 1540, after which you’re pink for a few days), while fractional CO2 or fractional erbium usually takes about a week to heal. Finally, full-field erbium takes 10 to 14 days to heal—but then patients are often red to pink for six to 10 weeks. No surgery is involved, but ablative lasers that remove the outer layer of skin require at least two weeks for the patient to completely heal.

You Don’t Have Active Acne

Many adult patients continue to experience symptoms of acne, whether due to hormonal changes, stress, or other causes. In many cases, acne breakouts leave scars. Laser skin treatments (Halo, 1540, CO2RE, ProFractional) effectively minimize acne scars, and some studies suggest that laser and light-based treatments (TheraClear, Red Light PDT) can even prevent symptoms from occurring. Even if you can’t completely get rid of them, laser treatments can sometimes fade scars significantly by breaking up scar tissue on the surface and stimulating collagen generation along with skin cell turnover to smooth the skin.

Want healthier, more radiant skin? Find out more about the benefits of laser resurfacing from Denver’s AboutSkin Dermatology, or look up information about other minimally invasive cosmetic treatments on their website. Call (303) 756-SKIN (7546) or fill out a contact form to request a consultation.