Lasers are medical devices that produce focused, high-energy beams of intense, “colorful” light and heat that have been found – through ongoing research and extensive clinical experience – to selectively interact, in very useful ways, on various tissues within the body. and the skin. Lasers can be used for the successful treatment of many aesthetic and medical conditions.
Lasers can be used to reduce wrinkles around the lips or eyes, even the entire face, smoothing out fine wrinkles and removing certain pigmentation and other colored spots on the face. Skin resurfacing can be combined with surgical rejuvenation procedures such as facelift and eyelid surgery to provide a better overall result. This should be discussed with your facial plastic surgeon, who should be knowledgeable about how to safely deliver laser energy to minimize complications. Lasers used for skin resurfacing include CO2 and Er:YAG lasers. These lasers can also be used to treat acne scars. Technological advances have allowed these lasers to be delivered with fractional technology, allowing only a fraction of the skin surface to be treated at one time, which minimizes downtime and treatment side effects.
Birthmarks known as “Port wine stains” respond remarkably well to laser treatment. The abnormal blood vessels that cause these marks are reduced in size by the laser, which results in a whitening of the treated area. Skin growths, facial “spider veins”, warts, dark spots or “age spots”, hair removal, scars and some tattoos respond to laser surgery. Most situations require more than one laser treatment, but some respond to a single treatment.
There are constant technological advances that lead to new applications of future generations of lasers. Please ask your doctor to discuss the latest advances with you.
Many of these laser surgeries are performed as outpatient treatments in hospitals or offices.
After your surgeon has indicated that a laser may be helpful in surgery, he will explain the laser of your choice and what can be performed. As with all surgery, the laser has its limitations. Often the results are very good. Occasionally, repeated treatments are needed to achieve the best result.
Some surgeons may use local anesthetics on the treated area before surgery. Cooling devices can also be used to improve your comfort level during the procedure. Surgery can sometimes be done in the surgeon’s office; other times, the surgeries are performed in the outpatient clinics of a clinic or hospital. Your surgeon will decide on the appropriate method, dictated by the nature of the surgery.
Because safety is an important component of laser use, your surgeon will describe precautions, including wearing eye protection, before surgery.
After the surgery, you will likely experience some swelling and redness of the skin for several days. Depending on the depth of treatment, there may be open wounds that require regimens.
specifics that the surgeon wants you to follow. Thick layer ointments can be used during the healing process. It is important that the patient follows all post-operative instructions, especially the use of sunscreen, avoiding exposure to the sun.
The full impact of the laser may not be apparent for a month or two, especially with vascular deformities. Additional treatment sessions will not be scheduled until the healing process for a specific treatment is complete.
It is important for the patient to realize that lasers have specific applications. The facial plastic surgeon is experienced in the use of the laser and is the best source of information on whether laser surgery is appropriate for your condition.
Insurance generally does not cover surgeries performed solely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve congenital deformities or to treat multiple precancerous lesions such as actinic keratoses or accidental burns or skin lesions may be reimbursed in whole or in part. It is the patient’s responsibility to check with the insurance carrier for information about the degree of coverage.
Currently, several techniques are available that allow facial plastic surgeons to treat a wide range of skin problems.
