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Laser Resurfacing
To get answers to the most frequent questions about the laser
skin resurfacing cosmetic procedure, please select one of the
links below:
What is laser skin resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing is a technique for smoothing fine lines
and wrinkles of the skin using a laser to remove the top layer(s)
of the skin. So called "blotchy pigmentation" is usually
improved and some scars can also be improved
How do lasers work?
The word "laser" is an acronym representing "light
amplification by stimulated emission of radiation."
Lasers work by bouncing and amplifying light between lenses and
mirrors to produce an intense beam of light that is collimated
(able to travel over long distances with little or no divergence
of the beam), coherent (the light moves in phase in time and space),
and monochromatic (all photons are of the same wavelength). The
material(s) within the laser that are stimulated determines the
wavelength of the light produced.
I've heard a lot of different names for
lasers. What types of lasers are there and what do they do?
The most commonly used lasers in medical use include the carbon-dioxide
(CO2), Erbium:YAG, holmium:YAG, neodymium:YAG, argon
ion, Q switched Nd:YAG and the flashlamp pulsed dye laser. Their
function depends primarily upon what wavelength and energy of
light is produced.
Some lasers are used to resurface the skin while others are used
to treat tattoos, veins, etc.
What lasers are used at Plastic Surgery
of Southern Connecticut for resurfacing?
Currently we utilize the Coherent Ultrafine™ pulsed Erbium
laser and the ESC Medical Derma-K™ lasers for resurfacing.
Both lasers utilize computer-generated patterns to apply laser
light in "pulses" for very accurate and rapid resurfacing.
The combination of both lasers in our practice allows us to treat
a wider variety of resurfacing problems and to select the laser
that is best suited to each patient's unique needs.
We also use the ESC Medical pulsed light source for our PhotoPeel™.
What advantages does the Erbium
laser have?
The Erbium laser is the most gentle laser currently available
for skin resurfacing. It is probably the most popular resurfacing
type of laser used today. It allows for a very rapid healing time
(about seven days) and shorter period of redness compared with
the carbon-dioxide laser. While fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture,
blotchy pigmentary irregularities and acne scarring can be improved,
minimal if any skin tightening occurs.
Dr. O'Connell has recently published a scientific article on
his technique of lower eyelid rejuvenation utilizing the Erbium
laser.
- View photos of Erbium
laser surgery - Patient #1
What advantages does the Derma-K™
laser have?
This is the only laser that combines delivery of both the carbon-dioxide
and Erbium beams. in doing so it delivers the carbon-dioxide component
in a non-ablative mode. It combines the advantages of Erbium resurfacing
with rapid healing time and short duration of redness with the
main advantage of carbon dioxide -- skin shrinkage in addition
to wrinkle removal, without the longer healing time and prolonged
redness of pure carbon-dioxide resurfacing.
Dr. O'Connell feels that one of the most beneficial applications
of the Derma-K™ is in the rejuvenation of the lower eyelid
and crows-feet areas. By providing safe skin shrinkage in addition
to wrinkle removal, the Derma-K™ allows more patients to
be treated with the transconjunctival (scarless) approach to blepharoplasty.
Adequate skin tightening can be achieved without undue risk of
bowing the lower lid or changing the shape of the canthus (corner
of the eye). In addition, the crows-foot area can be treated achieving
a true rejuvenation of the entire periorbital (around the eye)
area.
- View photos of Derma-K™
laser surgery - Patient #2
Am I a candidate for laser resurfacing?
Patients with irregularities of the skin, whether due to wrinkles,
lines, scars or blotchy pigmentation, may be good candidates for
resurfacing. Dr. O'Connell believes that resurfacing with the
Erbium laser is a particularly good choice for
younger patients with sun-damaged skin and that the Derma-K™
is more beneficial for older patients who also have loose skin.
Is laser resurfacing a substitute for
a facelift or for surgery on baggy eyelids?
No. Lasers do not achieve the tightening and repositioning of
facial structures that a rhytidectomy
(facelift) can provide. Laser resurfacing also does not remove
the "bag" from the lower eyelid. A good analogy would
be to think of facelifting and eyelid
surgery as building a road and resurfacing as covering the
road with a smoother surface after it has been built.
By offering surgical techniques such as face, brow, and eyelid
lifting in combination with laser resurfacing, Dr. O'Connell is
able to provide a more complete rejuvenation of the face than
with either technique alone.
What are some alternatives to laser
treatment and do they work?
Chemical peels, dermabrasion and the various "microdermabrasion"
particle resurfacers (e.g. the Parisian Peel™ and Power
Peel™) all remove the top layer(s) of the skin similar to
laser treatment.
In Dr. O'Connell's opinion, the laser is the most effective technique
available for skin resurfacing. Because the strength and timing
of the laser light can be precisely controlled, the depth of the
laser resurfacing is more predictable in comparison to chemical
peels or dermabrasion.
For patients with facial redness (Rosacea, etc.) Dr. O'Connell
believes that his PhotoPeel™ is one of the most effective
and safe treatments available.
What are chemical peels?
Chemical peels with various agents including
"fruit acids" (glycolic and lactic acids), trichloroacetic
acid (TCA), phenol and other chemicals have been used for many
years to help smooth the outer layers of the skin.
While laser resurfacing has replaced the more aggressive TCA
and phenol based peels in our practice, Dr. O'Connell believes
that gentle chemical peels (fruit acid based peels) have an important
role in facial rejuvenation, and they have been offered at Plastic
Surgery of Southern Connecticut since 1993.
We offer both lactic and glycolic acid based peels, and most
patients return to work or social activities within 24 hours.
While the appearance of the skin can be significantly improved,
these peels cannot provide the results achieved with laser resurfacing.
What about "laser facials"
or "laser peels"?
Light resurfacing, also known as a "laser facial,"
"laser peel," or "lunchtime laser peel," can
be useful for patients with mild, early age or sun-related skin
damage (lines, blotchy pigmentation, keratotic changes, skin and
pore coarseness).
The best candidates for this are younger and have mild facial
lines -- wrinkles are unlikely to be significantly improved. This
provides the same type of correction that light chemical peels
and microdermabrasion can achieve, although Dr. O'Connell believes
it can be more predictable because of the precision with the laser.
What about home skin care?
At-home skin care is also an important component of the rejuvenative
process and for long-term maintenance as well. Plastic Surgery
of Southern Connecticut is committed to offereing the highest
quality skin care products to our patients to enhance and refine
our surgical results. We have offered the Cellex-C™ and
Therapon™ lines since 1993 and we also offer Kinerase and
MD Forte products as well.
In most cases, we utilize a two-week home skin care preparation
program to optimize our results with full face laser resurfacing.
What is dermabrasion?
Mechanically sanding down the skin is known as dermabrasion
and this is usually performed with an abrasive wheel type device.
So called "particle beam" resurfacers also use this
principle but use a circulating stream of sand-like particles
to abrade the skin.
Are lasers safe?
While lasers are for the most part quite safe, as with any medical
procedure (including chemical peels and dermabrasion) there are
risks, benefits and potential complications. Scarring, pain, lack
of result, infection, pigmentary changes, delayed healing and
other risks are uncommon but possible. A thorough consideration
of all risks and potential complications are an essential part
of the preoperative consultative process.
To contact Connecticut plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph B. O'Connell
about laser resurfacing or any of our cosmetic surgery procedures,
please fill out our contact form or
call us at (203) 454-0044. About Us | Cosmetic
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Plastic Surgery of Southern Connecticut
208 Post Road West • Westport, CT 06680
Phone: 203-454-0044 • Email: jbomd@aol.com
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