Home
> Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery
Procedures > Laser Resurfacing
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, including acne 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 determine 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 the 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 Lumenis Derma-K™ lasers for resurfacing.
The laser utilizes computer-generated patterns to apply laser
light in "pulses" for very accurate and rapid resurfacing.
We use the Vasculight pulsed light source for photorejuvenation.
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 as well as the upper lip and perioral region.
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 #1
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.
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
machines 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 photorejuvenation 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 and tea based peels) have an important
role in facial rejuvenation.
While the appearance of the skin can be significantly improved,
most peels cannot provide the results achieved with laser resurfacing. We offer the Obagi blue peel on conjunction with the Obagi skin care syetem.
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.
What about skin care?
Medical 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 evaluating the latest and offering the highest
quality skin care products to our patients to enhance and refine
our surgical results.
We design a custom program for each patient and we combine photorejuvenation with intense pulsed light and microdermabrasion to optimize correction.
What is dermabrasion?
Mechanically sanding down the skin is known as "dermabrasion"
and this is usually performed with an abrasive wheel type device.
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, alternative and potential complications
is an essential part of the preoperative consultative process
To contact Connecticut plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph B. O'Connell
about laser resurfacing, chemical peels, dermabrasion, or any
of our cosmetic surgery procedures, please fill out our contact
form or call us at (203) 454-0044. About Us | Cosmetic
& Plastic Surgery Procedures | Photo
Gallery | Our Office
Office Location | In
the Media | Plastic Surgery Links
| Site Map | Contact
Us | Home
Plastic Surgery of Southern Connecticut
208 Post Road West • Westport, CT 06680
Phone: 203-454-0044 • Email: jbomd@aol.com
|
