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Laser Skin Resurfacing: Making Your Skin Look New Again

The Coherent Ultrapulse Laser

Patients are seeing their scars and wrinkles dramatically improved with the use of the CO2 Ultrapulse laser. Well controlled by the surgeon, this laser is used in a most precise way to resurface the skin making it clear and smooth. The laser can be used in special sensitive areas around the eyes and the mouth with fewer side effects and greater safety than deep phenol chemical peels or dermabrasion. Scarring and change of coloring of the skin are always a risk in any skin resurfacing procedure, even laser, if the utmost care is not used. Sometimes the innate ability of the skin to heal is an unpredictable factor in the final results.

Laser Resurfacing

Easing Of Wrinkles - Rejuvenation Of The Face

Time is marked by sagging skin, wrinkles, and age spots. The deep furrows of the skin are emphasized when laughing or frowning. Certainly, stress can add to the lines in the face as can smoking and sun damage.

Wrinkles can be treated with chemical peels, collagen, and dermabrasion, and for skin that has lost its elasticity, a facelift may be necessary to obtain a more youthful appearance. While liposuction of the face can greatly improve the thick neck and hanging jowls, it will not pull back loose, inelastic skin. Creams (including the “in vogue” potions) have produced disappointing results despite their enticing claims of success. While the alpha-hydroxy acids and glycolic acids can greatly improve the overall texture of the skin and the appearance of fine lines when used in combination with Retin-A, these cosmepharmaceuticals do not consistently remove wrinkles.

At Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, we are leading the way with using the CO2 Ultrapulse laser for skin resurfacing. We use this laser to resurface the skin by removing the dead layers of aged or damaged skin while leaving the deeper layers undisturbed. More predictable results with less chance of scarring and changes in color pigment are possible. Even the wrinkles around the mouth and eyes can be effectively treated. While the fine, superficial wrinkles are effectively resolved, the deep furrows and creases will remain and can be treated by other methods such as fat transfer, collagen, Gortex, or facelift.

While dermabrasion and deep chemical peels are an option for carefully selected patients, the side effects may include loss of pigment - a change in coloration. For women who wear makeup this may not present a problem and to rid themselves of the wrinkling, they may feel the trade-off is worth it. For men, however, this effect could spell disaster.

This important breakthrough in CO2 laser technology can now provide more predictable and safer wrinkle and scar erasing. Laser resurfacing is an appropriate treatment for men, as well as women, and has not been frequently associated with scarring, loss of pigment, or problems with excessive pigmentation changes. One consistent effect with the use of the laser (as well as with deep peels and dermabrasion) is persistent pinkness of the skin, which does fade with time (one to six months). Scarring is certainly a possibility with any laser treatment.

Hundreds of patients at DAA have been treated with this laser for improvement of scars and the removal of fine lines and wrinkles. Recently, this Ultrapulse laser has been shown to stimulate new and more youthful collagen fibers to return to the treated sites where the sun damaged skin is removed along with age spots, facial growths, and wrinkles.

Before Laser Resurfacing, What Should You Do?

1. All patients are asked to reduce intake of hormones to the lowest possible levels.
2. For several weeks prior to the procedure, the skin should be primed with glycolic acid creams, bleaching agents, and Retin-A. The purpose of these agents is to speed the healing process: Retin-A and glycolic acid stimulate the skin renewal processes well before laser treatment begins. In addition, the bleaching agents inhibit the production of melanin, which is one of the products of the excessive pigment produced by the body after any injury to the skin.