The benefits of the laser resurfacing procedure are usually greater than those of other skin rejuvenation treatments. It is frequently the best procedure to give an overall improvement of skin which has been chronically photo-damaged. Scarring which occurs as a result of severe acne is a cosmetic disfigurement which can give rise to psychological issues for the sufferer. Many of these scars can be effectively treated using laser scar resurfacing.

The resurfacing procedure utilises a beam of light from a carbon dioxide laser. The intention is to vaporize the layers of scarred and damaged skin at specific and controllable levels of penetration. A major benefit of laser resurfacing is the fact that it causes less bruising, bleeding, and also less post-operative discomfort than is the case with other methods of skin resurfacing.

Prior to having laser resurfacing treatment, you should consult your doctor for an assessment. This will determine if the treatment is suitable for you, and will include assessment of the areas of scarring. Your skin type will affect your suitability, e.g. dark skin is more often affected by pigmentation problems after the procedure. Full-face resurfacing will probably give excellent improvements in older skin which has been sun-damaged and in which seborrheic keratosis, lentigines and telangiectasias are more prevalent. CO2 lasers usually give good improvements in appearance whatever the scar type. For saucer-shaped distensible areas, it is usually the best option, however dermabrasion is usually the best treatment for pitted scars. Atrophic scars, hypertrophic scars and traumatic scars also respond well to laser resurfacing. Laser resurfacing may also help to blend in the scar with the skin.

Undergoing laser resurfacing with a properly qualified and experienced surgeon will reduce the likelihood of having complications. However, it must be said that the results of the surgery are not completely guaranteed. Some risks associated with the surgery are: burns caused by the heat generated by the laser, scarring, and excessive darkening or lightening of the treated areas of skin. Healing may also appear abnormal or can be slow. These risks can be greatly reduced by choosing a surgeon who specializes in laser surgery.

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To determine a patient’s suitability for the treatment, the doctor needs to take into consideration the type of skin, medical history and colouring of the patient-to-be. The procedure is usually carried out in the doctor’s surgery, although it might also be performed at the hospital or at an outpatient surgical centre, depending on your doctor’s preferences in addition to your own. The procedure may be performed in combination with other resurfacing treatments, e.g. microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing and chemical peels.

photo credit: Norrel Blair

The actual acne dermabrasion procedure is usually performed using a hand-held electronic instrument (about the size of a pencil) which has a rotating sanding tool which contains diamond particles or a wire brush. Some surgeons will give sedation before whole-face dermabrasions while others may use local anaesthesia if the area to be treated is limited , e.g. a single scar. After the treatment , the treated area may be covered with a wet or waxy covering, an ointment, and/or a dry covering.

Not all individuals will have the same outcomes after treatments. Patients who have lighter skin tones usually have the best results from this type of treatment than patients who have darker skin. For example, those patients who have dark skin tones may find that their skin becomes permanently blotchy or discoloured following their dermabrasions.

If you are thinking about having this type of procedure, you should bear in mind that you will probably not be able to see the true results of the procedure until at least several weeks after surgery. Following the procedures the patient’s skin is likely to be red, and swelling of the skin is common. Patients may also have difficulty when trying to talk or eat. Any pain experienced after the process should treatable with pain-relieving medicines and any swelling is likely to begin to reduce starting from several days to a week after.

After this type of process, the most important thing to do is protect the treated skin areas from exposure to sun until the skin’s pigment has returned to normal. This might take as much as a year after the treatments have been carried out.

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Laser resurfacing involves burning the outer layers of skin to a certain depth. Laser resurfacing also helps to regain the elastic nature of the skin by means of reducing the length of the collagen fibres that are in the layers of skin, reducing or eliminating the visual apperances of scars. This form of treatment attempts to change the scar tissues and cut down the redness around healed lesions.

photo credit: Sarah G…

The different energy levels and tissue-penetrating powers of various lasers may be used to treat scars. For example, the deep penetration power of a YAG laser can be used to treat irregular scarring, whereas the infrared beam of a carbon dioxide laser can be used to increase tightness of collagen fibres in the skin and raise sunken scars.

Depth of penetration into the skin is more easily controlled with lasers than with other methods including dermabrasion. After the procedure, the skin can be pink and exhibit swelling for a week or more. A new type of non-ablative acne laser treatment created within the last few years works underneath the surface of the skin, using short pulses of light to treat scars, and also treat redness and capillary dilation commonly found with rosacea.

However, it should be noted that because individuals vary greatly in their physical makeup, their body’s reactions and also in healing abilities, the outcome of these type of treatments is never guaranteed. Overall, acne laser therapy is rapidly becoming a widespread form of treatment for patients who are seeking acne scar removal in a non-traditional and more efficient manner. One word of caution though, as these type of treatments are relatively new, they are not highly regulated. You would be wise to ensure that you’re going to undergo laser surgery under a trained and experienced doctor.

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