Laser skin rejuvenation options help revitalize facial skin using a laser to treat minor flaws and stimulate the skin to repair itself. Laser treatment can be used to safely remove wrinkles on the face, including those around the mouth and eyes.
Laser treatments can dramatically improve pigmentation, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin tone. The primary purpose of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is in significantly rejuvenating sun-damaged skin. However, it may also treat pre-cancerous skin lesions while rejuvenating the skin.
At Dr. Greco’s practice in Philadelphia, we offer patients in-office laser treatment options.
At Greco MD, we offer both ablative and non-ablative laser rejuvenation procedures.
During laser skin resurfacing, the laser is used to injure the skin in a controlled manner. It triggers new collagen formation and removes pigmentation. The new skin has a tighter, brighter, and younger-looking appearance.
Of all laser treatment options, CO2 laser skin resurfacing provides the greatest improvement to the skin. This ablative procedure removes the damaged top and middle layers of the skin, encouraging the formation of new collagen.
Hyperpigmentation may occur post-procedure, however, the use of a bleaching cream provided prior to the procedure will reduce the likelihood of occurrence. After the final stages of healing, the skin may appear lighter in shade. Infection and scarring are rare and managed in-office with routine follow-up appointments.
The fractional CO2 laser uses carbon dioxide energy in a specific dot pattern, leaving skin intact between focused energy spots. The energy penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin, providing noticeable results with half the downtime as full-strength CO2 laser resurfacing.
The fractional CO2 laser penetrates into the deep layers of the skin, giving a boost to the body’s natural healing and collagen-producing process. With each pass, the laser treats microscopic areas of skin, while adjacent areas are left untouched.
The preciseness and quick recovery times after fractional CO2 laser procedures mean it generates safe and effective skin resurfacing results. This treatment leaves the skin looking visibly younger, smoother, and firmer. Several treatment sessions may be required to achieve the best results.
Fractional CO2 laser treatment has shown great results in the treatment of:
- Fine lines
- Loose skin on the face
- Wrinkles
- Sun spots and sun damage
- Age spots
- Pigmentation issues
- Surgical scars
- Laser eyelid lift
The fractional CO2 laser treatment (of the full face) takes 60 to 90 minutes and can be performed on the face, neck, décolleté, and hands. The recovery period is significantly less than standard CO2 laser resurfacing.
Broken blood vessels and broken capillaries that show through facial skin can be treated using a vascular laser like a pulsed dye laser. The advantage of the pulsed dye laser is that it doesn’t require any pain management and has minimal recovery.
Pulsed dye lasers, which are non-ablative, use yellow light to gently heat up the skin and destroy blood vessels, leaving any surrounding skin untouched. One of the preferred Pulsed Dye Laser machines is the Vbeam® Perfecta from Syneron Candela. It is used to treat:
- Broken capillaries on the face
- Small spider veins on the legs
- Rosacea
- Ruddy discoloration on the chest
- Wrinkles around the eyes
- Bruising
- Surgical scars
- Pigmented lesions (brown spots)
- Poikiloderma Civatte (redness usually occurring on neck and chest)
The Vbeam® laser targets the hemoglobin (red blood cells) in the tiny blood vessels in the skin.
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments are performed with a broad spectrum intense light rather than laser energy. The light targets any affected skin cells to reduce the appearance of discoloration associated with aging and sun-damaged skin.
IPL sessions treat discoloration and achieve photo-rejuvenation to improve the complexion, giving the skin a refreshed look. It visibly improves the tone and texture of sun-damaged skin seen on the face, neck, chest, arms, and hands.
Each IPL session generally lasts about 15 minutes, and most patients see results within 3-5 sessions, performed 4 weeks apart.
The recovery period will depend on the type of laser treatment performed. For instance, with the fractional CO2 laser, there will be initial crusting, redness, and swelling of the skin. This subsides within 5-7 days, and new pink skin is revealed.
This pinkness will gradually fade over the next several weeks but can last two to three months. Sunscreen is very important during this phase of healing.
Make-up can usually be applied between 10 to 14 days after your procedure. Our aesthetic skin care staff can help with your makeup needs, as well as design a skin care program to maintain your new youthful skin.
Laser skin rejuvenation treatment offers a variety of benefits.
The best laser for you depends on your specific concerns and the condition of your skin. We recommend ablative treatments, which remove a layer of skin, for patients with more severe sun-damaged skin. On the other hand, non-ablative treatments are gentler, provide more subtle, gradual results, and require less recovery time. They will, however, require several treatments for best results.
Some laser treatments, such as ablative and fractional CO2, revitalize the skin from the inside out by kickstarting the production of new skin cells and collagen to repair and remodel its structure. They do this by using different forms of energy to cause a controlled injury to the skin, thus triggering the skin’s natural healing processes.
Since laser treatments can trigger the generation of new, healthy skin by sloughing away damaged outer layers, they are an effective way to reduce the visibility of deep or raised scars. Whether the scars on your face are caused by injury, surgery, or acne, laser treatments can help.
With laser treatment, the new skin that forms in the place of the scar will feel smoother and appear more even. The treatment may also make scars less painful or itchy and can reduce the remaining thickness and redness that is associated with scarring.
Some lasers are designed to treat redness or red blotches on the face. Conditions caused by vascular lesions, such as rosacea, spider veins, cherry angiomas, and bruises, can benefit greatly from laser treatments, such as the Vbeam pulsed dye laser.
Laser skin rejuvenation helps to reverse the effects of aging by improving skin laxity. The heat energy generated during treatment causes existing collagen to coagulate and contract. It also prompts the creation of new collagen, which provides improved structure and skin tone.
Dr. Timothy Greco is Philadelphia’s leading facial plastic surgeon, skilled at all types of facial treatments and procedures that help counter the effects of aging and reduce facial scarring. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery (ABOto).
Dr. Greco focuses solely on plastic and reconstructive surgery of the face, head, and neck at his in-office, state-certified aesthetic surgical center. If you're looking for a younger, fresher appearance customized to treat your concerns, Dr. Greco can help!
Get in touch today to schedule a consultation with Philadelphia’s leading facial plastic surgeon. For appointments, call (610) 664-8830 or check the doctor’s schedule online.