Synonyms:
Laser Resurfacing
Laser Facelift
Aging, trauma and environmental damage result in loss of collagen in the dermis or 2nd layer of skin. Smoking, smiling, frowning and sleeping can also produce expression and movement lines.
Over time, the outer layer of the skin becomes scaly, thick and irregular. Your skin develops blemishes and appears dull and sallow. An erbium laser peel can refreshen this superficial appearance of your skin on your face, neck and hands.
Women/men 18 years of age and older who would like to refreshen and rejuvenate the appearance of their skin.
Only those with extremely sensitive skin or depigmenting skin disorders. Darker skin can undergo an erbium peel.
The erbium laser is used to vaporize and exfoliate the outer surface (epidermis) layer of your skin on your face, neck or hands. This is a simple outpatient procedure performed using only topical freezing cream (EMLA).
Initial redness is kept moist with vaseline for 2 days. There is no crusting or weeping. You may apply camouflage make-up by the 3rd day. The redness will fade gradually by the 5th day and will be largely gone by the end of the first week. Moisturizing cream will be required for 10 days.
The appearance of the skin on your face, neck or hands will appear refreshed, youthful, smoother and luminescent. Blemishes will be greatly diminished and the skin will feel softer. These results will last 3-4 months, much longer than any glycolic acid peel.
"My skin feels great and I love it! I should've done this sooner." - AP, Chicago
"It's amazing what technology today can do." - PH, Lake Forest
A special handpiece removes layers of skin to reshape surface contours around wrinkles, acne, chicken pox scarring and moles. A precise vaporization of the skin is achieved while the laser energy is delivered in a controlled pulse. Procedures can be performed painlessly under EMLA cream and local freezing with a sedation anesthetic.
Superficial wrinkles or scars may require only one treatment. Resurfacing produces a new and smoother skin, however, repeat treatments may be required for particularly deep defects.
Immediately after treatment, the skin will appear raw and feel tight and itchy. The treatment area will look pink or light brown for 4 to 6 weeks (less with Erbium laser treatment), typically 2 weeks. Camouflage makeup can be applied as early as 10 days after treatment.
The risk of scarring is less than 1% with these lasers. Pigmentation changes (either decreased or increased) may occur in the skin that has been smoothened with the laser. SpaMedica's erbium laser may decrease that risk.
Yes, (e.g. topical medications and chemical peels) but none can achieve the predictable depth required for effective wrinkle reduction.
Charges are based on the area to be treated and the choice of laser. Prices range from $200-$4,000 depending upon the size of the area being treated and the depth of the wrinkles.
Aging, gravity, pollution, sun exposure, smoking and facial muscle animation can all contribute to the formation f facial wrinkles. Laser resurfacing can vaporize wrinkles and improve the appearance of the skin.
Women/men any age with coarse or fine wrinkles on their face.
Herpes simplex sufferers may not be candidates.
You should check with a patient consultant, but generally people with uncontrolled heart lung diseases and those with organ abnormalities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, angina
or asthma should be stabilized.
Recent traumatic stresses such as divorce, death in the family, job losses or depression may mean having your procedure at a later date
The focused energy from a carbon dioxide laser (feather touch) or Erbium Laser is used to vaporize wrinkles away by passing the laser (like a wand) over your wrinkles.
Local freezing anaesthetic and deep sedation to remove awareness and memory.
An anaesthetist is always present.
Careful cleansing of your skin is required for 10 days following your procedure. By 10 days the skin is usually healed over and the "pinkness" can be hidden with make-up. The pinkness lasts from 3 weeks to 5 months depending upon the laser and depth of treatment and is camoflauged with make-up. There is some burning, discomfort and discharge for the first 5-7 days. Laser resurfacing is often combined at the sametime as other procedures such as facelifts, eyelid tucks, browlifts or ultrasonic liposuction. At 10 days you will see our clinic aesthetician who will show you how to apply cover-up make-up.
Up to 70% of the fine wrinkles can be vaporized with one treatment.
Most common areas are:
Most patients are very happy with their more youthful, less tired, rejuvenated appearance and skin.
At the time of your second consultation, Dr. Mulholland will review with you computer images on the type of wrinkle improvement you might expect to achieve.
You will be able to talk with some to our many happy patients who have been delighted with the laser wrinkle treatment.
"Most of my wrinkles are gone... my skin is healthy and alive... I look 20 years younger."
- C.P., Hamilton
Costs will vary with patients goals and anatomic areas to be treated but range
(for full face laser resurfacing) from $6,000 - $8,000 and include the surgeons
fees, nursing, medications, equipment, facility, taxes and anesthetist
fees.
When I first published The 7 Critical Questions to Ask Before Letting Any Surgeon Touch You, I had no idea that it would be so popularly received. Since its publication, this brief guide has helped thousands like you to more safely navigate the world of cosmetic surgery. The 7 Questions have been updated and a bonus section, Applying the 7 Questions, has just been added. Be my guest to read, learn and share.
