Skin Resurfacing (Laser / Chemical)

The following information has been prepared to familiarize you with a group of surgical procedures known as skin resurfacing, utilizing lasers, chemical peels or dermabrasion techniques. Similarities among these three procedures allow them to be discussed together in this handout. You are requested to read this information thoroughly and to discuss any questions which might arise with your surgeon and the staff before you proceed with any of these procedures. You are also requested to keep this form as a reference for instructions in the post-operative period.

Various methods have been devised over the years to minimize fine facial wrinkles, sun damage, accident or acne scars. A facelift or blepharoplasty alone cannot remove wrinkles and are especially inadequate for the fine wrinkles around the mouth, eyes and forehead. The chemical peel, dermabrasion and laser skin resurfacing procedures were devised to minimize these surface irregularities. The key words here are minimize, as none of these procedures can remove all of the lines, marks or surface discolorations.

All three procedures remove the outer, scarred or sun damaged skin, attempting to leave the patient with a smoother and more youthful appearance. The chemical peel procedure consists of the application of an acid mixture to the skin, which creates a chemical burn. In the dermabrasion procedure, the offensive outer layer is instead removed with a mechanical burr in a “sanding” motion. In the newer methods of laser skin resurfacing, various lasers can be employed to vaporize the outer layer of skin and induce a tightening of the remaining skin. The lasers tend to give the surgeon more precise control of the treatment depth and are the preferred method today in most instances.

The result of the treatment is a general tightening of the skin with obliteration of many of the fine wrinkles and scars while making the deeper wrinkles and scars less noticeable. In patients with excessive wrinkling or scarring, a repeat procedure may be desirable, but complete obliteration of all lines, wrinkles and, in particular, acne marks will not be possible in any patient.

Wrinkles too severe to be treated with the IPL machine are more effectively treated with the Erbium laser. The procedure is a controlled burn to the skin to effectively treat moderate photo damage. The Microlaser Peel removes the most superficial layers of the skin and causes shrinkage of the underlying dermis, thus minimizing visible wrinkles. The treatments are effective and administered with minimal pain and complications.

The healing process varies but will generally take about a week for the coloration to return to normal. Very severe sun damage will require more extensive treatments. Such wrinkling and sun damage will best be treated by one of our doctors under sedation with the higher dose Erbium or CO2 lasers, or with TCA or phenol peels. These deeper treatments may be required to remove the deeper lines, but the more extensive injury to the skin results in a raw surface for up to two weeks after surgery. Such treatments are frequently combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as face or brow lifts or eyelid surgery.

Your surgeon will discuss with you the numerous options regarding treatment of wrinkles and other signs of aging. Generally, your surgeon will recommend the simplest methods that might give you the desired result.