You may take a pain reliever and use ice packs. New skin usually covers the area in 7 to 10 days. Full recovery takes at least a month. During this time, don't use products that may irritate your face, such as cosmetics.
In general, the areas heal in five to 21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated and type of laser used. Once the areas have healed, makeup may be worn to camouflage the pink to red color that is generally seen after laser skin resurfacing.
The recovery time is up to 3 to 5 days for the non-ablative lasers, and 1 to 2 weeks for the ablative lasers. You should avoid sun exposure, or use a good sunscreen, for several weeks afterwards to minimize the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Depending on the laser used and the depth of treatment, recovery time varies from 24 hours to 2 weeks. You may want to schedule some additional social downtime as you heal. Makeup can be worn once peeling is complete, typically about 5 to 7 days after treatment.
Keep hydrating your skin with a good moisturiser and protect it from the sun. And, if your cosmetic physician or dermal clinician has given you specific aftercare products or instructions, now's not the time to slack off.
Laser resurfacing can lead to a bacterial, viral or fungal infection. The most common infection is a flare-up of the herpes virus — the virus that causes cold sores. Changes in skin color. Laser resurfacing can cause treated skin to become darker or lighter than it was before treatment.
You can expect that the treated area will peel. After that, the new, rejuvenated skin will be pink, but it will gradually lighten over two to three months. It may take up to a year for the pinkness to go away. It is very important to protect your skin during this time of healing.
Individuals up to their 50s benefit greatly from laser fractional resurfacing treatments. Skin concerns like sun damage and deeper wrinkles are common in this age group.
Laser resurfacing helps reduce the appearance of acne scars; however, it is not for clients who still have active acne. Patients who have very dark skin, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or take specific medications like Accutane may not be viable candidates for laser resurfacing.
In general, most patients describe the feeling as mild to moderate discomfort rather than outright pain. You often compare it to the sensation of a rubber band snapping against your skin or a mild sunburn.
Drugstore brands such as CeraVe, Cetaphil, Eucerin, and Neutrogena make gentle, hydrating moisturizers that can be used after laser treatments.
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, high-sodium foods, high sugar foods, Niacin supplements, refined carbohydrates, and spicy foods for 48 hours after treatment.
Even if you don't see immediate improvement, your initial results will continue to improve throughout the year. On average, most patients get to enjoy silky-smooth skin that lasts for anywhere between three and five years after undergoing laser therapy.
Determining the Laser Skin Resurfacing Cost
A single treatment session usually costs between $500 and $3,000. But it's important to keep in mind that you might need more than one lesson to get the results you want.
Disadvantages of CO2 Resurfacing
Like dermabrasion, this type of laser resurfacing requires a good deal of recovery time. The patient's skin will be weepy for two weeks and will require thorough cleaning four to five times daily, along with application of ointment to keep the skin from scabbing.
A typical result is an 8-10 year reduction in age appearance when laser treatment on the face is done on a highly effective setting so that a 55 year old may look 46 after treatment and healing is complete. Milder treatments can be done, but are not as effective.
Laser skin resurfacing prices will be based on the expertise and qualifications of the person performing the procedure, the type of procedure used, the time and effort the treatment requires, as well as geographic office location.
MicroLaserPeel is different and much more effective at rejuvenating the skin than microdermabrasion or chemical peels. It is also less invasive than Laser Skin Resurfacing, so the recovery time is significantly less.
Yes, laser resurfacing is considered worth it by many patients due to its ability to deliver significant skin improvements with minimal downtime and cost compared to surgical options.
If you're in your 50s-60s: At this point, you want your laser skin resurfacing treatment to remove the topmost dermis layers, as that's the best way to reveal glowing skin. For these reasons, we suggest using one of the following laser resurfacing systems: EndyMed Intensif, Fraxel Dual, and Fraxel CO2.
The Healing Process after Laser Treatment
As the skin heals, new collagen is produced, resulting in smoother, more youthful-looking skin. The healing process after laser treatment typically occurs in three stages: inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling.
Care for the treated skin. Your face will ooze and swell for the first 48 hours and then will quickly improve. Generally the procedure is not extremely painful, and feels more like a sunburn.
Look for moisturizers that contain hyaluronic acid or glycerin to help lock in moisture and keep your skin moist. Avoid using products with fragrances or alcohol as these can irritate the delicate layers of skin post-laser treatment.
It is critically important to keep the treated areas moist at all times. They should never be allowed to dry and form crusts. For the first 24 hours after the surgery, simply keep reapplying ointment (Vaseline or other ointment as prescribed by the office) to keep the treated areas moist.