Ablative laser skin resurfacing surgery to remove scars and wrinkles

Skin Improvement Plastic surgery ablative laser resurfacing

Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing

Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing - Definition

Ablative laser resurfacing is one of two different, basic forms of skin resurfacing, the other being non-ablative skin resurfacing. Skin resurfacing is performed by using a wand like laser instrument over the affected area. This technique works to soften or remove scars left by acne or superficial wrinkling as caused by aging or sun damage. Ablative laser resurfacing is sometimes called ‘laser peeling’ for its ability to pull away old skin cells in order to reveal newer, more youthful cells. Since the ablative laser resurfacing uses a laser, it is easier for the physician to control the depth to which the laser goes, lessening any unlikely, but unwanted complications.

Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing - The Technology

To begin, laser is an acronym for "light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation." By producing an intense ray of light, lasers can help to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, scarring, and blemishes. But ablative laser resurfacing can also help a patient with sealing blood vessels (varicose veins) or work in the deeper levels of the skin. The laser itself is unique in its ability to produce one specific color, or wavelength, of light. Each different wavelength yields a different result. This precision has enabled physicians to aid various skin defects without damaging the surrounding skin tissues. Whether or not the physician feels that ablative skin resurfacing is the proper treatment for a patient is entirely up to their experience and the needs of the patient.

Ablative skin resurfacing works on the topmost layers of a patient’s skin, at a very superficial level. This would include helping light acne scarring and some lighter wrinkling. Deeper creases and deeper scarring would not be helped significantly by ablative skin resurfacing. By removing the top layer of skin, ablative skin resurfacing heats the layers underneath and stimulates collagen production—this makes up the skin. In this process, the patient’s skin heals in a smoother and more even appearance.

Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing - Types of Lasers Used

Three types of lasers are used in ablative laser resurfacing. The first is called a carbon dioxide laser. This works by delivering short bursts of light which removes the undesirable skin one layer at a time. Because the beam is so highly focused, the dermatologist or physician can gently remove the imperfections with a lowered risk of scarring or other complications. Healing for these ablative skin resurfacing patients occurs within a month of the procedure.

The next kind of laser found in ablative skin resurfacing is an erbium: YAG (Er:YAG) laser. With this laser, a patient with moderate wrinkling or skin discoloration can benefit. This laser works by focusing light onto the affected area, heating the water that is within the skin cells in order to diffuse the light and minimize any damage that may be caused by the laser. With the gentleness of this laser, this method of ablative skin resurfacing can be done on the most sensitive of areas—the skin surrounding the eye and the mouth. Patients find that the healing time is even less than with a carbon dioxide laser—only five to seven days, rather than a month.

And finally, there is the long pulsed erbium:YAG laser. This laser, with its long pulses of light, can help those patients who are dissatisfied with deeper creases and wrinkles. With a lesser risk of scarring than the carbon lasers, this method of ablative skin resurfacing fits somewhere in between the other two methods in healing time and gentleness.

The Best Candidates for Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing

The best candidates for ablative laser resurfacing are those with light to moderate wrinkling and sun damage. An initial consultation with a dermatologist will help to determine if ablative laser resurfacing is the best option for a patient. In the initial visit, the physician will examine the skin to see what the patient would like corrected and give the patient a realistic vision of what they can expect. In many cases, ablative skin resurfacing is the best option, but for some patients, their skin tone or extent of their skin damage may necessitate another option.

Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing - Procedure

During the ablative skin resurfacing treatment, the patient will either be given a topical anesthetic or a local anesthetic. Sometimes a dermatologist will give sedation to relax the patient during the procedure. Most patients experience minor discomfort throughout and following the procedure, but as it is only the superficial layers of the skin that are being affected, most patients will pass through the discomfort phase quickly. For the entire face to undergo an ablative skin resurfacing, the procedure may take one to two hours.

Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing - Risks

As with any surgery, there are risks associated with ablative skin resurfacing. Scarring, crusting, swelling, and discoloration are all possible complications associated with the procedure. In the hands of a qualified and experienced dermatologist, these risks will be greatly lessened. And it is the responsibility of the patient to follow any pre- and post-procedure advice as given by the physician. Pain, bleeding, and infection may also result from the ablative skin resurfacing, though newer techniques are reducing the risk.

The Results of Ablative Laser Skin Resurfacing

Ablative skin resurfacing will not produce the same results as a traditional face lift, but it can give the skin a fresher appearance and help to soften the march of time across the face. In some patients, there can be a tightening of the skin following the ablative skin resurfacing, although this is not the standard outcome. Additional cosmetic procedures can add to the effect of ablative skin resurfacing.