Skin Laser Resurfacing is a cosmetic procedure performed to eliminate or reduce facial wrinkles, acne scars or blemishes. Such skin irregularities may arise due to normal aging phenomenon, harmful effects of sun, skin disorders, or other known and unknown factors.
Laser resurfacing of skin is also known as laser abrasion. Depending on the type of laser used, there are two different types of laser resurfacing discussed later. However, both of these methods aim at removing damaged skin layers by penetrating laser beams and stimulating growth of new skin layers.
In comparison to other skin rejuvenating treatments, cost of laser skin resurfacing in India is found to be more affordable, and thus more popular amongst the population. The treatment is highly effective for most skin types; however, there are still a few conditions where skin laser resurfacing cannot be performed as a remedy. The following section discusses the good and bad candidates of laser skin resurfacing:
Who can undergo skin laser resurfacing?
Non oily skin types that are not prone to scars and have good elasticity come up with excellent results post skin resurfacing. However, if patients with the above mentioned skin type suffer from certain skin or health disorders, the results may not be as pleasant as expected, and they may end up with side effects.
People with minor skin irregularities may avoid undergoing resurfacing, as they may suffer from unnecessary side effects. There are multiple skin rejuvenating techniques apart from laser abrasion and therefore, people with smaller skin imperfections need to opt for alternatives and not laser resurfacing.
Darker skin types are not suitable for laser abrasion. During the treatment procedure discussed later, skin pigments are required to absorb laser beams. Since darker skin types have larger concentration of pigments, chances of absorbing more than the required amount of laser beams exist and thus may lead to abnormalities.
Doctors are of the opinion that patients opting for the treatment need to know the procedure and outcomes entirely. The treatment does not guarantee healthy looking skin instantly. Some patients may end up with best results; while, others may have moderately good results and so on. Therefore, discussing with your dermatologist about your skin and related success rates is essential.
Laser Skin Resurfacing: Procedure and Types:
Laser Skin Resurfacing involves administering pulsating laser beams through the skin that dissolve cells of the damaged skin layer, until newer and smoother skin surface is reached. Depending on the type of laser used, there are different types of skin laser resurfacing techniques.
Hospitals offering Laser Skin Resurfacing in India usually uses any one of the two different lasers; namely, CO2 Laser Resurfacing and Erbium Laser Resurfacing. Out of the two, erbium laser technique is more efficient and has lesser number of side effects as compared to CO2 lasers.
Laser skin resurfacing is performed as an outpatient procedure and does not require overnight stays. Your dermatologist will use a local anesthesia while performing the laser treatment on smaller patches of your face. However, a general anesthesia may be needed if the same procedure is carried out for the entire face. The treatment may last for around 35 – 40 minutes when conducted on smaller parts of your face; while, for the entire face it may take around a couple of hours or so.
Post treatment, your dermatologist will bandage the treated area, and it is only after 24 hours that you can wash your face with water. Thereafter, you are required to clean the operated area multiple times in a day and apply prescribed ointments without fail.
Taking Care Post Surgery:
Just after the treatment procedure, your skin remains highly sensitive to everything around. Therefore, taking care is mandatory to guarantee optimum results.
Swelling is the most common side effect experienced by patients. Doctors usually prescribe steroids to keep things under control. Sleeping on a raised pillow is also advisable as it may help to reduce face swelling to a great extent. However, always keep the pillow at a comfortable height so that it may not prove otherwise and cause neck stiffness and related problems.
Many patients also complain of itching and stinging sensation for around 72 hours post surgery. This is pretty normal and usually subsides with time.
Wearing broad spectrum sun protection and limiting direct exposure to sun is highly advisable for around 2-3 months when your skin is healing and making way for the newer skin surfaces. Keeping your new skin moisturized and hydrated is of utmost importance. Therefore, you may discuss a healthy diet with your doctor who can suggest food items that can enhance your skin appearance.
Similar to any medical procedure, skin laser resurfacing also has a couple of benefits as well as negatives. Possible burns from the laser heat, scarring, bacterial infection and skin pigmentation are few of the drawbacks of skin laser abrasion. However, these are few of the rarest case scenario and most people opting for this medical procedure take it as a safe and affordable cosmetic treatment for a healthier looking skin.
Cost of Laser Skin Resurfacing in India depends on the type of laser used, texture and abnormalities of your skin, and the type of hospital opted for. You may get a detailed overview here. This was all about Skin laser Resurfacing and how you can prepare for it. However, it is always advised that you should talk to your dermatologist to know if you really need to go through some kind of medical procedure to correct some imperfections.
Written by Pousali Dey
