Maybe you haven’t been completely happy with the reflection staring back at you from the mirror. You watch your diet and exercise religiously, but your face doesn’t portray just how great you feel. You have noticed some new lines around your face, and your skin just isn’t as taut or firm as in younger years.
You might be questioning if you need a facelift or some other anti-aging treatment to return to your youthful glow. However, laser skin treatments for wrinkles and other skin concerns might be a better option for you — requiring less down-time and a significantly lower price tag than options like a face lift. Laser therapy also offers targeted treatment for specific skin concerns.
Age spots or other slight discolorations, fine lines around the eyes, mouth and cheeks, loss of skin tone, acne scars, broken capillaries and the loss of skin firmness are among the issues that can be addressed with laser therapy. Those that might not be good candidates for laser treatments include individuals with active acne or dark skin.
Unlike other anti-aging treatments that “sand-down” or burn off skin layers, lasers are used to either vaporize or heat the skin. Lasers have the ability to direct, short, concentrated pulsating beams of light at irregular skin. This allows the skin to be removed layer-by-layer in a precise manner. There are several laser treatment options to choose from depending on a number of factors including the severity of your issues and the amount of downtime you are willing to incur.
Types of Laser Skin Treatments
Non-Ablative
This is the most gentle of the laser treatment options offered and is recommended for people with early-stage fine lines and wrinkles. With this treatment, the lasers penetrate beneath the skin’s surface with no damage to the outer skin layer. Each treatment lasts fifteen to thirty minutes, and may cause some mild redness, which dissipates quickly. There is no recovery time for this procedure. Patients usually receive the best results with four to six treatments spread out over several weeks. Non-ablative treatment provides a gradual improvement to the skin’s appearance and also exhibits the least dramatic results of the laser treatment options.
Ablative
Ablative laser treatments use a high-powered laser to actually vaporize the outer layers of the skin and reach the epidermis. The recovery time can take up to ten days with redness remaining for months. Patients may require general anesthesia during this treatment and pain medication following the procedure. Ablative laser treatments are thought to achieve the most dramatic results. This treatment can last up to five years.
Fractional Rejuvenation
Fractional Rejuvenation is a relatively new non-ablative laser procedure available. Fractional Rejuvenation uses a computer to precisely read the treatment area. This procedure offers a more focused treatment by treating only the damaged skin. Fractional Rejuvenation appears to offer the best of both non-ablative and ablative treatments, offering deeper revitalization of the skin with a shorter recovery time.
Is Laser Therapy Right for Your Skin?
If you are considering an anti-aging procedure for your skin, laser therapy is definitely an option to consider. Prior to meeting with a laser treatment practitioner, take some time to jot down what you would to like to improve about your skin. This will help the practitioner recommend the best treatment option for you, and help you to achieve your treatment goals. Also be prepared to discuss your medical history and whether you have ever used Accutane-T, Retin-A or any other topical skin preparations on your skin. Finally, remember you deserve to look as good as you feel!
Diana Chin is a part-time beauty and health advisor specializing in skin treatments for women. For more personalized advice regarding your skin concerns, she recommends consulting your local dermatologist or visit www.dermatologist.sg.