What to Know About Facial Laser Resurfacing (Before and After)

Updated 3/24/2021

When you aren’t happy with your skin, there are a number of different facial services you can get to improve your skin. You may want to find a deep facial cleansing spa that can do a facial on you that will greatly improve the look and texture of your skin. You can also use cryo facial devices for a different way to improve the skin on your face. Many people like to go to spas for face therapy skin care to improve the way they look and feel.

If you are interested in getting a facial tomorrow, you need to find a local day spa that has a good reputation in the area. Get referrals from friends if possible, and look at the reviews online left for each of your local spas. Be sure that you know what kind of facial you want before you choose a spa. The facial treatment cost can be very different depending on the type of facial you get. Getting a facial can be an extremely relaxing experience. You have to sit for a period of time and let the ingredients do their jobs for your skin. Many people like it for its relaxation aspect.

Maintaining a healthy, youthful skin tone can be hard work. You’ve tried the moisturizing creams. You’ve tried the exfoliating creams. You’ve tried microdermabrasion.

But have you tried laser treatments?

It’s 2021 now, and though flying cars and hoverboards still aren’t being manufactured on a global scale, there’s no doubt that we’re living in a future age. Modern laser technology has allowed for astonishing advancements in the medical field, opening up doors for teeth whitening, hair and freckle removal and now even complete facial makeovers.

Facial laser resurfacing is a process in which older, damaged layers of your skin are removed, giving way to the fresh, new skin underneath. People who have struggled with acne, scars, blotches, wrinkles or other age lines can literally shed their old skin with the help of carefully guided lasers and witness the younger skin begin to take hold on the face.

So, how does facial laser resurfacing work, exactly? There are two separate kinds of procedures, both with their own types of lasers:

CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing

As its name implies, this particular procedure utilizes a carbon dioxide-based laser that actually emits a series of short pulses of light directly onto the face. These are known as ultrapulse beams and are most often delivered in what WebMD refers to as a “scanning pattern,” which removes the thin skin layers through its intense heat. The younger, fresher skin grows in on top of what’s been removed.

Erbium Laser Resurfacing

Erbium might not be able to get deep into your skin layers because it’s better for surface-level blemishes and wrinkles. Using erbium for your laser resurfacing treatment can often lead to fewer side effects — especially swelling, burning, bruising and itching — than CO2 can. This is usually better for folks with a darker skin tone, though not always. Every patient is different.

Now for the fun part. What happens after the surgery? How long before you can show off that youthful glow?

Diligence in your post-treatment activities is crucial, and you’ll need to clean the affected area between four and five times per day, depending on the heat damage. Luckily, both CO2 and erbium treatments result in little to no heat damage, meaning the recovery time for both is, on average, no longer than two weeks. Still, ndergoing skin laser resurfacing is no small feat and should always be talked over with your doctor plenty in advance in order to get as much information as possible — especially when it comes to the post-surgery considerations.

If you’re focusing your treatment on only a few areas of the face, you can expect the laser treatment to only take up about 45 minutes of your time. If you’re treating the entire face, however, expect to stick around for at least two hours.

Because it’s one of the leading dermatology procedures in the medical field, facial laser resurfacing tends to cost a few thousand dollars. The 2011 national average was around $2,300 (says WebMD again), though each case is highly specific with a number of different factors in play. Again, the best way to understand the treatment is to ask your doctor about it. Good references here.

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