The question “is laser for face safe” is based on the assumption that you are getting a treatment to remove wrinkles, so why would you want to risk your skin by exposing it to lasers plus other chemicals and intense heat? The truth is that there are safe and effective non-surgical options available but only if you choose the right doctor.
Today, there are people that do a lot of skin care treatments like laser face. These treatments are done in order to help the skin in so many ways, especially when it comes to anti-aging and make facial lines disappear. Those people use a variety of procedures and medications that sometimes work and other times they don’t because the age is something that cannot be changed with money or things like laser face.
Read on to learn more about Is Laser For Face Safe, To Give Your Skin an Insta-Glow: Laser Genesis
Is Laser For Face Safe
Laser resurfacing is a facial rejuvenation procedure that uses a laser to improve the skin’s appearance or treat minor facial flaws. It can be done with:
Ablative laser. This type of laser removes the thin outer layer of skin (epidermis) and heats the underlying skin (dermis), which stimulates the growth of collagen — a protein that improves skin firmness and texture. As the epidermis heals and regrows, the treated area appears smoother and tighter. Types of ablative therapy include a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, an erbium laser and combination systems.
Nonablative laser or light source. This approach also stimulates collagen growth. It’s a less aggressive approach than an ablative laser and has a shorter recovery time. But the results are less noticeable. Types include pulsed-dye laser, erbium (Er:YAG) and intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy.
Both methods can be delivered with a fractional laser, which leaves microscopic columns of untreated tissue throughout the treatment area. Fractional lasers were developed to shorten recovery time and reduce the risk of side effects.
Laser resurfacing can lessen the appearance of fine lines in the face. It can also treat loss of skin tone and improve your complexion. Laser resurfacing can’t eliminate excessive or sagging skin.
Products & Services
Why it’s done
Laser resurfacing can be used to treat:
Fine wrinkles
Age spots
Uneven skin tone or texture
Sun-damaged skin
Mild to moderate acne scars
Risks
Laser resurfacing can cause side effects. Side effects are milder and less likely with nonablative approaches than with ablative laser resurfacing.
Redness, swelling, itching and pain. Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation. Redness may be intense and might last for several months.
Acne. Applying thick creams and bandages to your face after treatment can worsen acne or cause you to temporarily develop tiny white bumps (milia) on treated skin.
Infection. 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. In most cases, the herpes virus is already present but dormant in the skin.
Changes in skin color. Laser resurfacing can cause treated skin to become darker than it was before treatment (hyperpigmentation) or lighter (hypopigmentation). Permanent changes in skin color are more common in people with dark brown or Black skin. Talk with your doctor about which laser resurfacing technique reduces this risk.
Scarring. Ablative laser resurfacing poses a slight risk of scarring.
Laser resurfacing isn’t for everyone. Your doctor might caution against laser resurfacing if you:
Have taken the acne medication isotretinoin (Amnesteem) during the past year
Have a connective tissue or autoimmune disease or a weak immune system
Have a history of keloid scars
Have had radiation therapy to the face
Have a history of previous laser resurfacing
Are prone to cold sores or have had a recent outbreak of cold sores or herpes virus
Have darker brown or Black skin or are very tanned
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Have a history of an outward-turning eyelid (ectropion)
How you prepare
Before you have laser resurfacing, your doctor will likely:
Ask about your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past medical conditions and any medications you are taking or have taken recently. Your doctor might also ask about previous cosmetic procedures you’ve had and how you react to sun exposure — for example, do you burn easily? rarely?
Do a physical exam. Your doctor will inspect your skin and the area that will be treated. This helps determine what changes can be made and how your physical features — for example, the tone and thickness of your skin — might affect your results.
Discuss your expectations. Talk with your doctor about your motivations, expectations and the potential risks. Together, you can decide whether laser resurfacing is right for you and, if so, which approach to use. Make sure you understand how long it’ll take to heal and what your results might be.
Before laser resurfacing, you might also need to:
Take medication to prevent complications. If you’re having ablative laser resurfacing — or nonablative laser resurfacing and you have a history of herpes infections around your mouth — your doctor will prescribe an antiviral medication before and after treatment to prevent a viral infection. Depending on your medical history, your doctor might recommend other medications before your procedure.
Avoid unprotected sun exposure. Too much sun up to two months before the procedure can cause permanent irregular pigmentation in treated areas. Discuss sun protection and acceptable sun exposure with your doctor.
Stop smoking. If you smoke, try to stop at least two weeks before and after your treatment. This improves your chance of avoiding complications and helps your body heal.
Arrange for a ride home. If you’re going to be sedated during laser resurfacing, you’ll need help getting home after the procedure.
What you can expect
During the procedure
To Give Your Skin an Insta-Glow: Laser Genesis
Laser Genesis is known as one of the best lunchtime cosmetic procedures because you can leave the dermatology office looking better than you did when you walked in and it only takes about 15 minutes. This “super facial” uses a 1064 nm wavelength to gently heat the dermis and rid of any diffuse redness, making it great for those with rosacea. Laser Genesis also boosts collagen production to rid of fine lines and wrinkles and gives the complexion a beautiful glow. There’s no downtime and no commitment with Laser Genesis!
To Rid of Acne Scars: Fractional CO2 Laser
Acne scars are a complexion-destroying reminder of nasty bouts with acne. Pimples are bad enough, but once a scar forms from them, you know you’ve got trouble on your hands. Acne scars are notoriously hard to conceal and they can distract from your beautiful brown eyes or your juicy full lips. This laser is best for deep acne scars–the kind that are pitted and impossible to cover up. This type of laser for the face will poke teeny tiny holes into the deepest layer of the skin to regenerate collagen growth and fill in the areas of tissue loss due to acne scars. The best fractional CO2 lasers are the Fraxel Re: pair, MiXto laser, TotalFX and Matrix CO2.
To Zap Broken Blood Vessels: Pulsed Dye Laser
When trying to banish broken blood vessels and broken capillaries from your face, you’ll want to rely on a vascular laser like a pulsed dye laser. The good news is that pulsed dye lasers don’t require any pain management and has zero downtime. These types of lasers use yellow light to very gently heat up the skin and destroy blood vessels, while leaving any surrounding skin untouched. One of the best Pulsed Dye Laser machines is the Vbeam Perfecta from Syneron Candela.
Instead of a Facelift: Fraxel
Probably best known in pop culture as the go-to laser for Kim Kardashian, the Fraxel Laser is a serious powerhouse in the complexion rejuvenating category. The best in class for wrinkle removal, treatment of crow’s feet, sun damage removal and overall skin rejuvenation is the Fraxel Re:pair laser. Yes, there is some downtime with Fraxel, but after a couple days looking like you have a sunburn, your skin will look 10 years younger, tighter and completely refreshed.
For Removing Sun Damage: IPL
Brown spots from too much sun have a way of really ruining a gorgeous complexion. We’re not talking about a cute smattering of freckles, but those jagged marks of pigmentation where the sun had its way with your skin. We love IPL (aka Laser Photo Rejuvenation) to really get rid of those suckers. This targets melanin in dark spots. After a few days they flake off and reveal a perfectly even and gorgeous complexion.