No occasion is more symbolic of the chance for a fresh start than the annual celebration of the New Year. Just as January marks a spike in sales of gym memberships as many Americans resolve to finally get fit, New Year’s also presents an excellent opportunity to improve your appearance in other ways. Laser resurfacing is one of the best med spa treatments available to treat a variety of skin imperfections and start the year out right.
Benefits of Laser Resurfacing Treatments
Laser resurfacing is effective for targeting minor flaws like acne scars, age spots, enlarged pores and sun damage. Laser resurfacing can also be used to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles from around the eyes, cheeks, forehead or mouth. If your existing skincare regimen isn’t enough to keep age at bay as much as you’d like, laser resurfacing may be the stronger solution you need.
Though laser resurfacing can’t improve visibly lax skin, finer lines and wrinkles are easily diminished with the precise power of pulsating light that removes damaged cells and irregular pigmentation one layer at a time. If you want to look your best but feel topical treatments aren’t doing the job, laser resurfacing performed in a med spa setting can reveal firmer, smoother skin again.
How Does It Work?
Laser resurfacing is an outpatient skincare treatment that harnesses the power of light energy. This technique allows a focus on small, delicate areas with precision. During the procedure, the laser targets the epidermis (your skin’s outer layer), which is either treated or partially removed.
Beneath the epidermis is the dermis, an underlying layer of the skin that is comprised of collagen and elastic connective fibers. During a resurfacing treatment, the laser will heat this deeper layer of your skin, stimulating the dermis to encourage the growth of new collagen. After a short recovery period, the skin heals to reveal smoother texture and firmer tone.
Ablative vs. Nonablative Laser Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing procedures can be performed either in a doctor’s office or at a surgical center. There are two different types of laser resurfacing: ablative and nonablative. The difference between the two depends on the procedure’s relative degree of invasiveness and the type of laser used.
During ablative resurfacing, the laser actually removes the uppermost layer, the epidermis, from the target area while heating the dermis. Ablative laser resurfacing can be ideal for treating wrinkles, scars, and more significant sun damage.
Nonablative laser resurfacing is a less invasive approach that generally requires a shorter recovery time. Rather than removing the epidermis, this approach treats the epidermis to stimulate cell growth while heating and tightening the underlying dermis. The treatment provider will determine which approach is best for your needs. Several treatments are usually required to get the best results from nonablative resurfacing, but sessions often take under an hour.
When preparing for laser resurfacing and for up to a year following the procedure, patients should be especially careful about sun exposure to avoid the development of irregular pigmentation in treated areas.
Lasting Results to Start the Year off Right
By offering long-lasting results with short recovery time, lasers can improve minor skin imperfections and irregularities, leaving men and women with smoother, more youthful skin. With the power to remove scars, imperfections, and signs of aging the skin has been carrying around for years, laser resurfacing can help you start the new year off on the right note: radiant and refreshed.