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Coast Dermatology is the premiere facility when it comes to lasers. Lasers today are used for many reasons. We are constantly upgrading to give you the newest, most effective lasers on the market today. One very successful technique for dramatically reducing everything from wrinkles, pigmentation problems, facial lines and acne scars is Laser Resurfacing. |
| "What exactly is
Laser Resurfacing?" This procedure usually employs a CO2 laser to remove the damaged or aged skin layer by layer. This exposes and promotes regeneration of smoother more youthful skin. "Are laser treatments safe?" Yes, because the laser treats the problem. The surrounding normal skin is not effected. Studies have shown that lasers are safe with minimal possibility for adverse reactions. |
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| "What
are the Costs?" Cost varies depending on the areas treated. Please call our office for a free consultation to discuss your specific needs. The doctor will go over all of the risks and benefits of Laser Resurfacing. Before and after photos of very satisfied patients are available, to show you the beautiful skin that is possible, no matter what your age or skin condition may be. |
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Before and After Care: Doctors usually recommend an aggressive skin care regimen for at least six weeks before laser resurfacing, using a combination of Retin-A at night and glycolic acid in the morning. Patients also receive anti-viral and antibiotic therapy. An emollient such as Aquaphor or Eucerin is used to keep the areas very moist. Patients must rinse their face several times a day with diluted vinegar and water so that the wound does not scab. They must also use an occlusive dressing for semipermeable wound healing. A skin care regimen can be resumed within 4-6 weeks. It usually takes at least a week before a patient can wear make-up. Besides the initial pain, oozing and swelling, the resultant redness can last for weeks to months. |
| Areas
Commonly Treated: Laser resurfacing does not address every type of wrinkle. It does not improve deep lines or extensive sagging. Lines around the cheeks and mouth are not usually improved, instead requiring a filler substance such as collagen. Deep forehead lines, deep lines around the eyes or frown lines are best treated with Botox or a brow lift. Laser resurfacing best treats fine lines and pigmentation changes of the skin. Laser is especially useful for removing fine lines such as wrinkles around the eyes, and is successful at reducing skin that is starting to sag. The best results are for what are called smoker's lines and small crows' feet. Other areas can be best addressed with facelifts and surgical procedures. The response to laser treatments for superficial lines and mild sagging can last for years. Some lines can recur, particularly those that move, such as around the mouth. These lines can be touched up after a year or so. |
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 AFTER TREATMENT |
| Realistic
Expectations: While laser surgery continues to improve and deliver wonderful results, it does require considerable patient involvement and recovery time. People have the preconceived notion that they can go in and have a laser treatment done and be able to resume normal activities in a short time. Recovery time is highly dependent upon the extent of the procedure performed. People with surface damage may recover faster. People with deeper damage have longer recovery periods. It also depends upon the type of laser system that was used. Recovery typically takes 1-2 weeks with a carbon dioxide laser, and the resulting redness may persist longer that that with the new erbium laser. Usually, the entire face is treated to promote a uniformity; however, it can treat selective areas such as around the eyes and mouth. Many times a skin peel is also employed to give the entire skin a smoother, more vibrant appearance. |
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