The ability to remove one’s wrinkles is a great way to reduce the signs of aging. There are a variety of safe and effective procedures for reducing wrinkles including:
- BOTOX® injections
- Restylane® injections
- Collagen injections
- Dermabrasions
- Chemical peels
All of these reduce wrinkles in some form or another. However, for some the effectiveness is limited (BOTOX® cosmetic, Restylane®, collagen) while for others the procedure is fairly painful and abrasive (dermabrasions and chemical peels). That is why cosmetic scientists worked to developed laser skin resurfacing–a treatment designed to provide you with new and fresh skin without any harsh or invasive chemicals.
HOW DOES LASER SKIN RESURFACING WORK?
Laser skin resurfacing has multiple types of treatments, many of which work in different ways. For example, some lasers break up and remove top layers of skin so more youthful softer layers may flourish. Other lasers do nothing to the top layer of skin, but rather stimulate growth in the bottom layers to provide extra softness and consistency. Which you choose depends on your ultimate goal.
Laser skin resurfacing is not just for wrinkles either. It can also be used for acne removal as well as removing scars and odd pigments.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF LASER SKIN RESURFACING?
Though the procedure is fairly safe, there are some side effects that may be caused by skin resurfacing, as well as some unusual risks as well. Scarring and pigmentation issues are always a risk when putting lasers to one’s skin, though these risks are minimal. Burning and irritation are also a concern. Perhaps more interestingly, however, is that this type of procedure has the ability to release viruses that may have been kept silent beneath your skin, such as causing a dormant herpes virus to suddenly be released. Still, these affects are fairly rare, and you must have a dormant virus in order for it to surface.
Overall, laser skin resurfacing is a generally safe procedure with a variety of benefits over the alternative options. Though it costs approximately $1,500 (depending on type of laser), it lasts for several years and has very noticeable benefits.