How Is Laser Skin Resurfacing Performed?
What Is The Treatment Period For Skin Resurfacing?

The procedure is done under local anesthesia. This means that the patient is aware of what is happening but is in a twilight zone or a trance. She does not feel anything but is aware of what is happening.

The procedure can take a couple of hours if the full face is to be treated. Generally patients go in for full face laser treatment which costs around $ 5000. The laser is chosen with care by the doctor. Carbon dioxide laser appears to be the most reliable one. The carbon dioxide prevents too much of heat from going into the skin. For smaller skin resurfacing, the time taken could be around half an hour to forty-five minutes.

Once the resurfacing is done, the doctor will put sterile gauze on the treated area. The skin has to be kept moist by Vaseline or other creams. The face has to be washed with mild vinegar or saline several times a day. There may be some pain and some liquid oozing out of the treated area. This may continue for a day or two. After that the gauze may be changed less frequently. The skin will begin peeling off but scabs should not be allowed to form. After a few days fresh skin will begin growing. This may be pink or reddish. People will notice it.

The area that has been treated should not be exposed to the sun. Liberal use of sunscreen lotion will be beneficial. There will come a time when the skin will look so perfect that people may think it is artificial. It will be blemish free, if the doctor has done his job well. Slowly it will become normal and will remain like that for many years. People with orange peel skin or those who have acne marks will find the laser skin resurfacing method very effective.