An ablative skin laser removes the upper skin layer and heats up the underlying layer. The result is a new and smoother skin. Ablative laser treatment is more effective than treatment with non-ablative lasers, but the side effects and risks are far greater.
About skin Rejuvenation with Ablative Laser
An ablative skin laser can be used to remove or better many unwanted skin conditions, and certain skin diseases, and it can give the skin a nicer texture.
Wrinkles, acne scars, vessel bursts, expanded vessels, reddening, pigmentation changes, freckles, liver spots, rosacea, and stretch marks, are some of the conditions, which can be corrected with an ablative laser treatment.
Skin damage as a result of too much sun exposure such as brown stains, large pores, and early stages of cancer, will also disappear with the treatment, and the patient will achieve a smoother and finer skin.
A skin laser cannot remove bags under the eyes or cheeks as such. For that, it would be necessary to combine the treatment with a traditional face-lift or eyelid surgery.
Also, it is advised to have a trial treatment, before starting the actual laser treatment with the ablative laser.
Below is a short description of the most commonly used ablative skin lasers:
CO2:
This laser is probably the most effective on the market today. The downsides of it are, that the healing process takes longer, and the side effects are worse, compared to the other lasers.
Studies show, that the CO2-laser is 100% effective on fine wrinkles, 60-80% effective on dynamic wrinkles, and 20-30% effective on acne scars.
Erbium:
The Erbium-laser is very similar to the CO2-laser, though much gentler. Like the CO2-laser, the Erbium-laser is designed to remove both fine wrinkles, dynamic wrinkles, and acne scars.
According to studies, the Erbium-laser has 100% efficiency on fine wrinkles, 40-70% on dynamic wrinkles, and 15-25% on acne scars. This makes the laser very suitable for treatment of shallow and moderate wrinkles.
Furthermore, the healing process is shorter and the side effects less, when compared to the CO2-laser.
Derma-K:
The Derma-K-laser contains both an Erbium-laser, and a CO2-laser. The intention with this combination is to achieve the benefits of an Erbium-laser, such as shorter healing time and milder side effects, but with the efficiency of the CO2-laser.
Whether this is more beneficial than the traditional Erbium or CO2 lasers has not been established entirely. Consult the treatment provider for more information.
Generally on ablative Skin Laser
Suitability
Fit and healthy people over the age of 18, who have fine wrinkles, acne scars, and/or uneven or tired looking skin, are suited for the treatment.
The ideal candidate for the treatment has got fair, non-greasy and healthy skin. Persons with a dark complexion, olive, or black skin, are in higher risk of developing pigmentation changes.
Persons, who have been taking Accutane within the last 12-18 months, have a tendency to develop keloid-like tissue, or who suffer from a skin infection, should not undergo the treatment.
The procedure
The purpose of the surgery is to remove the upper, worn down layer of the skin (epidermis), to then perform a mild heating of the underlying layer (dermis), so that the connective tissue is stimulated to start rebuilding new, firm, elastic fibres.
After the treatment, a new, young, smooth, finer skin, with a new, fresh surface, and a new, thicker, and tighter dermis, is formed.
In layman's terms this means, that you will achieve a smoother and younger looking skin.
Using the laser, a highly controlled burning of the skin is performed, removing the skin's different layers with the accuracy of one-hundredths of a millimetre.
The duration of the treatment varies from a few minutes to over an hour, depending on the size of the area to be treated. Sometimes 2 or more treatments will be necessary. If necessary, a second treatment can be done after a minimum of 6 months.Anaesthesia
When all of the face is to be treated, the operation is most commonly done under general anaesthesia. Minor parts of the face can be done under local anaesthesia. Skin rejuvenation with ablative laser is done ambulant or under hospitalisation.
Side-effects
Side effects include swelling from 3 days to 3 weeks, discomfort, itching, tiny white buds in the skin, maybe renewed outbreak of acne, and pigmentation blotches.
The treatment will leave the patient with a wound on the treated area. This will fade after 7-12 days. Redness may last for 1-4 months.
Risk of complications
There is a risk of unintended burns and damage to the skin, caused by the heat of the laser.
Risk of infection from bacteria, virus, or fungus. An infection will show as reddening, soreness, and swelling of the skin, and possibly fever.
There is a risk of herpes breaking out, if you have had a cold sore before.
There is also a risk of abnormal changes to the skin colour, along with the formation of undesirable scar tissue.
Healing and recovery
Work may be resumed after 2 weeks time. It is advised not to start on any strenuous exersise until after 4-6 weeks. Hereafter, the upper layer of the skin will usually have healed completely and will thereby have gained back it's normal strength. It is also advised to avoid strong sunlight for several months.
Duration of the result
The result of the treatment is long-lasting, but please bear in mind, that the laser does not stop the aging process, and new wrinkles will eventually appear.