Lots of procedures help minimize the signs of aging and make you look younger. Injectables help reduce wrinkles, for example, while surgeries like the facelift help to tighten loose and sagging skin. There are some things that fillers and surgery just can’t do, though, such as correct redness or improve your skin’s texture.
To get the best possible skin, you need laser treatments. Lasers have evolved over the years and there are now many options for treatment out there. Learn more about the different types of laser treatment and what each can do for you.
Types of Laser Treatments
You can divide laser treatments into two broad categories: ablative and non-ablative. Within those two categories, there are plenty of different brands and treatment strengths.
Ablative lasers are the most intense type of laser treatment and provide the most dramatic type of results. The laser treatments are so effective in part because they essentially obliterate the top layer of dull, damaged, dead skin. Often, people seeking a treatment from an ablative laser need just one session to get the results they want. The trade-off is that it can take about a month to fully recover from that treatment session.
Ablative lasers don’t just remove the external layer of damaged skin cells. The energy from the laser also stimulates the production of collagen and encourages new, healthy skin cells to form. After you’ve healed from treatment, you’re left with skin that is smoother, firmer and more youthful.
In contrast, a non-ablative laser leaves that external layer of skin intact. Instead, the laser energy penetrates deep into the skin, releasing just enough energy to create a micro injury that encourages the production of collagen. Downtime after a non-ablative laser treatment is considerably shorter compared to after an ablative treatment. But you often need more than a single treatment session.
One of the more popular laser treatments available today is Fraxel. Fraxel is available in both a non-ablative variety, Fraxel re:store, and an ablative variety, Fraxel re:pair. Other available laser treatments include laser facials and Laser Genesis.
What Lasers Can Do
Name a skin concern, and it’s likely that there is a laser treatment for it. If you’re looking to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, lasers can help, as long as those lines aren’t too deep. If you have hyperpigmentation, unwanted freckles or melasma, a laser treatment can help fade the discoloration. Lasers also work on redness and can treat broken capillaries or conditions such as spider veins. Some lasers help to reduce scars and can minimize the appearance of pores.
Are There Risks?
There are risks involved with any type of cosmetic treatment, including laser treatments. But, generally speaking, when the treatment is performed by a board certified plastic surgeon, those risks are minimal and the chances of them occurring are rare.
Although risks might be rare, it’s important to understand what the side effects are after each treatment and what you can expect from each. The weaker the laser, the shorter the recovery period and the fewer the signs that you had a treatment. For example, you usually go back to work and your daily life right away after a laser facial. But, even after a non-ablative Fraxel treatment, you might want to take a few days off to give any redness time to fade.
Choosing the Right Laser for You
Several factors can determine which laser treatment is right for you. How much you want to improve your skin plays a big role, for one thing. If you just want to refresh your skin, minimize redness or reduce a few fine lines, a laser facial is often the best choice. But if you want a more noticeable improvement or have more skin concerns, the non-ablative Fraxel treatment might be the better option.
There are also lasers available to treat specific skin concerns. For example, the Lux 1540 is often used to reduce the appearance of stretch marks, while the Long Pulse YAG laser can help remove spider veins up to 4mm in diameter.
It might be that a combination of laser treatments, or a combination of laser with another cosmetic treatment is what it takes to get you the best skin of your life. Discussing all of your options with a board certified plastic surgeon will help you choose the one (or more) that’s right for you.
About Dr. Rubinstein
Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein offers a variety of laser treatments at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC in Newburgh, New York. A board certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Rubinstein can help you understand what skin concerns lasers can treat and which type of laser is right for you. He can also provide guidance and advice about other treatments that work along with the a laser treatment. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein, call 845-863-1772 today.
