Ablative lasers can resurface the skin with precise depths. By controlling the depth, we also control the intensity and can accurately control the downtime.
Chemical peels are liquid solution or gels. Controlling the depth of a highly concentrated penetrating chemical (Trichloroacetic acid, glycolic acid) can be challenging and can lead to uneven peels and hot spots.
Laser resurfacing depth is easier to control as the laser operator can use a variety of parameters to precisely control depth and intensity. Lasers also make it possible to target problem areas with deeper resurfacing; while blending these deeper areas into the areas where the peel (or resurfacing) was less aggressive.
Erbium (Er:YAG – 2940nm) lasers target water and because they have a higher affinity for water as compared to CO2 lasers (10,600nm). CO2 is more destructive (more thermal injury) and causes more coagulation – longer downtime. Erbium allows for more precise ablation and faster healing. Erbium is safer to use than CO2, especially in darker skin types.
Fractional lasers are safer and provide faster healing as compared to full field facial ablative treatments. In full field ablation, the entire layer of skin is resurfaced. Fractional beam causes channels of ablated tissue with adjoining areas where the skin is untouched. This allows for faster healing times and when the skin heals the channels close and enhance skin tightness.
Laser resurfacing can be very light, very similar to a facial scrub or dermabrasion, or it can be much deeper rivaling phenol peels. Phenol peels were used in the past when laser resurfacing was not available; their limitations were many – long downtime, cardiotoxicity. months of skin redness and higher incidence of Post Inflammatory Hyper and Hypopigmentation.
At MLA we do varying degrees of resurfacing procedures to suit our clients’ desired outcomes and predetermined downtimes. The outcomes are excellent with resolution/improvement of acne scars, more uniform skin coloration, decreased skin defects and pigment and tighter healthier skin.
