Skin resurfacing can erase wrinkles, discoloration and sun damage. After 20 years of technological development, the new generation of fractional lasers offer exceptional results with minimal downtime.
Using lasers for the purpose of skin resurfacing began nearly 20 years ago, when the first CO2 laser was used to get rid of wrinkles, scarring, pigmentation problems and more. The treatment was extremely effective, but recovery took up to 14 days, and the red complexion associated with the procedure took nearly four months to return to normal. Over time, techniques have been developed using the fractional laser to achieve matching results, with almost no downtime.
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“Initially, CO2 lasers were used to resurface the skin. They would mainly vaporize or burn the surface of the skin in a very controlled fashion,” explains Dr. Mitchel Krieger, a board certified plastic surgeon in Fairfax, Virginia.
While CO2 lasers were effectual, patients’ demands for a shorter recovery time led the gradual transition to Erbium laser treatments, which were more precise in treating the skin.
“The advantage of the Erbium laser was that because of that precision you didn’t get the heat transferred to the skin and you didn’t have the downtime, or the prolonged recovery,” notes Dr. Krieger.
On the flip side, CO2 treatments offered more dramatic improvement of visible wrinkles and lines than the Erbium laser, which worked better for younger patients with softer wrinkles, notes Dr. Krieger.
The quest for tools to improve wrinkles without any downtime continued. Thermage, ReFirme, and other non-ablative technologies were developed. These heat up the tissues beneath the surface of the skin without burning the skin’s surface. The results eventually show improved tightening and firmness in the skin, but the results are still subtle.
Fractional lasers were the next step in skin resurfacing technology development. This procedure improved on the original idea by only penetrating small areas of the skin completely, in what looks like a grid of pinholes. Using this method, skin heals within six to eight hours, and total recovery is achieved in as little as three to four days. This means the patient can take a long weekend and return to work with no residual evidence of the treatment other than refreshed skin.
The only requirement for fractional laser skin resurfacing is general good health. Fractional lasers produce good results on any skin type for most skin issues, such as scars, wrinkles, and pigmentation problems. However, it is important to note that fractional lasers produce improved skin—not perfect skin.
