Wrinkles, sun damage, and skin laxity are three primary factors that contribute to our appearance looking older than we are. Our laser skin resurfacing for patients in Denver and Fort Collins can take away that weary, weathered look. Dr. Duncan educates other physicians internationally, frequently lecturing on this topic!
Patients come to us for various reasons when seeking laser skin resurfacing. Many times, our patients simply want to look better for themselves. Sometimes, they are seeking out a new relationship, and increased confidence is essential. For example, acne scarring reduction is addressable with laser resurfacing. We also have patients who desire a more youthful appearance, which enables them to remain competitive in their careers. A rejuvenated look makes many of our patients feel younger, not just look like it! On the other hand, some patients look to reduce their skin cancer risk. Laser can significantly reduce sun damage.
This 70-year-old came in because her upper eyelids bothered her. After having an upper lid blepharoplasty, she felt that she would like to pursue something else that would make her look younger. An erbium laser treatment was performed; the results above show.
Patient at 6 weeks post-op.
Left, 70-year-old female with severe wrinkling and solar elastosis prior to treatment.
Right, 6 weeks following upper lid blepharoplasty and erbium laser resurfacing.
When it comes to your aesthetic journey, choosing the right provider makes all the difference. Plastic Surgical Associates is dedicated to meeting your unique needs, whether you're seeking minor or major aesthetic transformations, addressing specific health concerns, or looking to enhance your overall well-being.
Our Fort Collins plastic surgery center offers tailored solutions, ensuring a comprehensive approach to your care. Experience personalized services that align with your individual goals and contribute to a more vibrant and fulfilling lifestyle.
Erbium laser is preferred by many physicians and patients because of its safety record. CO2 lasers do not discriminate between the layers of the skin and can go quite deep, causing permanent hypopigmentation and a "waxy" look to the skin. Erbium laser can fully remove the top layers of skin, and punctate bleeding signals the physician to stop when the superficial layer of the dermis is encountered. Erbium laser heals very quickly—about six days for a full ablative erbium laser treatment– as opposed to ablative CO2 or plasma type treatments, which take 3-4 weeks to heal.
The effect of a full surface (not fractional) treatment can last up to 20 years if maintained by regularly using a good sunblock and a good skin care regimen. The procedure is safe to perform on an annual basis if a more modest procedure is performed. A study performed in California showed a reduction of genetic age markers following Sciton laser treatments. While laser resurfacing will not prevent aging, it can reverse the appearance of pigmentation, wrinkles, solar elastosis, acne scarring, and crepey skin.
Full field erbium treatments remove the entire skin surface, therefore achieving maximum correction of patient concerns. Halo or other fractional treatments only affect part of the skin surface. The maximum density of the Sciton laser is 22%. This makes healing more rapid, and the temporary deformity is less severe. Halo combines two wavelengths of laser: 2940 (erbium) and 1470 (sublative) to form a hybrid laser treatment that works in two ways. Traditional erbium laser will improve the skin surface. The sub-ablative laser targets the epidermis below the skin surface. This laser type can also improve the appearance of broken blood vessels in the superficial dermis. Both lasers can be adjusted to reach different depths of skin, so they are very precise. The Halo laser is very good for treating the skin on hands, arms, knees, and the neck as well as the face.
With full field erbium laser resurfacing, recovery can take 6-10 days, depending on the depth of treatment. Most patients can apply mineral powder makeup at 6-7 days. Fractional laser or Halo hybrid laser treatments usually take 3-5 days to heal. The temporary deformity is less with fractional and Halo treatments, but the results are more modest as well. Full field erbium laser is generally not recommended for skin types V and VI, as post-inflammatory pigmentation can be a concern. For these patients, we recommend radiofrequency assisted thermal micro-needling, often with a topical application to boost healing time.Results with both approaches are quite good. Full field erbium usually corrects over 90% of wrinkles, sun damage, and the crepey texture of aging skin. Fractional approaches can result in about a 30% correction with a moderate treatment. Therefore we recommend a series of 3 fractional treatments for the best outcome.
Start your journey with personalized guidance, expert insights, and a clear plan tailored to your goals for natural, confident, long-lasting results.
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