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The
Effect
The CO2 laser treatment, also called “laser peel,” gets rid
of areas of damaged skin layer by layer. This procedure is
commonly utilized in order to reduce fine lines found around
the eyes and mouth. It is also beneficial in the treatment
of facial scars or areas of the skin with uneven
pigmentation. Most of the time, this procedure is used in
combination with other cosmetic procedures like a Facelift
or an Eyelid Surgery.
With the use of a carbon dioxide laser device, this
procedure will be able to smoothen the face, as well as the
fine wrinkles by treating layers of damaged skin. CO2 laser
treatment also softens lines that surround the eyes and the
mouth. It can also diminish facial scars and areas that are
unevenly pigmented.
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The
Procedure
This procedure may take a few minutes to an hour and may
entail more than one session. CO2 laser treatment is
usually an outpatient procedure unless it is combined with
other surgical procedures that may necessitate
hospitalization. General anesthesia, local anesthesia, or a
numbing spray may be used in this treatment.
The CO2 laser actually penetrates into the dermis, heating
it and shrinking the skin area by up to 30 percent. The CO2
laser is more precise than either dermabrasion or other
chemical peels since its computerized scanner allows fast
delivery of exact amounts of energy to the skin with each
laser pulse.
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Best
Candidates
Almost anyone can be a candidate for the CO2 Laser
Treatment. Patients who have light complexion and very dark
complexion are likely to heal the fastest. Patients with
olive skin are most likely to have a longer period of
redness or erythema but are still considered excellent
candidates for this procedure. Some medical conditions may
prevent a patient from undergoing a resurfacing operation.
Keloid formation or other autoimmune diseases are some of
the medical conditions which must be handled with extreme
caution.
Patients who have minimal to moderate facial wrinkles,
blemishes or blotchiness and dark under eye circles are the
best candidates for this procedure.
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Treatments
Lasabrasion
Laser Desurfacing
Laser Surgery
Laser Resurfacing
Laser Vaporization
Wrinkle Laser
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Side Effects
Some of the side effects of CO2 laser treatment are
temporary swelling, discomfort, acute sensitivity to sun
exposure, increased sensitivity to use of makeup and
pinkness or redness (erythema) in the skin which may last
for up to 6 months.
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Recovery Time
The patient may be able to go back to work in about two
weeks and resume strenuous activities in 4 to 6 weeks. In
about three months, the redness or erythema fades. Return
of pigmentation and sun exposure occurs in 6 to 12 months.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: What
is the CO2 Laser?
A:
A laser is basically a machine that takes electrical and
electromagnetic energy and converts it to a beam of energy.
usually, it is defined by the type of material or materials
that are used to produce its energy. There are quite a lot
of lasers that are used for a specific purpose such as in
ophthalmology.
Q: How
does the laser work?
A:
Before, the use of laser causes heat buildup, which is a
problem since it leads to scarring of the tissue instead of
a simple tightening of the skin. Now, the new technology of
CO2 Laser can be used for resurfacing. The laser is now
able to transport a pulse of energy so fast that heat does
not build up in the tissues. Through this technology, top
layers of the skin are removed and tightened without having
any buildup of heat, preventing unwanted scarring.
Q: What
are my other options besides the CO2 Laser Treatment?
A:
The customary approach for facial wrinkles is to cover them
up with the use of cosmetics and creams to achieve a
smoother appearance. However, more and more people are now
going for a more permanent smoothing effect in order to
achieve that natural look. Chemical peels or acid peels,
dermabrasions or scraping of the superficial skin are two
similar procedures that both remove the top layers of the
skin. On the other hand, these two procedures are not
precisely controllable as the laser and unlike with the CO2
Laser, the skin does not appear as tightened.
Probably the most common procedure in the treatment of
facial wrinkles, besides the CO2 laser, is the traditional
Facelift or Rhytidectomy. The advantage of this procedure
is that it can remove large amounts of excess skin from the
face. However, these also have some disadvantages.
usually, an incision from a facelift is obviously seen
around the ears and along the side of the face. There is
also the risk of cutting one of the facial nerves during the
surgical procedure. On the other hand, the main advantage
of the laser treatment to Facelift surgery is the
“refreshed” appearance of the laser patient versus the
“surgical” appearance of the Facelift patient.
Q: What
does the CO2 Laser treat?
A:
The CO2 Laser Treatment is used for patients who are
suffering from wrinkles of the face or other imperfections
from scarring due to acne or a previous trauma. In this
case, the CO2 laser treatment takes away the most
superficial layer of the skin and tightens the deep or
underlying collagen layers. Through this process,
tightening takes place, as well as the lessening of wrinkles
and scars.
Q: Who
are good candidates for CO2 Laser Treatment?
A:
Almost anyone can be a candidate for the CO2 Laser
Treatment. Patients who have light complexion and very dark
complexion are likely to heal the fastest. Patients with
olive skin are most likely to have a longer period of
redness or erythema but are still considered excellent
candidates for this procedure. Some medical conditions may
prevent a patient from undergoing a resurfacing operation.
Keloid formation or other autoimmune diseases are some of
the medical conditions which must be handled with extreme
caution.
Q: What
are the possible complications of this procedure?
A:
Like any other procedure, there is always the possibility of
risks and complications. However, with the CO2 Laser
Treatment, the risks are usually low. The most common
complications of this treatment are infection, activation of
herpetic lesions, and scar formation. However, these
complications may be prevented by the administration of
antibiotics and protective ointments in order to avoid
infection; antiviral medication is prescribed in order to
prevent cold sore formation; and practicing extreme caution
in doing the surgical technique, as well as having realistic
expectations in order to prevent scarring.
Q: Can
areas, such as the neck or chest, undergo a resurfacing
procedure?
A:
The neck and the chest area, unlike facial skin, cannot
undergo resurfacing as there are not enough essential skin
elements in those areas for proper regeneration to take
place. These areas do not have the capability to heal
properly and will likely result in scar formation if they
are lasered with the use of the current resurfacing
technology.
Q: What
should be expected before, during, after the laser
resurfacing procedure?
A:
After having your initial consultation with your physician,
several documents will be given to you, which include the
consent forms and the pre- and post-operative expectation
forms. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with these
documents. Once you have made a decision to undergo a laser
procedure, it is time to finalize your preoperative
preparations. Consultation with our aesthetician should
also be done at this time in order to receive the necessary
prescriptions.
A few days postop, some weeping of the skin can be seen
while it is rebuilding. This is because new collagen is now
being formed by the dermal layer. Some minimal to moderate
swelling may also be experienced. At this time, it is
necessary that application of dressings and/or ointments to
cover the treated areas be done in order to hasten the
process of healing. As the skin is healing, fresh new skin
will emerge having a pinkish appearance to it which will
then fade in several months. This may be concealed by the
use of makeup which can be applied for 6 to 10 days
depending on how the skin responds to the procedure.
All laser resurfacing procedures are carried out under
local anesthesia and on an outpatient basis.
Q: How
long does the treatment last?
A:
Laser Skin Resurfacing is relatively a new procedure with
only five years of clinical follow-up. Although this is a
safe procedure when carried out by professionals, the
long-term results of this treatment are yet unknown. Most
of the patients who underwent this procedure attest that
they look like they did 10 years before the procedure, so an
appropriate estimate of its long-term effects should be 10
years depending on how you take care and protect your new
skin.
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