Laser Skin Peel, Collagen Remodeling

"The Lunch Hour Face Lift."

Laser skin resurfacing is a time-tested procedure that uses a laser beam to eliminate damaged outer layers of skin and replaces it with fresh new skin.

Our Light Laser Peel removes the top layer of skin so it can be replaced with smooth and tighter skin. It accomplishes the same end-point as a complete series of microdermabrasion. This procedure stimulates collagen production in the deeper layers of skin with virtually no down time.

Your face will appear sunburned for 2 or 3 days, and cosmetics may be applied the following day.

Our Medium Ablative Peel is a more aggressive procedure that removes deep sun damaged skin and wrinkles. This procedure is performed using a very strong topical anesthetic along with pain medications.

The skin is treated to the medium dermal layer, and is often oozing and weepy when completed. For the following 3 to 7 days, the regular use of occlusive dressings and pain medications is required to complete the peel process.

The procedure is performed by our on-site physician, and if necessary, an analgesic injection may be given. The down time for the procedure using our Fotona lasers is approximately 5 days, compared to several weeks or months using other lasers.

This procedure is particularly useful in treating severe sun damage with deep wrinkles in the forehead and crows' feet and often pre-cancerous skin changes known as actinic keratosis.

One medium ablative peel is capable of removing 25 years worth of sun damage.

This procedure can also be useful in treating acne scars and "age spots."

Collagen Remodeling

The deep heat generated by both of these procedures, stimulates new and stronger collagen formation. These collagen bands are the support structure for our skin. The new collagen formation will cause continued skin tightening and rejuvenation over the ensuing 3 to 6 months.

Some patients do not wish to incur the down time and discomfort associated with the medium ablative peel and prefer to have several light peels in succession (8 to 12 weeks apart).

It has been estimated that 3 or 4 light peels will give the same end results of a medium ablative peel.

Some people are not good candidates for laser skin resurfacing. If you have black, brown or olive skin, changes in pigmentation may not be corrected with resurfacing. Anyone who has used Accutane in the last 2 years or who has skin with frequent infections may not be good candidates for the procedure.

There are risks associated with any procedure. Some of the complications that occur with laser skin resurfacing include scarring, change in color of the affected skin, and heat burns from the laser.

It is extremely important to stay away from the sun until your skin has returned to its original state. Not only are you more susceptible to burning but permanent changes in skin pigment (brown spots on people with fair skin and white spots (vitiligo) on people with darker skin) may occur.

Because of our long hot summers, we do not advise medium ablative peels until fall or winter, and even then we advise precautions with hats and sunscreen.

Photo-collagen Remodeling

The results of both of these procedures can be maintained by a separate laser procedure called Photo-collagen Remodeling.

With further aging and sun exposure, the new collagen formed by both of these Peels will gradually break down. The laser delivers a gentle painless heat to the collagen bands resulting in re-tightening of the bands over the next 6 to 8 weeks.

This "tune-up" treatment is recommended every 6 months after a medium peel, and takes 5 to 10 minutes.

There is no down time, giving it its nickname: "The Lunch Hour Face Lift."

Call our licensed treatment specialist and make an appointment for a consultation at (936) 699-4330.