Laser Wrinkle Removal - Allure Plastic Surgery - Plastic Surgeon in NYC & Staten Island

Revive Your Youth with Laser Wrinkle Removal

Beauty has become an important part of today’s society. As we age, cell reproduction will ultimately diminish and affects many things in our body, the most paramount of which is the flexibility of your skin. As a result, wrinkles and folds will form on skin’s surface, both in our face and body.

While this process can be worsened by sun exposure, it's also affected by an individual's hormones and genetic predispositions. Fortunately, innovations in modern technology are not only limited to advancements in electronics and software, but also in medicine—more specifically, skin treatment and plastic surgery.

Laser resurfacing, or laser wrinkle removal, is a treatment that helps to reduce wrinkles and other skin predicaments such as blemishes and acne scars. However, if you are looking to refine stretch marks this technique may not be recommended. In addition, something else you might want to consider before opting for this treatment is that studies indicate that people with very dark skin have shown less response to this treatment, so be sure to consult your doctor before undergoing this procedure.

At Allure Plastic Surgery, we use lasers to adjust to each unique skin type and treat the outer layer of the skin while stimulating the collagen fibers, resulting in renewed skin with increased collagen production.

If you're interested in learning more about the laser wrinkle removal and skin treatments available to you, we suggest you call us at (646) 844-5683 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.

Otherwise, keep reading for more information about this procedure to determine whether or not it's the right option for you and your needs.

Is Laser Wrinkle Removal The Right Choice For You?

To start off the treatment, a consultation is a must. A complete medical history and current health assessment are necessary to optimize the best possible result. Be sure to tell your doctor if you are prone to develop cold sores or blisters around your mouth, as laser resurfacing can trigger breakouts. Doctors may ask you to stop taking medications that could affect blood clotting, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E. Normally, intake of these supplements are halted for about 10 days before commencing surgery. Smoking is also prohibited for at least two weeks before and after the treatment as it can interfere with the healing process. Sometimes, doctors may prescribe antibiotics to avoid secondary bacterial infections. Be sure to know if you have any allergies and inform your caregiver.

During your consultation, the doctor will discuss the different options for laser rejuvenation, which include:

Before & After

Laser Resurfacing

One of the most common techniques of laser resurfacing is called the carbon dioxide (CO2) method. It is the method of choice to treat several skin issues, such as wrinkles, scars, warts, pores or gland enlargement, and many more.

The newest version of CO2 laser resurfacing directs very short, concentrated pulsating light of energy, also known as ultrapulse, in a scanning pattern at a specific skin issues in order to precisely removing thin layers of skin with minimal heat damage.

Typically, we use the carbon dioxide (CO2) laser to smooth facial wrinkles and treat uneven tone as it is particularly effective for frown lines around the mouth and lips and the “crow’s feet” around the eyes.

While this is the heaviest laser resurfacing procedure, it typically generates excellent results as the procedure can be done under IV sedation or local anesthesia and recovery is about 7 days, after which you can apply make-up.

In some cases, we'll use another method called Erbium Laser Resurfacing which is designed to remove surface or moderate level of skin problems. The recovery time needed for this method is generally a little bit longer compared to the CO2 method, however, people with very dark skin tones have been shown to respond better to this technique.

Fraxel® Laser

The Fraxel® laser is an innovative treatment used to diminish wrinkles around the eyes to create smoother, fresher looking skin with better tone and texture. This treatment is also useful for treating acne scars and skin resurfacing.

Unlike other lasers, Fraxel® lasers can be used to treat thousands of microscopic areas of the skin, allowing it to eliminate old, damaged skin cells and stimulate the body's natrual healing process. This way, your body can produce the collagen needed for fresh, glowing skin to be revealed.

The Laser Wrinkle Removal Procedure

Although treated areas per treatment will differ depending on the patient, most won't often need to spend the night in the hospital when having a laser resurfacing treatment performed. Depending on the advice of your doctor and the type of procedure being performed, the surgeon may treat a specific area around your eyes, mouth, or forehead, or your entire face at once.

To begin, the treatment area will be numbed with local anesthetic, or if your entire face is being treated, you may be put you under general anesthesia since the procedure will take longer to perform. For treatment of a specific area, the procedure can range from 30 to 45 minutes or take up to two hours if a full-face treatment is option you're going with.

After the treatment has been successfully completed, the treated area will be covered in bandages and you'll be clean that area four to five times a day, starting 24 hours after treatment ends. In addition, you'll be prescribed an ointment, for example petroleum jelly, to prevent scabs from forming and can expect to see minimal swelling around the treated area.

If needed, you might be prescribed anti-inflammatory medications to manage the swelling and typically can make yourself more comfortable during the recovery process by sleeping with extra pillows to elevate your head and using an ice compress on the treated area when needed to manage any swelling or discomfort.

Feeling itchy or a slight stinging sensation is normal after this procedure and may occur up to 72 hours after laser resurfacing procedure has been completed. You should also not be alarmed if your skin becomes dry or starts to peel around five to seven days after the treatment, as it's quite normal for that to happen.

Normally, the treated areas will heal completely within 10 to 21 days, depending on the previous skin condition and at that time, your skin will most likely appear lighter.

During this time, the use of a broad-spectrum sunscreen is essential so you should choose a product that screens for UVA as well as UVB and contains at least SPF 30 to thoroughly protect your skin.

To best protect your skin, you should reapply every four hours, but even with the use of sunscreen, you're advised to limit sun exposure. Since the sun's rays at their strongest between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day, you should stay indoors to avoid them as much as possible.

While it's common for your skin to peel, you should try to hydrate it as much as possible by using skin moisturizers, just be sure to speak to your doctor to get their advice on which types to use and which ones to avoid.

There may be some redness that will fade in two to three months and you should try to use oil-free and green/eco-friendly makeup products to neutralize the red color and provide camouflage for your skin. Redness can last longer in people with fair skin, as people with dark skin usually have darker pigmentations, so don't be alarmed if you experience redness for a longer period of time. That being said, if you do have any post-treatment concerns, the best idea is to contact your surgeon to discuss your concerns. While every procedure has risks and benefits. Many of your risks can be minimized when you're honest with the doctor during our consultation. Even things you don't think could impact your procedure should be disclosed to your surgeon prior to your treatment to ensure any known complications are avoided as best as possible.

While very unlikely to occur when all relevant post-treatment information is provided to the surgeon, some patients have experienced scarring, uneven skin tones, heat damage from the laser, bacterial infections and the reactivation of herpes cold scores after their laser wrinkle removal treatment was performed, but again, that typically only occurs whenever the patient has failed to disclosure pertinent information to the doctor before the treatment.

While your face heals, you may experience a skin condition called milia on the treated areas of your skin. They appear as small, white bumps and if you see them, you should consult your doctor for further treatment.

Here at Allure Plastic Surgery, we do our best to analyze each patient’s unique skin type before performing treatment to ensure the best results possible. To learn more about treatments for eliminating wrinkles and other uses for our laser technology, please contact Allure Plastic Surgery online or by phone at (646) 844-5683 today to schedule an appointment at our office.

Laser Resurfacing Wrinkle Treatment