Laser Skin Resurfacing / Dermabrasion

Laser resurfacing treats fine wrinkles of the skin. The laser treatment is performed after topical application of anesthetic cream (EMLA). The procedure takes about ten minutes for small areas such as the upper lip and lower eyelid, and about thirty minutes for a full face resurfacing. The laser treatment is essentially a controlled burn, so the patient may apply cold compresses post treatment for comfort. A skin moisturizer is applied twice a day. The skin will form some crust which gradually separates with application of the moisturizer.  The skin is usually healed in five days, after which the skin will look reddened for about a month. The skin tightening occurs over two to three months.  Additional or touchup laser treatment can be performed after six months.

Dermabrasion is used to treat thicker skin and deeper irregularities such as acne scarring or rhinophyma. The dermabrasion procedure takes twenty to thirty minutes depending on the area treated. The healing is similar to an abrasion, with some crusting which separates after five to seven days. A topical moisturizer or bacitracin is applied twice a day.