Laser Resurfacing
Laser resurfacing is the name given to a procedure that dramatically improves skin texture (wrinkles, scars rough spots, coarse pores).
You would be forgiven for thinking that laser resurfacing was the equivalent of using sandpaper to plane down the uneven surface of the skin. That was the principle behind full ablative CO2 resurfacing, the entire top layer of the skin was removed (usually under a general anaesthetic) and allowed to regrow, resulting in flattening of the surface wrinkles.
Although results were spectacular, there were significant drawbacks as the raw surface required surgical dressings for about 2 weeks. There was a significant risk of infection during this open phase and the new skin was often paler than the surrounding skin.
The Difference Between Fractional vs. Full Resurfacing
Channels in Skin
About 6-7 years ago, fractional ablative resurfacing was developed: as the name implies, the skin is only partially removed. The laser creates a series of microscopic channels into the mid and deep layers of the dermis, leaving bridges of normal skin in between.
With this process, up to 50% of the skin surface can be removed at one time, healing in as little as 48hrs with no permanent marks or scarring, this resulted in a far lower risk of infections, with no need for dressings. The resurfaced area could simply be covered with an occlusive ointment such as Vaseline or Aquaphor.
What’s more, the thousands of microscopic wounds in the skin stimulate the production of collagen, leading to thickening of the dermis, or mid-layer of the skin a smoothing of the wrinkles occurs from the inside-out, vs. the outside-in.
* Individual Results May Vary
The Smartxide DOT Fractional CO2 Resurfacing Laser
The Smartxide DOT fractional CO2 resurfacing laser is used for treating:
- Deep Lines & Wrinkles (face, neck, chest)
- Smoker’s Lines (vertical lines above and below the lips).
- Loose, Sagging Skin (bags under the eyes, loose skin of the neck).
- Droopy Eyelids (the non-surgical Madonna Eyelift).
- Stretch Marks resulting from post pregnancy, weight loss*.
- Severe Acne Scarring**.
- Traumatic and surgical Scars.
- Poor Skin Texture (fine lines, pores, pigmentation*).
* Pigment – e.g. brown spots – may require additional IPL treatments
** Caution is advised with keloid scars – they may not respond, improve, or even get worse, as the problem is with the healing characteristics of the skin.
The laser creates a series of microscopic channels into the mid-layer of the skin – stimulating the formation of collagen as a healing response. The new collagen causes thickening of the dermis, or mid-layer of the skin, thus smoothing out wrinkles /remodelling scars from the inside-out. The CO2 laser, additionally, causes immediate tissue shrinkage, which is of benefit for loose or saggy skin.
Healing occurs in the following distinct phases:
- The first phase: Tissue shrinkage is seen almost immediately
- The second phase: Closing of the holes in the skin occurs over the next 48-72 hours
- The third phase: Involves flaking or shedding of the old skin, over a 5-7 day period
- The fourth and final phase: Remodelling of the wrinkles and scars occurs from 1-3 months after the treatment, as new layers of collagen are deposited in the dermis.
The Madonna EyeLift
LazerRoom Patient – The Madonna EyeLift * Individual Results May Vary
This non-surgical approach to droopy eyelids was developed by renowned Manhattan dermatologist, Dr. Bruce Katz.
The Smartxide laser is used to lightly resurface the upper eyelids, under the eyes, under and above the brows as well as the crow’s feet area. As discussed previously, one of the chief characteristics of the CO2 laser is to cause tissue shrinkage, hence a series of light treatments of the above-noted areas will progressively shrink loose baggy tissue while smoothing out wrinkles (crow’s feet) and improve the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.
What To Expect
- 3-5 treatments are required at 2-4 week intervals
- Downtime consists of 1-2 days of swelling around the eye area
- followed by another 2-3 days of redness and mild flakiness (which can be covered with make-up).
Patients who have their treatment done on Friday, are usually back to work by Monday.
Steel contact lenses (corneal shields) are inserted below the upper lid prior to treatment to ensure proper protection of the eye. The entire treatment takes approximately 10 minutes and is done under topical anaesthesia.
Prior consultation is required, as some patients may not be suited to this procedure (eg. if they have excess skin or extreme ptosis of the upper lid, very low brows, or fat deposits under the eyes known as infraorbital fat pads), and would be better suited to surgical procedures.
