Maybe the idea of treating your skin with a laser seems extreme. But laser skin treatments are a very gentle way to correct and address many types of skin concerns and imperfections. Examples include the following:
• Wrinkles and other signs of aging like brown age spots
• Sun damage
• Skin discoloration and other pigmentation issues like freckles
• Tattoos
• Acne scars and other scarring
• Rosacea
• Broken capillaries
• Stretch marks
• Warts
• Spider veins (view before and after pictures)
• Bruising
• Vascular birthmarks including hemangioma and port wine stains
Lasers Are Safe
A laser is a specially designed machine that emits narrow beams of high-intensity light or laser energy. While there are many different types of laser, the medical lasers used for skin treatments have their own unique features. By using the proper wavelength these medical lasers work by targeting blemishes without harming the surrounding skin.
Lasers are safe to use for skin treatments for a number of reasons.
1. They only penetrate the skin at very shallow depths, so deep tissue and organs are not harmed or even affected.
2. Laser treatments will only be used to damage unwanted cells. The wavelengths produced by medical lasers are not absorbed by healthy tissue. They do not produce wavelengths with harmful effects like X-rays, gamma rays, or UV rays. And the eyes are shielded by protective eye gear whenever the laser is in operation.
3. Depending on the laser used and skin being treated, the procedure will only last until a certain amount of unwanted tissue is broken down. This often means future treatments are necessary, but it ensures that healthy tissue remains undamaged.
How Lasers Resurface Your Skin
The procedure uses the laser to send short, concentrated beams of light directly to the irregular skin. The unwanted skin becomes damaged, stimulating the skin’s healing response, and the damaged tissue is replaced with healthy cells. This approach has a lower rate of problems, such as skin-lightening, than competing skin treatments.
For a complete resurfacing procedure, the laser beam is used to remove the outer epidmermal layer of the skin while heating the dermal layer below. Again, new growth and healing is stimulated by this process and collagen growth is also boosted to create smoother, firmer skin.
In some cases, patients may need to visit for several scheduled treatments in order to achieve their optimum results. Doing so helps to achieve the gradual damage and healing cycles necessary to safely make dramatic changes to the skin and its appearance.
About Your Skin’s Imperfections
No one has perfect skin, but that doesn’t mean we have to accept our imperfections. Most patients would prefer to eradicate the troublesome signs of aging, the acne scars that remind them of their adolescence, and other damage that has come from sun exposure or other environmental factors. Laser treatments are a very valuable tool for aesthetic enhancement that can help you regain a little control over those bothersome imperfections.
As laser technology advances, so does its abilities to correct these imperfections. And in the years since it was first introduced, laser skin resurfacing has been proven to be both effective and safe for use. To discuss the treatment options most appropriate for you and your unique needs, consult with a physician or aesthetician skilled and experienced with laser skin resurfacing techniques.
Consult With a Facial Plastic Surgeon Today
There are so many possibilities for patients of laser treatments today; it’s worth sitting down for a consultation to get more details about how laser energy can solve your concerns. Discuss the possibilities with Dr. Edwin F. Williams of the Williams Center Plastic Surgery Specialists and The Williams Rejuva Center. We have offices conveniently located in Albany and Manhattan. Call the Williams Center at 1-518-941-8416.
Dr. Williams is the Medical Director of the Rejuva Center where he oversees the training of cosmetic specialists. He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery.