EmbodyForYou.comthe online guide to health and beauty

Our Treatment Guide

Laser Treatments - Resurfacing


The Ageing of Our Skin
As time marches on, our facial skin begins to reflect our years. Fine lines and wrinkles appear around the eyes, creases deepen in the mouth and forehead areas. Your image is no longer a reflection of how you feel about yourself...youthful, healthy, vibrant.

Today's advanced laser technology allows us to safely, easily, and effectively treat many benign skin lesions painlessly, on an out-patient basis.

About The Skin
The skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It protects us from infection and shields us from harmful substances.

While nature and heredity play their roles in the ageing of our skin, environmental damage can accelerate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. A lifetime of exposure to the sun, pollution, stress, alcohol and smoke all weaken our skin's natural support structure.

At first, fine lines appear around our eyes and lips. Then, as the collagen beneath our skin wears out, deeper wrinkles begin to appear. Surface irregularities and pigment discoloration may also occur.

In the past, the treatments of choice for these conditions were dermabrasion chemical peels or CO2 laser resurfacing. In dermabrasion, layers of skin are actually sanded away; in chemical peels, layers of skin are burned away with an acid solution, and the CO2 laser burns away layers of skin.

The Erbium Laser
The Erbium laser is the latest advance for the treatment of ageing and sun-damaged skin. The Erbium laser provides a safer, more accurate and less painful method of restoring a softer, smoother, more youthful appearing skin.

The procedure is performed in the comfort and convenience of your physician's office. Erbium laser skin resurfacing is a procedure specifically designed to remove superficial and moderately deep lines and wrinkles on the face. The Erbium laser produces less heating or burning of surrounding tissues than the CO2 laser. This allows your doctor to gently and comfortably vaporise the damaged skin cells layer by layer. Most cases require only a local or topical anaesthetic. Recent studies have shown that the Erbium laser stimulates the production of collagen, creating a tightening and smoothing of the skin.

Skin resurfacing with the cool light of the Erbium laser results in less post-operative redness, less swelling and provides a more rapid healing than with other skin resurfacing methods. In most cases, patients are fully recovered and back to normal activities within 7-10 days. Following the procedure, the treated areas are kept moist with ointment and/or occlusive dressings for the first few days.

Post-operatively, there is a period of healing which is generally completed within five to seven days. Sunblock should be applied when in the sun. Make-up can be worn after the first week.

Over the next few weeks, your fresh, new, pink skin will fade to a normal tone revealing a softer, smoother, younger look. Our patients love their results. Find out if you might be a candidate for Erbium laser skin resurfacing.

What are the benefits of Erbium laser skin resurfacing?
Erbium laser skin resurfacing is a safe, reliable, out-patient procedure. Skin resurfacing with the Erbium laser can be performed with only local or topical anaesthesia in many cases. Resurfacing with the Erbium laser produces fewer unwanted side-effects and complications. Erbium laser can also be used on the neck, chest and hands. With the Erbium laser it is often possible to treat darker pigmented skin tones. Treatment with the Erbium laser produces minimal heating and burning of surrounding tissue. Healing is more rapid because the Erbium laser causes minimal redness, swelling, and bruising.

Is Erbium skin resurfacing for you?
Your doctor will review your medical history, age, skin type and pigmentation, consider your desired results, and determine the best course of treatment for you. Results will vary from patient to patient depending on age, skin type, and condition. Skin resurfacing with the Erbium laser can be performed with local or topical anaesthesia in many cases. Resurfacing with the Erbium laser produces fewer unwanted side-effects and complications.

About Recovery
Patients generally enjoy a short recovery period after Erbium Laser Skin Resurfacing. Your physician will prescribe a care regimen to keep the healing area moist. Immediately after surgery the skin will be red. This will fade within a few days to weeks and can be easily covered with makeup after the first week. Some swelling may occur, particularly around the eye area in the first 2 to 3 days. The daily use of sunscreen is recommended to protect your new skin from damaging ultraviolet rays.

What Next?

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List of Laser Treatments - Resurfacing Salons and Therapists.


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- Dermatologist Manhattan

Dr. Ariel Ostad, an expert in skin cancer surgery and cosmetic procedures such a