Skin Resurfacing

Skin resurfacing allows people concerned with their skin health and/or wrinkles to enjoy younger looking skin using a minimally invasive method. This method of skin care is usually performed with a laser – one that is defined as ablative or non-ablative, depending on the procedure.

When an ablative laser is used, it is designed to wound the skin to remove the skin’s outer layer and heat the underlying layer so collagen can grow. Types of ablative lasers used for skin resurfacing include the erbium laser and CO2 laser. Non-ablative lasers will not wound the skin but still encourage the growth of collagen., such as picosecond fractional lasers or intense pulsed light (IPL) device. This type of skin resurfacing technique is gentler than when an ablative method of resurfacing is used.

Most people have laser skin resurfacing done to decrease the look of fine lines and wrinkles and to remove scarring or sun damage. You cannot use this type of skin care treatment to remove deep wrinkles or to treat skin that is noticeably lax. In these cases, you should consult with a surgeon about getting a brow lift or face lift.