Wallin

co2 laser resurfacing

DESERT BLOOM PLASTIC SURGERY

Laser Resurfacing In St. George – Desert Bloom Plastic Surgery

Taking good care of your skin can be a challenge. Blemishes from the sun, acne scars, and the natural signs of aging can all take a toll on your appearance and lead to a loss in self-confidence. While many people are curious about skin rejuvenation treatments, some are not interested in invasive procedures like a facelift or applying topical medication to their body.

Laser resurfacing is a non-invasive and popular cosmetic treatment for people looking to repair skin damage and maintain healthy and younger-looking skin. Resurfacing treatments direct short and concentrated light beams to remove dead or older layers of skin in order to let healthy new skin emerge.

If you are interested in a safe and effective way to target specific skin problems without having to go through an invasive procedure, laser resurfacing is a popular choice to brighten your tone and tighten skin. Speak with the office of Dr. Jordan Wallin to learn more about the treatment and to see how it can benefit your skin.

Desert Bloom Plastic Surgery

HOW DO I KNOW IF LASER RESURFACING IS THE RIGHT OPTION FOR ME?

Good candidates for resurfacing include people who have fine lines and wrinkles on the face, stubborn acne scars that do not seem to go away, or skin that does not respond to a facelift. Treatment can also help rejuvenate skin in people who have age spots, broken capillaries, or birthmarks.

Resurfacing is not a good choice for people who have active acne on the face. Patients who are interested in reducing stretch marks should also look for a different treatment option than laser resurfacing.

Some might have heard that resurfacing is not effective for patients who have darker skin. This is not necessarily true.  Some lasers, like Active FX, are able to be used effectively on lighter-toned African-American, Asian, or Hispanic skin tones without much of a discoloration risk. Patients who have darker black or brown skin might need to speak with our facial plastic surgeon about other resurfacing options like microneedling or radio-frequency treatments.

Dr. Wallin has extensive experience in laser resurfacing treatments and is highly trained in a variety of techniques that can have a positive impact on a wide variety of patients. His office is also prepared to recommend alternative options to patients who might not find laser resurfacing as an effective skin rejuvenation treatment.

Resurfacing Techniques

At Desert Bloom Plastic Surgery and Oasis Aesthetics we offer the most advanced technology to treat your areas of concern. CO2 lasers are widely known in the medical aesthetics communities to be the “gold standard” by which all other lasers are compared. This technology allows us to customize your treatments to allow the best results with the quickest recovery. 

Designed for an active person who needs a quicker recovery or for people with darker skin. The Active Fx procedure is best for age spots or areas of discoloration, fine lines and wrinkles. This fractional laser produces small tiny controlled injuries to the skin while allowing normal skin to remain next to the injured skin. This helps reduce pinkness and allows the skin to get back to a normal and even skin color quickly for your active lifestyle usually within 5 days. 
Designed for a person with deeper lines and wrinkles from many years of smiling. The Deep Fx treatments are deeper but narrower than the Active Fx treatments but also done in a fractional manner. The deeper treatments do more to stimulate collagen with the associated heat and allow for a new framework of skin with less wrinkles. This procedure can also greatly improve your texture of skin bringing back a smooth and soft feel. The deeper treatments usually take a few days longer to heal compared to the Active Fx.  
For those who have concerns about lines, both shallow and deep, and also age or brown spots you might be best treated with the Total Fx. This procedure consists of treatments done in a fractional manner similar to the Active and Deep Fx but is designed to even out skin discolorations, treat both fine lines and also deep lines, remove age spots and reduce the appearance of scars and other skin irregularities. This procedure is commonly done while performing other surgeries such as facelift, eyelid and eyebrow lifts and is usually completely healed when you are healed from surgery.

It is very important to time your resurfacing treatment properly. Since skin subjected to a laser is hypersensitive to the sun, most people choose to schedule treatment in the fall or winter to minimize outdoor exposure to the sun.

No matter what time of year you choose to undergo a procedure, you must take care to apply sunscreen daily after treatment to guard against skin cancers and maintain the results of resurfacing. Dr. Wallin is happy to give advice about when would be best to schedule a procedure based on your own schedule and comfort.

 

The Steps To Prepare
For Resurfacing

Preparation for the procedure involves careful discussions with your surgeon. You’ll need to inform Dr. Wallin if you often get cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth since resurfacing can lead to breakouts.

Before your procedure you will have a comprehensive discussion about your medical history with Dr. Wallin. He will review your medications and history and make suggestions to help reduce potential complications.

Smokers should completely stop two weeks before and after resurfacing. Smoking plays a big role in slowing down the healing process.

Desert Bloom Plastic Surgery

AFTER THE PROCEDURE: WHAT TO EXPECT DURING RECOVERY

Laser resurfacing is usually an outpatient procedure that is able to be carried out in an hour or two. For smaller treatment areas, your surgeon will usually rub the area with a topical anesthetic or will give sedation if your entire face will be resurfaced.

After treatment, you will be bandaged and asked to clean the affected area four to five times a day to prevent the appearance of scabs. It is normal to have some swelling and discomfort after laser resurfacing. Dr. Wallin can provide medications to help alleviate pain and mitigate swelling.

Depending on the type of treatments you should be able to get back to your normal activities within 5 to 14 days. Dryness is common after the procedure and Dr. Wallin will make recommendations for appropriate skin care. Once the healing process has taken place, you have the option to wear oil-free makeup to minimize the appearance of redness on the face. The use of a good-quality sunscreen and moisturizer is vitally important to expedite the healing process and make sure the effects of resurfacing can be sustained for the long-term.

It is very important to remember that laser resurfacing takes around 6 months to achieve the final results. Your body will be laying down new collagen and changing as a result of the procedure. Most patients love their results at two weeks and are thrilled as time goes forward.

Ready For Laser Resurfacing?
Contact Dr. Jordan Wallin Today

Visit our office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Wallin to learn more about laser resurfacing and to see how the treatment can help rejuvenate your skin in a safe and non-invasive manner. During a consultation, we will examine your skin, review your cosmetic goals, and give advice about a laser resurfacing treatment plan that will help you achieve the looks you desire.