Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing is a non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that helps your skin look youthful and smooth. With much less downtime than plastic surgery, you can treat multiple kinds of blemishes, minimize visible signs of aging and restore radiance to your skin. 

There are many ways to approach laser skin resurfacing procedures, and that’s great news for your schedule and your lifestyle.  Here at Skin Therapeutics, we offer the best in laser skin resurfacing procedures and aftercare to the Ellicott City, MD area. If you’re ready for toned, glowing skin, schedule a consultation with one of our team members. 

Laser Skin Resurfacing at Skin Therapeutics

Effective, gentle and adaptable to patient needs, our Clear + Brilliant laser system uses a non-ablative laser to boost collagen production below the surface of the skin. This laser works to brighten and smooth skin from the inside out. 

Its precise beams of light produce heat beneath the skin, encouraging new skin cell and collagen growth. The Intelligent Optical Tracking System (IOTS) senses contact and motion between the treatment tip rollers and your skin, ensuring your treatment is both safe and uniform. And because it’s a fractional laser–meaning it creates microcolumns of thermal injury rather than abrading the skin’s entire surface–Clear + Brilliant offers shorter recovery times than the CO2 lasers traditionally used for skin resurfacing.

Safe for every skin type, Clear + Brilliant can be adjusted to fit your unique needs. Its intensity can be low to aggressive, depending on your skin type and the approach you want to take. For instance, a more aggressive laser treatment could help to quickly reduce fine lines and sun damage and even improve deep wrinkles. Alternatively, you could choose to treat your skin slowly with a series of medium-intensity appointments over time. Or, if you’d really like to glow for a special occasion, you can select a low-intensity treatment to immediately brighten your complexion. 

What Can You Treat with Laser Skin Resurfacing?

You can use laser skin resurfacing to treat any area on the face, neck, chest and backs of the hands. A wide range of skin conditions responds well to this laser procedure, especially since the treatment intensity is so customizable. 

Laser skin resurfacing procedures improve: 

• Age spots, sun spots and liver spots
• Fine lines
• Loose or sagging skin 
• Melasma 
• Non-cancerous pigmented lesions
• Pore size
• Prominent freckles
• Rough skin texture 
• Uneven skin tone 
• Scaly patches (actinic keratosis)
• Scarring from acne 
• Skin discoloration and hyperpigmentation
• Sun-damaged skin
• Superficial wrinkles 

Before and After Photos

Who are the Best Candidates for Laser Skin Resurfacing? 

Laser skin resurfacing is an ideal treatment for adult women and men of all ages. It’s suitable for any skin tone, including tanned and darker skin, and can be adjusted to accommodate sensitive skin as well. 

The type of laser we use is highly versatile, meaning young adults who want an effective anti-aging treatment can use it as a preventive measure while older adults can reverse the damage their skin has sustained over the years, including damage from the sun’s UV rays and loss of collagen. 

Although laser skin resurfacing procedures are an effective option for most adults, it’s not ideal for some. Avoid this treatment if you: 

• Are immunocompromised 
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Are prone to developing keloid scars
• Have a history of abnormal wound healing 
• Have used Accutane within the last six months 
• Have skin cancer or abnormal lesions
• Have permanent makeup or tattoos on the area of skin to be treated
• Take medication that suppresses your immune system (immunosuppressants) 

If you have a history of cold sores caused by the herpes virus, we recommend taking an antiviral medication before your laser treatment to prevent a recurrence.

Get in touch with us to find out more and decide whether laser skin resurfacing is right for you. 

What to Expect During Your Skin Resurfacing Treatment

When you arrive for your laser skin resurfacing appointment, your provider will show you to your treatment room. You’ll relax comfortably on a treatment table, where you’ll receive eye protection and a special cleansing for the area of skin being treated. For more intense treatments, your provider will apply a topical anesthetic cream to prevent any discomfort during the session. Sedation isn’t required.

Once you’re relaxed, prepared and equipped with your eye protection, your practitioner will pass a handheld laser device over your skin. As they do so, you’ll feel warmth, pressure and some prickling. This part of the process lasts anywhere from 5–20 minutes; the more intense the treatment and the larger the area, the longer it will take. Afterward, you’ll relax for a few minutes with a soothing, cooling rehydrating mask on the treated area. 

Results

Once the healing process is complete, you’ll experience: 

• A brighter complexion overall
• Fine line reduction 
• Less visible pores 
• Reduced hyperpigmentation 
• Younger-looking, smoother skin

Related Treatments

Together with your practitioner and depending on your medical history, you might decide to pursue other cosmetic procedures separately from your laser treatment. Here are some of the other safe, effective services we offer.

• Radiofrequency (RF) microneedling combines radio frequency energy with the effectiveness of microneedling to smooth and rejuvenate the skin, reducing blemishes, wrinkles and fine lines without the downtime of cosmetic surgery. 
• Perfect Derma Peel is a gentle chemical peel that dissolves and removes the epidermis, combating acne scars, hyperpigmentation, sun damage and the visible signs of aging.
• Cryocorrect removes and corrects stubborn pigmentation, unwanted spots and skin blemishes that resist other treatments.  

How Much Does Laser Skin Resurfacing Cost?

The cost of laser skin resurfacing is variable depending on many factors, including:  

• How intense your treatment will be 
• Number and size of the treated areas
• Number of sessions you need 
• Any add-on services you select 

Make an appointment to find out more. 

Laser Skin Resurfacing FAQ 

What is recovery like?

Your recovery time depends on how intense your treatment session is. The most typical side effect is skin redness, which lasts for a few hours after a gentle treatment and several days for more intense sessions. Treated areas may also take on a rough, sandpaper-like skin texture. Over the next few days, this rough outer layer of skin, or epidermis, will slough off.

On average, our patients experience 1–2 days of redness and up to four days of dry, rough skin texture.  In all cases, you can return to your normal daily routine immediately. 

Will I need multiple procedures? 

The answer really depends on your goals, the current condition of your skin and how intense you want or need your treatments to be. Darker skin tones may require more sessions to achieve the same results as lighter skin tones, as higher melanin levels necessitate using low-intensity settings to prevent unwanted pigmentation.

Talk with your practitioner about how to pace your treatments and how many you might need to achieve the desired result. Outcomes and treatment options will vary based on the individual. 

How do I take care of my skin after Clear + Brilliant? 

First, wait 24 hours before you cleanse the treatment area. When you wash your treated skin, use only a mild cleanser with no fragrance. Avoid using retinoids or exfoliating agents, and don’t continue with your usual skincare practice until you’ve healed completely. 

While your skin heals, it will be more susceptible to sunburn. Regularly apply moisturizer and SPF sunscreen, even if you don’t go outside. Any sun exposure during this time could lead to sun-damaged skin.