The skin is one of the body’s most remarkable organs. Our versatile outer layer acts as a guard against water, sunlight, bacteria, harmful chemicals and extremes of temperature. It’s packed with nerves that allow us to experience touch, heat and cold. It helps regulate body temperature and manufactures vitamin D for healthy bones. When injured, it heals itself by forming scar tissue. And despite all these critical functions, it remains soft and pliable, so we can move freely.
Facial skin, like many other organs and processes in the body, changes over a lifetime. It becomes drier, thinner and looser. Sun damage produces wrinkles and age spots, while fat loss makes the face less plump and smooth. These changes represent a natural process that affects us all, but not everyone is content to let the aging process run its course.
Laser skin resurfacing is a frequent method of rejuvenating your face and restoring a more youthful appearance. CO2 Laser Resurfacing offered at Rodeo Surgical Art can reduce the appearance of wrinkles, acne scars, enlarged pores and oil glands, warts, birthmarks and skin cancer by precisely removing damaged skin cells. The procedure can also tighten the skin and balance tone, resulting in smoother, tighter and more vibrant skin with just one treatment.
CO2 LASER RESURFACING
CO2 Laser Resurfacing channels short, concentrated beams of light to superficial damaged skin cells. This technology carefully removes outer layers of skin affected by blemishes or signs of aging with minimal heat damage to the surrounding tissue. Simultaneously, the laser heats the underlying layer of the skin to stimulate collagen growth for a smoother and firmer appearance as the treated area heals.
CO2 Laser Resurfacing is a highly effective anti-aging procedure that can deliver dramatic results. Anesthesia will be administered to ensure comfort, and some downtime will be required to allow your skin to recover.
THE PROCEDURE: WHAT TO EXPECT
Laser resurfacing is an outpatient procedure performed at Rodeo Surgical Art by Dr. Mashhadian. During a 30-minute consultation, Dr. Mashhadian will discuss your goals, explain the benefits and risks of the procedure, and evaluate the area to be treated. If you choose to proceed with laser skin resurfacing, please refrain from smoking for a minimum of two weeks before your appointment and do not take medications or supplements that can affect clotting for ten days before the procedure.
CO2 Laser Resurfacing may be used to treat the entire face or to spot-treat specific issues, like wrinkles around the eyes or mouth. A local anesthetic can be utilized to numb small areas, which can usually be treated in 30 to 45 minutes. For a full-face treatment, general anesthesia is required, and the procedure will take approximately one and a half hours.
Following your session, the treated area will be dressed for protection. Further dressing changes, cleaning or topical treatments may be needed to safeguard the treatment area and promote healing. Swelling, itching, stinging and redness are normal. Approximately five to seven days after your appointment, your skill will become dry and start to peel. It is necessary to follow all aftercare instructions during this critical healing period.
LASER SKIN RESURFACING RECOVERY
Although laser resurfacing is considered nonsurgical, downtime is usually required. Recovery typically takes a week or two, depending on the depth of the treatment. It may take two to three months for the redness to entirely fade after the initial healing is complete. You are not required to stay home during this time, but as the skin will be red and raw, you may wish to avoid certain social situations or environments in which the risk of infection increases.
Sun protection is essential during CO2 Laser Resurfacing recovery. Limit your time in sunlight as much as possible, particularly between the peak hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher every day. It’s also advisable to wear protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and a wide-brimmed hat. You may wish to plan your laser resurfacing treatment for fall or winter, when daytime hours are shorter, and more time is spent indoors.
Keep the treated area well moisturized during recovery. Do not use Retin-A or glycolic acid products until cleared to do so by Dr. Mashhadian. Oil-free makeup can be worn once the treated areas have completed initial healing to hide any redness. Green-toned products are particularly useful for camouflaging red and pink.
LASER SKIN RESURFACING RESULTS & RISKS
Laser resurfacing results vary from patient to patient but typically last five to 10 years. By precisely removing damaged skin layer by layer, a CO2 Laser Resurfacing treatment reveals the more youthful looking skin that lies underneath and encourages the growth of healthy new skin. The procedure can improve:
- Aged or sun-damaged skin
- Acne scars
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Birthmarks
- Warts
- Uneven pigmentation
- Age spots and precancerous lesions
- Complexion
- Enlarged oil glands
Potential side effects of CO2 Laser Resurfacing include redness, swelling, infection, acne flares, cold sore reactivation, scarring, burns or changes in the skin’s pigmentation. In the hands of a skilled and knowledgeable professional, laser resurfacing is a safe way to dramatically improve your skin’s appearance. Dr. Mashhadian has been specially trained in this form of laser resurfacing to minimize risk and provide the best results possible.
COMPLEMENTARY PROCEDURES
Rodeo Surgical Art offers a variety of nonsurgical cosmetic techniques that can be performed in conjunction with one another to enhance your results. Dr. Mashhadian’s proprietary technologies, the M Pout Lip Augmentation and M Lift Facelift, are revolutionary treatments that use injectables to effectively enhance facial features and diminish signs of aging with no need for anesthesia, surgery or downtime. You may consider these techniques along with laser resurfacing if you are seeking a complete anti-aging transformation.