With state-of-the-art medical lasers, Dr. Zuckerman and his professional medical staff at Zuckerman Plastic Surgery can safely and comfortably address several aeshetic issues to help you achieve beautiful, glowing skin.
Skin quality is responsible for a significant portion of our perception of youth and beauty, and for many patients, periodic laser skin resurfacing has become a must-have in the beauty arsenal. Laser rejuvenation is effective, non-invasive, safe, and convenient. Treatment with a medical laser can help address the following skin issues:
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Dyschromia, age spots (liver spots), or sun damage
- Skin texture irregularities (smoothness), dullness, or large pores
- Skin suppleness and firmness
- Facial scarring including acne scarring
- Induce collagen production for firmer, more youthful skin
In addition, while laser treatments are very safe and overwhelmingly popular, medical lasers do react differently to different types of skin, and Dr. Zuckerman will help ensure you undergo successful treatment in a safe, medical environment.
Lasers vary in their intensity but can be grouped into ablative and non-ablative. Devices may also be fractionated or nonfractionated, which refers to the percent of the skin that is actually targeted within each treatment area. Ablative lasers actually vaporize tissue, removing a layer of skin, and typically require more downtime, while non-ablative lasers heat deeper layers of the skin but leave tissue intact. The latter devices induce collagen production via this heating mechanism. Non-ablative lasers have profilerated in recent years due to their little to no downtime.
Dr. Zuckerman favors non-ablative lasers, such as the Clear + Brilliant (Clear And Brilliant) laser , which are gentle and can be made near painless with the addition of a topical anesthetic, or numbing cream, if needed. Medical lasers target a particular chromophore, or absorber, in the skin. For example, some lasers’ energy is primarily absorbed by water molecules. For non-ablative lasers, new skin, the epithelium, will form within a few days after treatment and the old outer skin layer, the strateum corneum, will be removed via the skin’s natural process of exfoliation. The duration of the formation of the new epithelium may vary somewhat by skin type and individual but unlike ablative laser treatment recovery, typically does not require patients to take time off from work.
However, non-ablative lasers do require more treatments than ablative devices and are less effective for more severe issues. Depending on your desired goals and particular skin issues, Dr. Zuckerman can help you select the laser treatment that is best suited to your needs. Some medical lasers contain more than one mode with distinct wavelengths of energy that allow it to target various conditions specifically.
At Zuckerman Plastic Surgery, you may choose to be treated by Dr. Zuckerman himself or one of his certified, medical professional staff.
Inducing Collagen Production to Address Fine Lines and Wrinkles with Laser Skin Resurfacing
Many patients desire an improvement in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the face, and non-ablative laser treatment at Zuckerman Plastic Surgery is very effective at producing such results. Fine lines and wrinkles develop either due to sun damage or aging as collagen production in the skin declines. Patients are often concerned with lines around the eyes or crow’s feet, perioral lines around the mouth, or along the jawline. By inducing collagen production and the removal of the old outer layer of skin, non-ablative laser skin resufacing can effectively restore a smooth, youthful appearance to the skin.
Addressing Age Spots (Liver Spots), Dyschromia, or Sun Damage with Laser Skin Resurfacing
Those suffering from pigmentation irregularities of the skin, known medically dyschromia, can be treated effectively using non-ablative laser skin resurfacing. Age spots, or liver spots, fall into this category and are most often caused by sun damage. Typically these conditions require several laser treatments, and Dr. Zuckerman can help you determine the best treatment plan for your goals.
Addressing Skin Texture, Smoothness, or Dullness, and Reducing Overly Large Pores with Laser Skin Resurfacing
Skin texture irregularities can be a subtle but persistent sign of aging, and laser skin resurfacing is highly effective at addressing these issues. The outer layer of skin will be exfoliated naturally as a result of a non-ablative laser treatment revealing new smoother, more youthful epithelium.
Pore size can also be decreased via laser skin resurfacing. As we age, pores may increase in size due to the decline of collagen and elastin in the skin, which maintain youthful firmness and structure. In addition, pores may appear overly large due to the collection of excess skin cells. Laser skin resurfacing can address both issues by inducing collagen production and stimulating the exfoliation of these cells and other debris.
Addressing Acne Scars with Laser Skin Resurfacing
Acne scars can cause issues with self-esteem especially for adults, but they do affect a significant portion of the population. Scarring varies in size and shape depending on how deeply the skin follicle was damaged and how the body attempted to repair the damage via collagen production. Two common indented acne scar patterns are known colloquially as icepick acne scars (thin indentations of small diameter) or boxcar acne scars (wider box-like depressions). Medical laser treatment can effectively reduce depressed acne scars but may not be able to remove them entirely.
Acne scar treatment does require several treatments to be effective. If you are prone to keloid formation, or hypertrophic scarring, please discuss this with Dr. Zuckerman prior to treatment. He will advise you as to your treatment options. Laser treatment for acne scars can be performed on patients of most ages.
Laser Skin Resurfacing with Dr. Zuckerman for Those with Darker Skin and Certain Skin Conditions
Patients with darker skin tones may be at risk for hyperpigmentation after laser treatment. In addition, certain skin conditions such as the tendency to form keloid scars may be a contraindication for laser resurfacing or may limit its ability to be performed. In these cases, it is important to seek out a board-certified physician like Dr. Zuckerman for your treatment. He can advise you as to your options given your particular skin type.
Typically speaking, risks are lower with non-ablative lasers than with ablative devices. Dr. Zuckerman may recommend a test treatment on a small area prior to a full treatment if needed. Possible alternative treatments may include microneedling or a gentler peel.
Key Aspects of Treatment
Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment Recommended Regimen
Dr. Zuckerman recommends 4-6 treatments spaced a few weeks apart for best results. The treatment regimen can last months depending on patients’ skin type, sun protection, and other factors. Patients often visit Zuckerman Plastic Surgery for a series of laser treatments yearly.
Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment Longevity
An individual non-ablative laser treatment may have effects for up to six months after treatment.
Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment Procedure Time
Approximately 30 minutes per treatment but varies by the size of treatment area
Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment Pretreatment Guidelines
The staff may instruct patients, especially males, to shave the intended treatment area one day before treatment. Avoid using skin irritants such as retinoids or exfoliating products on the treatment area several days before and after treatment. The skin will naturally perform exfoliation of the outer layer of the skin on its own.
Dr. Zuckerman also recommends that you avoid using any creams or applying makeup day of on the area to be treated, even though that area will be thoroughly cleaned prior to treatment.
The skin will be more sensitive to the sun after treatment, and Dr. Zuckerman advises patients to apply UVA/B sun protection in the weeks after treatment.
Dr. Zuckerman and the staff at Zuckerman Plastic Surgery can recommend post-treatment care to replace such products in your daily skincare regimen with medical-grade skincare from SkinMedica or EltaMD through our online skincare shop or at the office.
Please inform Dr. Zuckerman if you are prone to hyperpigmentation, keloid formation, melasma, or other skin conditions prior to treatment, so that he may discuss your options. Those who are pregnant should not undergo laser skin resurfacing as there is a lack of research on its effects.
Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment Recovery (Downtime)
Patients may experience some redness on the day of a non-ablative laser treatment with mild peeling possible for 1-2 days afterward. Patients do not typically require time off from work or other downtime from non-ablative laser treatments.
Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment Associated Risks
Laser skin resurfacing is non-invasive and very safe, but risks include pigmentation changes, infection, or scarring. As described above, patients with darker skin and those with certain skin conditions should discuss with Dr. Zuckerman if laser treatment is appropriate for their needs.
Dr. Zuckerman demonstrates a laser skin resurfacing treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, age spots, and other aesthetic skin issues. This treatment is a great addition to regular beauty maintenance, and non-ablative lasers involve little downtime or peeling.
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