Laser Resurfacing

Risks of Laser Resurfacing
Complications of laser resurfacing are infrequent and usually minor. Nevertheless, there is always a possibility of complications, including infection, which can be from viral, bacterial or even fungal organisms. For this reason, Dr. Parson places you on both an anti-viral and an antibiotic prior to the procedure. Skin infection can potentially lead to visible permanent scarring, which is a risk of laser resurfacing. The procedure is done under a general anesthetic to achieve the best results, and rarely patients have a reaction to the anesthetic medications. There is a period of 7-14 days required for complete healing of the skin. In that interim, there is swelling, pain, weeping, and redness. This can be dramatic and disturbing to the uninformed.

There is a variable period of redness after healing that can last from weeks to months. The redness may require camouflage makeup for concealment. Exposure to the sun must be avoided for at least one year because the skin is far more sensitive to the effects of the sun after the procedure. There is the possibility that the skin will darken with activation of the pigment cells in the deeper layers of the epidermis. For this reason, Dr. Parson prepares his patients with a bleaching agent to suppress the tendency of the pigment cells to respond to the stimulus of the laser light. In most patients, some degree of bleaching occurs, which is usually advantageous. The overall pigmentation is usually made more consistent than the untreated skin, which usually shows variegation in the pigmentation. For this reason, Dr. Parson always suggests a full-face treatment if one is a candidate for the procedure, as this avoids pigmentary lines of demarcation within the aesthetic unit of the face. One can usually expect anywhere from a 50 - 70% improvement in the appearance of facial wrinkles, when evaluated at one year.

Early results can be more dramatic than results evaluated at one year. Secondary laser resurfacing is sometimes necessary for staged treatment of very deep wrinkles.

It is imperative that patients refrain from ingesting any medications or other substances that could potentially be the cause of surgical complications. A list of medications should be reviewed and discontinued at least 2 weeks prior to the operation. PATIENTS SHOULD NOT UNDERGO LASER RESURFACING IF THEY HAVE INGESTED THE ACNE DRUG ACCUTANE WITHIN 18 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE PROCEDURE. Patients are seen just prior to their surgery date for a general physical examination to ensure that no underlying medical problems exist that may interfere with the safety of their surgery. Specifically, any infections that arise prior to the operation, however seemingly trivial, should be reported to our office. Even an otherwise innocent infection can result in a surgical wound infection, and must be treated prior to surgery. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU REPORT ANY OUTBREAKS OF COLD SORES.

Previous | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Next