Laser resurfacing can cause side effects. Side effects are milder and less likely with nonablative approaches than with ablative laser resurfacing. Redness, swelling, itching and pain. Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation.
Will it hurt? While laser skin treatments do work incredibly quickly, they can be slightly irritating during the treatment itself. The pain is minimal and has been compared by patients to 'a rubber band snapping against your skin. ' After a few minutes, your skin becomes used to the pain and you don't feel it anymore.
The answer isn't a straightforward yes or no, as different patients have various tolerances for pain and discomfort than others. However, you can expect to feel slight discomfort during your laser skin resurfacing procedure; a rare number of patients may find the treatment painful.
You'll have some redness and swelling. You may also experience itching or stinging for a few days after the procedure. Depending on the treatment, some people may have what looks like a severe sunburn. The skin will be raw, oozing and may even blister.
For most patients, an average of two weeks is the expected recovery time for this treatment. Compared to other aesthetic treatments that accomplish similar tasks, such as medium chemical peels, this recovery time is on par for what you will get in exchange for the treatment.
Intensive laser resurfacing—i.e. anything that requires more than a week to recover—is best suited for those in their 40s and 50s, while gentler treatments like Clear + Brilliant are best for those in their 20s or 30s.
Treated skin may swell, itch or have a burning sensation. Redness may be intense and might last for several months. Acne. Applying thick creams and bandages to your face after treatment can worsen acne or cause you to temporarily develop tiny white bumps (milia) on treated skin.
Care for the treated skin. Your face will ooze and swell for the first 48 hours and then will quickly improve. Generally the procedure is not extremely painful, and feels more like a sunburn.
Actions To Avoid Following Laser Resurfacing
Avoid any irritants that could harm your skin. Do not use active ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, beta hydroxy acids, or retinol. Also, avoid direct sunlight or UV rays while your skin is healing.
Laser resurfacing is most commonly performed under local anesthesia with sedation, especially when it's used to treat localized areas of the face. You'll be awake but relaxed, and will feel minimal discomfort.
Swelling should be at a maximum on days 2 to 4 and start to decrease after this. You may also have some bruising. This is normal and should resolve over 7-10 days. POSITION: You should sleep with your head elevated on several pillows to help decrease swelling.
Laser hair removal is effective because it heats up your hair follicle. The heat damages your follicle, which prohibits hair growth. Because of the heat generated by the laser, you may notice that the treatment area is red afterward, and it may feel similar to a mild sunburn.
After laser resurfacing, your skin may look worse than before. Flakiness, redness, and crusting are commonplace. You may be tempted to cover these imperfections with makeup to hide scabs and flakes, but this will irritate healing skin.
Immediately using an ice pack before and after your appointment for five to 10 minutes will numb the pain. Also, ice will cause relief pain after your laser hair removal treatment. Topical numbing cream is also a great alternative to use before treatment. You should apply it 20 to 30 minutes before your appointment.
Patients can expect on average 1-2 days of redness and 1-4 days of a “sandpaper” feeling or dryness of the skin.
How many sessions of laser skin resurfacing will I need? It has been observed that going for at least three to six sessions of laser skin resurfacing treatment produces optimal results.
You may not be a good candidate for laser skin resurfacing if you have: Active acne. Very dark skin. Deep wrinkles.
To avoid further swelling, you may choose to sleep in an upright position the first night after the treatment. Sleeping on your back with an elevated pillow will also help prevent the creation of prematurely peeling skin. - If an antiviral was prescribed for you, continue to take as directed.
Laser skin resurfacing removes skin very precisely, layer-by-layer by vaporizing it. Lasers remove the outer layer of your skin – the epidermis – and heats the underlying layer, called the dermis. The lasers stimulate the growth of new collagen fibers resulting in new skin that is smoother and firmer.
For milder treatments, some patients can return to work in 2-3 days. For more aggressive treatments, you should expect a downtime period of 1-2 weeks.
Because your body is healing naturally, your skin will improve for several days or weeks after your laser skin treatment. It will make you look younger by removing wrinkles. However, most patients require more than one treatment to achieve the best results.
Yes, laser hair removal is safe for your face. Temporary side effects have been reported by a small number of patients. Depending on your skin, you may experience mild redness or swelling for an hour or two after the session.