Laser Resurfacing St. Petersburg

Laser resurfacing is a common procedure performed to remove fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation or sun spots, and to tighten the skin to improve laxity that comes with aging. While there are many types of lasers, the development of fractionated lasers has changed our approach to laser resurfacing. Patients want no downtime or minimal downtime after having laser resurfacing. Two options exist for minimal downtime laser resurfacing. First, you can have your treatment done with the latest technology available which is the fractionated CO2 Laser by Matrix Fractional CO2, Fraxel, or DOT Smartxide. These lasers use the same technology that traditional CO2 lasers have used for the past 15 years but reduces the downtime from 3 weeks to about 3 to 5 days. There is a trade off. While less dramatic results are obtained, most patients can spare a few days for healing. Few can spare three weeks. Option 2 is to have resurfacing using the Erbium based laser like the one offered by Sciton. Treatments cost the same and typically result in even less dramatic improvement. The only downside is that you may have less tightening of the skin compared to CO2 lasers. Erbium lasers are safer comparatively because there is less collateral damage to surrounding tissues and requires the Plastic Surgeon to air brush your treatment which underscores the artistic nature of laser resurfacing. Many complaints with regard to laser resurfacing are because physicians frequently use the “one size fits all” mentality giving all patients the same treatment when a customized treatment is really what is needed.