Why Choose Laser Skin Resurfacing for Skin Rejuvenation

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Spots, fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin are typical symptoms of ageing. But honestly, nobody loves them. They’re symbols of a decline in the body’s natural healing process and not something that most people are proud of. Fortunately, with progress in treatment technology, there are ways to reduce and even eliminate these little “tells.” One of them is using laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation.

If you’ve been looking into clearing up your wrinkles, you may have come across this technology before. Although using laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation sounds like a new technique, it’s not. The use of infrared lasers for medical procedures started over a decade ago. 

It may seem a little scary to think about a heat ray coming at your face, but this procedure is not as frightening as it sounds. If you want to know what getting laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation entails, this blog is for you. We also discuss why you should go for laser skin resurfacing as opposed to other treatment options.

What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is a cosmetic procedure that involves the use of a laser beam to remove blemishes from the skin. New technology in this field can give your medical aesthetician fantastic control over the area of skin to be treated. This means that this procedure can also be used on delicate skin. 

Laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation is an effective method because healing doesn’t take a lot of time. This means there is little to no downtime and you can get back to your daily routine as quickly as possible. 

What Flaws Can Laser Skin Resurfacing Remove?

This procedure is useful for the removal of a whole host of skin related problems.

  • Scars
  • Warts
  • Saggy skin
  • Crow’s feet
  • Fine lines and wrinkles
  • Age spots
  • Uneven skin tone
  • Acne scars
  • Post-surgery unresponsive skin
  • Enlarged pores

If you have any of the above skin problems, book a consultation for laser skin resurfacing treatment sessions in Toronto first. Using laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation may be a less invasive cosmetic procedure. However, it is still a cosmetic procedure, one that requires planning and careful preparation. 

How Does Laser Skin Resurfacing Work?

Though laser skin resurfacing is used to create a more even skin tone and remove blemishes, it doesn’t aim for melanin or capillaries. Instead, the targets are water molecules inside the dermis’ collagen layer. 

Here is a quick rundown of how laser skin resurfacing works. The heat from the laser creates a grid. These grids are designed to get the body to produce more collagen and speed up the healing process for damaged skin. It is the increased production of collagen and faster healing that gives patients tighter, smoother, and more even skin.

Though we’ve summarized the process of laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation, it’s a lot more complicated. Depending on what skin problems you have, different lasers and procedures may be used. Most medical aestheticians who offer this service have several laser treatment options for skin rejuvenation.

Some of these lasers have to penetrate more deeply into your skin, especially for heavily damaged skin like areas with old scars. Because of these differences in penetration levels, laser skin resurfacing treatments can be roughly divided into four types.

Types of Lasers for Laser Skin Resurfacing

Using laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation is an easy way to solve your skin problems. But the procedure is defined by essential factors. Factors like how fast you will get results, the length of your recovery time, how painful the process will be, and how many sessions you’ll undergo will be decided depending on the type of technology used.

We’d like to reiterate that the following types are categories of lasers used when applying laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation. Each class is a type of technology used when performing this procedure. They are NOT the procedure themselves. We will discuss that later.

Ablative Lasers

Ablative lasers are useful for more aggressive laser treatments. They can be used to resolve all sorts of skin issues, but they can be quite painful. An ablative laser works by removing the epidermis. That means the top layer of the skin is destroyed. While this is happening, the laser will warm up the dermis – the skin’s lower layer. This encourages the growth of new skin cells and the creation of collagen. 

More collagen and faster healing will lead to newer, tighter, clearer, and firmer skin. The advantage of laser skin resurfacing using this type of laser is speed. Patients who undergo the procedure using ablative lasers will only need one session to clear all issues. 

Since the problem is usually taken care of within one session, it’s a more cost-effective method. Also, it is highly effective. However, it penetrates deeply under the skin. Therefore, it is more painful and requires a more extended recovery period.

Non-ablative Lasers

Non-ablative lasers offer a more gentle alternative for those who don’t mind undergoing multiple procedures. These lasers don’t harm the epidermis and only stimulate collagen production by gently warming the dermis. They’re a lot less painful, but the cost of laser skin resurfacing with this type of laser is expensive.

Also, laser skin resurfacing treatments with non-ablative lasers takes time. In fact, you may have to come back for several sessions. Since the epidermis damage is less, there will also be a decrease in healing time. You’ll only need a few days to heal up. Over a longer period, these lasers can offer great skin rejuvenation results.

Fractional Lasers

Fractional lasers are great for treating specific areas for people with problems like sun or age spots, crow’s feet, etc. They can either be ablative or non-ablative. 

Fractional lasers work by breaking up the laser beam into thousands of tiny beams. This allows the laser to have a more precise aim. This way, the laser skin resurfacing risks are reduced, especially for patients who have specific problem areas. Laser skin resurfacing with this type of beam usually comes with a short recovery time.

Non-fractional Lasers

Non-fractional lasers are also quite effective (depending on the machine used). However, they are far less precise. They’re great for people who have a large patch of skin with problems like scars or discolouration.

Laser Skin Resurfacing in Toronto: The Treatment Types

Apart from the four laser categories in the previous section, there are different methods used during laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation. We’ll start with one of the more well-known and effective laser skin resurfacing procedures.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Treatment

This treatment uses an ablative laser to remove the skin in a controlled manner. Depending on your skin problem, the medical aesthetician will decide the amount of energy and depth of penetration necessary.

The laser skin resurfacing results to expect include new, less blemished or even completely smooth skin. The laser also provides a tightening effect because of the increased production of collagen. This can be significant, especially when tackling sensitive areas like under the eyes where skin tends to slacken quickly.

Though CO2 uses an ablative laser, patients are usually given a numbing agent in the problem area. Because of this, the procedure is generally fast and painless. The risks for this treatment are also pretty low, and common side effects like redness, swelling and irritation can occur. 

In fact, the risk that comes with this type of laser resurfacing treatment can be minimized to nearly nothing with an expert medical aesthetician, an honest patient and a good aftercare routine. If you have all of these qualities, then you’ll be able to use laser skin resurfacing to get your beautiful skin back.

Erbium Treatment

Erbium lasers are also a type of ablative laser. However, it is worthy of note that they can be more gentle compared to CO2 lasers. Since they are more gentle, they’re a lot less effective when dealing with deeper skin issues.

The Erbium laser, also known as Er:YAG, has a much more superficial penetration than the CO2 laser.  It’s also very likely that you’ll need a second session or more. This can waste a lot of time and money.  The Erbium laser should only be used for uneven tones, fine lines and wrinkles. It is not as efficient as CO2 when dealing with heavier damage and sagging skin.

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment

IPL treatments can be categorized as a non-ablative laser procedure. It’s also known as a photo facial. Typically, this treatment is gentle on the skin. Medical aestheticians only need to apply some numbing cream on the patient before starting the procedure. There’s also no downtime for this procedure.

However, it also follows that this procedure can’t be used for severe skin issues. Instead, IPL treatments are great for people with uneven skin tones, sun spots, freckles, etc. 

The light penetrates the dermis without harming the top layer of the skin and destroys the unwanted pigment. IPL Treatments are usually spread out over a few short sessions and are typically inexpensive. Also, the results won’t become evident until 3 to 5 sessions. If you choose this method to achieve your skin goals, be prepared to be in it for the long term.

When to Get Laser Skin Resurfacing

Fall and winter are the best seasons for laser skin resurfacing treatment. The reason for this is because of the low sunlight. Because lasers or light energy is used during treatments, your skin will be a lot more sensitive following the procedure. The sunlight is a lot less intense during fall and winter, making it an ideal time to start your treatment.

Related article: Skin Tightening vs. Skin Rejuvenation

What to Expect Before, During and After the Procedure

Here are some things to know about laser skin resurfacing.

The Cost

The cost of laser treatments is dependent on your skin problems, the type of procedure you need, where you live and your treatment provider. However, here are some estimates on laser skin resurfacing costs in Toronto.

For spots, scars and hyperpigmentation removal, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500 per session.  For a full facial, you may have to pay $1500 to $2500 per session. While laser skin resurfacing costs in Toronto are relatively affordable, prices can skyrocket in areas with few specialists and little competition.

Before the procedure starts, you’ll have to do the following,

  • You’ll have to schedule a consultation with your medical aesthetician, where you’ll have to be completely honest about your medical history (this is important). You’ll also have to undergo a physical exam and discuss your expectations.
  • Your expert may prescribe some medication before the procedure that’ll help prevent infection. 
  • You’ll need to prevent unprotected sun exposure.
  • It’s advisable that if you smoke, stop at least two weeks before the treatment. This is even more important if you’re undergoing an ablative laser treatment. Smoking can delay wound healing, which is counterproductive and dangerous.
  • Understand what anesthesia will be applied during the procedure so you can make preparations for the journey home after your treatment. 

During the Procedure

This part is the medical aesthetician’s domain. However, there are a few things to note for the patient:

  • Though we’ve discussed pain levels, a good medical aesthetician will numb your skin during the procedure. You may feel a slight tingle, but that’s about it.
  • Unless your skin issue is exceptionally severe, laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation usually involves outpatient care. That is, you can get the treatment done and go home on the same day. 
  • The procedure can take between 30 minutes to two hours.

After the Procedure

A few things to know about laser skin resurfacing post-treatment are:

  • If your beauty care provider uses an ablative laser treatment, redness and swelling aren’t uncommon; neither is light itchiness. Your medical aesthetician may have to bandage the treated areas to avoid infection.
  • Non-ablative treatments will hurt much less. You may only need to apply some ointment to the treated area. 
  • After about a week, new skin will begin to grow. During this time, remember not to use any skincare products that can irritate your skin. Also, stay away from places and activities where chances of infection are more likely e.g. swimming.

Advantages of Laser Skin Resurfacing

The advantages of laser skin resurfacing treatments include;

  • It can shave years off of your appearance
  • You can get a more even skin tone
  • The procedure doesn’t take a long time
  • The recovery period won’t leave you immobile 
  • You can also gain tight skin.

Why Choose Laser Skin Resurfacing for Skin Rejuvenation

There are many reasons why our experts recommend laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation. 

  • It doesn’t take a long time for patients to recover. Most patients recover from even the most invasive laser skin resurfacing treatments within 1-2 weeks.
  • Laser skin resurfacing results become visible quickly.
  • You can choose from a variety of techniques that’ll get you to your skin goals. You can choose between ablative and non-ablative treatments. 
  • You don’t have to be unconscious during the treatment.
  • If you hate the sight or smell of blood, the lack of it during the procedure is why you should choose laser skin resurfacing.
  • Laser skin treatments in Toronto are quick. You get to go home in a couple of hours. 

To Cap It Off

Most patients who undergo laser skin resurfacing for skin rejuvenation via ablative lasers usually start to see changes a week after the treatment. The results are generally very noticeable in terms of skin quality and appearance. Also, with proper care and adequate protection from sunlight, the effects can last years. 

On the other hand, non-ablative laser treatments will need multiple sessions. Also, the process of skin rejuvenation will be more gradual. You’ll have to choose which results you prefer. 

But whichever one you pick, you still need the right medical spa to start laser skin resurfacing treatments for skin rejuvenation. The medical aesthetician who handles your laser skin resurfacing treatments can significantly enhance or reduce the results. 

If you want to get stellar laser skin resurfacing treatment in Toronto, then check out our world-class spa for laser skin resurfacing, today! Canada MedLaser is home to expert aestheticians with years of experience carrying out laser skin treatments. More importantly, our spa is outfitted with the latest laser tech. With us, beautiful, smooth skin is just a few laser resurfacing treatments away!

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