Should You Just.... Laser it Off? Laser Skin Rejuvenation

So, I get emails quite often from readers asking me about skin conditions, lasering, injectables, etc. I've never addressed them in the blog because as a pediatric intensivist, something that you get done in a derm or plastic surgery office is just waaaay outside of my scope of practice. So, I just don't write about it (also, my malpractice carrier asked me not to write about it). But, I've gotten a huge number of emails about lasers, and somehow it turned out that my friend Jennifer (the blogger behind My Beauty Bunny) is working with South Coast Med Spa, and blah blah blah, here's a guest post on lasering. I hope this helps those of you that were asking about it!


What is Laser Skin Rejuvenation?

Laser skin rejuvenation (also known as laser skin resurfacing) is a type of treatment that reduces acne scars, dark spots, facial wrinkles and other irregularities. In order to work, a laser sends concentrated beams of light at the damaged skin. As the pulsating beam of light hits the surface, the irregular skin is removed one layer at a time.

The best candidates for laser skin resurfacing are those who have acne scars, brown/dark spots or fine lines and wrinkles. During the procedure, the technician usually chooses between two different lasers. One option is a carbon dioxide laser, and the other option is erbium laser resurfacing. Besides eliminating acne scars and wrinkles, the procedure can also treat warts and enlarged oil glands. A carbon dioxide laser works by sending continuous light beams in a specific pattern to remove layers from the skin. Erbium laser resurfacing is ideal for patients who have moderately deep wrinkles. Many people prefer this laser because the recovery time is faster.

Prospective patients should know that laser skin resurfacing is an outpatient procedure. If the doctor only treats certain areas on the face, the procedure may only take 30 to 45 minutes. When it comes to a full-face treatment, the procedure can take up to two hours to complete. Any time that the doctor is treating small areas on the face, he or she will use a local anesthetic to numb the areas. During a full-face treatment, the patient usually receives general anesthesia.

Following surgery, it is vital for patients to apply sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher. Using sunscreen is a way for patients to protect their skin from harsh UV rays and hyperpigmentation.

The laser skin resurfacing process is an excellent way to diminish signs of aging. People can use the procedure to eliminate early wrinkles, age spots and deep lines. Laser skin rejuvenation can even treat acne scars, warts, blemishes and spider veins. Thanks to new technology, the entire procedure can be completed in less than an hour. Since it is an outpatient procedure, no hospital stay is required. This popular anti-aging procedure has proven to be safe and effective.

Guest post by Damon Scordo, General Manager of South Coast MedSpa (SCMS), a worldwide leader in laser skin resurfacing treatment for all skin types. SCMS is proud to announce the grand opening of its 4th location in San Diego. SCMS offers San Diego skin resurfacing, San Diego skin rejuvenation and San Diego acne scar removal for dark skin as well as light skin tones. SCMS also has locations in Los Angeles and Orange County.