Laser skin resurfacing - Chemical face peeling
It has been mentioned in the preceding
sections that the fine wrinkles of dry, weather-beaten skin with transverse
creases of the forehead or vertical etching of the upper and lower
lips cannot be removed by the face lift. These effects of aging are
best treated by laser resurfacing. The results of this treatment are
frequently described as the exchange of "prunes for peaches".
Figure 30-a
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Figure 30-b
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Deep chemical
peeling, or laser resurfacing alone, or combined with a face lift
is most frequently carried out in the area around the mouth.
Figure 31-a
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Figure 31-b
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Figure 40-a
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Figure 40-b
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Laser
skin resurfacing was carried out to diminish these patients deep
wrinkles around
the mouth. Only one treatment was used. Some of the initially seen
deep crevices can be
further improved by another laser application 6 months after the original
treatment.
- Peeling or laser treatment may be
done as a separate procedure or it may be a part of facial rejuvenation
in conjunction with face lifting and eyelid surgery.
- YOU MUST STOP USING MAKEUP AND ALL
FACIAL CREAMS ONE DAY BEFORE SURGERY.
- Wash your face several times with
soap and water before coming for treatment.
- A face peel or laser resurfacing are
performed under sedation with local freezing.
- You will receive explicit instructions
regarding topical preparations to be used on the skin before and
after the treatment.
- AVOID facial movements ie. smiling and talking, pursing
of the lips as these will interfere with the healing process.
- During the first seven to ten days
following the treatment, the skin will be "weeping" and
you will apply the necessary preparation to diminish crust formation.
At this stage you will be required to wash the entire face gently
with lukewarm water and soap at least four times a day.
- After ten days, when new skin is formed,
makeup may be used to camouflage the redness. The redness usually
disappears after eight weeks but, at times, may last up to eight
months. The only restriction after these procedures is avoidance
of prolonged exposure to sun light for at least eight months to prevent
the development of blotchy pigmentation.
You should also know
that:
- Fair complexions tend to do better
than others. Thick, coarse, more deeply wrinkled skin may need two
applications in certain areas.
- Post-operative discomfort may last
from one to four days and may be eased with medication.
- Considerable crusting and swelling,
which occurs after a few days may cause a frightening appearance.
The patient must be mature enough emotionally and willing to accept
this in order to achieve the desirable end result.
- The most commonly treated area is
that around the mouth. If multiple segments of the face require treatment,
general anaesthetic may be preferable.
What are the risks?
- Some areas of the skin may become
lighter in tone permanently and therefore light makeup may have to
be used to effect a uniform appearance. This side effect is less
likely to occur after laser treatment than after chemical peeling.
- Patients with a history of recurring
fever blisters may have a bad flareup after peeling or laser resurfacing.
- Scratching the face with one's fingernails
too soon after the treatment may cause scarring.
- There are also other remote risks
as in any form of treatment. Please discuss them with me during your
office visit.
Removal of skin blemishes
and moles
Facial skin blemishes and moles often
increase in size and number with aging. In most instances, their removal
has purely cosmetic significance. Sometimes, however, they may represent
early skin cancer and they should be excised at an early stage when
they are still curable. Depending on the character of the lesion, various
methods of treatment, leaving minimal signs of surgical interference
or no signs of surgery whatsoever, can be used. At times, laser resurfacing
to camouflage the scars or dermabrasion (sanding of the area where
the lesion was shaved off) will be used for the best aesthetic result.
A popular belief, from years gone by,
about various skin blemishes changing into cancer if "tampered"
with surgically is scientifically and totally incorrect. Most of these
lesions will never change into cancer and those that are potentially
cancerous must be treated as early as possible. Regardless, the nature
of the skin blemish, all of them, when removed, are subjected to detailed
microscopic examination to make a reliable diagnosis.
Dermabrasion - facial
sanding
Dermabrasion has now been almost completely
replaced with laser skin resurfacing. There are a few exceptions. One
of them is the treatment of the skin area following removal of benign
moles and other skin lesions.
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