CO2 Laser Resurfacing

CO2 Laser Resurfacing

The aging process is tough on our skin especially in Southern California. Loss of elastin, collagen, facial volume and environmental factors all combine to produce lax skin with uneven tones, fine lines and wrinkles. Although skin care and good nutrition help maintain healthy skin, we can still need additional help.

Co2 laser has been a part of facial rejuvenation procedures for over 20 years. Innovation in the field came with the advent of the fractional technology. Prior to this the entire surface of the skin was burned. This created dramatic improvement in the skin but there was a heavy price. The device was too powerful to be used on the neck. During that time it was common to see woman with porcelain white faces and brown necks. Many woman were also left with patchy areas of hypopigmentation, or color loss, adjacent to their normally pigmented skin requiring life long make up to camouflage the imbalance. Some woman ended up with areas of redness which did not resolve.
Fractional laser has minimized those complications and allowed for control of how much of the surface of the skin is treated during the application while yielding excellent results.

During the treatment the cheeks and neck can be treated with a lower density while the areas about the mouth and eyes can be addressed more aggressively. The circular muscles around the eyes and mouth cause more damage to the skin than the linear muscles of the cheeks and neck.
The actual treatment of the face, neck and chest are usually done under anesthesia as the procedure can be painful.
The post-operative discomfort is very manageable but the swelling is impressive. This usually resolves by the third or fourth day. Soothing balms are placed on the skin multiple times throughout the day for the first five days. The skin is usually healed by the fifth day although it is still red. Mineral based foundations can be used at this time.

Results are immediate and continue to demonstrate improvement over the following three months. Dr Kessler will recommend a skin care regimen with the KesslerMD line to maintain your results.