Laser Skin Resurfacing in Chattanooga Tennessee at The Plastic Surgery Group, P.C.

Chattanooga, Tennessee Laser Skin Resurfacing
The Plastic Surgery Group, P.C., in Chattanooga, Tennessee offers the latest plastic surgery procedures, including laser skin resurfacing surgery . For more information on the plastic surgery procedures we offer, visit our plastic surgery procedures page or call our plastic surgery staff at (423) 756-7134 or (800) 634-3334. You can also e-mail us your questions and we will be in touch with you shortly.

1. What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

The best way to describe laser resurfacing is as a controlled burn of the skin. Today's laser surgery is
performed principally with a carbon dioxide laser. This instrument has been designed to permit surgeons to remove the top layer of your skin with microscopic accuracy. Contained in this top layer are the blemishes which typify the aging face. These would include sun damage, age spots, fine wrinkling around the eyes and cheeks and vertical lines around the mouth. After the laser evaporates the top layer, it then grows back as new skin which appears more
youthful, smoother and tighter both to the eye and the microscope.

2. How do I know if I'm a candidate for laser skin resurfacing?

If you have healthy, lightly pigmented, non-oily skin and have any of the following changes in the quality of your skin, you may benefit from laser resurfacing. Fine lines around the eyes, acne scars, age spots, scars from an accident or injury, vertical "lip lines" or other facial imperfections are problems resurfacing will improve or eliminate. If, however, you have darker-colored skin that has scarred poorly in the past, an active skin infection or you are on medication such as Accutane, your surgeon will most likely advise you to consider a different means of helping your problem.

3. How effective is the laser in treatment of acne scars?

Acne typically leaves several different patterns of scarring in its wake. Ice pick scarring is not amenable to laser treatment. However, in our practice, acne patients can be well served by surgical removal of the deep scarring. Once these areas have healed, the uneven "orange skin" scarring typical of acne can be smoothed using the Laser. Acne scar treatment is often multi-modal. This means that other techniques such as the injection of dermal substitutes might be combined with excision of scars in addition to using the laser.

4. What are the risks of laser skin resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing is remarkably safe in the hands of plastic surgeons experienced with the technique. The anesthetic technique is also very safe. Significant complications such as scarring from the procedure are rare or virtually unheard of in the hands of experienced surgeons. Postoperative pinkness can annoy some patients. This is treated with a steroid ointment. Minor pigmentation changes are also easily managed. Your skin will feel tight and somewhat dry, but moisturizers resolve this minor change. People who have a strong history of cold sores may
suffer an outbreak after surgery. Antibiotics and antiviral medications are used to limit or prevent this occurrence.

5. Will I be red for a long time?

After laser skin resurfacing surgery, a mask or dressing ointment is placed. During the week after surgery, your body then works to replace the old skin that was removed. At the end of a week, healing is nearing completion, though there may be some scabs remaining. Soon these resolve, and a smooth layer of skin develops. This layer, being new, is somewhat pinker than your former skin. This pinkness resolves over two or three weeks and leaves the skin with a healthy glow. The degree of pinkness is very individualized. If you and your surgeon feel that you are too pink, a steroid cream can be prescribed to hurry its resolution along.

6. Will my skin color stay the same?

In the appropriately chosen patient, skin color will be better, with yellow undertones replaced by a rosy glow. However, laser surgery is not for everyone and works best in lightly skinned people. Those with deeper pigmentation could develop some staining of the treated areas that can be managed with depigmenting creams. Darkly pigmented patients are not candidates for treatment. As time passes, the treated area may be slightly lighter in color than untreated skin.

7. How long does laser skin resurfacing surgery take and when will I return to the office?

A total facial CO2 laser resurfacing takes about 90 Minutes of operating time. It is done under local anesthesia with sedation. This is a very safe technique permitting complete patient comfort and surgeon satisfaction. Surgery is not routinely performed as an outpatient.

8. Will I have dressing?

All laser patients leave the operating room with some type of dressing. These range from ointments to custom created masks. The purpose, however, of all these dressings is the same. They all allow the tender underlying skin to regrow in a protected environment after surgery. Most dressings are discontinued in about seven days.

9. Will I have to avoid the sun?

Avoiding the sun in the post operative healing period is important. This will limit any pigmentary change from occurring. Once this period expires, we always recommend the use of sun blocks both to protect your new skin and preserve its longevity.

10. Is laser skin resurfacing painful?

Although laser is a burn, it is unusual for the patient to suffer much pain after treatment. The post treatment dressing goes a long way in aiding with pain control. This being said, the dressing itself can be annoying and somewhat confining. But when it is removed, the result is quickly evident. Patients reflect on the week after surgery as a nuisance but one well worth tolerating.

11. When can I wear makeup?

As soon as your skin is healed, you may wear makeup. This is usually at the end of the second week. You may find, however, that the manner in which you use your makeup changes. Your skin will have a more youthful appearance and you may find yourself using far less cosmetics.

Back