How Do You Prepare Before Laser Skin Resurfacing?
The following preparations can be taken before undergoing laser skin resurfacing:
- History of diseases like diabetes must be disclosed to the surgeon, as these can impact safety and outcome of the procedure.
- Susceptibility to cold sores and fever blisters should be communicated to the surgeon as the procedure can trigger these conditions.
- Medications containing isotretinoin must be stopped, as these can lead to poor healing and scarring.
- Aspirin and ibuprofen must be stopped two weeks prior to the procedure as these can cause bleeding.
- Smoking must be stopped two weeks prior to the procedure as it can delay healing and recovery.
- The patient’s skin is prepared by a series of treatments over several weeks (6 weeks or more) prior to the procedure, which increases its tolerance to laser exposure. These treatments are customized to specific skin types to minimize complications and obtain best results.
- The patient should not wear any make-up on the day of the procedure.
- The patient’s face should be scrupulously cleaned prior to the procedure, so that no traces of oil, dirt, grime or microbes remain on the surface.
What Happens During Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing is an outpatient procedure. The surgeon may treat the entire face or individual areas, such as around the eyes, mouth or forehead. The following steps are followed during the procedure:
- If small areas are being treated, a local anesthetic may be injected so that the patient does not feel any pain. But if the whole face is being treated, general anesthesia may be required.
- A sedative may be administered to keep the patient relaxed and comfortable.
- Eye protection may be used to protect the eyes from laser exposure.
- The surgeon selects the laser type that is most suited for the procedure.
- The procedure is carried out by moving the laser on the skin surface and the laser beam is accurately focused on the treatment area.
- Treating small areas of the face may require 30-45 minutes, while the whole face may take up to two hours.
- The ablative procedure may just require one session, while the non-ablative procedure may require a series of sessions for completing the treatment.
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What Happens After Laser Skin Resurfacing?
After laser skin resurfacing, the surgeon recommends the following:
- Infection control: The treatment area is bandaged and antibiotics are administered to prevent bacterial infections. The bandage is removed after 24 hours.
- Cleaning: The area should be cleaned 3-4 times a day and an ointment should be applied to moisturize the skin and prevent scab formation.
- Management of pain & inflammation: An ice pack may be used for the first day or two to ease the pain and swelling. Painkillers may also be prescribed for pain control. Swelling can be managed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Healing & recovery: There may be itching and redness at the treatment site for 12-72 hours following the procedure. The skin can become dry and peel-off after a week, requiring regular dressings. Complete healing takes around 2-3 weeks. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the area treated and the deeper the penetration of the laser, the longer it takes for recovery.
- Resumption of work: The person can resume work within 2-3 weeks of the procedure, but should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 to protect against the harmful UV rays.
