How Laser Skin Rejuvenation Works

Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatments

Laser Peel & Skin Rejuvenation

How Laser Skin Rejuvenation Works

Laser skin resurfacing uses light waves to stimulate the skin’s natural healing process and increase collagen production in the skin. This gives the skin a more youthful, healthier appearance.

There are many different types of lasers that can impact the skin in different ways. Some remove all or part of the skin’s outer layer, the epidermis. This process is known as ablation and it stimulates the body’s natural healing process to eliminate lines, wrinkles, acne scars, brown spots, age spots, sun damage, sun spots and other visible imperfections on the outer skin. Other lasers reach into the lower layer of the skin, the dermis, to stimulate collagen production giving the skin more elasticity. Some lasers combine both effects.

You should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to understand which laser skin rejuvenation treatment might be right for you.

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Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatments - Quick Topic Navigation

To learn more about Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatments, please click on the sections below. 

• Laser Skin Rejuvenation- Intro
• How Laser Skin Rejuvenation Works (you are here)
• What Parts of the Body Can be Treated by Lasers?
• How Much Does Laser Resurfacing Cost?
• The Laser Skin Rejuvenating Procedure
• Laser Skin Treatment Recovery
• How Long Will Laser Skin Rejuvenation Treatments Last?
• Choosing a Plastic Surgeon for Your Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment
• Laser Skin Resurfacing Photos - Before and After
• Message Boards - Laser Sking Resurfacing, Peels, & Rejuvenation

 

 

Types of Lasers Used in Laser Skin Resurfacing

There are three main categories of lasers, CO2, Erbium and fractional. Fractional laser may be either CO2 or Erbium.  Fraxel® is a specific brand of fractional laser. 

CO2 Lasers (Carbon Dioxide)

CO2 lasers have been used in laser skin resurfacing longer than any other type of laser. These lasers are ablative meaning they remove the top layer of skin. CO2 lasers typically are used in aggressive treatments and have the longest recovery time.

Erbium Lasers

Erbium lasers cause less burning in surrounding tissue than CO2 lasers. Therefore, down-time may be less and recovery may be quicker with fewer side effects. Erbium laser may be more appropriate for people with dark skin than CO2 lasers.

Fractional Lasers

Fractional lasers such as the Fraxel® Laser use thousands of tiny beams of light to treat a pre- determined percentage of the skin. This “fractional” treatment allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire surface of the skin were treated at once. Fractional lasers may be either CO2 or Erbium. Please see our procedural write-up on Fraxel® Laser Treatment for more information.