Laser Skin Resurfacing 

For treating acne scarring, surface wrinkles and blemishes.

At ARC we use Er: YAG laser skin resurfacing, with precise, micron layer-by-layer ablation control, a fractional non-ablative laser that, by removing the top layers of the skin, minimizes wrinkles, fine lines, blemishes and large facial pores. One of the benefits of Erbium laser resurfacing is minimal burning of the surrounding tissue so your recovery time is more rapid than with CO2 laser resurfacing.

How ablative fractional resurfacing works

With the Er: YAG laser skin resurfacing, pre-programmed laser energy micro beams penetrate the skin creating areas of treated tissue (a ‘micro injury’ visible in the form of tiny dots in a grid pattern) which is surrounded by untreated tissue. Those ‘micro-injured’ areas start the process of healing and the untreated areas acts as a reservoir for rapid healing. As collagen production increases, the skin tightens and texture is significantly improved.

Fractional therapy: Old, worn-out skin is ablated away by a fractional Er: YAG laser. The Precise micro-ablated channels will be replaced with new, tighter and healthy tissue as new skin forms.

Which area can be treated?

With the Er: YAG laser skin resurfacing hand piece, fractional skin resurfacing treatments are so gentle that the neck, chest, arms, hands and face can all be treated will little risk of infection.

What is the treatment like?

A topical anesthetic cream will be applied to the areas to be treated 20 minutes prior to your procedure to minimize discomfort. Once the anesthetic cream has taken affect, pulsating beams of light are delivered through a handheld device to the treatment area to precisely remove thin layers of damaged skin cells. A slight burning sensation may be felt during the procedure. On completion of the treatment, apply moisturizing cream as suggested by the doctor.

What can I expect after my treatment?

It’s important to know that skin treated with laser resurfacing may react in different ways. There will be redness, and sometimes swelling, of the skin immediately after the treatment. Once the effects of the anesthetic cream wears off, a burning sensation is felt on the treated areas, similar to a serious sunburn. This burning sensation will subside 1-2 hours post treatment. You may experience itching or stinging for 12 to 72 hours after the procedure.

In the following 3 days scabbing will form. And as it does so, the skin will significantly darken as the healing process begins. Within 5 to 9 days after laser resurfacing the protective scabbing will shed, your skin will become dry and peel.

New skin will form after the treated area has peeled. This skin will at first appear pink then should begin to gradually lighten. It usually takes about seven to 10 days for your skin to heal, and two to six months for the redness to fade completely, but this varies between individuals so it’s important to follow the doctor’s advice.

In general the treated areas heal in 10 – 21 days, depending on the nature of the condition that was treated as well as the skin type of the individual. Once the areas have healed, make-up may be worn to camouflage the pink to red color that is generally seen after laser skin resurfacing. Oil-free make-ups are recommended.

The redness in the laser-treated sites generally fades in two to three months but may take as long as six months to completely disappear. The redness generally persists longer in people with fair skin.

How many treatments are required?

The number of treatments required will depend on the severity and nature of your condition. Most patients achieve optimal results after 3-4 treatments. Treatments are typically performed in 4-6 week intervals. The final results may last for several years.

Aftercare

For the following 3 days post-treatment you will need to apply the provided moisturizer and also apply sunscreen to the treatment area.

The patient is given a saline water solution to cleanse the treated areas two times a day using dressing pads followed by the application of moisturizer cream. After 3 days of this aftercare, the patient is allowed to wet the treated areas but should avoid using scrub during showers and moisturizer has to be applied to the treated areas. This wound care is intended to prevent further scab formation.

Stay out of the sun completely until any redness has faded. Daily sunscreen application is necessary after healing to protect the newly laser-resurfaced skin. A ‘broad-spectrum’ sunscreen is recommended. A sunscreen specifically formulated for use on the face should be chosen, with at least a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 and should be used for at least 3-6 months after treatment.

Liberal moisturizer application is also recommended after healing. Patients may resume application of Retin-A and/or glycolic acid products around two weeks after laser resurfacing.

Aftercare Advice
View The Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatment Price List

Important information:

This treatment causes redness, sometimes swelling, dryness and temporary discolouration (due to scab formation) of the skin and takes 10 -21 days to heal. Sun exposure is strictly not allowed during this healing process. Anyone considering this treatment should keep this in consideration.