The laser beam became, at one time, a real discovery in cosmetology - in 75% of cases it was able to replace injection procedures and surgical interventions. Laser facial rejuvenation is not only about smoothing wrinkles and wrinkles, eliminating excess pigmentation, increasing skin firmness and elasticity: the rays can soften the relief of the epidermis as much as possible and remove scars. It has been proven that this procedure also has a therapeutic effect, facilitating the treatment of some dermatological diseases.
What is laser facial rejuvenation?
The procedure is carried out using special equipment; the beam moves across the surface of the facial skin in a "glove" and penetrates deep into the dermis. High frequencies and heating ensure the destruction of old skin cells, while the surrounding healthy tissue remains unchanged. It is in them that the processes of active production of collagen and elastin begin - these substances are necessary to restore damage. The renewed skin is absolutely healthy and fully functional.
Depending on which area of the face requires laser rejuvenation, the doctor will choose the optimal treatment temperature, which will eliminate the formation of burns.
Laser facial rejuvenation is not a traumatic procedure, does not require general anesthesia and does not imply a long period of rehabilitation with the patient staying in the clinic.
Indications and contraindications for laser lifting
Laser facial rejuvenation is a unique cosmetic procedure that has a complex effect and solves several problems at the same time. Therefore, there are many indications - in a modern clinic, doctors recommend taking a course of several sessions if you have:
- wrinkles in any area of the face– deep facial folds, related to age;
- decrease in skin elasticity– ptosis (falling of the eyelids), the formation of needles, the "floating" oval of the face;
- external skin defects– scars, acne marks and mechanical removal of large acne, stretch marks;
- changes in complexion- the appearance of yellow spots on the skin, a gray tint, a complete lack of natural redness;
- excessive oiliness of the epidermis– accompanied by enlarged pores, frequent occurrence of acne and an oily sheen;
- puffiness and bags, dark circles under the eyes;
- rosacea– vascular manifestations in the epidermis such as "nets", "stars".
Although laser facial rejuvenation is considered a safe procedure, somecontraindicationsto make it happen there are:
- periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- oncological pathologies, regardless of the location of the malignant neoplasm;
- diabetes mellitus of any type;
- improper functioning of the thyroid gland with excessive or insufficient synthesis of hormones;
- mental disorders;
- neurological diseases such as epilepsy (associated with convulsive syndrome);
- predisposition to the formation of keloid scars;
- psoriasis, eczema, herpes with scars on the face.
There are also a number of conditional restrictions - aggravation of chronic internal pathologies, elevated body temperature, menstruation, skin damage in the areas of alleged exposure to laser rays: it is necessary to wait until the general state of health is restored.
Advantages and disadvantages of laser skin resurfacing
The procedure in question is one of the most popular and this is not surprising - it has many advantages, which the doctor expresses even in the initial consultation:
- under the influence of laser rays, natural biological processes are activated in the cells of the dermis - regeneration, metabolism, production of collagen and elastin;
- the procedure can be performed for any skin type, regardless of the severity of age-related changes and existing dermatological problems (there are isolated exceptions from the list of contraindications);
- the probability of scar formation decreases to zero and increases only if you ignore the recommendations of specialists regarding skin care during the rehabilitation period;
- allergic reactions and infectious complications are excluded, although they are inherent in surgical interventions and injection techniques;
- lack of a complete rehabilitation period - in just a few days the skin is restored, the use of medications is not required;
- The side effects are small, disappear quickly and belong to the category of the body's normal reaction to aggressive influence.
There are also some "disadvantages" of laser skin rejuvenation:
- to get a pronounced effect, you will need to do a course of several sessions;
- the results last for a shorter period of time compared to beauty injections and surgical interventions;
- the requirements for the preparatory period must be met.
Only three disadvantages are perfectly compensated by the benefits of laser facial rejuvenation!
Types of laser resurfacing
The procedure under consideration can be performed using different methods - each of them is safe and very effective. During the consultation, the doctor will tell the patient about any type of laser facial rejuvenation; the choice will be made taking into account individual parameters - age, initial condition of the skin, presence of internal pathologies and dermatological diseases, severity of age. - related changes.
Ablative methods
It is performed with full or partial laser beams. During the work, the doctor completely cleans the surface layer of the epidermis from "old" cells or damages them at a shallow depth. Skin restoration occurs due to the active production of collagen, elastin and cell division of healthy tissues surrounding the sites of radiation exposure. The new skin is firm, elastic and even in tone.
Ablative methods permanently damage the epidermis, so their recovery period will be slightly longer than others.
Fractional
The laser beam is distributed through a special network on microbeams - the damage to the epidermis affects only 20-25% of the area, the remaining cells remain unchanged and fully functional. Such a targeted effect promotes the evaporation of fluids from cells and the rapid renewal of regeneration processes. Intact cells begin to produce collagen and elastin in large quantities - this is necessary for healing the damage caused.
Since the partial type of laser facial rejuvenation involves only partial damage to the epidermis, recovery takes only a few days.
Laser biorevitalization
This involves a combination of two techniques - cell damage to stimulate biological processes and the introduction of hyaluronic acid into the layers of the dermis. The device gives short pulses and repeats them many times - this makes it possible to "break" dead cells. At the same time, the laser delivers the selected drug to the desired depth - this parameter is determined by the doctor.
Laser biorevitalization is especially advisable for pronounced signs of aging on the face - deep wrinkles, wrinkles and folds. It has a cumulative effect and a prolonged effect - an improvement in appearance will be observed for another 2-3 months after the course of procedures is completed.
Full beam
The skin is exposed to a full beam, which leads to damage to the entire epidermis. This method is perfect for those who have a variety of cosmetic and dermatological problems. In fact, after this type of laser rejuvenation, the surface layer of the face is 100% renewed. It is what cosmetologists prescribe to those patients who want to get rid of scars, scars and scars after acne.
There is a long recovery - hospitalization is not required, but it is worth taking 7-10 days to rest, perform skin care procedures and not worry about your appearance during the rehabilitation period.
Non-ablative method
Works great on sagging skin, deep folds/wrinkles and excess pigmentation. This allows you to treat a large area of skin at once in one procedure - for example, all areas of the face. The advantage of the non-ablative method is that the deep layers of the dermis are damaged, the epidermis remains unchanged.
This type of laser facial rejuvenation also has a pleasant "side effect" - in addition to rejuvenation, the elimination of age spots, narrowing of pores and acne scars become minimally visible.
surface
This is the most painless and safest method of the procedure in question - during the process, only the surface cells are exposed to laser rays, and even the basement membrane remains intact. This technique perfectly solves the problem of the initial stages of aging, corrects the tone of the face and eliminates uneven relief.
A distinctive feature is that recovery takes only 3 days, and the results obtained last 6-12 months.
average
It is recommended for those patients who already have wrinkles, including age spots, age spots and slightly sagging skin. Belonging to the category of laser peels, the rays have an effect at a depth of no more than 1. 3 mm.
The procedure is performed using anesthetic gel, after which the patient may experience discomfort and even mild pain for another 24 hours. Rehabilitation lasts at least 5 days.
Deep
The laser beam damages all layers of the epidermis, including the papillary layer. The procedure for deep laser rejuvenation is painful, but only it can solve the problem of pronounced age-related changes. Cosmetologists recommend this technique for patients aged 50 and over.
Rehabilitation lasts up to 2 weeks, but if you follow all the doctor's prescriptions during this period, the obtained results will last for 4 years (on average).
How to prepare for laser skin resurfacing?
As part of the preparatory phase, an initial consultation with a specialist takes place. During it, the doctor examines the skin of the face, assesses its condition, identifies problems, excludes or confirms the presence of contraindications. The cosmetologist immediately decides on the choice of laser rejuvenation method and the number of sessions per course. Then, the patient is given recommendations for preparation for the procedure - it begins 14 days before the scheduled date. What is important to do:
- do not expose your face to ultraviolet rays (sun), do not visit a sunroom;
- refuse to perform any cosmetic procedures that are associated with skin disorders/damages - peeling, facial cleansing;
- Stop using certain medications (fluoroquinolones, diuretics, sulfonamides, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) only after consulting your doctor.
3 days before the scheduled date of laser facial rejuvenation, you should stop drinking alcoholic beverages, it is advisable to stop smoking (or radically reduce the number of cigarettes) and not to introduce foods from the category of allergens into your diet (strawberries, chocolate, raspberry, citrus, seafood).
Laser rejuvenation procedure
The procedure itself begins with a control examination of the face - the doctor must make sure that there are no inflammations, scratches or fresh tan on the surface of the skin. After that, laser rejuvenation is carried out in stages:
- Cleansing the face from the remains of decorative cosmetics, dust and dirt- performed using tonics and professional lotions that do not contain alcohol.
- Skin disinfection- the face is treated with an antiseptic solution, which prevents the penetration of infectious agents into the epidermis.
- Anesthesia- it is not performed for every type of procedure, but at the request of the patient, anesthetic gel must be applied. After that, the doctor waits 15-20 minutes - this time is enough for the analgesic properties of the applied product to appear.
- Laser skin treatment itself. The patient may experience warmth, tingling or burning. Be sure to direct a stream of cold air to your face - this relieves the condition and reduces the intensity of unpleasant sensations.
- Application of a soothing mask- relieves inflammation, helps to quickly eliminate swelling, redness and reduces the severity of itching.
Immediately after the end of the session, the patient can leave the clinic, having previously received recommendations from the doctor regarding the recovery period.
Laser facial rejuvenation: before and after photos
Recovery after the procedure
The duration of the recovery period depends on the type of laser facial rejuvenation. The minimum period is 2-3 days, but more often rehabilitation takes 5-10 days. Regardless of what technique was used, in the first 24 hours after the session it is strictly forbidden to touch the face with hands or even wash the face. In the next 3 days of recovery:
- It is strictly forbidden to perform thermal procedures - visiting a bath, sauna or taking a hot bath should be postponed;
- You cannot use tap water for washing - it has a high chlorine content, which leads to burns and irritation;
- you don't need to be outside for a long time - ultraviolet rays (they penetrate even through dense clouds) will provoke strong pigmentation;
- Do not use cosmetics containing ethanol for cleaning and when washing use a washcloth or scrub (even soft, soft ones);
- Treat your face with moisturizing cream 2-3 times a day;
- Apply products containing panthenol to the skin once a day.
Within 2 months after the said procedure, chemical peels are strictly prohibited! And even in cloudy weather, you will need to apply sunscreen with a high SPF index on your face.
You can not forcefully remove crusts or scratch your face - this can cause the formation of scars that can only be removed surgically.
Possible complications and consequences
Immediately after the session, the facial skin becomes red, very itchy and has a burning sensation - this is a normal reaction to damage to the epidermis and deeper layers of the dermis. If the discomfort is severe, then you should take antihistamine tablets, the choice of which will be recommended by a cosmetologist. On the 2nd day after laser facial rejuvenation, active peeling begins. The listed effects are normal, there is no need for any action, it is enough to strictly follow the rehabilitation recommendations given by the specialist.
If on the skin of the face:
- rashes appeared in the form of small pimples;
- there are signs of inflammation;
- wounds began to form,
then you should contact the clinic for a consultation. Most often, this happens if the patient himself did not follow the rules of the recovery period.
Opinions on laser resurfacing
Our patients leave only positive reviews for any type of laser facial rejuvenation. This is not only for the properties and skills of the procedure, but also for the high professionalism of the working doctors. They have sufficient knowledge and experience, work on modern certified equipment and strictly respect international protocols for conducting sessions.
FAQ
Any questions about the procedure can be asked to the cosmetologist during the initial consultation. But since most of them are standard, below are the answers to the most popular ones.
Who can undergo laser skin resurfacing?
Men and women aged 18 and over. It is important that they do not have conditions that are included in the list of contraindications. Laser facial skin resurfacing is an excellent alternative to surgery.
What effect does the procedure give, apart from rejuvenation?
A laser beam can remove scars, tattoos, acne scars and acne. There is a general improvement of the skin - inflammatory processes will stop, the production of sebaceous secretions will decrease and the pores will be narrowed.
How long does a laser facial rejuvenation session last?
A procedure lasts 30-60 minutes. If the doctor uses local anesthetics, the duration of the session increases by 15-20 minutes (the duration of the gel).
When will the first results appear?
Immediately after rehabilitation, the skin of the face is transformed. It becomes smooth, without pigment spots, toned, elastic, small wrinkles are softened.
Is it possible to combine laser facial rejuvenation with other procedures?
Yes, but to a limited extent and only after consultation with a cosmetologist! After completing the course, injectable fillers and botulinum therapy are allowed.
How many procedures are needed?
It is usually recommended to take a course of 2-5 sessions with a break of 2-4 weeks.
In a professional clinic, specialists are ready to provide a comprehensive service for laser facial rejuvenation - from an initial consultation to monitoring the condition of the skin during the rehabilitation period. Specialists work only with professional equipment; the procedure is performed in strict accordance with existing protocols, which reduces the risk of side effects and complications to zero.