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Phone 512.401.2500 | Fax 512.401.2501
2745 Bee Caves Road, Suite 101
Austin,
Texas
78746
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Question:
I’m interested in laser skin resurfacing and wondering if there’s one type of laser that’s considered the best or if different lasers are used for different problems.
Answer:
Different lasers are definitely utilized for different skin conditions. Skin pigmentation or vascularity can be addressed with a vascular laser or photo facial treatments. Pigmentation and fine wrinkles can be addressed utilizing a fractionated erbium laser such as a Fraxel re:store. Deeper pigmentation or wrinkling issues are better addressed using a fractionated carbon dioxide laser or deep chemical peel. Certainly each of these devices has a different recovery time and a risk profile which can be discussed at the time of consultation.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I have a deep scar on my face from an injury about a year ago. What are my options for having this area filled in and minimizing the appearance of the scar?
Answer:
There are many different ways to improve a scar. The choice depends on the location, shape, direction, length, depth and pigmentation of the skin. Techniques include simple excision and closure; filling the scar with Restylane, Juvederm, Sculptra or Radiesse; excision and closure with a scar “irregularizing” technique or resurfacing the skin with dermabrasion or laser.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
What are some of the risks of laser skin resurfacing?
Answer:
There are many different types of lasers used for skin resurfacing. Some of them have very few risks other than pigmentation changes. Erbium and especially C02 lasers have the greatest risk, but also the greatest potential reward. Fractionating these lasers has made the recovery and the risk much less while maintaining a very nice result. With a fractionated technology only a portion of the skin is removed instead of the entire outer layer being removed. This portion can be adjusted to improve outcome or limit down-time. Risks still exist and while rare include, hyperpigmentation (increased pigmentation which is temporary), hypopigmentation (which with traditional C02 is common, but rare to impossible with properly administered fractionated laser), milia (temporary white bumps), acne outbreak, prolonged redness, bacterial infection, viral infection, fungal infection and possible scarring.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
There are so many different types of laser skin resurfacing procedures out there that it can get very confusing. What laser procedures do you perform and what are they best at treating?
Answer:
You are exactly correct in your assessment. There are two main groups of laser treatments however, ablative and non-ablative. This term refers to whether the epidermis is disrupted during the procedure or not. Non-ablative procedures include intense-pulsed light (photofacial), KTP vascular lasers and others. Industry further confuses this by giving other names to devises like “cool glide”. Non-ablative devises are good at reducing problems confined to the dermis such as redness and pigment. Different devises are better at improving different conditions. In the non-ablative category we use a KTP laser and a pulsed-dye laser for pigment and a combination of IPL/photofacial and a Fraxel laser for pigment. Non-ablative lasers are not very good at reducing wrinkles. The Fraxel restore laser crosses the barrier between ablative and non-ablative as it leaves the very top layer of the epidermis intact to aide in fast-healing, but affects the living layers of the epidermis and dermis to provide some wrinkle reduction. For significant wrinkle reduction we use an ablative fractionated CO2 laser or deep chemical peeling. These modalities have a longer recovery time, but also provide the best results.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
Is Erbium laser resurfacing a good treatment for acne scars?
Answer:
As with most treatments, the tool is not as important as how you use it. Acne scars can be treated with Fraxel re:store which is an Erbium glass laser, with a traditional Erbium laser, with CO2 laser, with dermabrasion or with other resurfacing modalities. Erbium laser, whether in the form of Fraxel or another device, is a reasonable alternative for treating acne scars. A discussion should occur between the patient and surgeon to determine which procedure is best suited.
Please visit us or contact us by e-mail for more info about Facial Plastic Surgery in Austin, TX.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’ve heard of light treatments like IPL and LED. How are these different from laser resurfacing?
Answer:
IPL is intense pulsed light. LED is a light emitting diode. Light differs from a laser in that it is a broad wavelength of light verses a single wavelength. The broadband light of IPL is then filtered down to a narrower spectrum on light targeted at different problems such as pigmentation or vasculature. Lasers come in many different wavelengths and with other variable features. There are too many to count. Laser resurfacing refers to lasers that target water such as the CO2 or Erbium lasers. These are used to reduce wrinkles, pigmentation and improve skin thickness. Again, many different devises to achieve this task are available.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I have recently had an accident (2 months ago) and have a very nasty scar on my face. Should I come in for a consultation about this now or should I wait for it to heal more?
Answer:
Under most circumstances we will allow a scar to mature for 9-12 months before revising. We do this because many scars will heal well enough in this amount of time so that they will not need any revision. In certain circumstances however, a scars orientation or repair will obviously not look good regardless of the amount of time. In these instances an earlier repair may be appropriate. A consultation now will not hurt even if the recommendation is to wait to determine if a revision is necessary.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I am a 52-year-old man interested in laser skin resurfacing. How long must I wait after the procedure to start shaving again?
Answer:
Usually shaving can begin following complete reepithelialization. We have the patient’s utilize a special facial cleanser as a shaving lubricant rather than shaving cream for the early time period. Usually you need to wait 8-10 days to shave. This time is variable based upon the depth of the laser resurfacing and the individual healing time.
