Question:
I’ve been reading up online about laser skin resurfacing. I’m a little confused, since I’ve read about CO2 lasers, Fraxel lasers, dot lasers, etc. What might be the best laser skin resurfacing treatment for a 42-year-old woman with freckles and sun damage on the face, neck, and décolletage?
Answer:
Certainly a consultation will be necessary to determine what laser might be best for you. The most common lasers used today are all fractionated. That means that you control the percentage of skin that is treated within an area. We have a fractionated CO2 laser (Matrix) and a fractionated erbium laser (Fraxel) The best treatment for a 42 year old will depend on the patient. The CO2 has slightly better results for wrinkles, but the Fraxel will do very well for sun damage and age spots. The CO2 is usually a one-time treatment, but requires 7-10 days of recovery. The Fraxel requires multiple treatments at one month intervals, but has an easier recovery and less dowtime.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
