Laser Skin Resurfacing Procedure
Every day your skin is exposed to environmental elements such as ultraviolet radiation, free radicals, and pollution. While proper skin care is essential for helping the skin look its best, laser skin resurfacing at Charles P. Virden, MD for patients in the Reno, Nevada and Tahoe areas can enact meaningful, lasting changes in your skin health.
Laser Skin Resurfacing In Reno,NV
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Charles Virden uses precision, accuracy, and state-of-the-art equipment in order to effectively take years off a person’s appearance without harming surrounding delicate skin tissue. Laser treatments can be used on the entire face or to target specific areas such as “crow’s feet,” the glabella area between the eyebrows, forehead lines, and mouth lines, as well as the neck and chest.
Ideal Laser Skin Resurfacing Candidates
Patients who will get the most benefit out of laser skin resurfacing will want to:
- Reduce or remove facial wrinkles, creases, and lines
- Improve sun-damaged skin
- Correct pigmentation problems and spots
- Treat scars from acne, birthmarks, moles, and tattoos
- Tighten skin that has lost elasticity due to aging
What to expect during your Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser skin resurfacing can be performed in the office with no downtime. Avoiding the sun after this procedure is critical and patients should get 5 – 8 treatments for best results. Generally, post-treatment instructions call for plenty of rest and limited movement in order to speed up healing and shorten recovery time. Ointment is applied to the affected area immediately following surgery to aid with the healing process, minimize swelling, and control the risk of infection. The skin will be red and ooze for about 7 – 10 days; however, there is little discomfort with the laser resurfacing process. Any pain associated with the surgery can be treated with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the post treatment instructions. Recovery time varies with the extent of the resurfacing and the number of areas treated.
anticipated results
Usually the first week after the treatment is labor intensive. Patients are advised to wash the lasered areas regularly every few hours to facilitate healing. At about 7 – 10 days, the beautiful new skin appears and the healing process gets much easier. At this point, mineral make-up and moisturizers can be applied to the skin. A pink tint or red color to the skin is normal for about 3 weeks – 3 months. This coloring is caused by blood vessels that are laying down “new” collagen. A reduction in the appearance of wrinkles will take approximately 3 months.
Our In-House Lasers
Dr. Virden is proud to offer his clients the latest state-of-the-art laser treatments by Sciton. The JOULE remains the gold standard for ablative skin resurfacing and is used on patients with more severe skin damage. In addition, we also offer the Sciton Halo, which provides outstanding results with minimal downtime. Using the world’s first hybrid fractional laser, our Reno, NV staff uses the Halo laser to deliver both ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to target specific microscopic treatment zones on the face and body to provide outstanding surgical-like results without the downtime associated with a surgical procedure.
Fresh and New
Dr. Virden has successfully performed over 5,000 laser skin resurfacing procedures to remove deep wrinkles, liver spots, and sun damage. With his experience and skill, you can be sure that your skin treatment at his office in Reno, NV will be safe, effective, and thorough.