Laser Skin Resurfacing and CoolPeel
Conveniently located to serve the areas of Boston, MA
There are many types of lasers that are used for a variety of different purposes. When it comes to laser skin resurfacing, the two broad categories are ablative and nonablative lasers. Nonablative lasers deliver energy in the form of heat which can cause improvements in tissue depending on how much energy is used. Ablative lasers are specific lasers that can deliver a high amount of energy in a very short period of time. Tissue gets vaporized with much less thermal injury to surrounding tissue. This leads to healing that starts within the deeper layers of the skin and causes tissue remodeling and collagen stimulation. Ablative lasers can provide a much better result with less downtime. In the past, ablative lasers were used to treat 100% of the skin surface. This resulted in a significant amount of recovery, often weeks to months. Unfortunately, this made it impossible for most patients even if they wanted treatment.
The development of fractional ablative laser treatments has dramatically decreased the healing time and has made laser skin treatments available to everyone regardless of how busy they are!
Before and After Photos
Fractional laser resurfacing uses the delivery of energy to a portions of the skin surface while leaving the tissue in between intact. Instead of treating 100% of the skin surface, it lays down tiny dots of energy that create microscopic columns of ablation. These microscopic holes stimulate tissue remodeling and collagen formation leading to improvements in the skin. By leaving tissue intact between these ablated columns, recovery is significantly faster and can be as little as 1-2 days.
Fractional laser resurfacing can improve:
- Sun damage
- Pigment
- Texture
- Mild/moderate skin laxity
- Scars
- Overall skin quality in any part of the body
CoolPeel
The Tetra CO2 laser by Deka is an ablative laser capable of delivering very precise amounts of energy. Most commonly, patients choose the CoolPeel option available on the Tetra which requires 2-3 days of downtime/redness. At this point, the only noticeable difference is that your skin will look normal, but it will feel slightly rough to touch for 1-2 weeks. Once you pass the rough skin stage of healing, your skin will feel tighter, softer, and look more even. Typically, patients will choose to have 2-3 treatments for maximal benefit.
Aggressive Fractional Treatment
While the Coolpeel is an extremely popular way of performing laser resurfacing with 2-3 days of downtime, some patients prefer to have a more aggressive treatment for more significant results with one treatment. This comes with 6-8 days of downtime involving redness, skin peeling/sloughing, and more swelling. This is different than the treatments that come with multiple weeks/months of downtime as the fractional technology allows for an improved recovery. Since it is more energy than the Coolpeel, patients can expect to see a more significant improvement in texture, fine lines, and pigment per treatment. This type of treatment is also great for a skin tightening effect around the eyes and is, many times, necessary for deep upper lip lines.
Laser resurfacing has been a game changing technology in the aesthetic world, but only in the right hands. It is extremely important that you consult with an experienced and qualified provider. Also, since not everyone is a good candidate for laser resurfacing, we recommend that you schewdule a consultation so that Dr. Lee can evaluate your skin and discuss the best treatment options for you!
Cost
Laser Skin Resurfacing and CoolPeel prices in Boston are estimates only. A quote will be provided to you during your consultation. Cick here for our pricing guide and additional information.