Laser skin resurfacing is one of the most consistently popular treatments offered at our Langley, BC, med spa near Vancouver. Fractional laser resurfacing is one of the most effective methods of restoring a more youthful skin appearance, especially when combined with intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments.
Our ThreeForMe™ treatment using the Icon laser platform addresses 3 of the most common skin concerns—wrinkles, sun damage, and veins—in a single treatment. But this approach isn’t always what’s best for our patients, which is why we offer a range of laser treatment options.
Knowing when it’s time for laser skin resurfacing can be a bit confusing if you’re no longer getting the results you want with over-the-counter skin care products.
What Is Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing?
As its name suggests, fractional laser skin treatments affect only a fraction of the skin’s surface. Unlike ablative laser skin resurfacing procedures that vaporize the skin’s top layer, a non-ablative fractional laser such as the Palomar Icon 1540 penetrates the deeper layers of the skin without damaging the entire surface of the targeted area. It does this by delivering microscopic columns of light that leave the surrounding tissue undamaged.
In this blog post, I’ll outline 3 common skin irregularities to help you decide when a clinical treatment is more appropriate.
- Scars: Acne scars, stretch marks, and other scars, whether they’re from a past injury or surgery, can be notoriously challenging to treat because they typically originate in the skin’s deeper layers. We wrote about scar treatment options in this earlier blog post. Fractional laser resurfacing penetrates the skin and stimulates deep collagen development, fading scars that are difficult to treat with topical products. With acne scarring and stretch marks in particular, fractional laser resurfacing is one of the few options available that can make great improvements.
- Uneven tone: Areas of red and brown pigmentation can be concealed with cosmetics, but fading them in a meaningful way requires a more intensive approach. Lasers can work with topical products to redistribute and break up excess pigmentation and blood vessels.
- Wrinkles: Although there are many proven topical products available for both preventing and treating lines, lasers are often indicated when more meaningful improvements are desired. By stimulating the growth of collagen, the deeper layers of skin become stronger and more resilient, which translates into smoother and more radiant-looking skin.
After any laser treatment, it’s good practice to stay out of the sun while your skin heals. Newly resurfaced skin is especially susceptible to the sun’s harmful rays, so it’s important to give it the opportunity to heal undisturbed. Fortunately, these treatments are associated with little or no social downtime. Multiple treatment sessions separated by 4 to 6 weeks are required.
Although laser treatments are versatile and typically well tolerated, the best way to know for sure if one is right for you is through a comprehensive Advanced Skin Analysis and discussions with our experienced and friendly team here at YES Medspa.
YES Medspa’s non-ablative laser treatment packages or Icon Laser non-ablative fractional laser & Venus Legacy combination treatment packages are a great option to address stretch marks, acne scarring, or uneven skin tone & texture. You can request a consultation or call us at (604) 888-9378 for more details about how we can customize a treatment program just for you
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