Laser Skin Resurfacing in Fort Wayne

Knowing what to do and what to expect before your procedure will make for the best possible outcome.

If you’re a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking well before your treatment. You may be asked to use a preparatory solution on your skin for as long as six weeks before your procedure

Your laser skin resurfacing will take place in the comfort of our office. You will receive local anesthesia to minimize pain in the treated area; intravenous sedation might be an option as well. Dr. Lee will recommend the right anesthesia for you.

You should arrange for someone to drive you home after your laser skin resurfacing.

In laser skin resurfacing, a laser is used to remove the outer layer of your skin. At the same time, it heats the underlying skin, which stimulates the growth of new collagen so that your new skin will be more smooth and firm.

Dr. Lee may use the laser uniformly across your skin to produce an even injury similar to a deep chemical peel or dermabrasion. Or he may use the fractional resurfacing technique, in which he drills small holes into your skin; as it heals, it tightens across these damaged areas. Fractional laser treatment means less surface injury, but it comes with a risk of deeper injuries.

The procedure can take from a half-hour to as long as two hours, depending on the area to be treated.

After your procedure, your skin will be bandaged to protect it. You may experience some redness, swelling and stinging. If your treatment was extensive, your skin may ooze and even blister as it heals; after about a week, it will dry and peel.

You may need to change your bandages and apply special cleansers and solutions repeatedly for several days after your laser skin resurfacing. You will need to avoid sun exposure; even after your skin heals, you’ll need to use sunscreen liberally, as your skin is likely to be more sun sensitive for a significant period of time. Men will need to avoid shaving for a while.

Sleeping with an extra pillow under your head at night may speed your recovery, as may ice packs.

Your skin will be pink to red for several months, and the redness may not fade entirely for up to a year. You may be able to use camouflage makeup after a couple of weeks. You should be able to return to work after a week or two.

Laser skin resurfacing is a relatively safe procedure. And Dr. Lee is a board-certified plastic surgeon with decades of experience. But every procedure comes with risk. Those specific to laser skin resurfacing include:

• Acne flares
• Bacterial infection
• Cold sore reactivation
• Hyperpigmentation
• Prolonged redness
• Scarring
• Swelling

Many spas and other facilities are now offering laser skin resurfacing without any oversight. But Dr. Lee is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and he has carefully trained his staff to deliver the same thorough, careful approach. You can trust the Aspire specialists to provide a safe procedure and the best outcome possible.

While you may notice the only the pinkness at first, your skin will grow more beautiful as it heals further each day. Soon, you’ll see your younger-looking, blemish-free face in the mirror. And with deeper resurfacing, the results will be long-lasting.

To protect and sustain your fresh new look, Dr. Lee can recommend several remarkable products from the Aspire skin care line. Avoiding sun exposure and cigarette smoke and eating a skin-friendly diet will also allow you to enjoy the results of your laser skin resurfacing for years to come.

The key to a truly successful laser skin resurfacing is maintaining an open line of communication with Dr. Lee and adhering to his recommendations. He and his team are eager to respond to your questions—they are your partners in achieving the results that you seek.

Sources: The American Society of Plastic Surgeons; The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery