PIXEL SKIN RESURFACING
Laser Skin Resurfacing
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​If aging, acne, or too much time in the sun has left your face with blotches, scars, wrinkles, or lines, laser skin resurfacing may help your skin look younger and healthier.
Laser skin resurfacing removes skin layer by layer with precision. The new skin cells that form during healing give the skin a tighter, younger looking surface
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Preparing for Laser Resurfacing
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Start by consulting ESTHETICIAN to find out if you're a good candidate.
Tell her if you get cold sores or fever blisters around your mouth. Laser skin resurfacing can trigger breakouts in people who are at risk.
If you decide to go ahead with laser skin resurfacing, your esthetician will ask you to not take any medications or supplements -- such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or vitamin E -- that can affect clotting for 10 days before surgery.
If you smoke, you should stop for two weeks before and after the procedure. Smoking can prolong healing.
Your estetician may prescribe anti bacterial to prevent bacterial infections and also an antiviral medication if you are prone to cold sores or fever blisters.
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What to Expect During and After the Procedure
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Laser resurfacing is done by a plastic surgeon or dermatologist. It's an outpatient procedure, meaning you'll not have to stay overnight.
The estetician may treat wrinkles around your eyes, mouth, or forehead individually or treat your entire face. For small areas, the doctor will numb the areas to be treated with a local anesthetic .You may require general anesthesia if your whole face is being treated.
Treating just parts of the face takes about 30 to 45 minutes. A full-face treatment takes up to two hours.
Following the laser procedure, the doctor will bandage the treated areas. After 24 hours, you will need to clean the treated areas four to five times a day and then apply an ointment such as petroleum jelly to prevent scabs from forming.
Swelling after laser skin resurfacing is normal. Your esthetician may prescribe anti histamines to manage swelling around your eyes. Sleeping on an extra pillow at night can also ease swelling.
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You may feel itching or stinging for 12 to 72 hours after the procedure. Five to seven days after laser resurfacing, your skin will become dry and peel.
Depending on the problem that was treated, healing typically takes 10 to 21 days. Once the skin heals, you can wear oil-free makeup to minimize redness, which usually fades in two to three months.
You will also probably notice that your skin is lighter for a while after treatment. It is particularly important that you use a "broad-spectrum" sunscreen, which screens ultraviolet B and ultraviolet A rays, to protect your skin during that time. When selecting a sunscreen, look for one specially formulated for use on the face with a 7% (or higher) zinc oxide content and a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Limit your time in the sun, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.Reapply your sunscreen every two hours when you are out, and more often if you are sweating or swimming.
It is also important to keep your new skin well moisturized. If you use Retin A or glycolic acid products, you should be able to start using them again after about six weeks.
Benefits and Risks of Laser Resurfacing
​Although skin resurfacing cannot produce perfect skin, it can improve the appearance of your skin. Potential risks of the procedure include:
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Burns or other injuries from the laser's heat
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Scarring
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Changes in the skin's pigmentation, including areas of darker or lighter skin
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Reactivating herpes cold sores
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Bacterial infection
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Not All Scars Are Sexy: Scar and Acne Scar Improvement
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Many wounds are revered as courageous trophies, but not all scars are sexy. Scarred skin is lingering proof of a trauma as the skin heals by replacing injured skin cells with fibrotic tissue. Compacted scar tissue rarely fades on its own and we generally assume that most scars are left for life. With the Harmony XL Pro iPixel Laser by Alma Lasers, you can give your skin a fresh start and reclaim smooth, glowing skin in just 30 minutes.
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The iPixel Laser is named for the innovative -pixel laser configuration, which stamps a small pin-sized pixel grid onto the skin. This powerful laser is fractionally ablative, so it heats up the compacted scar tissue with powerful, targeted wave energy that destroys the damaged tissue in the process. This laser reaches through the top layers of the skin with precise, controlled penetration and intensity.
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How does the laser treatment improve Acne scars and other scars?
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The Harmony XL Pro iPixel laser applicator gives the physician unparalleled control to treat each scar with individual precision. The laser pulses can be repeated and ‘stacked’ to penetrate even deeper in order to microscopically destroy the extent of the scarred tissue. The practitioner can also choose to use short, or long pulses, depending on the scar depth.
In addition to microscopic ablation of the scar itself, the laser also heats up the underlying tissue to boost collagen production and increase blood flow, which speeds up the healing process. New skin cells fill the scarred area with healthy, fresh skin while smoothing out the surface. In addition to reducing and eliminating the look of the scar itself, the boost in collagen also helps to tighten the undamaged skin around the scar, so you can enjoy the added perk of skin resurfacing at the same time.
Unlike harsh chemical peels, destructive acid, and painful excision surgeries, the iPixel Laser with the Harmony XL Pro system is virtually pain-free and there are very few minor side effects. The laser targets beneath the surface, so there’s no need for numbing, gels, or needles and it’s gentle enough to treat all areas of the body, including sensitive areas around the eye area, neck, chest, and hands. Wherever you have a scar or uneven skin texture, the iPixel laser is safe to treat it.
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How many treatments are required to improve Acne scars and more
The Harmony XL Pro iPixel laser treatment is safe for all skin types and can be administered year-round, so right now is the perfect time to treat the acne scars that you’ve been carrying around. Over the course of just 2 to 4 bi-monthly treatments, your scar will be dramatically reduced or vanish completely with long-lasting results. You don’t have to live with scarred skin – find a nearby treatment center using our Harmony XL Pro iPixel laser and grow healthy new skin cells in its place.
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Before and after of Acne scars laser treatment with the Harmony XL Pro laser courtesy of @regenamerica_laserservices
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