Laser Face Lift

In laser face lift, or laser resurfacing, a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser is used to remove areas of sking that is damaged or wrinkled, layer by layer. This is the procedure that does not necesarrily "lift" the face but rather minimizes the appearance of fine lines in wrinkle-prone areas such as the eyes and the mouth. This procedure may be performed on the whole face or in specific areas of the face. Frequently, the procedure is done along with another cosmetic procedure such as an actual face lift where the skin is pulled tight around the scalp area.

Laser resurfacing offers a number of advantages over other resurfacing methods such as chemical peel. It is more precise and there's no bleeding (or very little) and the post-surgery discomfort is also minimal. It has to be noted that laser face lift is not for everyone and in some cases, an alternative skin resurfacing treatment, such as dermabrasion or chemical peel is a better idea.

The laser resurfacing is done by first stripping the outer layers of damaged skin and then, as the new cells form during the healing process, a smoother, tighter, younger-looking skin surface will appear. This is a relatively new procedure so there are no long-term data available on this procedure. Som studies using have shown however that the physical changes that occur to laser-treated skin are very similar to those that occur with either dermabrasion or chemical peel.

For deeper resurfacing, the upper levels of the damages skin removal can be performed but for superficial or medium resurfacing the laser can concentrate on shallower layers or skin and papillaries. Differentiated laser penetration allows treatment of specific spots or wrinkles.

The perfect patient for the laser face lift has fair, healthy, non-oily skin. Unfortunately, people with darker skin - olive, brown or black -- may be at increased risk for pigmentation changes. Also, if a patient's skin has acne or is prone to infections, laser resurfacing may not be the best idea. This is why the plastic surgeon will evaluate the patient's skin characteristics and make appropriate recommendations. This is a quick procedure that takes anywhere from a few minutes to one and a half hours, depending on how large of an area is involved. If there are more problems with the skin, an extra laser resurfacing may be recommended.