Have you ever considered cosmetic laser treatments to improve your skin’s appearance? Laser treatment can help reduce the signs of aging, improve skin tone and texture, remove unwanted hair or tattoos, and even treat mild to moderate acne.
But with so many laser treatments available, deciding which is right for you can take time. Our guide will provide an overview of the different types of laser treatments available and some tips on choosing the best one for your needs.
Understanding Laser Treatment
Laser treatment is a light therapy that uses a concentrated beam of light energy to target specific areas of skin tissue and pigment cells. The energy from the beam travels into the deeper layers of skin and causes changes in whatever area it targets.
Depending on what effect you are looking for, different wavelength intensities are used along with other factors such as pulse duration and frequency.
Each laser type has unique properties that make it suitable for treating certain conditions more effectively than others. As always, seek advice from a medical professional before deciding on treatment.
Types of Laser Treatments for Skin
The Different types of laser treatment include:
- Ablative
- Non-ablative
- Fractional Lasers
Ablative
Ablative lasers use intense heat pulses to vaporize the damaged top layer of your skin, such as wrinkles or scarring, while stimulating collagen production underneath them.
Ablative laser treatment aims to keep your skin looking young by stimulating collagen production. Collagen is the protein content in the layer beneath your skin, giving you a plump and healthy look.
Some of the best ablative laser treatments include Erbium Yag and CO2 laser.
Non-Ablative
It is less aggressive than ablative and requires a shorter recovery time. The non-ablative procedure uses the laser to resurface your skin by improving the pigmentation and texture without causing any damage to the skin surface.
These lasers are ideal for milder cases where the goal isn’t necessarily complete removal of problem areas but improving overall appearance without disrupting too much tissue or causing excessive damage.
Popular treatments include Nd: YAG, PhotoFacial IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), Pulse Dye Lasers, and Clear + Brilliant.
Fractional Lasers
Fractional laser treatment is ideal for treating skin problems like acne and facial wrinkles. They are suitable for removing age-related blemishes. And the best part is that it causes minimal injuries to your skin, with a healing time of less than seven days.
The treatment combines C02 and IPL, sending tiny columns of heat energy deep into the dermis layer without harming nearby tissue. This technique helps stimulate natural healing processes, including collagen production from within, improving overall appearance over time without using harsh chemicals or topical treatments that could irritate sensitive skin types further instead of improving their condition.
The Different Types of Ablative & Non-ablative Laser Treatments
If you are looking to get a procedure done, places like Sovereign Skin laser treatment are one way to start. But first, let’s explore the different types of ablative and non-ablative laser treatments for your skin.
Erbium Laser
This ablative laser is used mainly as a resurfacing tool for treating wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture, and sun spots. It can also be used on your neck, hands, and chest.
The procedure requires general anesthesia, and the best part is minimal injuries to the surrounding tissue. Erbium laser is suitable for people with a dark skin tone. And recovery time is expected to be around seven days.
CO2 Laser Treatment
It’s an ablative laser treatment that effectively treats warts, discoloration, wrinkles, scars, and inflamed oil glands in the nose. The procedure uses intense heat to destroy the epidermis and overheats the dermis.
This prompts the regrowth of the epidermal cells and simultaneously stimulates collagen production in the dermis, resulting in tight and plump skin.
CO2 ablation offers excellent results but involves significant downtime due to post-treatment redness/swelling and flaking off dead skin over 7-14 days.
Active FX / Deep FX
Fine lines and sun damage are addressed by this ablative treatment procedure. Active FX is an intense laser beam treatment solution that treats fine lines and sun damage. The intense heat causes the top layer of your skin to peel off, leaving behind the healthy skin beneath.
The best part about this treatment is that it focuses on a fraction of your skin at a time, allowing you to heal faster. Deep FX is ideal for treating wrinkles and scars. It’s a good option for people with a dark skin tone.
PhotoFacial IPL
IPL is the short form for Intense Pulsed Light. The treatment uses a combination of bipolar radio frequency and intense pulsed light energy to eliminate damaged tissue on the skin which causes discoloration.
The treatment stimulates cells under the skin’s surface to produce new collagen and elastin, resulting in healthy, even-toned skin. That’s why it’s the best treatment for reducing pigmentation problems such as age spots, freckles, or rosacea.
The device emits light in a broad spectrum which is absorbed by pigment cells under the skin to break them down while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed.
Pulsed-Dye Laser Treatment
This type of laser, with wavelengths specifically designed to target small blood vessels, addresses issues such as broken capillaries, spider veins, and facial redness. It stimulates collagen production in the treated areas without damaging the underlying layers of healthy skin.
Ideal for fading spots, scars, and birthmarks on the body, the procedure utilizes laser technology that turns light into heat, effectively targeting and destroying the blood vessels. To achieve noticeable results, several treatments are typically required.
Clear + Brilliant
Primarily used for anti-aging, this fractional non-ablative laser treatment assists in eliminating discoloration from sun damage and decreasing the appearance of fine lines and minor wrinkles.
It’s a non-invasive laser procedure that uses the laser to deliver numerous microscopic thermal injuries to the skin. The natural healing process gets triggered through these injuries, thus promoting collagen and elastin production while replacing the damaged tissue with a healthy one.
This laser treatment can be done on your face, neck, and chest. You will notice changes two weeks after your procedure, and the new glow can be maintained for a maximum of three months.
Its low downtime makes it an attractive option among milder cases since results are visible within a few weeks after one session (usually 4 per year).
Fraxel
Enhancing the skin’s overall texture by reducing wrinkles, sun damage, and scars, the laser treatment works by focusing on both the deeper skin layers and the surface layer. Its ability to selectively break up pigment cells without harming the surrounding healthy skin makes it a highly suitable choice for individuals with sensitive skin types.
The Fraxel laser has two wavelengths; one focuses on removing pigmentation and sun damage. And the other wavelength goes much deeper and targets wrinkles, acne, and texture.
And since it’s a dual laser, it utilizes both ablative and non-ablative lasers.
Sofwave
Uniquely, this laser operates using ultrasonic waves rather than heat energy. It penetrates the dermis layer, initiating healing processes and stimulating collagen production. In doing so, it successfully reduces wrinkles and scarring while limiting damage to the skin’s upper layers.
It’s an excellent option for those who don’t want to risk any excess irritation but achieve visible improvements over time with minimal downtime of one to two days.
ThermiTight
Another non-ablative technique that works through radiofrequency is delivered through tiny needles inserted into the tissue underneath the skin surface to stimulate natural healing processes while tightening up laxity due to aging.
Its low downtime makes ThermiTight extremely convenient even for people with busy lifestyles since results become gradually visible only after a few weeks.
Reasons Why to Get Laser Treatment for the Skin
Laser treatments come in handy when dealing with various conditions like:
- Rosacea
- Psoriasis
- Birthmarks
- Unwanted hair
- Tattoos removal
- They can also be used for skin tightening, especially around the eyes, where common problems include sagging eyelids.
- Laser therapy can also address other issues, such as uneven tone & texture, age spots, and fine lines & wrinkles.
Benefits of Laser Treatment
Laser treatments have many benefits, including:
- Collagen production, which is responsible for thicker and more resilient skin
- Improved skin quality
- Removal of dark spots & melisma
- Enhancement of general skin tone and texture issues, such as redness or acne scars
- Sometimes, they may even reduce pain due to various conditions like arthritis.
Factors to Consider
When selecting the correct type of laser treatment for your needs, it’s essential to consider some fundamental factors first:
- Skin type: Darker tones require special measures to prevent any potential complications.
- Budget: depending on complexity and desired results, the cost may vary significantly from one procedure to another
- Medical professionals: Board-certified dermatologists make a great choice when looking into cosmetic treatments such as lasers.
What are the Side Effects of Laser Treatment?
Typical side effects of the treatment are swelling, redness, and itching, but these symptoms should subside within a few days unless there are any unforeseen complications.
Tips for Choosing the Best Laser Treatment Center
When looking for the best laser treatment center, it’s essential to consider multiple factors. These include:
- Physicians (board-certified dermatologists)
- Testimonials from previous patients
- Cost of services offered
- Machines used: Different laser treatments require varying equipment, so ensure you are well-informed and that the location you decide on has all the necessary devices.
- Availability: Some hospitals might require waiting lists or have limited time slots available
- Insurance coverage: Accidents do happen, so ensure the hospital and the physicians are covered.
Final Words
Using laser treatments for your skin’s appearance allows you to improve your appearance without surgical methods. However, with so many types of laser treatments available, it can take time to decide which one is right for you. By considering all the factors discussed above, you should be able to choose the best option that will provide the desired results while minimizing any risks involved.
