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Laser Skin Resurfacing
Laser
resurfacing has become a valuable tool for rejuvenating aged and
sun damaged skin. The new erbium: YAG laser has a healing time measured
in days, not weeks or months as in the case of the old CO2, and
there is little chance of pigmentation loss.
At CLSIA, we performed clinical trials comparing the two lasers
on voluntary patients. The results showed erbium laser to be better
than CO2 laser for skin resurfacing in all patients. The improvement
in both deep and superficial wrinkles was equally impressive with
both lasers, but patients healed more quickly and were back to normal
sooner with Erbium. Also, there were fewer complications with erbium,
especially permanent loss of pigmentation which quite commonly starts
to appear six months after CO2 resurfacing.
If you are considering laser resurfacing, ask for erbium laser.
Here's why:
Skin resurfacing lasers work by heating the water in skin cells
and vaporizing them. The erbium laser is 10 times more efficient
at doing this, so it is 10 times more controllable than CO2 laser.
Unlike CO2 laser, it does not leave behind an uncontrolled layer
of dead burnt tissue. This is the layer that causes prolonged redness
and swelling and can cause loss of pigment and even scarring.
Some surgeons advocate the use of combined erbium and CO2 Lasers.
This is based on the belief C02 is needed to shrink collagen and
tighten the skin. The results of our studies and those overseas
have shown this is not true. Skin samples taken several months after
treatment show just as much new, tight collagen after erbium as
CO2. Adding CO2 just prolongs healing and increases the chance of
complications.
With the erbium laser it is possible to sculpt deep wrinkles or
to resurface the skin very superficially in patients who show only
the earliest signs of sun damage. This is not possible with the
CO2 laser.
The results of laser resurfacing, both good and bad, depend on the
depth of treatment. Since erbium offers such precise depth control,
the skill and experience of your surgeon is even more important
than CO2 laser. Therefore, before deciding on laser resurfacing
make sure your surgeon is experienced in erbium laser and is prepared
to show you plenty of 'before and after' photographs of their own
patients as evidence of this.
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