Scars are caused due to disruption in the natural wound healing process. The disruption leaves a fibrotic tissue resulting from uneven development of collagen. There are many scar revision therapies available in the aesthetic world and they depend on the type of scar being treated. Laser treatment for scar revision is an effective technique to treat different types of scars. It creates a smoother skin texture and helps to diminish the appearance of the scars.
How Does Laser Treatment Help in Scar Revision?
Laser treatment involves penetrating laser energy into the deeper skin layers to encourage skin cell development and turnover. This helps to eliminate the damaged and older skin layers and thus develops healthy and glowing skin. This new skin grows more smoothly because of collagen stimulation. Scars are generally not harmful and may not require removal unless they are causing pain or limiting the person’s natural movements.
Laser treatment for scar revision helps by:
- Reducing the pain or itchiness
- Fading the appearance of scars
- Permitting movement of the surrounding skin around the scar.
Procedure:
- Before starting the laser scar revision, a skin specialist will check the scar and decide which will be the best type of laser and treatment option to use.
- Treatment starts with cleaning the surrounding area and applying a topical anesthetic ointment for about 20-30 minutes.
- After the ointment is wiped off, protective goggles are given to wear for the procedure.
- Specific laser energy is used to treat the scar region for several passes.
- Once the treatment is complete, it is recommended Calecim stem cell serum be applied.
- There will be some redness in the treated area after the procedure. There might also be some amount of swelling and it can feel similar to a sunburn.
- It is important to protect the treated area from the sun, so a sunscreen of SPF of 30+ is always recommended.
Types of Lasers:
Skin specialists will use particular types of lasers that make use of diverse wavelengths of laser beams and cause varying effects on the skin. Lasers are either ablative and remove the upper layer of the dermis or non-ablative and only affect the underlying layers.
There are three main types of skin laser treatments:
Laser Resurfacing or Ablative Laser Resurfacing:
This treatment makes use of a highly powerful laser beam to eliminate the skin surface which contains the scar. This laser energy goes into the underlying layers of the skin by smoothening and tightening the skin. This treatment is carried easily in the outpatient setting of an aesthetic clinic by skin specialists. You are not completely sedated since only topical anesthetic is applied to the skin to decrease pain. You have to wear protective goggles for the procedure that takes 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the scars being revised. The laser device will look like a handheld stick and is run on the scar by the doctor. With every passage of the laser beam, damaged skin cells are eliminated.
There are two categories of lasers employed in skin resurfacing, depending on the results and requirements:
The CO2 laser:
The CO2 laser is the more powerful laser that enters the skin much deeper. Due to this, it is effective in eliminating deeper and thicker scars. Hence, recovery time is also prolonged and the treatment is a bit more irritative.
Erbium:
This YAG laser is less powerful and is employed for treater milder and narrow scars. This laser will demand minimal usage of numbing cream or anesthetic. The irritation will be less and the recovery time is much faster than the CO2 laser.
Fractionated Laser Resurfacing:
This type of laser therapy makes use of small beams of laser to penetrate the skin. There will be the creation of several microscopic lesions in the place of damaged skin regions. These holes aid in breaking down skin cells along with encouraging the production of collagen within the deeper skin layers. The natural healing process of the skin takes over and results in the formation of new and smooth looking skin.
It is less invasive and needs minimal recovery time. But it will not show the same results as complete laser resurfacing. There will be some amount of redness and skin swelling that decreases after a few days similar to complete laser resurfacing treatment. There may be a need for repeated treatments with a 4-6 week gap in between. Some amount of enhancement can be visible early, while some may need more time to see the real results of the procedure. It depends on the type of scar and skin type being treated.
Non-Ablative Laser Resurfacing:
In this type of treatment, infrared skin lasers are employed to reach the inner layers of the dermis without damaging the surface. This encourages the development of collagen and the creation of new skin cells to replace the damaged ones. An added advantage of this procedure is it is its time of 15 to 20 minutes to complete the treatment. Even the recovery time needed after the treatment is less while compared to ablative laser treatment.
Some people will feel this procedure a bit painful and irritating. There will be a cooling spray that is released on the target region when the laser is operating to prevent damage to the skin. The results take more time to be visible on the skin surface, as the healing process takes place deep under the skin. This treatment requires 4 to 6 sessions to see accurate results on the skin surface.
Bottom Line:
The type of skin laser treatment that will be most effective for you depends on the type of scar you have. A complimentary consultation with an experienced therapist like SkinVolution Laser & Vein Center in Glendale, AZ will guide you with the best strategies for a wide range of facial, cosmetic, aesthetic, and vein treatments.
