The laser beam at one time became a real breakthrough in cosmetology: in 75% of cases it was able to replace injection procedures and surgical interventions. Laser facial rejuvenation is not only about smoothing wrinkles and folds, eliminating excessive pigmentation, increasing the firmness and elasticity of the skin: the rays can maximally smooth the relief of the epidermis and eliminate scars. It has been proven that this procedure also has a therapeutic effect, facilitating the treatment of certain dermatological diseases.
What is laser facial rejuvenation?
The procedure is performed using special devices, the beam moves along the surface of the facial skin in a "handle" and penetrates deep into the dermis. High frequencies and heating ensure the destruction of old skin cells, while the surrounding healthy tissue remains unchanged. It is in them where the processes of active production of collagen and elastin begin; These substances are necessary to restore damage. The renewed skin is absolutely healthy and fully functional.
Depending on which area of the face requires laser rejuvenation, the doctor will select the optimal treatment temperature, which will eliminate the formation of burns.
Laser facial rejuvenation is a non-traumatic procedure, does not require general anesthesia and does not involve a long rehabilitation period with the patient admitted to a clinic.
Indications and contraindications of laser lifting.
Laser facial rejuvenation is a unique cosmetic procedure that has a complex effect and solves several problems at once. Therefore, it has many indications: in a modern clinic, doctors recommend taking a multi-session course if you have:
- Wrinkles in any area of the face.– deep facial folds, related to age;
- decreased skin elasticity– ptosis (drooping eyelids), formation of a double chin, "floating" oval of the face;
- external skin defects– scars, acne marks and mechanical removal of large acne, stretch marks;
- changes in complexion– the appearance of yellow spots on the skin, a gray tint, a complete absence of natural blush;
- Excessive fat of the epidermis.– accompanied by enlarged pores, frequent appearance of acne and oily shine;
- puffiness and bags, dark circles under the eyes;
- rosacea– vascular manifestations in the epidermis such as "nets", "stars".
Although laser facial rejuvenation is considered a safe procedure, somecontraindicationsTo carry it out there are:
- pregnancy and lactation periods;
- oncological pathologies, regardless of the location of the malignant neoplasm;
- diabetes mellitus of any type;
- incorrect functionality of the thyroid gland with excessive or insufficient synthesis of hormones;
- mental disorders;
- neurological diseases such as epilepsy (accompanied by convulsive syndrome);
- predisposition to the formation of keloid scars;
- psoriasis, eczema, herpes with signs on the face.
There are also a number of conditional restrictions: exacerbation of chronic internal pathologies, increased body temperature, menstruation, damage to the skin in areas of alleged exposure to laser rays - it is necessary to wait until the general state of health is restored.
Advantages and disadvantages of laser skin rejuvenation.
The procedure in question is one of the most popular and this is not surprising: it has too many advantages, which the doctor expresses even at the initial consultation:
- under the influence of laser rays, natural biological processes are activated in the cells of the dermis: regeneration, metabolism, production of collagen and elastin;
- the procedure can be performed for any skin type, regardless of the severity of age-related changes and existing dermatological problems (there are isolated exceptions from the list of contraindications);
- the probability of scar formation is reduced to zero and increases only if the recommendations of specialists on skin care during the rehabilitation period are ignored;
- Allergic reactions and infectious complications are excluded, although they are inherent to surgical interventions and injection techniques;
- lack of a full rehabilitation period - in just a few days the skin is restored, the use of medications is not required;
- Side effects are minor, disappear quickly and belong to the category of the body's normal reaction to an aggressive influence.
There are also some "disadvantages" of laser skin rejuvenation:
- to obtain a pronounced effect, you will need to take a course of several sessions;
- results last less time compared to beauty injections and surgical interventions;
- The requirements for the preparatory period must be met.
Only three disadvantages are perfectly offset by the benefits of laser facial rejuvenation!
Types of laser resurfacing
The procedure in question can be carried out using different methods; each of them is safe and very effective. During the consultation, the doctor will inform the patient about each type of laser facial rejuvenation, the choice will be made taking into account individual parameters: age, initial condition of the skin, presence of internal pathologies and dermatological diseases, severity of age. -related changes.
Ablative methods
Performed with complete or fractionated laser beams. During work, the doctor completely cleans the surface layer of the epidermis from "old" cells or damages them at a shallow depth. Skin restoration occurs due to the active production of collagen, elastin and cell division of healthy tissues surrounding the places of exposure to lightning. The new skin is firm, elastic and even in tone.
Ablative methods permanently damage the epidermis, so your recovery period will be a little longer than others.
Factional
The laser beam is dispersed through a special mesh into microbeams: damage to the epidermis affects only 20-25% of the area, the remaining cells remain unchanged and fully functional. Such a specific effect favors the evaporation of liquid from the cells and the rapid renewal of regeneration processes. Intact cells begin to produce collagen and elastin in large quantities, which is necessary to heal the damage caused.
Since the fractional type of laser facial resurfacing involves only partial damage to the epidermis, recovery lasts only a few days.
Laser biorevitalization
It is a combination of two techniques: cell damage to stimulate biological processes and the introduction of hyaluronic acid into the layers of the dermis. The device emits short pulses and repeats them many times, allowing the dead cells to be "broken up. "At the same time, the laser delivers the selected drug to the desired depth; This parameter is set by the doctor.
Laser biorevitalization is especially recommended for pronounced signs of aging on the face: wrinkles, folds and deep folds. It has a cumulative effect and a long-lasting effect: an improvement in appearance will be noticeable for another 2-3 months after the end of the course of procedures.
complete beam
The skin is exposed to intense light, which damages the entire epidermis. This method is perfect for those who have various cosmetic and dermatological problems. In fact, after this type of laser rejuvenation, the superficial layer of the face is 100% renewed. It is what cosmetologists prescribe to those patients who want to get rid of scars, scars and marks after acne.
It has a long recovery: it does not require hospitalization, but it is worth taking 7-10 days to rest, perform skin care procedures and not worry about your own appearance during the rehabilitation period.
Non-ablative method
Works great on sagging skin, deep folds/wrinkles, and excessive pigmentation. It allows you to treat a large area of skin at once in a single procedure, for example all areas of the face. The advantage of the non-ablative method is that the deep layers of the dermis are damaged and the epidermis remains unchanged.
This type of laser facial rejuvenation also has a pleasant "side effect": in addition to rejuvenation, the removal of age spots, pores narrow, and acne marks become minimally noticeable.
Surface
This is the most painless and safest method of the procedure in question: during the process, only the superficial cells are exposed to laser rays, even the basement membrane remains intact. This technique perfectly solves the problem of the initial stages of aging, corrects the tone of the face and eliminates uneven relief.
A distinctive feature is that recovery lasts only 3 days, and the results obtained last from 6 to 12 months.
Median
Recommended for those patients who already have wrinkles, including age spots, age spots and slightly sagging skin. It belongs to the category of laser peels, the rays act at a depth of no more than 1. 3 mm.
The procedure is performed with anesthetic gels, after which the patient may experience discomfort and even mild pain for another 24 hours. Rehabilitation lasts at least 5 days.
Deep
The laser beam damages all layers of the epidermis, including the papillary layer. The deep laser resurfacing procedure is painful, but only it can solve the problem of pronounced age-related changes. Cosmetologists recommend this technique for patients aged 50 and older.
Rehabilitation lasts up to 2 weeks, but if you follow all the doctor's prescriptions during this period, the results obtained will last 4 years (on average).
How to prepare for laser skin rejuvenation?
As part of the preparatory stage, an initial consultation with a specialist is carried out. During it, the doctor examines the skin of the face, evaluates its condition, identifies problems, excludes or confirms the presence of contraindications. The cosmetologist immediately decides on the choice of the laser rejuvenation method and the number of sessions per course. Below, recommendations are given to the patient on how to prepare for the procedure: it begins 14 days before the scheduled date. What is important to do:
- do not expose your face to ultraviolet (solar) rays, do not visit the solarium;
- refuse to perform any cosmetic procedures that are associated with skin disorders/damage: peels, facial cleansing;
- Stop using certain medications (fluoroquinolones, diuretics, sulfonamides, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) only after consulting your doctor.
3 days before the scheduled date for laser facial rejuvenation, it is necessary to stop drinking alcoholic beverages, it is advisable to quit smoking (or radically reduce the number of cigarettes) and not introduce foods from the allergen category (strawberries) into your diet , chocolate, raspberries, citrus, seafood).
Laser rejuvenation procedure.
The procedure itself begins with a control examination of the face: the doctor must make sure that there are no inflammations, scratches or fresh tan on the surface of the skin. After this, laser resurfacing is performed in stages:
- Clean the face of traces of decorative cosmetics, dust and dirt.– performed using professional toners and lotions that do not contain alcohol.
- Skin disinfection– the face is treated with an antiseptic solution that prevents the penetration of infectious agents into the epidermis.
- Anesthesia– It is not performed for all types of procedures, but at the patient's request an anesthetic gel must be applied. After that, the doctor waits 15 to 20 minutes; This time is sufficient for the analgesic properties of the applied product to appear.
- The laser skin treatment itself.. The patient may feel warmth, slight tingling, or burning. Be sure to direct a stream of cold air toward your face; This relieves the condition and reduces the intensity of unpleasant sensations.
- Apply a calming mask– relieves inflammation, helps quickly eliminate swelling, redness and reduces the severity of itching.
Immediately after completing the session, the patient can leave the clinic, having previously received the doctor's recommendations regarding the recovery period.
Laser facial rejuvenation: before and after photos.
Recovery after the procedure.
The length of the recovery period depends on the type of laser facial rejuvenation that was used. The minimum period is 2-3 days, but more often rehabilitation requires 5-10 days. Regardless of the technique used, in the first 24 hours after the session it is strictly prohibited to touch your face with your hands or even wash your face. In the next 3 days of recovery:
- It is strictly prohibited to carry out thermal procedures: visiting a bathhouse, sauna or taking a hot bath should be postponed;
- You cannot use tap water for washing: it has a high chlorine content, which causes burns and irritation;
- it is not necessary to be outside for a long time: ultraviolet rays (they penetrate even through dense clouds) will cause strong pigmentation;
- Do not use cosmetics containing ethanol for cleaning, and when washing, use a washcloth or scrub (even soft and delicate ones);
- Treat your face with moisturizer 2-3 times a day;
- Apply products containing panthenol to the skin once a day.
Within 2 months of the procedure in question, chemical peels are strictly prohibited! And even in cloudy weather, you should apply sunscreen with a high SPF rating to your face.
You cannot forcibly remove scabs or scratch your face; This can lead to the formation of scars that can only be removed surgically.
Possible complications and consequences.
Immediately after the session, the skin on the face becomes red, very itchy and there is a burning sensation; This is a normal reaction to damage to the epidermis and the deeper layers of the dermis. If the discomfort is severe, then you should take antihistamine tablets, the choice of which will be recommended by a cosmetologist. On the second day after laser facial rejuvenation, active peeling begins. The listed effects are the norm, it is not necessary to take any measures, it is enough to strictly follow the rehabilitation recommendations given by the specialist.
If it is on the skin of the face:
- rashes appeared in the form of small pimples;
- there are signs of inflammation;
- scars began to form,
then you should contact the clinic for a consultation. In most cases, this happens if the patient himself did not follow the rules of the recovery period.
Opinions on laser resurfacing
Our patients leave only positive reviews about any type of laser facial rejuvenation. This is due not only to the properties and capabilities of the procedure, but also to the high professionalism of the working doctors. They have sufficient knowledge and experience, work with modern certified equipment and strictly comply with international protocols for conducting sessions.
Frequently asked questions
Any questions about the procedure can be raised with the cosmetologist during the initial consultation. But since most of them are standard, below are the answers to the most popular ones.
Who can undergo laser skin rejuvenation?
Men and women aged 18 and over. It is important that they do not have conditions that are included in the list of contraindications. Laser facial skin rejuvenation is an excellent alternative to surgery.
What effect does the procedure give, in addition to rejuvenation?
A laser beam can remove scars, tattoos, acne marks and acne. There is a general improvement of the skin: inflammatory processes will stop, the production of sebaceous secretions will decrease, and pores will narrow.
How long does a laser facial rejuvenation session last?
A procedure lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. If the doctor uses local anesthetics, the duration of the session increases to 15 to 20 minutes (the duration of the gel).
When will the first results appear?
Immediately after rehabilitation, the skin of the face is transformed. It becomes smooth, without pigment spots, toned, elastic, small wrinkles are smoothed out.
Is it possible to combine laser facial rejuvenation with other procedures?
Yes, but to a limited extent and only after consulting with a cosmetologist. After completing the course, injectable fillers and botulinum therapy are allowed.
How many procedures are needed?
It is usually recommended to take a course of 2 to 5 sessions with a break of 2 to 4 weeks.
In a professional clinic, specialists are ready to provide a comprehensive laser facial rejuvenation service, from the initial consultation to monitoring the condition of the skin during the rehabilitation period. Specialists work only with professional equipment, the procedure is carried out in strict accordance with existing protocols, which reduces the risk of side effects and complications to zero.