A good skincare routine can help keep skin healthy and young-looking, but there’s only so much that your routine can do for you. If you’re looking to get back the former glowing, youthful look of your skin, then our skin resurfacing treatment here at Northstate Plastic Surgery Associates in Chico, CA can help.
What Is Skin Resurfacing?
Your skin goes through a lot during your day-to-day life. It’s the largest organ in your body, and it’s your body’s first line of defense against the outside elements. Because of this, your skin is the first thing to become damaged and show wear and tear as you age.
Skin resurfacing is a procedure that uses a laser to fix the texture and appearance of your skin. It does this by removing the skin layer by layer, getting rid of old skin cells, and revealing new, healthy cells underneath.
This treatment is a safe, fast procedure that allows the skin to look younger and healthier.
What Causes Skin Problems?
It’s normal as we age for things like wrinkles and dark spots to appear. Your skin performs a natural process called cell turnover which sheds old, dull skin cells and reveals the newer, healthier cells underneath. However, as we get older, this process begins to slow down. This means that our old, dull skin cells stay on the surface of our skin for longer.
It’s also normal for our skin to begin to lose something called collagen. Collagen is a protein that allows your skin, muscle, and other tissues in your body to maintain their structure. As the amount of collagen in your skin diminishes, you’ll find more and more wrinkles, fine lines, and skin sagging.
But aging isn’t the only cause of skin problems. If you struggle with particularly bad acne because of enlarged oil glands, then this can cause a lot of discomfort and feelings of self-consciousness. Severe acne can also lead to scarring down the road.
Who Can Get Skin Resurfacing?
Many skin concerns and issues can be treated by over-the-counter medications and products. But some skin issues are too severe for these products to provide the treatment your skin needs. If you struggle with skin conditions that are related to aging, the sun, or acne, then skin resurfacing might be the right procedure for you.
If you struggle with age spots, wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet, then skin resurfacing can help reveal newer, healthy skin for a more youthful glow. This procedure will also be helpful for anyone struggling with several acne issues including scarring.
If you have an uneven skin tone, skin resurfacing can help even out your skin tone. It can also help reduce enlarged oil glands, which is good for anyone dealing with particularly oily skin.
How Do You Prepare for the Procedure?
In the weeks leading up to your procedure, your dermatologist will request a few things from you. First, you will be told not to take any medications like aspirin or ibuprofen that can affect the way your blood clots. Your dermatologist will be able to tell you what specifically to avoid. You may also require an antibiotic or antiviral medication if you are prone to getting cold sores.
If you smoke, then you should stop smoking for about two weeks before the procedure and another two weeks afterward. Not smoking allows your skin to heal faster.
What Happens During the Procedure?
When you come in for a skin resurfacing procedure, then the first thing our technicians will need to do is prepare your skin. Your skin will be cleaned, and the technician will apply a topical anesthetic if it is a small area being treated. If your full face is being treated, then you may be given a sedative while the treatment is performed.
Once the skin is clean and the anesthetic or sedative has been given, the procedure will begin. The laser will slowly remove the skin layer by layer, which will allow the newer, healthier skin to be revealed.
The laser will also heat the lower layers of your skin. This heat will encourage your skin to begin producing more collagen. This will help firm up your skin and reduce sagging, wrinkles, and fine lines.
What Happens After the Procedure?
Once the procedure is done, the treated area will be dressed and bandaged. Since the procedure is not surgery, you will be able to leave the clinic right away. Once 24 hours have passed, you’ll need to gently clean the treated area a few times a day and apply ointments recommended by the dermatologist to prevent scabs.
It’s normal for some swelling and redness to show up during the healing process. You can apply an ice pack to help with these particular side effects.
Healing will take about 3 to 10 days, depending on the size of the treated area as well as the size of the laser. Once you are fully healed, you’ll find yourself with bright, glowing, youthful-looking skin.
Book Your Procedure Today
Skin resurfacing is a great way to help your skin look young and healthy. It’s safe, fast, and the healing process is quick and easy. Get in touch with us at Northstate Plastic Surgery Associates in Chico, CA to learn more about how skin resurfacing can help you.