Lasers are devices that produce light that can be converted by the body into heat energy. There are many of them in the market, and the choice on which one to use is determined by a variety of factors as we shall see soon. These lasers trigger the skin to shed off the old skin and cause the production of new softer skin.
The process can be applied to any part of the body, but we shall mostly concentrate on the face since majorities of the people do it for cosmetic reasons. However, if you have any other genuine reason that requires full body laser therapy, you can consult your physician. But be sure it will be done in bits over a prolonged period.
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Conditions that can be treated using lasers for skin rejuvenation
- Sunspots, sunburns, and any other sun damage condition
- Wrinkles – Whether deep or fine, there is a laser for each
- Post-surgery scars
- Acne scars and blemishes
- Keratosis
The best candidate for these treatments
As we have aforementioned, lasers work through a heating process, as such, certain skin types are not good for laser skin resurfacing. If you have dark skin, you might have to consider other skin rejuvenation options available in the market. However, for the light-skinned, this is their thing. For those who are not so dark, there are some lasers like erbium that have a low wavelength and is designed for these types of skin.
How to prepare for the treatment
When you visit your physician, he/she will give you the best advice on how to get ready for the treatment. They will check your medical history, current health, and see whether your desired results are realistic. As a general rule, you should do the following in preparation:
- Quit smoking 2 weeks before the actual date
- Avoid drugs that can affect clotting like aspirin and ibuprofen
- Avoid staying on the sun
Some of the common side effects you can expect from the treatment
While these do not always happen, it is wise to be aware that you can get the following conditions due to laser treatment:
- Bacterial infection
- Cold sores
- Fever blisters
- Break out
- Burns
Post-treatment procedures to ensure you get the best results
Remember the process was not done for free. In any case, a majority of the insurance companies do not cover skin rejuvenation treatment. So, it is cash you have foregone to spend or invest and decided to use it on you. Due to that, take care of your money’s worth and stay away from the sun, if you can’t use a sun-block. Also, apply gentle moisturizers on your skin.
How costly is the treatment
The cost of these treatments may vary widely depending on a variety of factors but on average the cost ranges from $1000 to $5000. These are mostly composed of the fees charged, cost of the facility as well as anesthesia and other medicines that will be given to the patient.
Factors that may affect cost include
- Type of laser used – Generally, ablative treatments are more expensive than the non-ablative ones.
- The place where it is done, that is the location
- The area of the body where the treatment is being done
- Number of sessions required and the intensity of the condition being treated
Major lasers skin rejuvenation machines used
There are many lasers used and the suitability of each varies from one person to the other. Every person is unique in his or her own ways and thus it would be difficult to make a laser that is friendly to everyone, or that can treat every condition. The major ones include:
- Carbon dioxide lasers – These are strong wavelength lasers that are used to treat severe wrinkles and deep lines. It is mostly ablative, but there is a newer option of fractionalized lasers that can either be ablative or non-ablative. If not used carefully can result in severe burns
- Erbium – This is mostly the laser of choice for a majority of the practitioners since it is gentle on the skin. Its wavelength is about 1500 nm and compared to that of CO2 laser which is 10,000 nm; there is every reason for its preference.
- Others include: The Er and Nd: YAG, the diode as well as the Fraxel lasers
Conclusion
Before committing your money to any form of skin rejuvenation treatment, seek relevant medical advice. Also, look for medical practitioners with excellent qualifications and those that have a clean record. We know you take your aesthetic appearance seriously and you should not let anybody mess around with it. However, ensure you take the necessary precautions and also adhere to the doctor’s advice to the dot.