Risks for Laser Resurfacing

Risks for Laser Resurfacing Videos

Risks for Laser Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing is currently generating a lot of buzz in the plastic surgery industry. With results that are superior to other skin resurfacing procedures, many people - both surgeons and patients alike, are excited by its potential.

However, it is important for patients to realize that the resurfacing laser is not a magic wand. Although it is generally considered safe, with less risks and complications compared with other resurfacing procedures like medium and deep chemical peels and dermabrasion, risks for laser resurfacing is present just like any other plastic surgery procedure.

Laser resurfacing emits a laser targeted at areas of damaged skin - wrinkles, spots, scars, and uneven pigmentation. The laser essentially produces a precisely-controlled "sunburn" that causes the destruction of the outer damaged layer to expose the underlying undamaged skin layer. Because of this, there are going to be some accompanying tissue damage.

Any time there is tissue damaged, there will be some risks, which includes:

• Swelling and redness from the heat of the laser energy.
• The potential for scar formation around laser-treated areas.
• Secondary bacterial infections.
• Activation of latent herpes simplex, especially if the laser targets area around the mouth.
• Patients may develop contact dermatitis from the applied postoperative dressings as well.
• Hyper-pigmentation (increased pigmentation), and more rarely hypo-pigmentation (decreased skin pigmentation), may result in the laser-treated areas.

Patients with darker skin - olive, brown, or black skin - may be at increased risk for pigmentation changes no matter what type of resurfacing method is recommended. Your plastic surgeon should evaluate your skin characteristics and make recommendations accordingly.

It is of supreme importance that the laser resurfacing procedure is conducted by a qualified, experienced surgeon, since they will have an intimate knowledge of the equipment and procedure, which will significantly minimize complications. Not every practitioner who offers laser surgery has the same level of experience and skill with laser use. That is why it is especially important that you find a plastic surgeon who is adequately trained in the procedure and who is experienced enough to make appropriate changes in the procedure to comply with your individual anatomy and physical reactions.

Perhaps the most pervasive risk is not achieving the patient's expected result. It is important for the surgeon to counsel the patient that absolute 100% correction is probably not a realistic expectation. It is always better to achieve some degree of correction and repeat the procedure at a later time, since over-application of laser resurfacing to perfect everything in one go can lead to permanent scarring.

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