How Can Laser Surgery Improve Your Appearance? (video/podcast)

Aging, sun exposure, genetics…all of these can take a toll on even the healthiest skin, causing uneven skin tone, brown spots, fine lines, sagging skin and spider veins. Fortunately, laser surgery can easily treat many of these conditions — as well as acne — and enhance skin’s texture and appearance.

In this video, San Diego Health host Susan Taylor talks about laser treatments for skin Edward Ross, MD, a dermatologist at Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley and director of the Laser and Cosmetic Dermatology Center at Scripps.

Laser surgery works by using a concentrated beam of light energy to treat a specific skin condition. Different types of lasers treat different conditions; Dr. Ross uses a variety of lasers to treat various skin issues and says the range of applications continues to expand.

“The beauty of laser surgery is the precision of how it works. it only targets the bad guy, treats that, and spares the normal skin,” explains Dr. Ross. “We direct the laser light toward whatever you're trying to treat. It could be a broken blood vessel, a brown blemish, a scar, whatever you don’t want.”

Laser surgery also can treat acne. The laser targets the sebaceous glands on the face, which produce excess oil that causes acne.

“That excess grease fuels the fire of acne. So we're cutting off the fuel supply,” says Dr. Ross. “We put the laser against the skin, where it targets the gland and shrinks it down by heating it.”

In general, laser surgery is not painful. Some people feel almost nothing, while others describe it as a stinging sensation, such as a rubber band being snapped against the skin. The thinner the skin being treated. the more likely you are to feel it.

The length of each treatment and the number of treatments needed depend on the condition being treated. Small areas can take just a few minutes, while larger areas take longer.

Downtime also depends on the type of treatment. There may be some swelling, tenderness and redness following each session, but it is generally minimal.

“If you treat a broken blood vessel, for example, many people will swell up for a day or two,” says Dr. Ross. “Some of the devices will cause temporary crusting like coffee grounds on your face. But with most of our devices, as long as you're careful you can go out and golf and do things relatively quickly, within three to five days.”

While your skin is healing after laser treatment, follow your doctor’s instructions to help get the best results. Avoid using any products that might interfere with healing, such as rejuvenation products like glycolic acid or retinoic acid. Stay out of the sun as much as possible and avoid dirty environments.

“With some of the procedures, your skin might be a little more susceptible to infection if, say, somebody scratched your skin or you're working with animals,” says Dr. Ross. “The main thing is just trying to avoid contact with anything that might damage the skin.”

Even after the skin heals, Dr. Ross recommends avoiding the sun and using a strong sunblock whenever you are outdoors. If your dermatologist recommends one, you can also add a rejuvenation treatment such as tretinoin or moisturizer for maintenance.

How long the results of your laser treatments last depend on several factors, including what you had done and how you care for your skin after treatment. 

“Of sun, aging and genetics, the only one you can really control is sun. And in San Diego, that's very challenging,” says Dr. Ross. “The real foundation of good skin care is avoiding the sun as best you can. The less sun you have, the less likely these problems will pop up again after the laser treatment.”

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