Adult Day Health- Ambulatory Treatment Unit
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Program - Facial Plastic Surgery
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Care - Laboratories Northwest
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Healthy Living - MultiCare HealthWorks
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Unit - Orthopedics
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and Surgical Program - Urology
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Skin Resurfacing
Is Skin Resurfacing for You?
Aging, sun exposure, hereditary and lifestyle factors may all contribute to facial wrinkling. Pigmentary changes of the skin may also occur with age. Prior acne can make the surface of the skin uneven.
Skin resurfacing is a nonsurgical technique that involves removing the top layer(s) of the skin and allowing the skin to regenerate. The type of procedure selected depends on a person's skin type, the extent of damage and, at times, the individual's medical condition.
You may be a good candidate for skin resurfacing if you have one or more of the following conditions:
- Wrinkled or sun-damaged skin
- Vertical wrinkles around the mouth
- “Crow's feet” lines around eyes and perhaps some skin laxity in your lower eyelid area
- Fine wrinkling of upper eyelids
- Brown spots or pigmentation marks
- Acne or chicken pox scars
- Superficial scars from a past injury
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels involve the use of a chemical solution to improve and smooth the texture of the facial skin by removing its damaged outer layers. It is helpful for those individuals with facial blemishes, wrinkles and uneven skin pigmentation.
There are a variety of chemical peels varying in intensity and depth, and the type of peel you select depends on the severity of your skin problem. All peels are performed under mild “twilight anesthesia” in an outpatient setting.
Superficial or Light Peels. Alphahydroxy, beta hydroxy and salicylic acid are the mildest of the peel formulas and produce light peels used to treat mild sun damage and also as a preventative technique to keep the skin looking smooth and youthful.
Medium-Depth Peels. Fine surface wrinkles, mild acne scars, superficial blemishes and pigment problems are commonly treated with a medium-depth peel. Healing time is less than seven days, and mild redness fades in four to six weeks.
Deep Peels. These chemical peels are most effective for treating moderate to severe wrinkles, as well as some types of acne scars. Deep chemical peels produce better results than laser peels, with less healing time and redness.
Dermabrasion
Traditionally, dermabrasion is used to treat acne scars or to remove wrinkles around the mouth. A local anesthetic and/or a freezing agent are used to render the skin numb. Using a high-speed rotating brush, the top layer of skin is removed to the appropriate level for the best results.
Laser Resurfacing
Laser surgery is used to resurface facial skin with wrinkles caused by excess sun exposure, “crow's feet,” and acne scarring. The high energy, amplified light waves vaporize the top layer of skin instantly.
Understanding the Risks
Fortunately, significant complications from skin resurfacing are infrequent. Every year many people undergo successful treatment, experience no problems and are delighted with the results. Anyone considering treatment, however, should be aware of both the benefits and the risks. These issues will be discussed during your consultation.