Fraxel® & Chemical Peels

The skin resurfacing methods we offer are listed in order of intensity, with the least intense procedure first. Before your procedure, your surgeon may prescribe special creams, lotions, or gels to prepare your skin for treatment.

Microdermabrasion. As microdermabrasion is the least intense of the skin resurfacing techniques we offer, it is performed by one of our licensed medical aestheticians [link to aesthetician services page]. This procedure is great for young people with few signs of aging or sun damage, as it serves to prevent lines and wrinkles from forming. Otherwise, it is usually used as a maintenance treatment for those who have had one of the other types of skin resurfacing or facial surgery. After these more extensive procedures, microdermabrasion can help patients maintain their results.

Chemical Peels. A chemical peel involves a compound – typically an acid – that safely burns off the outer damaged layer of skin. Chemical peels come in a variety of strengths. When we meet you for your consultation, we carefully evaluate your skin to determine which strength of peel will be best for you. The experience of your plastic surgeon is critical in determining the best type of peel for your skin, and it is extremely dependent upon a thorough in-person examination. No one should ever suggest a peel type or strength to you without a physical evaluation.

Lighter peels provide a faster recovery, but there is less removal of damaged skin. This means that the results are not as significant. Light peels work best on those with wrinkles, scars, or dark spots that are not deep.

Deeper peels require a longer recovery time, during which there is redness and peeling of the skin. The results, however, are significant with a substantial improvement of lines and wrinkles, deep scars, and deep pigmentation.

Laser Skin Resurfacing. We have several different types of lasers that we use for skin resurfacing, but our favorite tool is the Fraxel Dual, which has become the gold standard for laser skin resurfacing. It is very effective for improving brown spots, fine wrinkle patterns, and acne scars. One of the main advantages of Fraxel lasers is that they target only the damaged skin and leave the surrounding skin cells intact.

Most patients need to have multiple laser treatments one month apart. For brown spots, most patients require 2 treatments; for fine wrinkles, 3 to 4 treatments are usually sufficient; and for acne scars, most patients require 5 to 10 treatments.

Laser skin resurfacing is not suitable for people with darker skin, including olive, suntanned, or black skin. This limit is because the procedure causes lightened areas that often need 6 to 9 months to return to their normal color (or pigmentation). People who are prone to scarring, have psoriasis or related conditions, or who take certain medications also may not be good candidates for the procedure.

To ensure your comfort, topical anesthesia, local anesthesia, or intravenous sedation is used during laser skin resurfacing. If you are going to receive treatment for deep layers of your skin, you might be given a general anesthetic. The anesthesia you receive is based on the type of laser and level of treatment required.

During the procedure, the laser is directed precisely over the treatment area and repeated as necessary. Superficial and deep layers of skin are targeted to remove old skin and generate the growth of new skin. Many patients say the laser feels like a rubber band that is snapped against the skin.

Laser skin resurfacing can last a few minutes to 2 hours, depending on the amount of resurfacing you need.

Dermabrasion. This is one of the oldest tools that surgeons have for removing wrinkles. It is also considered the strongest, which is why it is vital that a plastic surgeon perform the procedure. Without the proper experience, a patient could experience scarring.

During dermabrasion, a handheld device is used to “refinish” the skin. It removes more of the top layer of skin cells than any of the other types of skin resurfacing, so the recovery time is longer. We reserve this treatment for the worst areas, such as deep scars from injuries or prior surgeries, smoker’s lines around the mouth, and people for whom lasers and peels will not be effective.

Microdermabrasion Recovery. No downtime is required after microdermabrasion; you can go back to work immediately after your treatment. You may experience some mild redness and irritation for a couple of days, but if you moisturize your skin per our instructions, you will heal quickly. You can also cover any redness with makeup.

Chemical Peels Recovery. The recovery time required after your chemical peel will depend on its strength. After a light peel, you will experience 1 to 2 days of redness. After a very deep peel, you will experience at least 10 days of redness and peeling, after which your skin will maintain a slight pink tone for a period of months. Moderate peels will result in redness from 2 to 8 days depending on the type of peel you receive.

Laser Skin Resurfacing Recovery. A dressing or bandage may be needed to protect the treated area. You may experience some swelling and mild discomfort that will resolve within a few days. There is rarely any bleeding after the procedure, but your skin may develop a red, crusty appearance that can last up to 10 days. To prevent scars, do not peel the crusty skin, but let it slough off on its own. As new skin grows, it will probably look bright pink and slightly shiny for several weeks. When the healing process is complete, you will have a smooth and glowing layer of skin.

Dermabrasion Recovery. For about two weeks after your treatment, your skin will look as though you suffered a severe sunburn with redness and peeling. For a few months, your skin will remain slightly pink, but you can conceal this with makeup. The quality of the skin’s surface will be soft and smooth.