Laser skin resurfacing is a popular cosmetic treatment that has the potential to drastically improve the appearance of the skin. It is often used to address issues like wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, scarring, and more. It could make you look years younger and give you a confidence boost! However, you might be reluctant to commit to it due to concerns about safety. What are the potential risks of laser skin resurfacing? Is it worth it? This blog post explains what you should know.

Factors that Can Affect Treatment Outcomes

It is important to understand that laser skin resurfacing is a general term that can apply to a range of different treatments. The specific laser used, as well as the type of laser, can have a significant impact on the potential risks involved. For example, ablative laser skin resurfacing removes the outer layer of skin and encourages the regrowth of healthier skin. However, it is a more aggressive approach than non-ablative laser skin resurfacing, which tends to be gentler even though the results are less noticeable.

Another factor that should be kept in mind is the professional that performs the treatment. In the hands of an experienced, properly trained aesthetic professional, laser skin resurfacing carries minimal risks. However, the potential for unpleasant side effects is much greater when an unqualified individual is handling the procedure.

What Are the Risks?

During and/or after a laser skin resurfacing treatment, a small percentage of patients experience:

• Minor burns from the laser’s heat
• Discomfort
• Changes in skin pigmentation (lighter/darker skin)
• Infections
• Eye injuries (which can happen with any laser treatment)
• Scarring

How to Minimize Your Risk

While the above information might concern you, it is important to note that the odds of something going wrong with your treatment are fairly minimal, especially if you take some simple precautions.

The most important thing you should do is entrust yourself to a qualified aesthetic medical team. They can answer your questions about the potential risks, and they will do all they can to avoid mistakes that could damage your skin. They will also recommend the type of treatment that is best for your unique skin concerns.

After treatment, you should be careful to follow aftercare instructions. For example, you may need to avoid certain makeup/skincare products for a while. It is also important that you protect yourself from sun exposure while you are recovering.

Is Laser Skin Resurfacing Worth It?

Whether or not laser skin resurfacing is worth it is up to you to decide. However, most patients who have gotten the treatment have no regrets about their decision. The potential rewards far outweigh the minor risks involved!

Meet the Practice

Dr. Irvin M. Wiesman is an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. Under his leadership, the Natural Beauty Med Spa team in Chicago provides a broad range of minimally invasive aesthetic services, including laser skin resurfacing. Safety is of the utmost importance to us, and we take every reasonable precaution to protect our patients. If you would like to learn more about us and how we may be able to help you look and feel amazing, contact our Dearborn office at 312-981-1291.