Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing – Omaha,NE

Is Laser Skin Resurfacing Painful?

At Imagen, we offer all Fractional patients oral sedation to ensure their comfort throughout the laser treatment. We use a topical numbing cream followed by nerve blocks and local anesthetic injection as well. Following the procedure, you can expect a sunburn-like sensation with redness and flaking; some experience mild swelling depending on the treated areas (with treatment of the eyelids the swelling can be significant).

What are the Risks with Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Imagen preps all Fractional patients with medicine so they are comfortable throughout their treatment. Following the procedure, you can expect a sunburn-like sensation with redness and flaking; some All patients will experience the side effects of redness and swelling, many will have some bruising. The bruising is typically a result of the anesthetic rather than the laser itself. Some patients will notice a prolonged pink tone to their skin as a result of the cosmetic procedure. This typically resolves over several weeks to months.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to follow ALL post treatment care instructions. If you pick, rub or scrub off the outer layers of skin, you will get irritation and inflammation which can lead to areas of hyperpigmentation. This risk is particularly high in darker skin types. Some skin types may develop hyperpigmentation in response to laser treatment even if you follow all of the post op instructions. Pretreatment with a Hydroquinone Bleaching Cream and Retinoic Acid Cream can help to prevent this complication.

If a treatment is too aggressive, it is possible to have burns on the skin. The experience of your physician is key in avoiding complications, especially in darker skin types. Darker skin types are also more prone to complications involving hypopigmentation, a loss of pigment in the skin, which is more difficult to treat than hyperpigmentation.

You will need eye protection throughout the procedure. The best type are eye shields that are worn inside of your eyelids (like contact lenses). This allows treatment of the eyelids themselves and does a better job of protecting the eyes.

If you have a history of cold sores or oral herpes, be sure to let your physician know. You will want to take an antiviral around the procedure to help prevent an outbreak of the lesions.

How Many Fractional Laser Treatments will I Need?

Fractional patients will see results from just one treatment. Initial changes will begin to appear within one week and will continue to develop over the coming months. That being said, the number of treatments you will need will depend on the conditions that you are treating and their severity. A patient in their early 30’s treating minimal signs of aging will likely have a desirable result with a single treatment. Patients who are treating deep scarring or advanced aging may benefit from a staged treatment plan including repeated laser treatments combined with prescribed skin care products and other rejuvenation and skin treatments such as Botox or Fillers.

What is the Recovery Time for Fractional Laser Treatment?

Fractional resurfacing at Imagen starts around $750 for single-area treatment. The most commonly The healing process of CO2 laser resurfacing requires patience. Immediately after your laser skin resurfacing treatment you will notice a heat in your skin. Most patients liken this to the sensation you get with a bad sun burn. Your skin will be very red and you may have some pinpoint bleeding. You will have extensive swelling related both to the numbing and the laser itself. The day of your treatment, you will want to keep the skin moist with aquaphor or vaseline to prevent the skin from drying out. You will do vinegar soaks every few hours, which helps prevent infection in addition to cooling the sensation in the skin. We recommend that you store your vinegar solution in the refrigerator so that it feels refreshing on the skin. The heat typically dissipates over the first 24-48 hours. The redness will improve daily over the next 4-5 days and by a week you should be left with a pink tone to your skin. This should be pretty easily covered with makeup (we love the Bye Bye Red concealer). The swelling generally persists for just a few days and then also improves significantly. You may notice the dot pattern from the laser on your skin for several weeks after the treatment, but it is also easy to conceal. It is imperative that you avoid sun exposure after your treatment. After several days you can apply sunscreen but you should also use a hat or shade as the new skin is at higher risk for sunburn and sun damage.

How to Stop the Itching After Fractional Laser Treatment?

There are several factors that contribute to the common complaint of itching after a fractional treatment. First, similar to the itching you get after a bad sunburn, the skin releases histamines in response to the injury. Because of the histamine response, oral antihistamines (such as Benadryl) can also be used, but use caution if you are taking sedating pain medications. Do not apply topical antihistamines to the treated area. The cooling of the vinegar soaks can provide you with some relief from the itching. We often recommend that patients soak a soft washcloth in the vinegar solution and then freeze it. They can then apply the frozen solution to the skin and as it melts it will cool and relieve the discomfort. If the itching is severe, your doctor may recommend a topical steroid ointment.

How Long Does it Take to See Results of Fractional Laser Resurfacing Procedures?

Once the majority of the redness and swelling resolves (after 3-5 days) you will begin to appreciate the improvements in the treatment area resulting from your fractional procedure. Patients will notice a smoother skin texture with less pigment concerns as well as an improvement in fine lines. As your skin begins to produce new collagen, you will appreciate an improvement in the deeper lines as well as a tightening of the skin. These results typically take about 3 months to fully develop.

How Long Do Laser Skin Resurfacing Results Last?

The results of your laser skin resurfacing will typically last between 1 and 5 years. The wide range is a reflection of the wide range of patients and concerns that we treat with fractional lasers. If you are treating acne scars for example, the results will be long lasting as long as the acne is under control. If you are treating sun damage and you have continued sun exposure, your results won’t last very long. If you use SPF regularly, you may extend your results. In regards to using laser resurfacing for treatment and prevention of aging and rejuvenation, the duration of your results will depend on how old you are, your skin care regimen, what other skin treatments you are having, how fast your body breaks down collagen and many other factors.

How Much Does Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing Cost?

Fractional resurfacing at Imagen starts at $750 for single-area treatment. A single area may include the area around the eyes or the smokers lines around the mouth. Full Face treatment is $1750. The most commonly treated areas are the full-face and neck, though some choose to target the eyes or specific spots and scars.