If you’re looking for a powerful solution to reduce wrinkles, scarring, or uneven skin tone, CO2 laser resurfacing offers an advanced and effective approach. At Solomon Facial Plastic, we provide expertly administered treatments designed to rejuvenate and tighten your skin, enhancing its texture and overall appearance.
Our personalized care ensures each treatment is tailored to your specific needs, helping you achieve youthful, glowing skin. In the following sections, we’ll walk you through what to expect from laser resurfacing in Toronto, preparing you for a safe and transformative experience.
Keep reading to discover how this treatment can revitalize your skin.
How to Prepare for Treatment
Before your co2 laser treatment, you will be provided with thorough instructions to prepare for the procedure. Depending on your medical history, pre-care may involve the following:
- Avoid medications causing sun sensitivity (like doxycycline) three days before your treatment.
- Four weeks before treatment, avoid heavy sun exposure and tanning.
- Quit smoking two weeks before and after treatments, as it can interfere with your healing.
- Take antiviral medications a few days before and after your treatment (if there is a history of shingles or herpes).
- Do not have a deep facial peel for four weeks before your treatment.
What to Expect During the Procedure
At Solomon Facial Plastic, CO2 laser resurfacing in Toronto is performed on an outpatient basis. We combine sedative medications administered through a vein or orally with local anesthesia. When treating the entire face, the treated areas are numbed using local or general anesthesia.
We may also individually treat wrinkles around the forehead, mouth, and eyes or use full-face laser resurfacing with CO2.
You can expect the following:
- Outpatient procedures take 30-45 minutes (for partial-face laser resurfacing) to two hours (for full-face resurfacing). The length of time depends on the issue being addressed and the skin area being treated.
- The treatment may include some discomfort. The level of irritation experienced depends on the extent and depth of resurfacing, your pain tolerance, and the skill of the cosmetic surgeon/dermatologist.
- Patients receive a combination of sedatives and local anesthetics to help them relax and to prevent pain. For extensive treatments, patients may require general anesthesia to assist them in sleeping through the procedure.
- Before treatments start, we will thoroughly clean your skin. Patients also receive special eyewear to protect their eyes from lasers.
- The laser wand is slowly moved across the treated area once treatment commences.
- Patients receive an ice pack to apply to their treated area for 15 minutes to prevent swelling.
- The last step is to apply an antibacterial ointment and non-stick dressing to the treated area. Patients should leave the bandage on according to our instructions.
Depending on the treatment required and the laser intensity, patients may need additional treatments.
Recovery
Recovery typically takes one to two weeks. Following the instructions provided to you helps promote healing and decrease complications. Patients can expect the following effects:
- For the first few days, your skin will feel raw. It may look like a sunburn accompanied by stinging, peeling, and itching.
- There may be blistering. Patients may also ooze yellow liquid, and their skin may crust over.
- After five to seven days, the skin dries and may peel. The underlying skin may appear pale or pink, but it will gradually assume your normal skin colour. The process may take up to one year.
To assist with healing, we advise patients to take the following steps:
- Refrain from picking, scratching, or rubbing the treated area.
- Cleanse the skin as instructed by your healthcare provider. Cleansing occurs two to five times daily with vinegar or saline solution.
- Elevate the head while sleeping to reduce swelling.
- Once the skin heals, apply sunscreen (formulated for sensitive skin only) each time you go outdoors and wear clothing covering the area.
Once entirely healed, patients can use oil-free makeup to conceal the pink-to-red discolouration accompanying the procedure. They can also use green-based makeup to combat skin redness. As mentioned, redness fades in two to three months but takes longer to disappear entirely. Those with red or blonde hair tend to have it last longer.
Side Effects and Safety
CO2 laser resurfacing is a safe and well-established cosmetic procedure that has been effectively used since the 1960s. While side effects are possible, they are rare, especially when the procedure is performed by experienced professionals like those at Solomon Facial Plastic. Most side effects are temporary and manageable, with long-term complications being exceedingly uncommon.
Common side effects may include:
- Sun sensitivity
- Peeling and dryness
- Itching
- Swelling and skin discolouration
- Skin that feels raw (almost like a mild sunburn)
Deeper resurfacing procedures leave the skin feeling similar to a severe sunburn. The skin may also blister and ooze. Potential surgical complications can cause the following:
- Acne flares-ups: Acne flare-ups may resolve by themselves, or you can treat them with conventional acne therapy.
- Infection: Your risk of infection will be reduced by taking antibiotics before your surgery, and consuming them for seven to ten days after treatment.
- Scarring (rare): Sometimes occurs in areas treated by the laser.
- Reactivation of cold sores: Patients can prevent this by using an antiviral medication before surgery and continuing it for seven to ten days post-op.
- Small skin bumps (millia): Gentle cleansing using a washcloth or having a dermatologist smooth the surface using a blade removes the bumps.
- Swelling: Swelling is reduced by administering intramuscular steroids.
- Hyperpigmentation/hypopigmentation (rare): Bleaching cream can help fade hyperpigmentation. Hypopigmentation, though, is challenging to treat.
Such complications are significantly reduced by adhering to pre- and post-care instructions.
What is the expected outcome?
Patients should see a notable difference immediately in their skin. Depending on the treatment type, the skin may appear red or pink for a few months. Improvement in skin tone may last for several years. However, the normal aging process will produce new wrinkles that can be retreated.
Contact Solomon Facial Plastic to Book Your Appointment
At Solomon Facial Plastic, we are committed to delivering safe, effective treatments that enhance your skin’s health and appearance. While side effects from CO2 laser resurfacing are rare, our experienced professionals take every precaution to ensure a smooth and successful procedure.
If you’re considering laser resurfacing in Toronto, trust us to provide the expert care you deserve, with results that will leave your skin looking rejuvenated and refreshed.
Contact us at our Davenport Clinic (305 Davenport Road, Toronto, Ontario) at 416-864-6100 or our Thornhill Clinic (57 Centre Street, Vaughan, Ontario) at 905-764-7799. Our office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Friday. You can also request more information by filling out our online form.
Oct 16th 2024