In Metairie, LA, the office of Dr. Black Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery offers laser skin resurfacing treatments with a fractionated CO2 laser or a fractionated Erbium laser to easily and effectively improve the tone and texture of your skin. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Elliott and Dr. Summer Black perform these treatments to help reverse the effects of sun exposure, acne scars, aging, and other factors that have left your skin lacking the luster and freshness you desire.  The fractionated CO2 and fractionated Erbium laser technologies removes dead skin cells, and stimulates collagen production to help your skin regain its supple smooth texture.  Look healthier and younger with just a few treatment sessions (maybe even just one).  There is minimal pain associated with this treatment, and about 5-10 days of downtime depending on how aggressive we are with the laser settings.  If you are considering laser skin resurfacing like the many men and women that have visited us from New Orleans, Metairie, Houma, Baton Rouge, Mandeville, Covington and beyond give the board certified plastic surgeons at Dr. Black Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery a call today to schedule a free consultation.  We can schedule you for a skin analysis to get you started with laser skin resurfacing treatments today.

The depth and aggression of laser skin resurfacing depends on the patient’s desired outcome and overall goals. More aggressive resurfacing is known as ablation. With this form of resurfacing, the skin is actually wounded to the dermal level. Once the dermal wound healing begins, it stimulates the production of collagen. Recovery time from ablation is around 2-3 weeks.  The less aggressive non-ablative process is less invasive and reduces the overall recovery time, but the results are not as dramatic, and multiple treatment sessions are usually necessary to achieve the same level of improvement.  The new generation of CO2  and Erbium lasers have increased the effectiveness and efficiency of the procedure while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue.  It can be used on skin that shows superficial to moderately deep lines and wrinkles.  It can be used on the face, neck, hands or chest.

Even though laser skin resurfacing is nonsurgical and is considered noninvasive, there generally is some downtime associated with the procedure depending on the level of aggression. To ease any discomfort during treatment, our practitioner may choose to numb the skin using a local anesthetic.  The doctor places the laser on the treatment area for a short amount of time and repeats this process until all of the damaged skin has been treated.  After the ablative procedure, the treated skin may appear swollen, itchy and red.  It’s possible for these areas to discharge a yellowish liquid.   During recovery, the treated area will need to be kept clean and protected.  Crusting will likely occur, so the patient must refrain from picking since this can lead to infection and permanent scarring.  Patients that are prone to fever blisters must notify the doctor so that they can take an antiviral during the healing process.  New skin is usually generated in about 1 – 2 weeks.  With non-ablation, a patient can expect swelling and redness which usually resolves in a couple of days.

During laser skin resurfacing, the doctor will aim brief, pulsating beams of light to the skin.  The depth depends on the patient’s particular condition and needs. The laser beam removes the outer layer of skin, which is known as the epidermis.  At the same time, the laser is heating the dermis, the layer underneath, which stimulates the growth of collagen.  Once the treatment is complete, the skin will begin to crust, flake, and peel away over the course of several weeks. Once this process is complete, new skin will appear in its place that’s healthier, brighter, younger looking, and more even-toned.

Our office offers numerous treatment options for sun-damaged and aging skin. The decision whether to choose ablative or non-ablative laser skin resurfacing is dependent upon the patient’s individual condition, aesthetic goals, budget, as well as pain tolerance and allowance for recovery time.  At Dr. Black Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, we can discuss your specific quest for healthier looking skin during a private and thorough skin consult. If you are interested in laser skin resurfacing, we invite you to call our office today and schedule an appointment for an analysis.