Laser Resurfacing Basics
The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery describes laser resurfacing as a procedure that uses a laser to improve the appearance of skin or treat minor facial flaws by removing layers of skin. That description sets the standard for everything on this page: a treatment that removes layers of skin should come with a clear account of what is removed, how it heals and what the finished skin should look like.
Guides by stage of the decision
Choosing a treatment
- Comparing Skin Rejuvenation Options puts laser next to the other approaches a reader may be offered.
- Sun-Damaged Wrinkles Can Be Treated covers how laser is used on sun-damaged skin.
- Ablative vs Non-Ablative Lasers separates the two laser types a provider may name.
After the treatment
- Healing After Laser Resurfacing is for readers planning recovery time.
- How Long Laser Resurfacing Results Last is for readers asking how long a result holds.
A checklist to take to the consultation
A published standard is only useful if you can apply it in the room. These questions come straight from what laser resurfacing is described as doing.
- Which laser is being used, and how deep does it work?
- Which layers of skin will it remove from the area being treated?
- What does healing involve for that laser? Compare the answer with a clinical overview of laser resurfacing.
- What should the finished skin look like, and when should it look that way?
- If the goal is sun damage, how is the plan different? The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery has a page on laser resurfacing for sun-damaged skin to read first.
A licensed provider who has examined your skin is the one who confirms whether laser resurfacing fits you. Reading a plastic surgery society's page on laser skin resurfacing beforehand helps you ask sharper questions.
Where to go from here
Start with the comparison guide if you have not yet settled on laser. Move to the sun damage guide if that is your main concern, or to the healing guide if you have already chosen a treatment. For the general picture before any of them, the society's overview of laser resurfacing is the shortest route.