What is  laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing, also known as laser peel or laser lasabrasion, is a procedure using laser beams to reduce certain skin imperfections such as wrinkles, pigment spots, scars and blemishes.

Below is a narrated animation about laser skin resurfacing procedures. Click here to license this video and/or other dermatology related videos/images on Alila Medical Media website.

How does it works?

The skin is composed of three layers (Fig.1, left panel): epidermis (the outermost), dermis and hypodermis (subcutaneous fat). The dermis contains bundles of well organised collagen fibers which contribute to the firmness and smoothness of the skin. As skin gets older, these fibers become less in number and also less organized, wrinkles and age spots (uneven pigmentation) appear (right panel of Fig. 1).

Fig. 1 : Structure of young skin and older skin back to back for comparison. Note the differences in collagen fibers number and arrangement. Click on image to see a larger version on Alila Medical Media website where the image is also available for licensing.

 

Laser beams ablate (destroy) the outer layer of the skin removing unwanted wrinkles and spots. At the same time, the heat of the beams stimulates the growth of collagen fibers in the dermis. As the wound is healing, new skin that grows over it is smoother and firmer (Fig. 2)

Classic laser skin resurfacing versus Fractional laser skin resurfacing

The classic laser skin resurfacing uses laser to ablate a large area of the “problematic” skin, the whole problem (e.g. a dark spot) is removed, the skin is the left to heal naturally by itself. The plus : as the whole “problem” is removed, only one treatment is needed. The minus: burned-out area is large, it takes a long time to heal and is subject to higher risk of infection.
Click here to see an animation of  laser skin resurfacing procedure on Alila Medical Media website where the video is also available for licensing.

Fig. 2 : Laser skin resurfacing technique for removal of a dark spot. Note a large wound after treatment. Click on image to see a larger version on Alila Medical Media website where the image is also available for licensing.

 

The newer technique : fractional laser skin resurfacing uses multiple smaller laser beams to ablate the skin in smaller spots, leaving undamaged skin tissue in between. The plus: healing is faster and less complicated. The minus: a series of treatments is needed to eliminate the “problem”. See the animation of this procedure here. 

Fig. 3 : Fractional laser skin resurfacing technique. Note smaller wounds after treatment but part of the dark spot still remains after healing.
Click on image to see a larger version on Alila Medical Media website where the image is also available for licensing.

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