Laser Skin Resurfacing in Boston

Reveal Revitalized Skin with Laser Skin Resurfacing

Are you interested in revitalizing your skin? Are you unhappy with your skin’s texture, wrinkles, acne scarring, or stretch marks? Have you wondered if there was a way to reduce the appearance of a surgical scar or improve the appearance of a traumatic scar? Because these are such common concerns, we are excited to be able to offer some highly effective laser skin resurfacing treatments for these problems.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

Multiple laser skin resurfacing treatment sessions are recommended depending on the clinical situation, in order to achieve the desired results, which occur over a several month process. If you are looking for laser skin resurfacing Boston area plastic surgeon Dr. Eliopoulos is here to help! Schedule your consultation at the Chelmsford Center for Plastic Surgery which serves the upper Massachusetts and lower New Hampshire areas today! Dr. Eliopoulos is dedicated to delivering the best laser skin resurfacing Chelmsford has to offer.

Laser Resurfacing Benefits

If aging, acne, or too much time in the sun has left your face with blotches, sun damage, scars, fine lines, or wrinkles, laser skin resurfacing offers many benefits:

  • Tighten the skin
  • Even out the skin tone
  • Make your skin look younger and healthier
  • Long-lasting results
  • Less downtime than other more invasive skin rejuvenation methods
  • Effective for facial rejuvenation

Who Are Ideal Candidates for Laser Resurfacing?

Lasers offer benefits for men and women of all types and conditions. Ideal candidates for laser resurfacing have:

  • Sun damage on their skin
  • Brown spots
  • Red spots
  • Fine lines or scarring from trauma or acne

This rejuvenating procedure is ideal for anyone with skin showing signs of aging and looking for a recharge!

As with any medical procedure, medical history and certain risk factors can affect laser resurfacing safety, recovery time, and effectiveness. Therefore, it is critical to consult with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Eliopoulos to ensure you get the best plan for your needs.

What is Laser Resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing improves the appearance of the skin by directing microbeams of energy deep into the layers of the skin, vaporizing columns of skin cells. Using precisely controlled energy to remove layers of the skin stimulates collagen production and encourages the development of healthier, younger-looking skin as it heals.

This process can be done with an ablative laser or non-ablative laser. While both work by stimulating collagen growth and skin regeneration, there are some key differences.

Ablative Laser Resurfacing

An ablative laser takes off a portion of the skin's surface, tightening collagen within the deeper layers of the skin’s dermis. Ablative laser resurfacing is a powerful technique for creating smoother, more refined skin. However, downtime is more significant, and it requires some post-treatment care.

Non-ablative Laser Resurfacing

The non-ablative laser sends laser energy in columns deep into the dermis while leaving the most superficial layer, the stratum corneum, intact. Going deeper and leaving islands of intact skin around these columns of treated skin is safer and allows a quicker healing process than a traditional ablative skin resurfacing.

Choosing The Best Laser Resurfacing Procedure

Non-ablative laser resurfacing treatments typically require less recovery time, which is ideal if someone cannot afford the slightly longer downtime of an ablative laser resurfacing. Depending on the procedure, the trade-off might be that multiple treatments are required to get the best results.

Every patient’s clinical situation is different. Dr. Eliopoulos and her team can help guide you and determine which laser is best for your particular needs.

ICON Fractionated Non-Ablative Laser: Shorter Downtime,Fewer Visits

If you are looking for anti-aging and facial revitalization with shorter downtime after treatments, our ICON 1540 is highly effective. A typical patient may need only 3 treatments spaced about 1 month apart.

This laser, also known as the 1540 Erbium laser, is also phenomenal for treating scars, such as acne scars and surgical or traumatic scars, and even stretch marks! While no laser can completely eradicate scars or stretch marks, this treatment can dramatically improve their appearance. Typically, 3 to 6 treatments may be needed. Often, for our surgical patients interested in optimizing the appearance of their surgical scars, we recommend a scar protocol of 3 laser treatments spaced one month apart beginning about 1 month out from surgery.

With the 1540 Erbium laser, there are fewer potential side effects than with other laser therapies. It works by delivering heat to the skin’s deepest layers. That spurs the body to start producing more collagen, the most abundant protein in the body, as well as elastin. Together, the collagen and elastin boost skin texture and tone. Volume is added to the skin. Fine lines and wrinkles are decreased, if not eradicated. It is among the most powerful lasers of its kind.

The Erbium laser handpiece is applied directly to the target area during treatment. Since the handpiece contains cooling technology, discomfort is minimal.

ICON 1540 fractional laser treatment procedure & recovery

Typically this laser resurfacing needs no sedation. We can apply a topical anesthetic numbing cream on larger treatment areas if needed. After facial treatments, patients can anticipate some pinkness and a bit of swelling, which typically resolves in a few days. After a day or so, one may notice a “bronzed" or "tanned” look to the skin, which also resolves after a few days. Sunblock is a must, and makeup may be applied 24 hours after treatment.

Cynosure Icon™ ThreeForMe™ Laser Treatment

Cynosure has reimagined facial rejuvenation with ThreeForMe’s two-in-one laser technology. ThreeForMe combines IPL photorejuvenation and a non-ablative 1540 Erbium laser to gently renew skin from the inside out. This next-generation laser treatment leaves your skin with a smooth, firm, youthful glow without any of the downtime commonly associated with lasers.

Is there any downtime?

ThreeForMe has minimal downtime. Any redness or swelling that occurs is mild and short-lived. Most patients get back to their daily activities right away. Avoid prolonged sun exposure afterward, as your skin may be more prone to sunburn.

What concerns does it treat?

ThreeForMe combines two treatment modes into a single treatment to target three facial aging concerns:

✓ Wrinkles
✓ Sun damage
✓ Broken blood vessels

What are the benefits?

ThreeForMe laser treatments are comfortable, fast, and non-invasive. The hand-held device dramatically improves skin quality without harming the skin. Additional benefits include:

  • Minimal downtime
  • 1 hour and a half treatment time depending on how many areas being treated
  • Minimal procedural discomfort
  • Suitable for nearly all skin colors
  • Automatically adjusts to your skin type
  • Boosts collagen and elastin production for increased firmness and elasticity

How does ThreeForMe work?

This in-office treatment takes a little over a hour to perform. ThreeForMe rejuvenates the skin in two steps.

Step 1: The first pass of the handpiece delivers intense pulsed light (IPL) to target spider veins, freckles, age spots, redness, and other pigmentation concerns.
Step 2: The second pass delivers a fractional Erbium microbeam to smooth the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, and scars.

Fewer Visits, Longer Downtime

While skin treatments such as the IPL Photofacial and the ICON 1540 may require several appointments to achieve optimal results, the UltraPulse Total FX Fractional CO2 Laser Resurfacing system dramatically reduces signs of aging with a single treatment.

This state-of-the-art laser treatment improves the tone and texture of the skin while stimulating new collagen production. Patients emerge from treatment with smoother, healthier, remarkably younger-looking skin. If you are able to have a bit more healing time and are ready to experience incredible results with laser skin resurfacing, contact the Center for Plastic Surgery in Chelmsford, Massachusetts today!

Recovery and Results

Boston Laser Skin Resurfacing patients often find that their faces feel warm immediately after the UltraPulse Total FX procedure. This is a normal sensation and should subside within one hour. It is expected that your skin will appear red for approximately a week after treatment, during which a gentle cleansing and moisturizing ritual should be used to help with the healing process.

After one week, you will be able to apply makeup and sunblock. After your skin has healed, the results of your laser skin resurfacing treatment will be visible and will continue to improve over the next six months. Dr. Eliopoulos will monitor your recovery every step of the way and recommend skincare products designed to enhance the results of your UltraPulse Total FX treatment.

We no longer choose to provide Co2 laser resurfacing, as we have other options including non ablative laser resurfacing and radiofrequency assisted microneedling that can achieve excellent results with less downtime.

How long does laser resurfacing last?

Some people who have laser resurfacing see an immediate difference in the treated skin, and results continue to improve for up to a year. Patients can typically expect laser skin resurfacing results to last anywhere from 3-5 years after having the procedure done, but it is possible to extend results beyond five years. Maintenance and medical grade skincare recommended to maintain results.

Learn More about Laser Skin Resurfacing

If you would like to improve scars, stretch marks, reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging, Dr. Eliopoulos's team can help! Achieve revitalized, younger-looking skin with fractional laser resurfacing at the Center for Plastic Surgery in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Contact us today to schedule a personal consultation.

What results can I expect?

For optimal results, you must avoid sun exposure before undergoing this treatment to minimize risk of hyperpigmentation. Most patients undergo a series of treatments for maximum benefit. While your skin may appear smoother and brighter immediately, the results only get better with time as fresh collagen and elastin infiltrate your skin. These proteins are known to increase skin firmness and elasticity, which are the hallmarks of youthful skin. Each treatment builds on the results of the last, improving the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, broken capillaries, and sun damage.

"I was a little worried about the laser treatment at first, but she was so professional and put me right at ease! Dr. Eliopoulos and her staff are just awesome and I can't say enough about them and my skin treatments. I recently had to attend a function and I cannot begin to tell you how many people said that my skin was absolutely glowing and asked me what was I using or doing." DER, Age: 49, Account Manager, N. Reading, MA

Laser Resurfacing FAQ

What is the right age for laser skin resurfacing?

The most appropriate age for laser skin resurfacing depends on the patient and the nature of the skin issues you are looking to address. Laser resurfacing has proven effective for reducing acne scarring in teens and young adults, and it’s even used on infants and children to remove birthmarks.

When it comes to treating or even preventing the signs of aging, sooner is better than later. It is easier to get ahead of fine lines and wrinkles than reverse them. If you spend a lot of time in the sun, you might find laser rejuvenation beneficial as early as your twenties. Waiting until you are in your sixties is not recommended because younger skin heals faster and can retain the results for years.

Is laser resurfacing better than chemical peels?

Laser resurfacing offers more control and precision than chemical peels when targeting a specific area such as an acne scar or a few spots. Laser resurfacing is also better for deep collagen remodeling, making it a more effective option for targeting wrinkles or sagging skin.

How much does laser skin resurfacing cost?

Since laser skin resurfacing is so customizable, the cost can vary as it's based on the size of the area being treated, among other factors. For a more exact estimate a consultation should be performed where your goals can be gone over and cost can be more accurately given.

Because it is usually considered a cosmetic procedure, a majority of insurance companies won't cover laser skin resurfacing. However, some exceptions may exist, particularly when laser resurfacing is done to modify scars or remove precancerous growths. So, be sure to check with your insurance company and consult with your doctor before the procedure to discuss the full costs, and what, if any, part of the cost the insurance may cover.