Laser Skin Resurfacing

At the MODERN Plastic Surgery & Medspa, laser skin treatments are as unique as you are. Whether you are just starting to notice wrinkles and unwanted brown spots or your skin is looking and feeling noticeably older than you’d like, laser skin resurfacing at our New Orleans practice can be personalized for your cosmetic goals. With a single device, Dr. Jules Walters and his aestheticians help women and men rejuvenate their skin within their desired recovery time.

What Is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is a skin rejuvenation treatment that safely removes the dead, damaged outer layer of the skin. The depth of these treatments is adjusted for each patient’s unique concerns and available recovery time.

How It Works

Our skin resurfacing laser is an ablative, full-field erbium:YAG laser, which means it removes the entire surface of the skin instead of pinpoint areas like fractional lasers such as the HALO® laser. The body replaces the treated skin cells with new, healthy skin cells, and collagen production increases within the skin.

Am I a Good Candidate for Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing is ideal for patients who want smoother, clearer, and firmer skin. It effectively treats a variety of concerns, both mild and significant, including:

• Deep wrinkles and fine lines
• Scars from acne, surgery, and injury
• Excess pigmentation, including sunspots and freckles
• Scaly patches (actinic keratosis)
• Poor skin tone
• Rough, uneven texture

This treatment isn’t recommended for people with active acne.

Which Areas Can Be Treated?

Laser resurfacing is safe for all skin tones on sun-exposed areas, which often include the: 

• Face, including around the eyes and lips 
• Neck 
• Arms 
• Décolletage/chest 
• Hands 
• Legs

What Are My Laser Resurfacing Treatment Options?

Dr. Walters and his aestheticians can adjust each treatment to the patient’s unique needs, even different treatment areas. Here are the options, listed from least to most aggressive:

• MicroLaserPeel®: Superficial resurfacing for correcting fine lines and pigment and improving tone and texture.
• ProFractional Therapy™: Fractional resurfacing for improved tone and texture. This option is an excellent complement to the MicroLaserPeel.
• Contour TRL™: Can be adjusted for significant signs of sun damage and aging, including deep lines, pigment, uneven texture, noticeable scars, skin thinning, and laxity.

During your consultation, Dr. Walters or one of his aestheticians will create a personalized treatment plan to renew your skin’s radiance and youthful texture. He may recommend other skin treatments instead of or in addition to laser resurfacing such as BBL HERO®, HALO®, or a chemical peel.

Before you are scheduled for a more intense laser peel treatment, Dr. Walters may recommend a home skincare regimen to prepare your skin for a few weeks.

How Is Laser Skin Resurfacing Performed?

If your complexion needs mild improvement, we may apply a topical anesthetic to numb targeted areas of the face or body. For more aggressive treatments, Dr. Walters may prescribe medication to be taken prior to the procedure to reduce anxiety and minimize discomfort. A local anesthetic may be injected prior to treatment to help you feel more comfortable during the procedure.

Once the skin is prepared, you will relax in our special treatment chair while the laser handpiece is passed over your skin. You may sense the heat of the laser and then cool air from the system’s built-in cooling device.

What Can I Expect for Recovery?

Patients return home the day of their procedure. You may need to have a friend or family member drive you depending on the aggressiveness of your procedure. In general, recovery involves the following: 

• Light to medium resurfacing: After treatment, we will smooth protective ointment over the skin. The treated skin may look mildly red and swollen like a sunburn for up to 8 hours. The skin will peel for about 3 to 5 days as it renews itself.  
• Deeper resurfacing: After treatment, protective dressings may be applied to treated areas. Irritation, swelling, and burning symptoms may be stronger. Treated skin will naturally crust, flake, and peel off. It’s crucial to shield your skin from environmental exposure and avoid accelerating the recovery process to prevent scarring. The recovery period may last several weeks.  

It is important to minimize your UV exposure following a laser treatment and use sun protection throughout the day. After your skin heals, it will feel smoother and appear younger, clearer, and more radiant. With more aggressive treatments, firmness and tightness will increase over time as collagen is gradually replenished. 

What’s the Best Type of Resurfacing for Me?

Dr. Walters can help you decide which resurfacing treatment is best for your concerns and goals in your consultation. The best treatment for you will depend on the health of your skin, any skin problems, and the skin depth you want your treatment to reach. How long you are willing to give your recovery may also be an important factor when you create a treatment plan. When in doubt, it’s better to try a lighter treatment to see how you like your outcomes and adjust as needed for your next appointment.

How Often Should I Get Laser Resurfacing Treatments?

Based on the resurfacing method you and Dr. Walters choose for your procedure, you may need to wait several weeks or months between appointments. Deeper treatments will provide results that last a long time; however, they will need a lengthy recovery period. You should talk to Dr. Walters about how frequently you want to come back for appointments so he can consider this when choosing a type of resurfacing during your consultation.

How Can I Help My Skin Recover After a Resurfacing Treatment?

Dr. Walters or someone on his staff will talk to you about ways to speed skin healing after a laser treatment. The number one rule is don’t pick or peel your skin. Doing this can lead to lasting damage, including scars. You should forgo all hair removal methods on the treated skin, which means no waxing, shaving, or depilatory creams. We will suggest a cream to help soothe your skin.