Tag Archives: non-ablative laser

Discover the Benefits of Laser Treatments for Scars

Posted on by

Scars that are visible on the body can cause a person to be ashamed of their appearance and try and hide them from the view of others. In addition, these scars can cause pain and itching on the part of the patient. In order to reduce the size and appearance of a scar, patients often turn to laser treatments to address the look of the scar, Laser treatments for scars stimulate the growth of new and healthy skin while also making the scar less noticeable and not as uncomfortable for patients. Laser therapy for scars can be used on acne scars, surgical scars and scars that are the result of an injury.

Laser Treatment for Scars Explained

Laser treatment for scars penetrates the outer layers of the skin in order to stimulate the growth of new and healthy skin. The laser works to remove skin that is older and damaged so the new skin can take its place.

A scar is a natural response that the body creates when there is an injury. While they do not normally require any type of treatment, scars can be painful and also impact the self-image of a person. In addition, a scar might limit the range of motion of the skin around the scar so reducing the scar helps the area located around it.

Doctors have a number of lasers they can choose from to reduce the appearance of a scar. These laser choices have different light wavelengths. Some of the lasers are ablative which means they remove the top layer of the skin while others are non-ablative which means they go underneath the surface of the skin to make the desired changes.

Some of the most popular laser choices include:

  • IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
  • Ablative Fractional Carbon Dioxide Laser
  • Non-ablative Fractional Laser

Before making the final decision about which type of laser to use to treats scars, the doctor will need to perform a thorough examination of the scar to determine the amount of changes and improvements that can be made to the scar.

Learn how laser treatments for scars lessen their appearance

Types of Scars that can be treated with Lasers

There are many types of common scars that can be treated using lasers including scars from an injury as well as acne scars and scars that limit the range of motion of the area around the scar. In addition, scars that are the result of a burn or scars that appeared as the result of a previous surgery can also be treated using lasers.

There are times when laser therapy is not enough to treat a scar and provide the desired final appearance. In these cases, doctors might use injectable filers to plump up the skin around the scar which can make the actual scar less noticeable.

Laser Treatments for Scars Procedure

Although different types of lasers can be used by doctors to treat scars on the skin of a patient, the laser treatment for scars procedure is often the same for patients:

  • The doctor will clean the area located around the scar
  • The doctor might use a numbing cream or local anesthetic to lessen any pain or discomfort
  • The doctor places gauze or wet towels around the area with the scar to absorb any laser pulses that might impact the otherwise healthy skin
  • The doctor moves the laser over the scar tissue with the occasional use of a cooling saline on the skin
  • Once the laser treatment is finished, the doctor applies ointment to the treated area and places a dressing on it to protect the treated area

The area that is treated by the laser might be red for several hours after the treatment. There could be some mild swelling and a stinging sensation that is similar to sunburn.

Laser Treatment for Scars Risks

Some of the most common risks of laser treatment for scars include:

  • Bleeding
  • Swelling
  • Infection
  • Skin Discoloration

Laser Treatment for Scars Cost

Patients will need to pay for their laser treatment for scars if the procedure is being performed for cosmetic reasons. If the treatment is being performed because of any health reasons, insurance might pay for some of the treatment.

In general, the cost for laser treatment for scars is in the range of $2000-$2500 for an ablative laser treatment and $1100-$1300 for non-ablative laser treatment.

Laser Treatment for Scars Consultation

Patients interested in undergoing laser treatment for scars should schedule a consultation appointment to have their scars examined by a doctor. The doctor will be able to tell the patient the best type of laser to use to achieve the desired results as well as set realistic expectations for the changes that can be achieved using the laser treatment. Once the laser treatment for scars is performed, the patient will enjoy a reduced appearance to the scars while also having new and healthy skin growing to provide the person with skin that is rejuvenated and refreshed in its appearance.

Treating Acne Scars with Laser

Posted on by

Scarring is one of the most dreadful complications of acne. Long after the actual acne is gone, the scars that it leaves can continue to lower the patient’s self-esteem. A number of treatment options are available to combat this problem but their effectiveness varies depending on the type of scar and the definition of “acceptable” results for the patient. According to experts, laser technology is by far the most useful treatment as it is indicated for more severe cases of scarring. Today, dermatologists use a variety of lasers to treat severe cases of acne.

Ablative Lasers

The term “ablative” means removal of some body tissue. Thus, the use of an ablative laser involves the removal of the outer surface of the skin. This type of laser is best used on pitted scars. There are two types of ablative laser for acne scars and they are CO2 and Erbium lasers. CO2 lasers produce a 50-80% improvement in skin texture and were initially thought to be better than Erbium lasers. However, CO2 lasers have much more side effects compared to Erbium so the latter is preferred by dermatologists despite being the less effective of the two.

According to studies, the side effects of CO2 lasers are often seen in patients with dark skin with skin discoloration being the most commonly reported. Other side effects include redness, itching, milia (small bumps of dead skin), infection, bleeding and formation of acne-like bumps. Erbium lasers produce the same side effects but they are milder in nature. Ablative lasers tend to produce excellent results if performed properly by a board-certified specialist.

Non-Ablative Lasers

Although ablative laser is considered one of the best treatments for acne scars, it is limited by its side effects. These limitations led to the development of non-ablative lasers which produce fewer side effects but less effective results. The idea behind using this type of laser is to induce collagen formation in the deeper layers of the skin without damaging the outer layers.

Non-ablative lasers can be further classified as infrared lasers and visible light lasers. Infrared laser is the kind of laser used in leg veins and hair removal. Their role in the treatment of acne scars is based on findings that show they can also promote the formation of collagen and cause destruction of fibrotic collagen in scars. These mechanisms, when combined together, cause significant improvement of both raised and pitted scars.

Fractional Lasers

The concept of fractional lasers was introduced in the early 2000s to address both the limited effectiveness of non-ablative lasers and the undesirable side effects of ablative lasers. Fractional lasers work by creating zones of thermal damage on smaller fractions of the skin.

The damaged part of the skin is healed and repaired by the surrounding uninjured skin. Healing occurs in a much shorter period of time so the risk of infection and other side effects are significantly reduced. Any side effects should resolve in one month or less.

Tattoo-Removal Lasers

This type of laser is newer than the others and has proven to be an effective way of getting rid of pitted acne scars. This laser is the picosecond laser which was originally used for removing tattoos. More details about this interesting new laser treatment are available here.

Laser treatment continues to be an effective way to stop the misery of acne scars. With the numerous types of lasers available today, it can be quite challenging to tell which laser is the best choice for a patient. Knowing which one to use is extremely important as using the wrong type can do more harm than good. As always, patients should consult with a board-certified dermatologist for proper evaluation and treatment of their acne scars. A dermatologist is the right person to determine which type of laser is suitable to use on patients.