Laser resurfacing: Effective wrinkle treatment

Laser resurfacing: Effective wrinkle treatment
May 25, 2007
By Mayo Clinic Staff
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Laser resurfacing treats wrinkles and minor facial flaws, but it does have limitations. Is this procedure your best bet for skin rejuvenation?
Wrinkles Û whether they line the sides of your mouth or etch the corners of your eyes Û are inevitable signs of aging. Though nothing fully stops the effects of time, you have options to help lessen the appearance of wrinkles and other minor skin conditions, such as age spots or acne scars.

Resurfacing your skin with one of several techniques, such as a chemical peel, radiofrequency ablation or dermabrasion, may be the answer. Laser resurfacing Û a popular option in the family of ablative (wounding) skin resurfacing techniques Û removes the aged or sun-damaged skin to allow younger looking skin to grow in its place.

Though laser resurfacing is an effective treatment for minor facial flaws, it does have limitations. Knowing what you can realistically expect and the benefits and risks involved can help you decide if this is the best procedure to improve the look of your skin.

Who is laser resurfacing for?
Laser resurfacing is for people who want to treat:

Fine to moderate wrinkles
Liver spots or age spots (solar lentigines)
Uneven skin tones
Sun-damaged skin
Acne or chickenpox scars
How do you prepare?
Before scheduling laser resurfacing, you need to meet with your doctor to discuss the factors that determine whether this procedure is likely to work well for you. This meeting ...