At one time, the laser beam became a real breakthrough in cosmetology - in 75% of cases, it was able to replace injection procedures and surgical interventions. Laser facial rejuvenation is not only about smoothing out wrinkles and folds, removing excessive pigmentation, increasing the firmness and elasticity of the skin: the rays can maximally smooth the relief of the epidermis and remove scars. This procedure has also been shown to have a therapeutic effect, facilitating the treatment of certain dermatological diseases.
What is laser facial rejuvenation?
The procedure is carried out with the help of special devices, the beam moves along the surface of the skin of the face in a "handle" and penetrates into the depths of the dermis. High frequencies and heating ensure the destruction of old skin cells, leaving the surrounding healthy tissue intact. It is in them that the processes of active production of collagen and elastin begin - these substances are necessary to repair damage. The renewed skin is absolutely healthy and fully functional.
Depending on which area of the face requires laser rejuvenation, the doctor will choose the optimal treatment temperature that will eliminate the formation of burns.
Laser facial rejuvenation is not a traumatic procedure, does not require general anesthesia and does not require a long rehabilitation period with the patient staying in a clinic.
Indications and contraindications for laser lifting
Laser facial rejuvenation is a unique cosmetic procedure that has a complex effect and solves several problems at the same time. Therefore, there are many indications - in a modern clinic, doctors recommend a course of several sessions if you have:
- wrinkles in any area of the face– facial, age-related, deep folds;
- reduced skin elasticity– ptosis (drooping of the eyelids), formation of jaws, "floating" oval of the face;
- external defects on the skin- scars, traces of acne and mechanical removal of large acne, stretch marks;
- changes in complexion- the appearance of yellow spots on the skin, a gray shade, a complete lack of natural blush;
- excessive oiliness of the epidermis– accompanied by enlarged pores, frequent occurrence of acne and greasy shine;
- puffiness and bags, dark circles under the eyes;
- rosacea- vascular manifestations on the epidermis such as "reticulations", "stars".
Although laser facial rejuvenation is considered a safe procedure, somecontraindicationsfor its execution there are:
- periods of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
- oncological pathologies, regardless of the location of the malignant neoplasm;
- diabetes mellitus of any type;
- improper functioning of the thyroid gland with excessive or insufficient synthesis of hormones;
- mental disorders;
- neurological diseases such as epilepsy (accompanied by convulsive syndrome);
- predisposition to the formation of keloid scars;
- psoriasis, eczema, herpes with signs on the face.
There are also a number of conditional restrictions - exacerbation of chronic internal pathologies, increased body temperature, menstruation, skin damage in the areas of suspected exposure to laser rays: it is necessary to wait for the recovery of the general state of health.
Advantages and disadvantages of laser skin rejuvenation
The procedure in question is one of the most popular, and this is not surprising - it has too many advantages, which the doctor already mentions during the initial consultation:
- under the influence of laser rays, the natural biological processes in the cells of the dermis are activated - regeneration, metabolism, production of collagen and elastin;
- the procedure can be performed for any skin type, regardless of the severity of age-related changes and existing dermatological problems (there are separate exceptions from the list of contraindications);
- the probability of scar formation is reduced to zero and increases only if you ignore the recommendations of specialists regarding skin care during the rehabilitation period;
- allergic reactions and infectious complications are excluded, although they are inherent in surgical interventions and injection techniques;
- lack of a complete rehabilitation period - in just a few days the skin recovers, the use of drugs is not required;
- side effects are insignificant, disappear quickly and belong to the category of the body's normal reaction to an aggressive effect.
There are also some "disadvantages" of laser skin rejuvenation:
- to get a pronounced effect, you will need to take a course of several sessions;
- the results are preserved for a shorter period of time compared to beauty injections and surgical interventions;
- the requirements for the preparatory period must be met.
Only three disadvantages are perfectly compensated by the advantages of laser facial rejuvenation!
Types of laser rejuvenation
The procedure under consideration can be performed by various methods - each of them is safe and highly effective. During the consultation, the doctor will tell the patient about each type of laser facial rejuvenation; the choice will be made taking into account individual parameters - age, initial condition of the skin, presence of internal pathologies and dermatological diseases, severity of age-related changes.
Ablative methods
It is performed with full or partial laser beams. During the operation, the doctor completely cleans the surface layer of the epidermis of "old" cells or damages them to a small depth. Skin regeneration is due to the active production of collagen, elastin and cell division of healthy tissues that surround the places of exposure to the beam. The new skin is firm, supple and even-toned.
Ablative methods permanently damage the epidermis, so their recovery period will be slightly longer than others.
Fractional
The laser beam is dispersed through a special network in microbeams - the damage to the epidermis affects only 20-25% of the area, the remaining cells remain unchanged and fully functional. Such a targeted effect promotes the evaporation of liquid from the cells and the rapid renewal of regeneration processes. Untouched cells begin to produce collagen and elastin in large quantities - this is necessary to heal the damage caused.
Since the fractional type of laser facial rejuvenation involves only partial damage to the epidermis, recovery lasts only a few days.
Laser biorevitalization
This involves a combination of two techniques - cell damage to stimulate biological processes and the introduction of hyaluronic acid into the layers of the dermis. The device delivers short pulses and repeats them repeatedly - this makes it possible to "break" the dead cells. At the same time, the laser delivers the selected drug to the desired depth - this parameter is set by the doctor.
Laser biorevitalization is especially recommended for pronounced signs of aging on the face - deep wrinkles, folds and folds. It has a cumulative effect and a long-lasting effect - an improvement in appearance will be noticed 2-3 months after the end of the course of procedures.
Full beam
The skin is exposed to a full beam, which leads to damage to the entire epidermis. This method is ideal for those who have a number of cosmetic and dermatological problems. In fact, after this type of laser rejuvenation, the surface layer of the face is renewed 100%. This is what cosmetologists prescribe to those patients who want to get rid of scars, marks and scars after acne.
There is a long recovery - hospitalization is not required, but it is worth taking 7-10 days off to perform skin care procedures and not worry about your own appearance during the rehabilitation period.
Non-ablative method
Works great on loose skin, deep folds/wrinkles and excessive pigmentation. It allows you to treat a large part of the skin at once in one procedure - for example, all areas of the face. The advantage of the non-ablative method is that the deep layers of the dermis are damaged, the epidermis remains unchanged.
This type of laser facial rejuvenation also has a pleasant "side effect" - in addition to rejuvenation, age spots are erased, pores are narrowed and acne marks become minimally noticeable.
Surface
This is the most painless and safest method of the procedure in question - during the process only the surface cells are exposed to laser rays, even the basement membrane remains intact. This technique perfectly solves the problem of the initial stages of aging, corrects the tone of the face and removes uneven relief.
A distinctive feature is that the recovery lasts only 3 days, and the obtained results last 6-12 months.
Median
It is recommended for those patients who already have wrinkles, including age spots, age spots and slightly sagging skin. Belongs to the category of laser peels, the rays affect a depth of no more than 1. 3 mm.
The procedure is performed using anesthetic gels, after which the patient may feel discomfort and even slight pain for another 24 hours. Rehabilitation takes at least 5 days.
Deep
The laser beam damages all layers of the epidermis, including the papillary layer. The deep laser rejuvenation procedure is painful, but only it can solve the problem of pronounced age changes. Cosmetologists recommend this technique to patients over 50 years of age.
Rehabilitation lasts up to 2 weeks, but if you follow all the doctor's prescriptions during this period, the results obtained will last 4 years (on average).
How to prepare for laser skin rejuvenation?
As part of the preparatory stage, an initial consultation with a specialist is held. During it, the doctor examines the skin of the face, assesses its condition, identifies problems, excludes or confirms the presence of contraindications. The cosmetologist immediately decides the choice of laser rejuvenation method and the number of sessions per course. Then recommendations are given to the patient about preparation for the procedure - it begins 14 days before the planned date. What is important to do:
- do not expose your face to ultraviolet (sun) rays, do not visit the solarium;
- refuse to perform any cosmetic procedures related to skin diseases/damages - peeling, facial cleansing;
- Stop using certain medications (fluoroquinolones, diuretics, sulfonamides, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) only after consulting your doctor.
3 days before the planned date of laser facial rejuvenation, you should stop drinking alcoholic beverages, it is recommended to stop smoking (or radically reduce the number of cigarettes) and not to introduce allergenic foods into your diet (strawberries, chocolate, raspberries, citrus fruits, seafood).
Laser rejuvenation procedure
The procedure itself begins with a control examination of the face - the doctor must make sure that there are no inflammations, scratches or fresh tan on the surface of the skin. Laser rejuvenation is then performed in stages:
- Cleansing the face from the remains of decorative cosmetics, dust and dirt- performed with professional tonics and lotions that do not contain alcohol.
- Skin disinfection– the face is treated with an antiseptic solution that prevents the penetration of infectious agents into the epidermis.
- anesthesia– it is not performed in every procedure, but at the request of the patient, an anesthetic gel is applied. Then the doctor waits 15-20 minutes - this time is enough for the analgesic properties of the applied product to manifest.
- The laser skin treatment itself. The patient may feel warmth, slight tingling or burning. Do not forget to direct a stream of cool air to your face - this relieves the condition and reduces the intensity of unpleasant sensations.
- Applying a soothing mask– relieves inflammation, helps to quickly remove swelling, redness and reduces the severity of itching.
Immediately after the end of the session, the patient can leave the clinic, having previously received recommendations from the doctor about the recovery period.
Laser facial rejuvenation: before and after photos
Recovery after the procedure
The length of the recovery period depends on the type of laser facial rejuvenation that was used. The minimum period is 2-3 days, but more often rehabilitation requires 5-10 days. No matter what technique is used, during the first 24 hours after the session it is strictly forbidden to touch your face with your hands or even to wash your face. During the next 3 days of recovery:
- It is strictly forbidden to do thermal procedures - visiting a bath, sauna or taking a hot bath should be postponed;
- You cannot use tap water for washing - it has a high chlorine content, which leads to burns and irritation;
- you don't need to be outside for a long time - ultraviolet rays (they penetrate even through dense clouds) will provoke strong pigmentation;
- Do not use cosmetics containing ethanol for cleaning, and when washing, use a cloth or scrubs (even soft, gentle);
- Treat your face with a moisturizer 2-3 times a day;
- Apply products containing panthenol to the skin once a day.
Within 2 months after the procedure in question, chemical peels are strictly prohibited! And even in cloudy weather, you'll need to apply sunscreen with a high SPF on your face.
You cannot forcefully remove scabs or scratch your face - this can cause scarring that can only be removed surgically.
Possible complications and consequences
Immediately after the session, the skin on the face becomes red, very itchy and has a burning sensation - this is a normal reaction to damage to the epidermis and deeper layers of the dermis. If the discomfort is strong, then you should take antihistamine tablets, the choice of which will be recommended by a cosmetologist. On the 2nd day after laser facial rejuvenation, active peeling begins. The listed effects are the norm, you do not need to take any action, it is enough to strictly follow the rehabilitation recommendations given by the specialist.
If on the skin of the face:
- rashes appeared in the form of small pimples;
- there are signs of inflammation;
- scars started to form
then you should contact the clinic for a consultation. Most often, this happens if the patient himself does not follow the rules of the recovery period.
Laser Rejuvenation Reviews
Our patients leave only positive feedback about any type of laser facial rejuvenation. This is due not only to the properties and possibilities of the procedure, but also to the high professionalism of the working doctors. They have sufficient knowledge and experience, work on modern certified equipment and strictly follow international protocols for conducting sessions.
FAQ
Any questions about the procedure can be asked to the beautician during the initial consultation. But since most of them are standard, below are the answers to the most popular ones.
Who can undergo laser skin rejuvenation?
Men and women over the age of 18. It is important that they do not have conditions that are included in the list of contraindications. Laser facial skin rejuvenation is an excellent alternative to surgery.
What effect does the procedure give, apart from rejuvenation?
With a laser beam, scars, tattoos, acne marks and acne can be removed. There is a general improvement of the skin - inflammatory processes will stop, the production of fatty secretions will decrease, and the pores will narrow.
How long does a laser facial rejuvenation session last?
One procedure lasts 30-60 minutes. If the doctor uses local anesthetics, the duration of the session is increased by 15-20 minutes (the duration of the gel).
When will the first results appear?
Immediately after the rehabilitation, the facial skin is transformed. It becomes smooth, without pigment spots, toned, elastic, small wrinkles are smoothed out.
Is it possible to combine laser facial rejuvenation with other procedures?
Yes, but within limited limits and only after consultation with a cosmetologist! After completing the course, injectable fillers and botulinum therapy are allowed.
How many procedures are needed?
A course of 2-5 sessions with a break of 2-4 weeks is usually recommended.
In a professional clinic, specialists are ready to provide a complete service for laser facial rejuvenation - from the initial consultation to monitoring the condition of the skin during the rehabilitation period. Specialists work only with professional equipment, the procedure is carried out in strict accordance with existing protocols, which reduces the risk of side effects and complications to zero.