Laser Resurfacing

Laser resurfacing is a procedure that can take decades of aging off the face in a matter of minutes. Although chemical face peels are reliable for sun damage and fine wrinkles, the laser can address much deeper wrinkles, acne scars and other complexion problems. Ideal laser patients are those without extreme skin sagging, but with wrinkles and sun or age spots. Laser resurfacing can be done on patients with lax skin, although these patients may benefit from face-lift or other cosmetic procedures at the same time. Laser skin resurfacing is still the gold standard for wrinkle improvement and to date no technology has surpassed laser resurfacing. The recovery is one to two weeks, but don't be fooled by "light" lasers claiming huge results with minimal downtime. It is a myth! If you want to improve 40-50 years of aging, ten days is not an unreasonable recovery.

Dr. Niamtu has had a longtime interest in laser therapy and lectures internationally on the subject. Our office has eight types of lasers on premises at our accredited surgery center.

These lasers are used for resurfacing (ablative lasers) and for minimally invasive (non ablative) treatments such as spider veins, facial skin pigmentation and sun damage, skin tightening, head and neck tattoo removal and hair removal. Dr. Niamtu is also involved in a clinical research project with several laser wavelengths for minimally ablative skin resurfacing. He is working with Lumenis and Iridex corporations for their Fraxel type technology and has presented this information at scientific meetings.

CO2 Laser Resurfacing Remains the Real Gold Standard for Wrinkle & Pigment Improvement

The patients below were treated CO2 Laser Resurfacing

The above patient was treated with CO2 laser only

The above patient was treated with CO2 laser and facelift

The above patient was treated with CO2 laser and facelift

Dr. Niamtu is also a Fellow with the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery and a member of the International Society of Cosmetic and Laser Surgeons, Inc.

Dr. Niamtu received the best speaker award at a medical meeting in Florence Italy for his papers on laser resurfacing technology. See more information on this award.

Dr. Niamtu developed a technique to enable digital photography and software to be used with UV light to evaluate facial pigmentation abnormalities and aging changes. This is very useful in deciding the appropriate laser treatment and is the first description of this method in the scientific cosmetic literature. This article was published in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery in December 2001.

In September 2008, Dr. Niamtu published an article proving that multiple pass, high energy laser skin resurfacing could be safely performed without wiping away the char layer (burnt skin). Previous to this article it was thought that leaving the laser char would complicate the result but Dr. Niamtu performed the first human histologic study in the scientific literature to prove this point and dispel previous articles on this subject. The problem with the previous methods of wiping char with gauze between laser passes increased the damage to the skin and resulted in longer healing, increased post laser pain and increased skin redness after laser. Dr. Niamtu's research has made laser recovery faster and easier.

Click above image to read Dr. Niamtu's research article

To see other articles Dr. Niamtu has written about lasers and laser treatment click on the image below.

See media coverage and publications about Dr. Niamtu and Laser Resurfacing.

See how the laser treats Facial Scars and Acne Resurfacing.

The images below show the significant improvement of wrinkles and age spots with laser treatment.  This patient is shown about 20 days after her laser procedure and still has some fading pinkness of the skin.

Active FX, Fraxel and Fractional Laser Treatments

Before and after Active FX laser resurfacing

click above to enlarge

One of the new technologies in laser skin treatments is Fraxel or fractionated laser resurfacing. Dr. Niamtu has used the Lumenis Active FX laser which is one of the leading fractional lasers. This is a technology that allows for good results with minimal downtime. This type of skin resurfacing is not as effective as more aggressive CO2 laser treatment, but is a good compromise for those patients that need some improvement but cannot afford the 10-12 day recovery of more aggressive laser treatments. Although the Active FX, Fraxel and fractional lasers have a place for many patients, the media and some doctors overplay the effects of these lasers. They cannot and will not equal the effects of more aggressive laser treatment and may need several treatments on some patients. To see more about the Active FX, Fraxel and fractional laser treatment click below

A Word About Laser Recovery

The laser is one of the most important tools to enter cosmetic facial surgery and offers something for everyone. Aggressive laser treatment has longer recovery times but much more impressive results. Multiple pass CO2 laser is an example of this and still remains the gold standard for wrinkle removal and improvement of skin aging and carries a 10-12 day recovery.

Moderate laser treatments like the CO2 Lite treatment is a step down in results but also a smaller recovery of about 7 days.

This patient is shown 24 hours after CO2 laser resurfacing to the face and neck

click here for Ten Tips for Easier Laser Recovery

No two patients have the same amount of aging and therefore require different degrees of laser treatment. Patients with severe wrinkling and sun damage may opt for the longer recovery to erase decades of wrinkles and sun damage where younger patients my only need some laser freshening and can get by with shorter recovery times.

The newer fractional lasers such as Active FX and Fraxel, have even shorter recoveries of 3-5 days, but again are a step down in results.

Deep FX laser resurfacing is also a fractional treatment but penetrates much deeper than Active FX or other lasers. The combination of deep penetration and fractional treatment (only selected areas of the skin) enable good results with less downtime.

Dr. Niamtu is an instructor for Lumenis Lasers and is shown teaching other physicians the use of the Lumenis Deep FX laser

The above patient is shown during the healing phase of Deep FX laser resurfacing

Dr. Niamtu provides free consults to see what type of laser treatment and recovery best fit your skin and schedule. Call 804-394-FACE (3223) to schedule a complimentary consult.

Click here to see Dr. Niamtu's Blog on sunscreens and protecting the skin from sun damage.