There always seems to be a newer and better anti-aging, skin resurfacing laser on the market. The options are almost overwhelming and the expectations can be very high. Laser resurfacing is a relatively new procedure with ablative and non-ablative options for treating common skin issues like wrinkles, acne, sun spots, and scars. Certain techniques deliver pulsating beams of light to problems areas stimulating collagen production, cell regeneration, and reduce brown spots. It can be confusing for patients to decipher which laser is the best fit for correcting their skin problems.
When I was researching lasers for my practice, I searched for a state of the art solution that could correct a wide range of skin issues. The Cutera Xeo laser is a multiplatform system that contains an intensive pulse light, a YAG, and an ablative YSGG full surface ablative and fractionated deep dermal laser. YAG is used to treat spider veins and vascular lesions (CoolGlide) as well as build collagen and treat rosacea (Laser Genesis), and an intense pulse light system (Limelight) to treat brown and red spots. A series of about six treatments can produce remarkable results and have no downtime. We often call these procedures “lunchtime fixes.”
YSGG can be utilized in two ways: traditional full skin ablative resurfacing (Pearl) and fractionated resurfacing (Pearl Fractional). The Pearl treatment can renew skin’s surface, minimize wrinkles, uneven texture and discoloration in only one or two treatments, depending on the severity of the issues. There is about 3-4 days of downtime associated with the Pearl as it will cause skin to peel and redden. The Pearl Fractional is the most effective solution for photodamaged skin in just one treatment. Patients see an improvement in skin tone, texture, sun damage, and have a noticeably brighter complexion. There is a little more downtime of about 5-7 days after the Pearl Fractional treatment.
Choosing a double board certified facial plastic surgeon who is experienced in both surgical and laser skin rejuvenation is important when considering any procedure.
