Laser treatments became a popular trend in the previous years among celebrities and beauty enthusiasts. Though cosmetics and makeup can help you achieve dewy and flawless skin, cosmetic procedures like laser treatments can permanently give you that plump and perfect skin.
If you want to wear less makeup and experience a bare-skin look, we will share how laser treatments work and the skin problems they can treat. As a trusted medical spa in Rock Hill and Charlotte, Metrolina Med Spa will give you a glimpse of the cutting-edge cosmetic technology in laser treatments that can help you achieve that effortless beauty that everybody dreams of.
What is laser treatment?
Laser treatment or laser skin resurfacing is a procedure that uses a single wavelength of high-energy light to treat damaged skin. It uses selective photothermolysis which is a process used by cosmetic applications to target skin impurities like skin discoloration and visible veins in a certain area of the body. There are two classifications of laser treatments, namely:
Ablative laser treatment
Ablative laser treatment or ablative laser resurfacing involves the vaporization of the top layer of the damaged skin. Carbon dioxide or CO2, erbium, and combination laser treatments are under this category.
Ablative laser resurfacing is the most effective treatment for deep skin issues like aging skin. It removes the aged or sun-damaged skin and stimulates collagen production to improve its appearance.
The patients will be given a local anesthetic to reduce the discomfort from these treatments. It can be used to treat the following skin issues:
- Scars
- Warts
- Fine lines
- Wrinkles
- Skin laxity
- Age spots
Non-ablative laser treatment
Non-ablative laser treatment or non-ablative laser resurfacing treats deep skin issues without getting rid of the top layer of the skin. It warms up the inner layers of the skin to boost collagen production and improve its appearance.
The non-ablative treatment causes little to no pain and therefore does not require local anesthetic and downtime periods. Laser treatments under this category include pulsed eye treatment, Nd: YAG, and Alexandrite lasers. Some Erbium (Er: YAG) and fractional lasers are also non-ablative.
Treatments under this category can serve as laser hair removal (permanent hair removal) and redness reduction (for rosacea). They can also treat skin issues like broken capillaries and age-related blemishes.
Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL)
Intense Pulse Light Therapy (IPL) or photo facial sends more than one wavelength of light to improve the texture and color of your skin. It is commonly classified in the same category as laser resurfacing treatments, but it does not use a laser to treat skin conditions. You can have an IPL if you experience any of the following skin conditions:
- Brown spots/age spots
- Hormonal dark spots
- Discolored skin
- Fine wrinkles
- Freckles
- Redness from rosacea
- Scars
- Spider veins
- Unwanted hair
- Acne
- Birthmarks
- Stretch marks
- Broken blood vessels
How does it work?
Cosmetic laser treatment, in general, selects the uneven or abnormal tissues or hair follicles by comparing their color to the surrounding skin tissues. The single-wavelength light and its heat will be targeted to the selected area and destroy the molecules that give color to the skin.
Laser treatments work best if there is a big contrast in color between the damaged skin or hair and the surrounding skin. For tattoo removals, patients with pale skin and dark-inked tattoos will get the best results. Thick and dark unwanted facial hair, body hair, and hair in the bikini line and sensitive areas are easier due to their distinct color contrast.
Laser treatments also get rid of damaged skin to stimulate the production of new skin cells and collagen. As new skin cells emerge, the skin will start to look younger and smoother.
How are the skin issues treated with laser treatments?
Laser treatments are a quick and non-invasive way to turn your dream glow-up transformation into reality. Here are some ways how laser treatments treat the following conditions:
Facial redness & hyperpigmentation
The selective photothermolysis feature of laser treatments helps identify the discoloration in your skin. It uses the heat from the light to get rid of the molecules that cause the discoloration. The color difference between the surrounding skin and the discolored area makes it easy for the laser equipment to give you an even skin tone. Both ablative and non-ablative laser resurfacing can treat several skin discoloration issues.
Signs of aging: Fine lines & wrinkles
Non-ablative laser treatments can help warm up the underlying tissues in the skin to produce more collagen and result in plumper skin. Some ablative laser treatments help remove the damaged and aged skin on the surface to reveal the next layer of healthy skin cells.
Large pores
The heat from the non-ablative laser resurfacing helps stimulate collagen production that adds volume to the skin. As the skin becomes plumper and tighter, the pores also shrink and become less visible. Non-ablative laser treatment is a permanent solution to improve the appearance of enlarged pores and also fill the fine lines in the treated area, which is its good side effect.
Acne scars and surgery scars
Contrary to the common misconceptions about laser treatment for scars, the scar remains in your skin. However, the light from the laser removes the damaged skin on the surface of the scar and stimulates the regeneration of new skin cells to cover the discolored skin tissues underneath. As the skin heals, the discoloration and old scar tissues become lighter or even become unnoticeable.
Hair growing in unwanted areas
Non-ablative laser resurfacing and IPL helps permanently relieve you from shaving and plucking unwanted thick and dark hair in your face, armpits, and even in large areas like legs and chest (for men). The laser recognizes the color differences between the hair and your skin and targets the hair that is darker than the surrounding skin.
Laser hair removal works by destroying the hair follicles to prevent them from growing again. The treated hair follicles underneath the skin should be at their growing stage to permanently keep your skin hairless and smooth.
Experience flawless skin with laser treatments at Metrolina Med Spa
Thanks to modern technology today, you can now say goodbye to tedious waxing, plucking, and long makeup routines through non-surgical laser treatments. Learn more about the safety and specific care requirements needed for laser treatment with our medical experts. Metrolina Med Spa provides laser treatments in Rock Hill & Charlotte that include:
- Cutera® XEO® laser treatment
- XEO® Laser Genesis
- Cutera Limelight
- Cutera Prowave LX®
Schedule an appointment today and discover your permanent ticket toward flawless and smooth skin.
