How does the process work?

The principle of the surgery works virtually identical to that of using lasers in cosmetic surgery, the light energy is converted to heat energy and this heat causes damage to the specific targeted area of the skin. The main difference between the laser and IPL is that there are many wavelengths instead of just one in laser therapy, with most systems relying on the refining of the energy output for the treatment of specific areas.

This type of surgery is called a non-ablative resurfacing technique, which means that is specifically targets the lower layers of skin without touching the top layers in any way. There are a wide range of IPL machines and they are used for certain problems and many patients can have this type of procedure done in their lunch break and return to work immediately afterward.

What does the treatment involve and are there any side effects?

The surgeon or doctor should have outlined the procedure to you at your initial consultation and you should have discussed your expectations of the procedure with them. The surgeon or doctor should have explained that the treatment is fairly straightforward but there are however certain precautions that you should take after the procedure.

• Avoid skin exposure to the sun before and after the treatment.
• Although an anaesthetic usually isn’t needed a topical one may be used.
• Sessions normally last around 20 minutes with 4 to 6 sessions being needed every 3 to 6 weeks to achieve the desired effects.
• Most patients can return to work straight after the treatment.

The side effects of the procedure are usually minimal but can include

• Slight pain during the treatment.
• Skin may be a little sore and pink after the treatment.
• You could have the sensation of mild sunburn after the treatment.
• Very rarely slight blistering can occur.
• Slight bruising occurs in roughly 10% of those treated.
• Hair loss can occur in rare cases.

Who can benefit from this type of surgery?

Very fine wrinkles can form close to the eyes and around them and also around the mouth, due to the precision of the laser; these fine wrinkles can easily be removed. This type of surgery is suitable for anyone who has problems in these particular areas and is usually performed in conjunction with a face-lift or similar type of cosmetic surgery.

The surgery

This surgery consists of using a laser which the surgeon will use to direct a beam of laser energy which will vaporise the upper levels of damaged or wrinkled skin and this can be very precisely controlled in sensitive areas such as the corner of the eyes.

Laser resurfacing has many advantages over other types of resurfacing, the precision which the surgeon has over the laser is of course the major benefit but also there is very little if any bleeding and recovery times from the surgery are also quicker.

All resurfacing surgery basically work the same way with the outer layer of the damaged areas of skin being stripped away, when this happens new skin will form during the healing process and this skin will appear younger looking, be tighter and smoother.

Because this is a relatively new process, there isn’t much long term data to go on it but studies have shown that the skin reacts the same to laser resurfacing as it does to Dermabrasion or chemical peel surgery.

There are different levels to laser resurfacing, for superficial or medium resurfacing the laser can just be used on the epidermis and papillary dermis.

When deeper resurfacing is needed, the upper levels of the reticules dermis can also be removed. With the laser, being versatile, varied penetration allows for very specific treatment of spots and wrinkles.

Recover times from the surgery will vary also with very light resurfacing requiring very little recovery time while this might have to be repeated more than once to achieve the required results.

This type of cosmetic surgery will normally be done on an outpatient basis and will be performed under local anaesthetic; you will usually be given a sedative just before the surgery to ensure that you remain relaxed but awake. However if the surgery is going to be extensive then your surgeon might use a general anaesthetic and it may require a short hospital stay.

Depending on the extent of the surgery it can take from a few minutes to 2 hours, this will depend of course on the area involved in the treatment. After the surgery it is quite normal for you to experience some discomfort and mild swelling and your face will be bandaged during the first week.

When the bandages have been removed you will experience itching as the skin heals and scabs form, you should refrain from scratching at this stage as this could lead to scarring. The final result from the surgery can be seen several months after the surgery and during this time, you should protect your skin from the sun.

What is botox?

Botox is actually a bacterium that can make you very ill, however doctors have found that a substance in botox can be used safely in medical procedures without causing any ill effects.

How does botox work?

Wrinkles are generally caused through tightening of the muscles, when the botox is injected through the skin into the muscles it stops them from tightening up, if the skin doesn’t tighten then the wrinkles don’t show as vivid.

Does this mean that no facial muscles will work properly?

If the practitioner is trained in the use of botox then problems won’t occur as they will inject only very small amounts of botox into the muscles around the area where the wrinkles are most prominent. Therefore, it is only the treated muscles which don’t work as they should and this shouldn’t have any affect on the rest of your face.

How long does the treatment last?

Botox treatment only works for a very limited time then the treatment will have to be repeated as the wrinkles start to show again, the wrinkles begin to show as the muscles start returning to normal and this time will vary from person to person.

Are there any side effects to the treatment?

There are a few side effects that are associated with treatment and these include droopy eyelids, a feeling like having the flu, an upset stomach and headache. There is also the very slight risk of botulism but this is very rare and if the botox is given correctly by a professional then it isn’t a really big concern.

If you are considering having botox then it is very important that you go to a trained medical practitioner to get the treatment, it is very important that you tell them if you are currently taking antibiotics or if you know that you have trouble with nerves or muscles. You should talk the procedure over with the practitioner before commencing treatment to make sure you fully understand the procedure and what the outcome is likely to be.