Laser Skin Resurfacing Chicago
At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we focus on being at the forefront of innovative techniques, and our laser treatments are no exception. Utilizing the newest technology allows our doctors to reach the most consistent and natural results. Laser treatments are safe, effective, and minimally invasive, while allowing for extreme precision in delicate areas of the body.
Laser skin resurfacing, also known as a laser peel, is the process of using concentrated, pulsating beams of light directed at irregular skin to reduce wrinkles, scars and blemishes.
AM I A CANDIDATE FOR LASER SKIN RESURFACING?
Unwanted blemishes, wrinkles, or visible scars can have a negative impact on our self-image. Laser skin resurfacing can improve the appearance of:
- Fine lines around the eyes, mouth, or forehead
- Acne scars
- Sun-damaged skin
- Age spots
- Birthmarks
- Skin discoloration
Those with very dark skin tones may not be an ideal candidate for laser skin resurfacing, as they have a greater risk of healing with darker and/or lighter pigmentation. Based on the Fitzpatrick Skin Type scale, if your pigmentation is considered Type IV or higher, laser skin resurfacing may not be the best course of treatment for you. Your plastic surgeon can help you determine your skin type and the best treatment options.
Laser skin resurfacing is not a treatment for excessive or sagging skin, though it is sometimes used as an adjunct procedure to a facelift. Always make sure that your procedure is being performed by a plastic surgeon that is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and thoroughly trained in laser treatments.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR CONSULTATION
If you believe that you are a candidate for laser skin resurfacing, contact the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago to schedule a consultation. You will meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon and discuss your aesthetic goals and review your medical history. Your plastic surgeon will perform an evaluation to see if laser skin resurfacing is the best option for you. At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we never perform a procedure unless we are certain it is the right course of treatment for each individual patient. If you have any questions about the procedure, the potential risks, or the associated cost, the consultation is the ideal time to ask.
HOW LASER SKIN RESURFACING IS PERFORMED
Before laser skin resurfacing is performed, your plastic surgeon may start you on skin treatments up to six weeks before the procedure to prepare the treatment areas.
To begin, a local anesthetic is administered to ensure comfort during the procedure. Laser skin resurfacing typically takes between thirty minutes and two hours, depending on the extent of the treatment. The laser vaporizes damaged skin cells, removing the outer layer of skin (the epidermis) while simultaneously heating the underlying layer (the dermis) to stimulate the growth of collagen fibers. The result is firmer and smoother skin.
RECOVERY AFTER LASER SKIN RESURFACING
Laser skin resurfacing is an outpatient procedure, so patients can typically return home the same day. Some redness and swelling is normal; most patients report the sensation of a mild sunburn after laser treatment.
The treated areas of the skin may appear raw, and in some cases, may blister. It is important not to scratch or pick at the skin because it can cause unfavorable scarring. Your plastic surgeon will prescribe a topical treatment to help the skin heal. You may also be directed to use sunscreen and/or moisturizer to keep the sensitive skin safe and healthy while it heals.
Within a week of the procedure, the treated skin will become dry and peel, giving way to smoother skin with visibly reduced blemishes or wrinkles.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF LASER SKIN RESURFACING
The potential risks of laser skin resurfacing are infrequent and fairly minor, but there are associated complications with any procedure. The potential risks of laser skin resurfacing may include:
- Infection
- Acne breakout
- Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation
- Prolonged redness
- Unfavorable scarring
At the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago, we take every precaution possible to mitigate potential risks by using the safest and most innovative techniques. You can further reduce the chance of complications by adhering strictly to all instructions issued by your plastic surgeon, both before and after the procedure.
WHAT DOES LASER SKIN RESURFACING COST?
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports a national average of around $2,400 for a laser skin resurfacing treatment, though this cost will vary according to your geographic location, the plastic surgeon performing the procedure, and the extent of your aesthetic goals.
Laser skin resurfacing is considered a cosmetic procedure, and as such is usually not covered by medical insurance. You can speak with your plastic surgeon during your consultation about the cost and payment options.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION
If you suffer from unwanted wrinkles, scars, or blemishes and believe you might be a candidate for laser skin resurfacing, give us a call at the Plastic Surgery Clinic of Chicago. You will meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your aesthetic goals and review all aspects of the procedure. Your consultation is the first step towards both looking and feeling like a better version of yourself.
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Gym or surgery? This patient underwent hi-def liposuction or abdominal etching to improve the contour of the abdomen and to define the abdominal muscles. In the post-operative photos, the patient has natural washboard abs. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #abdominaletching #hidefliposuction #liposculpture #liposuction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Long term follow-up on a revision mastopexy augmentation case. The patient had a previous augmentation with gel implants and wanted the implants removed, breasts lifted, and re-augmented with fat but downsized. The patient underwent explantation of the implants, a capsulectomy, a breast lift, and fat transfer to augment the breasts. In the post-operative photos, you can see the breast/nipples are lifted to a more aesthetic position and we were able to maintain volume, although smaller, with fat transfer alone. This patient has a very natural result using only fat from her abdomen to restore volume. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastlift #breastaugmentation #mommymakeover #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
1 year follow-up on a primary rhinoplasty. This patient’s goals were a straighter profile, smaller and more refined tip, and a nose that was not drastically different. In the post-operative photos you can see the dorsal hump was removed and the nasal bones narrowed, the tip was refined, rotated, and projected more. Overall, still her nose but more refined and aesthetic. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #nosejob #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Early follow-up on a #facialmasculinization surgery for a trans male who wanted to improve the contour of the lower 1/3 of the face and neck. The patient underwent a sliding #genioplasty, custom #mandibularimplants, and #neckliposuction to achieve his goals. We used computer software to design the cuts in the bone and #3Dprinting to make the custom mandibular implants. Can you see the improved contour of the chin, jawline, and neck in the post-operative photos? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #craniofacialsurgery #genioplasty #chinimplants #facialimplants #facialmasculinization #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted fuller and more symmetric breasts after having deflation with pregnancy. The patient is athletic and therefore it was very important to her to have a smaller augmentation that appeared natural. The patient underwent a breast augmentation with gel implants (250 cc) through a periareaolar incision and in a submuscular plane. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #breastaugmentation #gummybear #breastlift #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
This patient had a full thickness nasal defect of the left nostril after a skin cancer was removed by our Dermatology colleagues. Even though the wound is relatively small, this is a challenging reconstruction because all layers of the nose have to be rebuilt without making the reconstructed area bulky and noticeable. Also, you have to make the area strong enough so that the nostril doesn’t collapse as the area heals and scars. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #skincancer #nasalreconstruction #nosejob #rhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
A 1 year follow-up on a patient who wanted a rhinoplasty to remove the dorsal hump and improve the aesthetics of her tip. In this case the dorsal hump was removed, the nose made straighter, the tip refined, and the tip rotated and projected more. Her new nose fits her face without overtly changing the ethnic features of her face. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #rhinoplasty #ethnicrhinoplasty #nosejob #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Proud of our research team for getting this important manuscript published in the #1 plastic surgery journal in the world. In this study, we looked at the published literature to develop guidelines on how to treat visual impairments related to droopy eyelids and excess skin of the eyelids.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Happy for this patient who underwent full facial rejuvenation surgery, which included a brow lift, upper/lower blepharoplasty, facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. How much younger does he look now? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #eyelidlift #browlift #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Amazing transformation for this lovely patient who wanted to have fuller, more symmetric, youthful, and natural breasts. The patient underwent a #breastaugmentation with gel implants. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #gummybearimplants #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
One year follow-up on a #BBL or Brazilian butt lift. As you can see from the post-operative photos, the fat that is transferred stays and is permanent. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #BBL #360degreeliposcution #liposuction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Male patient in his late 60’s who was able to turn back the clock after undergoing a #facelift, #neck lift, #blepharoplasty, and #fattransfer. Pay close attention to the “bags” underneath the eyes, the jawline, and neck. The scars have healed nicely and are inconspicuous even with short hair. In the post-operative photos, the patient has maintained his natural facial features and anatomy, but just looks like a more youthful version of himself. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #facelift #necklift #blepharoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
We had a great time hosting the 60th Annual Midwestern Association of Plastic Surgeons (MAPS) meeting in Chicago this past weekend, where I finished my tenure as president. We had expert panels and speakers from around the country and over a hundred abstract presentations from fellows, residents, and medical students. We also had the largest overall attendance in recent memory. The MAPS organization is great hands and I am excited about its future!
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #MAPS #MidwesternAssociationofPlasticSurgeons #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
#Primaryrhinoplasty to fix the dorsal hump, droopy tip, and crooked nose. In the post-operative photos, the patient has a nice dorsal profile on side view, the tip has been lifted, and the nose is straight. To evaluate how straight the nose is, look at the dorsal aesthetic lines on bird’s eye view and follow the two light reflexes along the dorsum. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #rhinoplastyrevision #nosejob #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Challenging #tertiaryrhinoplasty on this patient who had nasal deviation, a dorsal hump, and an under-rotated/under-projected tip. In the post-operative photos, you can see a straighter nose with more symmetric dorsal aesthetic lines and tip defining points. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #revisionrhinoplasty #tertiaryrhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #chicagoplasticsurgeon
Honored to be inducted into the Rhinoplasty Society. The Rhinoplasty Society was founded in 1996 by plastic surgeons who have pioneered modern rhinoplasty. The society is dedicated to the education and advancement of nasal surgery.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #therhinoplastysociety #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Relatively small surgeries can yield big changes. This patient wanted to improve the contour of her chin and the overall profile of her face. The patient’s lower 1/3 of the face and chin were short and set back. Additionally, the patient had asymmetries of the chin and jawline that she wanted improved. The patient underwent a #slidinggenioplasty to achieve these goals where the chin was cut and mobilized forward and downward. In the post-operative photos, you can see a more aesthetic and balanced facial profile. The advantages of a #genioplasty over a #chinimplant are that the chin can be moved in numerous planes, the advancement can be more significant, and asymmetries can be addressed. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #genioplasty #slidinggenioplasty #chinimplant #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
This patient had a bilateral constricted ear deformity where the top portion of the ear folds over the rest of the ear. In this deformity, the ear appears shorter in height and there are abnormalities of the outer and inner folds of the ear. In the postoperative photos you can visualize the ear is longer in height, the helical rim or outer portion of the ear is lifted up and the antihelical fold or inner portion of the ear is more defined. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgey #otoplasty #cupear #constrictedeardeformity #earreconstruction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Challenging #breastaugmentation case where the patient had asymmetries of the breasts in terms of size, shape, and position on the chest. The patient underwent a breast augmentation with #gelimplants with a larger size in the left breast to balance the size difference. The left breast fold was also lowered to match the fold level of the right. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #breastaugmentation #gelimplants #cosmeticsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Plastic surgery can sometimes be subtle or dramatic. In this case, this patient’s outcome was life altering after a lipoabdominoplasty or tummy tuck. The patient can now do all of the things in life that she was limited in doing due to her body habitus. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #abdominoplasty #liposuction #tummytuck #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
