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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This is a great case to highlight the complexities associated with creating an aesthetic tip and how small changes can yield significant aesthetic improvement. In this case, the patient had a droopy tip, hanging columella, and too much nostril show. In the post-operative views you can visualize a tip that is lifted, more projected, and the presence of a more aesthetic alar-columellar relationship. Happy for this patient and her beautiful and natural result. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #tiplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Proud of our research team for getting this published. In this article, we developed a unique risk assessment tool to predict major complications in facial aesthetic surgery. Thank you to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal for publishing our work.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #asj #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
The hardest type of rhinoplasties for plastic surgeons to perform are cleft rhinoplasties. A major reason is that the anatomy of the nose and midface are asymmetric, therefore, you have an asymmetric nose sitting on top of an asymmetric midface. In this case, I used rib cartilage to rebuild the cartilage of the nose and fat transfer to improve asymmetries of the midface and lips. In the post-operative frontal views, you can see a straighter nose, the tip has been lifted, and the right nostril has been brought down and inwards. On profile view, you can see the dorsal hump was lowered, the tip of the nose has been lifted, rotated, and refined. The fat was placed in the cheeks and upper lip to improve the midface deficiency that is common in cleft lip patients. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #revisionrhinoplasty #cleftrhinoplasty #nosejob #cleftlip #craniofacialsurgery #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Plastic surgery can be dramatic or understated. This is a before and after with subtle changes to improve the proportions and aesthetics of the nose in a natural way. This patient wanted only small changes of the dorsum and tip. In the post-operative photos, you can visualize the dorsal hump has been removed and the tip has been refined, slightly rotated and projected. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #nosejob #rhinoplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
Couldn’t be happier for this beautiful patient and her natural before and after results. This patient is 3 months out from a deep plane or sub-SMAS facelift, neck lift, and facial fat transfer. Pay close attention to the neck, jawline, and midface or cheeks. In the post-operative views you can see a well-defined neck and jawline. The face appears less bottom heavy, there is restoration of the midface volume, and the overall facial configuration is more heart-shaped and youthful. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #deeplanefacelift #facelift #necklift #fattransfer #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
It’s been a minute but this is a great before and after of a facial feminization case and this patient is only 6 weeks out from surgery. Pay close attention to the hairline, the forehead, orbital rims, eyebrows, nose, chin and jawline. Does this patient look like they had major surgery 6 weeks ago? Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #FFS #rhinoplasty #genioplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery #craniofacialsurgery
Check out this interesting rhinoplasty case where I performed a combined primary rhinoplasty and sliding genioplasty. Fixing the crooked or deviated nose is very challenging for all rhinoplasty surgeons and the goal is to achieve a straighter nose because a perfectly straight nose does not exist. On the frontal view, you can see a nose that is midline and with beautiful dorsal aesthetic lines. On the profile view, you can visual a nice nasal profile with a slight break at the tip. The sliding genioplasty complements the nose and improves the overall proportions and balance of the face. A chin implant would not be able to achieve this amount of chin augmentation or chin length. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #rhinoplasty #nosejob #chinaugmentation #genioplasty #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
It’s never too early to starting thinking about that summer body. This patient underwent a mommy makeover or a breast reduction/lift and tummy tuck. Pay close attention to the belly button, this patient had an umbilical hernia, which made the reconstruction of her belly button even harder. Most plastic surgeons take their time trying to make the belly button look as natural as possible since the appearance of the belly button can be an obvious sign that the patient had a tummy tuck. Posted with permission.
#plasticsurgery #plasticsurgeon #cosmeticsurgery #mommymakeover #tummytuck #breastlift #breastreduction #chicago #chicagoplasticsurgery
