Erasing 9 Laser Wrinkle Removal Myths

Laser wrinkle treatment is a non-surgical alternative to reduce or eliminate unwanted wrinkles, lines and other blemishes. It’s an incredible procedure, but a lot of patients are scared away by the word ‘laser.’

But is that fear justified? Let’s dig a little deeper and dispel a few of these common myths regarding laser skin resurfacing.

1. People with dark skin can’t get laser wrinkle treatment.

First of all, your skin tone does have some effect on your laser treatment. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have laser wrinkle removal if you have dark skin.

Modern lasers can be adjusted to perform well with most skin tones. But complications can arise; to minimize your risk and get the best results, you should choose a cosmetic professional who is used to working with men and women with a wide variety of skin tones.

2. Laser wrinkle treatment is only meant to treat wrinkles.

Actually, cosmetic lasers are great for correcting unwanted lines, uneven pigmentation, wrinkles, and even superficial scarring—like acne scars.

3. Laser wrinkle treatment requires a lengthy recovery.

Every treatment is different. You may need a large area treated, or a small one. Your medical professional may remove a lot of skin cells, or relatively little. These factors help determine your recovery period.

That said, your recovery could take as many as several weeks—but that’s only true for very large treatments. For small treatments, you’ll be back to enjoying your normal daily activities almost immediately.

4. After getting laser wrinkle treatment, treated and untreated areas will be easy to spot.

Many patients are worried that they will have a visible ‘line’ between treated areas and the rest of their body. This was true with older laser models, but just isn’t the case anymore.

Modern lasers allow skin to heal faster, and don’t leave a visible line like older models.

5. Cosmetic lasers emit radiation, and can cause cancer.

Scary if true…but it’s not.

Radiation is very low, and approved to be safe for humans. Not only that, but cosmetic laser radiation is contained within the machine—not emitted into your body.

6. Laser wrinkle treatments require inpatient stays at a hospital.

Not true. Laser skin resurfacing is an outpatient procedure—meaning you’ll be in and out during the same day.

Even a full-face treatment should only take about 2 hours!

7. People who undergo laser wrinkle treatment are vain.

Laser skin resurfacing targets acne scars, blotchy skin and wrinkles. It helps men and women look and feel great. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look younger and feel more confident…period.

8. Laser wrinkle treatment doesn’t really work.

It definitely works, unless an untrained doctor using non-approved laser systems is conducting your treatment.

Good surgeons know exactly how to plan your treatment around YOU and your unique skin, helping you get the results you desire.

9. Laser wrinkle removal is so simple, any doctor can do it.

Sure, laser skin resurfacing is a common procedure. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

If you want truly great results, you have to choose a professional with many years of experience, training, and a commitment to improving the lives of his patients. That means helping you at every step of the way, answering your questions and making you an active participant in planning your procedure.

Choosing a board-certified plastic surgeon for your laser wrinkle treatment is the best way to lower your chance of complication and maximize your results. Dr. Jones is a board-certified plastic surgeon, and he’s also president of the Utah State Plastic Surgery Society, meaning he follows the strictest guidelines of patient care, happiness, and ethics in the state of Utah.