Laser Wrinkle Removal Recovery and You

Wrinkle removal through laser skin resurfacing is a fast, non-invasive way to rejuvenate and refresh your skin without the stress of surgery.

But even though laser skin resurfacing is non-invasive, your body still needs time to recover. Let’s take a look at what that means.

How long does it take to recover from laser wrinkle removal?

Your recovery time depends on your general health, the type of laser used by your doctor, and how extensive your treatment is. In general, you can expect between one and two weeks before you can return to your normal activities.

For non-ablative laser resurfacing, no skin is actually removed. You’ll be able to return to your normal activities almost immediately, but you’ll probably require multiple treatments to see the best results.

For deeper treatments—ablative laser resurfacing—the outer layers of your skin are actually removed. Your doctor will apply ointment to your skin and wrap it in bandages. Once home, you’ll need to clean and replace these bandages daily and reapply ointment like Vaseline.

As your skin heals, it’s important to avoid picking any scabs, as you could cause scarring. This is a normal part of the healing process.

It will take between one and two weeks to completely regrow your outer layers of skin after your treatment. At that point, you can use cosmetics to hide any lingering redness—which itself should subside after another week or two.

Does recovery after laser skin resurfacing hurt?

The discomfort you experience during your recovery largely depends on how many layers of skin you have removed. Non-ablative procedures cause much less pain than ablative treatment.

However, pain after your procedure is easy to manage. Usually over-the-counter pain medication is sufficient. You can also use ice packs to reduce swelling.

For ablative procedures, the pain, swelling, and itchiness will gradually go away as you grow new layers of skin.

Are there any serious complications associated with laser skin resurfacing?

Like any procedure, laser wrinkle removal does carry some risks—however infrequent they may be. Rarely, patients might experience:

• Activation of cold sores
• Burns or blisters
• Darkening or lightening of skin pigmentation
• Scarring
• Infection

Remember, these risks are rare. The best way to minimize complications is to choose a trained, experienced doctor with a board-certification in plastic surgery.

How do you find the right doctor for laser skin resurfacing?

Choosing the right doctor is all about finding someone who’ll support your goals, formulate a plan to achieve those results, and provide support all the way until the very end of your recovery.

It’s easy to find a doctor who can get you results. The tough part is finding a doctor to prioritize your health and happiness, too.