What is a Wrinkle?
A wrinkle is a skin fold that is caused by repeated movement of the skin. We have them everywhere… under our arms, between our torso and hips, groins, knees, elbows and fingers. They develop due to two factors: movement & loss of skin elasticity. There are numerous techniques that Plastic Surgeons use to restore skin elasticity and appearance such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, microneedling, Fraxel, radiofrequency and CO2 laser resurfacing.
All of these technologies create a controlled injury to the skin. As the skin heals from this injury, the body adds collagen to the skin. It is just part of the normal healing process.
For wrinkling of the face (brow, eyelids, crow’s feet, 11-lines, lip wrinkles, cheek wrinkles), CO2 laser resurfacing is the gold standard. This means that in the hands of an experienced Surgeon, this procedure will produce the most consistent, satisfying results. Since the early 1990’s, Dr. Schneider has performed CO2 laser resurfacing on over 3000 patients.
CO2 laser resurfacing allows for precise controlled penetration that increases dermal collagen, decreases irregular skin pigmentation, shrinks the skin, and thus dramatically decreases wrinkling and/or scarring. This treatment will not only tighten the skin of the face, nose and eyes, but it will also eliminate brown spots and remove wrinkles. Dr. Schneider has seen excellent results in his patients lasting over 15 years.
CO2 Laser Resurfacing Procedure
CO2 laser resurfacing is performed with a twilight anesthesia and takes about 1 hour to perform in our AAAHC certified surgery center. As Dr. Schneider passes the laser over the skin, the outer layer of the skin is removed. The same thing happens to the skin when you scrape your knee or have a friction burn. Next, the laser is passed over the skin a second time and you can literally see the skin shrink as the laser touches an area. Additional passes may be necessary depending upon the depth of the wrinkle and the area being treated. This is where the Plastic Surgeon’s experience is crucial.
At the conclusion of the procedure, a thin layer of vaseline is applied to the skin. This seals the nerve endings and provides a moisture barrier so that the patient is comfortable. It takes approximately 10 days for full healing to occur. During that time, patients will clean their skin and apply vaseline several times a day.
Is CO2 Laser Resurfacing Right for You?
CO2 Laser Resurfacing is a very significant step for patients who are bothered by facial wrinkles. We do not take the treatment lightly, and we spend an exhaustive amount of time with our laser patients both before their treatment, so that they understand what the healing process is like, and afterward to make sure they have a beautiful result.
Many patients refer Dr. Schneider to others who have undergone the procedure, have less than satisfactory results, and are looking for secondary treatment. Oftentimes physicians who aren’t well experienced and well trained in wrinkle removal will either not use an effective enough treatment for the patient, or they did not realize they were being over-aggressive, and have caused permanent damage to the skin.