There seems to be an appeal to using lasers for treatment. That’s understandable since there is a lot of marketing surrounding the use of lasers for aesthetic treatments. Physicians and industry leaders recognize that “laser” is a buzzword and is perceived as a “better” treatment by many patients—sometimes that reputation is deserved, sometimes it is not. You’ll need to do your homework to make sure a specific laser is the best facial laser treatment for your needs or whether a different approach is needed.
What Type of Lasers Are Used Aesthetically?
Lasers are chosen based on the target tissue (chromophore – the target color for the laser). Each laser has an ideal target, and we make our decision on what type of laser to use based on this. What are the targets for a plastic surgery practice?
- Red—These lasers target blood vessels in our tissues and can treat everything from blood vessels in the skin to rosacea.
- Pigment—These lasers search for the darker color in our skin. They treat sun damage, tattoos, some pigmented lesions and hair removal.
- Water—This is a broad category and really focuses on skin resurfacing and skin tightening procedures.
Many of these targets overlap, so parameters need to be chosen to fit your individual needs. For example, intense pulsed light (IPL) photofacials and BroadBand Light (BBL®) treatments can treat both redness in the face as well as pigmentation concerns.
What Are the Best Facial Laser & Energy Treatments for . . .
Rough Skin Texture
A fractional laser like HALO®is an excellent option for smoothing rough skin damaged by the sun, poor skin care, and environmental exposure. This laser skin resurfacing treatment uses both non-ablative and ablative wavelengths and can be customized to your skin’s specific needs.
Rosacea
IPL and BBL treatments are good options for reducing the redness, flushing, and visible broken capillaries common with rosacea. A series of sessions is usually needed to achieve the best result, but these treatments are generally mild enough that they don’t require any downtime. Once the initial treatment series is complete, a couple of touch-up treatments each year can maintain results.
Lax, Saggy Skin
Although energy devices rather than lasers, Morpheus8 RF microneedling and FaceTite are highly effective options for tightening and firming saggy facial skin. Morpheus8 combines radiofrequency energy with microneedling to penetrate deep into the skin. There, it boosts collagen production to improve the skin’s underlying structure. Similarly, FaceTite is a minimally invasive energy treatment that delivers radiofrequency energy beneath and at the skin’s surface to tighten and contour the face.
Age Spots & Brown Spots
Often called sun spots, liver spots, or brown spots, this skin discoloration is effectively treated with IPL or BBL. This hyperpigmentation is caused by UV rays accelerating melanin production. As the melanin accumulates in certain areas, it forms a dark spot on the skin that can be reddish-brown, brown, or tan. During treatment, this excess pigment in your skin absorbs the IPL or BBL’s light energy as heat, which destroys the pigment.
In some cases, non-laser treatments might be equally or more effective for brown spots. A well-designed skin care routine, for example, can often reduce the appearance of age spots for the right patient.
For more concerns and which lasers are best to treat them, read our related blog post, Which Laser Is Best for Me?
Choosing the Right Laser for Your Goals
It is important to make sure your physician is seeing you and determining what type of treatment is best for your scenario. They are ultimately responsible for your care, and it is always best to see them first. Not everything needs a laser treatment, and some things are better treated with other agents.
Request a consultation using our online form or call us at (214) 645-3112 to learn which facial laser or non-laser treatment is best for your aesthetic goals.
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