Laser therapy to treat several cosmetic problems is known as Photofacial Laser. This is a technique that has come into practice recently and treats Rosacea, acne scars, broken capillaries, and so on. It has been seen that this treatment is quite effective.
There are two types of laser treatments, ablative and non ablative. Ablative laser treatments allow the laser to penetrate more deeply, generating more heat. This is more suitable to treat atrophy or other collagen deficiency problems. For facial treatments the non ablative laser is more suitable because it is less invasive and does not generate as much heat. There are less chances of scarring too, reducing the possibility of side effects.
How it works
The area to be treated is first cleansed thoroughly. The laser beam, when directed at the specific position, permeates into the skin and is easily absorbed by blood vessels that are dilated. The heat created helps the damaged blood vessel to flake off and gradually wither and dry away or it gets absorbed by the body, leaving behind no blemishes. This kind of treatment is safe enough to be repeated after 20 days. Generally a person will need four to five treatments to get rid of the problem.
The treatment duration may be for as short a time as 15 minutes or it may last for about 45 minutes. The feeling when the laser penetrates is like the twang of a rubber band. Once the treatment is over, application of sunscreen is done after a cool compress, especially if your skin is sensitive. The laser penetration pain is no more than a feeling of a slight pinch. The skin is kept cool before and after the treatment in order to ward of any heat generated.
Cosmetic improvement
- A marked improvement in the complexion – the face appears soft to the touch
- Broken capillaries diminish
- Lesser tendency of a flushed appearance
- Lesser tendency for severe pigmentation
- Correction of pore size
- Unlined and smooth visage without blemishes
- The redness caused by acne scars are difficult to be camouflaged cosmetically; Photofacial Laser has the ability to allow these scars to be absorbed into the body, thus removing the scars
- Depressions and tiny fissures left behind acne and other scars are filled and the complexion is smoothened
Side effects
The side effects of Photofacial Laser are minimal, if any. They include a flushing effect on the countenance, capillaries may appear more distinct. There are also chances of inflammation and redness that may fade away within a short time. One also has to be cautious about where the products have come from. There are some spas that offer indifferently prepared medication that may do more harm than good.
Photofacial surgery is an effective treatment to remove scars from the face and give it a smooth unlined look. There are two types of laser treatments, ablative and non ablative. Non ablative is more suitable for Photofacial treatments.