Laser resurfacing is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment that smooths lines and wrinkles and evens out discoloration from acne scars and sun-damaged skin. At City Facial Plastics in Midtown, Manhattan we offer laser skin resurfacing that helps improve the appearance of the skin and work as an anti-aging treatment. The best-in-class plastic surgeon in New York City Dr. Gary Linkov performs laser resurfacing alone or with other facial enhancements such as facelifts, eyelid surgery, nose surgery, and facial implants.
Introduced in the 1990s, laser skin resurfacing has since advanced to offer patients efficacious treatment with quicker healing time and minimal risk. Unlike devices that rely on a broad spectrum of light, such as IPL, lasers are emitted as a single wavelength. A particular laser wavelength is selected to be absorbed sufficiently by a specific tissue component (chromophore).
In skin, the three main chromophores are water, hemoglobin, and melanin. For example, the primary chromophore for the CO2 lasers and Er:YAG lasers is water, which is fitting since 90% of the epidermis is water. The laser energy is able to remove the outer layers of skin which allows the body to rebuild the tissue in a tighter, smoother, more uniform way. Laser skin resurfacing for acne scars minimizes the appearance of scars from old acne outbreaks.
The skin goes through many changes due to external factors, such as sun exposure, and many internal medical conditions that manifest on the skin. Routine skin care regimens are essential for proper upkeep, but once the skin has already gone through a transformation of color, texture, or elasticity, it often requires additional modalities beyond skin creams to obtain a desired appearance.
A good candidate for laser skin resurfacing in UES, Manhattan has the following characteristics, including:
Lasers are classified as ablative, non-ablative, and fractional. The amount of energy that a laser delivers to the tissue and the time over which it is delivered determines the amount of tissue vaporized.
Dr. Linkov is a great guy and is very knowledgeable. When it comes to FUE (including body hair transplant), it’s all about the experience of the doctor and technicians. Dr. Linkov has a very experienced team that allowed me to fully recover in 6 days.
The basic steps of laser skin resurfacing NYC include:
One of the reasons laser skin resurfacing is so effective at treating aging issues is that it can help increase collagen levels. As you get older, your collagen levels decrease, and skin loses volume and elasticity. Laser therapy damages the old skin cells, helping to remove them and reveal new skin cells. As a response to the skin “injury,” more collagen is produced to heal the damage. This helps smooth lines and wrinkles. Laser skin resurfacing for wrinkles improves the overall youthfulness of the skin.
Re-epithelialization is expected to occur within about 7 days. During this time, the treated areas should be cleaned with a vinegar mixture several times a day. The post-re-epithelialization redness from laser facial resurfacing can be covered up with make-up (green or yellow-based foundation). Sun exposure should be avoided for 2-3 months, until all the redness subsides, to prevent hyperpigmentation. Avoid antibiotic ointments if possible to prevent contact dermatitis.
No laser skin rejuvenation result is permanent, but it can significantly improve your appearance for a long period of time. In general, the deeper the treatment the longer the result will last. The aging process will continue after treatment, creating more wrinkles and sun damage changes. Avoiding direct sun exposure and taking excellent care of your skin will allow you to enjoy the benefits of laser skin resurfacing.
There are risks to laser skin resurfacing which include:
The eyes need to be carefully protected during laser skin resurfacing to avoid direct contact and injury.
There are a few contraindications for laser skin resurfacing, mainly processes that impair the rate of re-epithelialization, which include:
There are a few other options for skin resurfacing, including:
Patient satisfaction is high with laser skin resurfacing if the type of laser and patient are correctly selected, as there are many benefits of this procedure. The best treatment for you will depend on your skin complexion, the tolerance for downtime and potential complications, and the expectation for results. A person who expects dramatic results will need to anticipate a longer recovery.
There are several types of providers that perform laser skin resurfacing, with the more intensive lasers reserved for only certain medical specialists. While you may be able to obtain a non-ablative treatment at a medical spa, an ablative fractional CO2 treatment is usually only performed in a doctor’s office by a physician, such as the best-ranked plastic surgeon in NYC Dr. Linkov, with the appropriate training and experience.
The cost of the procedure depends on the experience of the provider, size of the treatment area, the type of laser, and location of services.
Dr. Gary Linkov is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon in Manhattan’s Upper East Side specializing in non-surgical and surgical facial aesthetics, including ablative fractional laser skin resurfacing. A top-rated plastic surgeon in New York, Dr. Linkov delivers safe, consistent, and natural results to each one of his facial rejuvenation patients. He is able to devise a treatment plan that addresses all layers of the face for an optimal outcome.
If you have blemishes, pigmentation changes or signs of aging on your facial skin, laser therapy may be the right option for you. Contact City Facial Plastics and schedule a laser skin resurfacing consultation with a leading plastic surgeon in New York, Dr. Gary Linkov.
Dr. Linkov is a great guy and is very knowledgeable. When it comes to FUE (including body hair transplant), it’s all about the experience of the doctor and technicians. Dr. Linkov has a very experienced team that allowed me to fully recover in 6 days.
Dr. Linkov is a double board-certified by the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. A native of New York, Dr. Linkov graduated as a salutatorian from Cornell University and received his Medical Degree at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Linkov conducted advanced head and neck cancer research at the world-renowned Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Dr. Linkov is a former Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University (NYU), where he taught Rhinoplasty.
Dr. Linkov is a top-rated facial plastic surgeon in New York who specializes in lip lift, facelift, rhinoplasty, and hair transplant. He has been named one of the top 5 lip lift surgeons in the United States, is listed in the prestigious SuperDoctors New York™ registry, and has appeared on the Dr. Oz Show, where he discussed the state-of-the-art hair transplantation procedure.
City Facial Plastics 150 E 56th St, #1AB, New York, NY 10022 (212) 439-5177