LASER SURGERY

M. TAVALLALI, M.D.

About your skin

We are all born with smooth, baby-soft skin. As we go through life, however, our skin is subject to numerous experiences that leave it less than perfect. For many of us, our first exposure to skin problems is with chickenpox in childhood, then acne scars for some of us in our teen years, and beyond.

Time, heredity, gravity and sun also do their part to create fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the mouth and eyes. Overexposure to the sun, alcohol use and smoking are all known to significantly accelerate the development of these natural signs of aging.

Other surface imperfections, such as moles, warts, superficial skin cancers and actinic keratoses may also develop over time to mar the skin surface.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

We are now able to remove surface imperfections and dramatically reduce lines, wrinkles and scarring with a new procedure called “Laser Skin Resurfacing”.

Using the laser, we can gently remove sun-damaged, aging skin, layer by layer, helping to protect and stimulate the regeneration of deeper, healthy skin.

Unlike dermabrasion or chemical peels, the laser uses a very high pulsed energy beam of light to rapidly vaporize scars, lines, wrinkles and other surface skin defects. Laser light penetrates to a very precise, controlled depth, making the procedure safe and predictable, and reducing the risk of scarring or pigmentation.

Comfort both during and after the procedure is improved because the laser is gentle, which helps give you a more rapid return to your normal routine.

What conditions can laser surgery be used for?

¨ Facial wrinkles

¨ Sun-damaged skin

¨ Lip Lines

¨ Crow’s feet

¨ Acne scarring

¨ Facial aging

¨ Facial pigment changes

How effective is laser surgery?

Resurfacing with the laser is very effective. The treatment is bloodless and does not involve chemicals covering the skin surface. This allows Dr. Tavallali to see exactly how much tissue to treat and remove during the procedure. It is easier to see the deeper lines that may be treated more precisely to obtain the best results.

Following the procedure, there will be minor pain and redness, and your skin will seem to ooze or weep as new collagen is formed by the dermal layer to rebuild the skin from the bottom up.

This should heal in 7-14 days with new, healthier skin. The new skin will have a pink quality, which will fade over a period of approximately 4-8 weeks.

Make-up can be used to camouflage the area in 7-10 days, depending on your skin’s response to treatment.

Minor post-operative discomfort is usual for a few days, and is well controlled with minimal prescription medication. We will make sure that you are kept comfortable during and after your laser procedure.

Will my condition respond well to laser treatment?

While there is no way to predict the final result with absolute accuracy, clinical studies over the past two years have shown laser surgery to be remarkably effective in treating the conditions listed for skin resurfacing or rejuvenation. When compared to the alternatives of other treatment methods, it is an excellent choice.

What are the risks involved?

All laser surgical procedures carry some degree of risk. The risks of side effects or scarring is minimal, probably less than 1%. The most common side effects are increased pigmentation at the site of treatment. Pain, some bleeding and the possibility of infection are also possible but are minimized with proper surgical techniques and post-operative care.

The surgical site must be protected from direct sunlight for a period of about three months after the procedure. There is no evidence of any long-term effects from laser surgery.

How is the procedure performed?

Many procedures can be done in our office. This enables us to control costs and offer personal supervision and care. Depending upon the procedure, patients are generally asked to arrive about half an hour prior to their scheduled appointment time so that we may prepare them. A local anesthetic is usually used for large procedures, one may choose intravenous monitored sedative anesthesia.

Hopefully this has given you a better understanding of laser surgery. Please feel free to call our offices at 703-876-9400 or 301-907-3838 to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Tavallali. We look forward to seeing you soon.

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