Cosmetic Procedures - Laser Surgery - Operation

All laser procedures are performed as an outpatient in either an office, surgery center, or hospital setting dependent upon the availability of the specific laser needed. Since the cost of lasers is significant, certain types may only be located in a hospital or surgery center setting. The majority of laser treatments can be done under local anesthesia or sedation in the adult. A select few may require no anesthesia at all. Facial laser resurfacing, however, is more extensive and is best performed under a general anesthetic. In children, almost all laser treatments will require a general anesthetic.

In isolated target-specific laser treatments (such as brown spots, tattoos, and small blood vessels), the area is treated with the laser and works by the intended target tissue absorbing the very specific light and being destroyed in the process. This may create a scab (char) or discoloration over the treated area. Antibiotic ointment or a light gel dressing is applied at the end of the procedure and is all the postoperative dressing that is usually needed.

In facial laser resurfacing, the skin is treated by multiples passes with the laser (CO2) which removes (burns off) the top layers, helping to soften or eradicate wrinkles and superficial skin irregularities. As it is essentially a burn injury, care must be taken to not go too deep or injure the eye. Less deep laser skin resurfacing is now aslo availablewhich can be done in the office unde topical anesthesia. Multiple treatments are needed , every 3 months, to get the best skin result.