Resurfacing Procedures For Facial Surgery

Lesser invasive alternatives to these procedures can also offer patients considerable cosmetic benefit. They include skin resurfacing techniques, facial scar revision, hair removal, various laser surgeries, and chemical peels. Each targets an undesirable blemish to the features and can have long-lasting effects. In the case of resurfacing and chemical peels, considerable post operative care of the skin and minimal exposure to the sun is required.

SKIN SURFACING

Although there are many skin surfacing treatments, glycolic acids and Retin-A® creams are among the most popular. In general the goal is to make the skin appear more smooth and even. Gycolic acids are most generally applied to rough, dry skin with scaly patches whereas Retin-A® creams attack fine lines and wrinkles. Although some patients experience slight irritation initially, these treatments carry no significant side effects. Normally the first treatment is done in the office as a lesson preparatory to subsequent applications in the home according to a set schedule of use. While using these products good skin care and the use of sun blocking agents is essential. The effects of skin surfacing treatments increase over time but will disappear if use of the product is discontinued.

FACIAL SCAR REVISION

If the facial blemish in question is a scar, surgery known as facial scar revision may be necessary to remove as much of the contracted scar tissue as possible. Surrounding skin is either stretched in to fill the gap created by this removal or small skin grafts are performed. After such a procedure there will be swelling and irritation and your activities may be limited depending on the location of the scar as certain facial movements might harm the surgical incision or graft. Do not expect for the scar to disappear completely, but surgery can significantly improve the prominence of such a blemish.

HAIR REMOVAL

Another common problem in women is the presence of unwanted facial hair, especially during menopause. While most common on the upper lip and chin, hair growth may also occur on the cheeks and neck. Normally a laser is used to effectively kill the hair and to prevent it from returning. Multiple treatments are required as new hair will appear that was not visible during the initial treatment.

Women are instructed to not pluck or shave hair in the area to be treated for several days prior to the procedure. There will be some resulting skin irritation following the treatment, another reason to spread out the procedure over several visits. The greatest danger with any laser procedure is burns on the skin and for this reason it is extremely important to evaluate the qualifications of the professional who will be conducting the procedure. Many salons or spas offer laser hair removal but may not represent the best choice for you especially if you have sensitive skin.

LASER SURGERY

Since the 1950s lasers have been used for an increasing number of medical applications and in addition to cosmetic hair removal can also be called in to play in skin resurfacing techniques. A tremendous draw of this method is that a laser can penetrate skin without causing the excessive bleeding often present in traditional surgical procedures.

Laser surgery is often performed on the face when the patient suffers from serious acne scars. The laser is used to even out the difference in texture between the scar and the surrounding skin to make the scar less prominent. As always with a laser there is the potential for a burn but otherwise these procedures tend to take an hour or less. Treatments may be spread out over several visits in order to evaluate results in progress. There will be some skin irritation and it is important to follow any skin care directions you receive.

CHEMICAL PEELS

A resurfacing technique that applies to the entire place is the chemical peel, a procedure involving the application of mild acids to the skin to remove the top, damaged layers. Peels are good to reduce minor wrinkles and to even out blemishes and blotchiness caused by over-exposure to the sun. Normally a peel takes from one to two hours and causes red, tingling skin with some minor swelling. After the peel the patient will be acutely sensitive to the sun and must avoid exposure at all costs. The skin will be permanently lighter and the ability to tan will be lost. Initial recovery lasts from one to three weeks with full healing taking place over three to six months.

Are Facial Procedures Worth It?

None of these facial plastic surgery procedures should be undertaken lightly. In addition to post-operative bruising, swelling and skin irritation, the duration of the recovery period may mean time away from work. It is extremely important to know all your options and to go into any cosmetic procedure fully aware of all its ramifications. Remember that any procedure from cosmetic chin surgery to blepharoplasty (the eye lift) carries the potential for permanent damage if something goes wrong.