Laser Skin Resurfacing vs. Cosmetic Skin Treatments like Chemical Peels and Microdermabrasion

Patients often ask about the advantage of laser skin resurfacing over other treatments targeting surface damage like chemical peels and microdermabrasion. Although each of these treatments target conditions like wrinkles, sun damage, melasma, and acne scarring, they produce different results. The main difference is that lasers penetrate the skin’s surface to target deep layers of tissue while chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments better address milder, superficial issues.

Lighter chemical peels and microdermabrasion treatments are better suited for patients who have just started noticing imperfections like fine lines, wrinkles, and melasma. In fact, many young patients receive these types of treatments to maintain a youthful appearance while older patients may benefit from stronger peels. We offer a variety of chemical peel options to treat an assortment of skin conditions. During a chemical peel treatment, the skin is cleansed and a chemical solution is applied. Once chemicals have reached the desired depth, a neutralizing agent is applied. The damaged outer layer of skin is eliminated to reveal the healthy skin beneath and stimulate collagen production. Depending on the strength of the chemical peel, the outermost layer of skin may continue to peel for up to a week following treatment.

Microdermabrasion creates a similar effect to that of a chemical peel. However, rather than using a chemical solution, microdermabrasion uses a handheld device with a rotating head to exfoliate the damaged outer layers of skin. Microdermabrasion successfully stimulates collagen production while reducing surface imperfections like acne, acne scarring, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation. Although patients may experience temporary redness following treatment, microdermabrasion requires no downtime.

Laser skin resurfacing erases wrinkles, reduces imperfections and blemishes, and stimulates collagen to tighten skin. Instead of only targeting the outermost layer of skin, our lasers penetrate within deep layers of tissues to repair more extensive wrinkling and pigmentation irregularities. Our fractionated CO2 laser induces the body’s wound healing response by using a series of tiny laser columns to penetrate the skin’s surface, which generates “new skin” and ignites collagen and elastin fiber production. Our Erbium laser only penetrates the first three layers of skin to treat more superficial conditions including fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and hyperpigmentation.

If you aren’t quite sure which resurfacing treatment will best produce the results you’re after, schedule a pre-treatment consultation with one of our licensed estheticians today. During that time, we will listen to your concerns and thoroughly examine your skin to determine a treatment protocol specifically for you. Visit our website to learn about the other services we provide, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for skin care news and updates on our monthly specials.