Questions About Skin Resurfacing

Chicago, Illinois

What is skin resurfacing?

Aging, sun exposure, heredity and lifestyle factors including nutrition, alcohol consumption and smoking all may contribute to facial wrinkling. Cosmetic skin resurfacing is performed to remove the fine lines of the face. It does not significantly tighten the skin; this requires other procedures like a facelift. During the laser treatment, a laser is used to dissolve the molecular bonds of the damaged skin cells layer by layer until a smooth, uniform skin appearance is achieved.

What is dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is a skin resurfacing procedure that Dr. Placik uses to smooth out and improve the appearance of surface irregularities of the skin. These irregularities can include:

• Scars
• Wrinkles
• Sun damage
• Enlarged pores

Dr. Placik will use a mechanical sanding device to gently remove the top layer of skin and partial thickness of the deep layer.

How is it performed?

The rapidly spinning wheel of the mechanical device is similar to the surface of a fine-grained sander. By applying it to your skin's surface, the upper layers are removed. Like the deeper chemical peels, dermabrasion is very effective in reducing the appearance of vertical wrinkles around the mouth. It can be used on a small area of skin and on patients with darker complexions. The treated area usually will blend with the surrounding skin so that there is little if any noticeable difference in your skin's coloration.

Who are good candidates for this procedure?

You can have their skin resurfaced at nearly any age. You may be a good candidate for skin resurfacing if you have:

• Facial skin that is wrinkled or sun-damaged
• Brown spots or blotchy skin coloring
• Acne scars, chicken pox scars or precancerous skin growths
• Vertical wrinkles around your mouth, such as those that cause lipstick "bleed"
• "Laugh lines" around your eyes and perhaps some skin laxity in your lower eyelid area
• Fine wrinkling of your upper eyelids

Is there anything I can do to reduce scarring or bruising?

For the first day or two after this procedure, you should get plenty of rest. You can help reduce swelling by elevating the treated area and carefully applying ice. Sometimes you can speed up the resolution of bruising by applying heat. Vitamin E or Aloe Vera may help reduce scarring. You should not rub the scar for about six weeks because you can damage the fragile new tissue.

Serving residents of the Chicago area, Dr. Otto Placik performs a wide range of surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures. If you are thinking about enhancing your appearance and permanently improving your self-confidence, please contact our office today.