Laser Skin Resurfacing

Laser skin resurfacing is a cutting-edge skin care procedure that can reduce facial wrinkles as well as scars and blemishes. If you want to tighten your skin or remove sun spots, laser skin resurfacing treatment may be the answer to achieving your ultimate skin goals.

Laser Skin Resurfacing in Portland Before & After Photos by Dr. Vila

View More Laser Skin Resurfacing Patients

What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?

This advanced procedure is ideal for tightening your skin and can reduce facial wrinkles, scars, and blemishes. Additionally, newer laser technologies provide plastic surgeons with an increased level of control in laser surfacing, which allows for exceptional precision. This becomes especially important for sensitive treatment sites.

Laser skin resurfacing uses short, concentrated, and pulsating beams of light on irregular skin. This removes unwanted and damaged skin in an especially precise manner, one skin layer at a time.

Our practice utilizes the Erbium-YAG resurfacing laser. The device works by removing the outermost layer of skin in a controlled way so that fresh new skin can grow in, visibly improving fine lines, skin texture, and overall appearance. This procedure is generally combined with a facelift or other procedure under general anesthesia. However, it can be accomplished under oral sedation, with some injectable or topical numbing medicine as well.

What can Laser Skin Resurfacing Treat?

Erbium-YAG lasers promote collagen regeneration which makes them especially popular options for treating:

Fine lines
Wrinkles
Loose or sagging skin
Age spots

Pretty Young Women With Blonde Hair And Serious Expression

What are the Benefits of Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Proven benefits of laser skin resurfacing treatments include:
Reduced fine lines and wrinkles
Eliminated age spots, acne scars, and other blemishes
Corrected redness, discoloration, and brown spots
Renewed collagen production
Reduced appearance of blood vessels
Reduced pore size
Tightened skin
Balanced skin tone and overall appearance

Candidates for Erbium-YAG Laser Skin Resurfacing

While most people are a candidate for laser skin resurfacing, the ideal candidate should meet the following criteria:

Not experiencing active acne
No especially deep wrinkles
A minimal amount of excessive or sagging skin

What can I Expect During the Procedure?

Cosmetic laser skin resurfacing is generally an outpatient procedure that lasts between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the aesthetic goals that are being achieved. To prepare for the procedure, your face will be thoroughly cleaned and you will be given eye protection.

Erbium YAG lasers vaporize superficial and damaged skin cells. Because this is a deeper ablative and some outer layers of skin are removed, our laser treatments require local anesthetic injections or intravenous sedation to keep you comfortable and relaxed. Dr. Vila will numb the skin with local anesthetics after using oral anesthesia.

If your goal is extensive skin resurfacing, or if you are having other cosmetic procedures simultaneously such as a facelift, Dr. Vila will use a general anesthetic. To manage your pain and comfort after the procedure, you may receive pain medication.

Following your procedure, you should expect some degree of tenderness in the treatment site. Additionally, Dr. Vila can recommend safe ways to control any lingering pain or discomfort after laser resurfacing treatment.

What can I Expect After Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Skin treated with laser resurfacing will usually feel like a mild sunburn. You will likely have some:

Redness
Swelling
Itching or stinging
Dry and/or peeling treatment site

These side effects generally last for just a few days after the procedure, generally no more than five days. Erbium-YAG laser resurfacing can have one full week of recovery time.

After laser skin resurfacing, you may see an immediate difference in the treated skin which will continue to improve for up to a year. In some cases, one single laser treatment will address your concerns. However, you may need a series of treatments to achieve a tightened and smooth complexion. Once the treatment series is complete, the results are long-lasting and worth the investment.

Why Choose Dr. Peter Vila for Laser Skin Resurfacing?

Dr. Peter Vila is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with extensive training and commitment to natural, aesthetically-motivated results which bring out the absolute best in each patient. After graduating with distinction in research from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, he completed residency training in Head and Neck Surgery at the prestigious Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Vila works closely with each of his patients and takes a highly personalized approach to his work. He will learn about your cosmetic goals, become familiar with your aesthetic aspirations, and help you chart your path to the aesthetic results that you have been dreaming of.

Laser Skin Resurfacing