The patient is a 42 year old woman who noted wrinkling about her lips and further out onto the cheeks. She noted some looseness of the skin within the jowl area but didn’t think she needed a face lift. The patient wanted a small procedure that could permanently get rid of her wrinkles and help blend the discoloration she saw within the skin of the mouth area. As can be seen from the patient’s laser skin resurfacing before and after photos, more than 95% of the wrinkles were removed. Laser treatment left her skin soft and natural appearing and also created an even color tone over the entire treated area.
Laser skin resurfacing leaves the skin looking natural and there are no tell-tale signs or “tip-off” that the patient has had treatment, unlike older methods to remove wrinkles. The laser is a “no-touch technique” where laser light is used to gently remove the surface skin cells that contain the wrinkles. The edges of the treatment area (in this case the marionette lines and nasolabial folds) can be feathered with the laser so there is no “demarcation line” after the skin has healed. In this fashion, one cannot see the edge of the treatment area.
The cost of laser skin resurfacing is quite low as compared with other forms of facial rejuvenation like face lifting. The goals, of course, are different for these two procedures. It is best to discuss which procedure or procedures night be best with a facial plastic surgeon.
