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Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery

Laser Resurfacing

What is laser resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing is a nonsurgical rejuvenation procedure that heats the skin to cause a controlled injury and trigger the body’s healing response.

We treat the following conditions with laser resurfacing at the UNC Center for Facial Aesthetics:

  • Acne Scars
  • Brown Spots / Uneven Pigment
  • Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Texture
  • Preventative Skin Health
  • Surgical / Traumatic Scars

What are the different types of laser resurfacing?

Ablative Laser (full-field)

Ablative full-field laser resurfacing removes skin at a specific depth adjusted per patient; from superficial (NanoLaserPeel or MicroLaserPeel) to more aggressive resurfacing (Deep Resurfacing) utilizing a computer-guided scanner to produce uniform and consistent results. Ablative lasers are often combined with a facelift for improvement of deeper wrinkles and sun damage.

How does ablative laser resurfacing work?

Ablative skin resurfacing works by removing the very top surface layer of the skin (epidermis) and heating the water molecules in the lower layers (dermis) to trigger the healing response.

  • NanoLaserPeel: removes the topmost layer of skin accelerating the skin’s own renewal process by activating special messenger cells to treat conditions such as scars, pigment irregularities, and fine lines with minimal downtime.
  • MicroLaserPeel: removes the top layer and deeper layers of skin to treat conditions such as scars, pigment irregularities, fine and deep lines with minimal downtime.
  • Deep Laser Resurfacing: removes the top layer and deeper layers of skin with or without coagulation (heating tissue to cause thermal injury) to treat scars, pigment irregularities, and deep wrinkles.

Fractionated Ablative Laser

Fractionated ablative laser delivers energy in precise microbeam channels to target a fraction of the skin while leaving the surrounding tissue intact for rapid healing.

We treat the following conditions with fractionated ablative laser:

  • Acne Scars
  • Brown Spots / Uneven Pigment
  • Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Texture
  • Preventative Skin Health
  • Surgical / Traumatic Scars
ProFractional Laser

ProFractional is a fractionated ablative laser that is used to treat scars, stimulate collagen production, and can help patients maintain healthy skin.

The ProFractional laser is an effective treatment for scars because it allows the aesthetician to treat only a portion of the tissue, which allows for shorter healing times while still reaching deep indications.

ProFractional laser stimulates collagen production deep in the dermis to improve fine lines and deep wrinkles, as well as rough texture and pigment. When performed on an annual basis, ProFractional laser is an excellent tool for stimulating fibroblasts to maintain long-term skin quality.

How many laser resurfacing treatments are needed?

While each patients’ needs are unique, generally most patients find 1-3 treatments in a series produces the results they are looking for. Your aesthetician will discuss this with you at your consultation visit.

Hybrid Laser: Ablative & Non-Ablative Fractionated

What is a HALO Treatment?

The Halo hybrid fractional laser simultaneously delivers ablative and non-ablative laser to the same microscopic treatment zone delivering both deep dermal rejuvenation and epidermal renewal.

What happens during a HALO treatment?

Thirty minutes to an hour before the treatment, your provider will apply a topical anesthetic on your skin to reduce the sensation during the procedure. The area will be measured with motion tracking technology to ensure the area is treated evenly. Your provider will treat each measured area by uniformly rolling the HALO hand piece over your skin until the system recognizes the treatment is complete.

 

If you would like to schedule a consultation at the UNC Center for Facial Aesthetics, please call 984-974-2255 to make a consultation.