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Surgical Solutions : Laser Skin Resurfacing
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The most common complication of laser resurfacing is hyper-pigmentation — skin tone that turns darker than normal. It may start three to four weeks after surgery and can last several months. You may be at increased risk of hyper-pigmentation if you have a darker skin tone.
Another possible side affect is developing a herpes virus infection — the virus that causes cold sores. In most cases, herpes is already present and the surgery causes the virus to flare up. If you have a history of cold sores, shingles or herpes, your doctor can prescribe a medication to prevent these infections after laser surgery.
Other complications include acne flares and dermatitis — inflammation of the skin. Scarring can also occur although it's rare, especially for less-aggressive procedures.
Lasers such as the Erbium laser are now available that produce less chance of scarring and pigment changes, create less discomfort and require a shorter recovery time than older lasers. For example, non-ablative — non-wounding — lasers actually avoid injury to the surface skin and treat the underlying layer. This technique still stimulates the production of collagen, but requires less recovery time because the upper layer of skin isn't damaged. Because these lasers are less powerful, however, they usually require multiple sessions, and it may take longer to notice the results. For acne scars, CO2 lasers remain the best choice for most patients.
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