Zap wrinkles and sun spots with new laser tool
June 2nd, 2009 - 4:48 pm ICT by IANSLondon, June 2 (IANS) When 48 year-old Margaret Miglia looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn’t believe her youthful looks, free of all the wrinkles and sunspots, thanks to a new laser tool used by cosmetic surgeons.
“I had the procedure done two-and-a-half weeks ago and I love it. The experience for me was not really painful at all. It was more like a really bad sun burn,” said a visibly pleased Miglia.
“My skin is smooth. The brown spots on my face are gone,” she says. “It makes me feel much younger. It just feels good to look in the mirror,” she added.
“Previous laser treatment for wrinkles and other textural issues like acne scarring used to create significant wounding,” said Jeffrey Orringer, director of the University of Michigan (U-M) Cosmetic Dermatology and Laser Centre.
“While results were terrific, the downtime for patients was substantial, and the risks were significant. Then, as technology improved, the pendulum swung the other way, providing lower risks, but with less pronounced results. This new treatment offers both improved results with much fewer side effects,” Orringer said.
In developing this new method, traditional carbon dioxide lasers were modified into a fractional format. The carbon laser beam is broken into numerous microscopically thin beams that strike the skin and vaporize sun damaged or scarred tissue.
This causes the skin to tighten, and during healing, produce collagen - the protein responsible for skin structure and appearance.
“The little micro-beams essentially vaporise small columns of tissue that take about two to three days to seal back up. During that time, as the skin heals back together, the lost volume essentially creates a tightening of the skin.”
“In addition, around those columns of skin where the beam delivers heat, a very reproducible wound healing mechanism is created, which leads in part to the formation of new collagen in the skin,” he added, according to a U-M release.
Besides, patients who undergo fractionated carbon dioxide laser treatment can expect a more even skin tone, as well as results that last for years, not weeks or months, said Orringer.
- Say goodbye to wrinkles, sun spots - courtesy new laser treatment - Jun 02, 2009
- Insulin shots could banish unsightly scars - Nov 02, 2010
- Now, look younger without going under the knife: Study - Aug 06, 2010
- Novel hydrogel regenerates burnt skin tissues - Dec 14, 2011
- Human skin mixed with spider silk can halt bullets - Sep 14, 2011
- Synthetic protein to help regenerate new tissues - Sep 11, 2011
- Mechanism limiting scar formation discovered - Jun 11, 2010
- Researchers discover mechanism that limits scar formation - Jun 12, 2010
- Nanotechnology could unlock secret of youthful skin - Nov 22, 2010
- Lizard enzyme could let humans regrow organs, limbs - Dec 07, 2010
- Get rid of your wrinkles with carbon dioxide laser resurfacing - Jul 22, 2008
- Wrinkles reducing creams are 'waste of money' - Jan 17, 2011
- Facial wrinkles may predict bone density in early menopause - Jun 05, 2011
- Dracula therapy: Fighting ageing with your own blood - Nov 16, 2011
- Sugar could be key to healing deep wounds without scars - Dec 13, 2010
Tags: acne, beams, carbon dioxide lasers, collagen, cosmetic dermatology, cosmetic surgeons, downtime, fewer side effects, laser beam, laser centre, laser tool, laser treatment for wrinkles, miglia, pendulum, protein, skin structure, sun burn, sun spots, university of michigan, wound healing