Dear Dr. Seckel, Can you tell me the difference between a Microlaserpeel and laser resurfacing. I have fine wrinkles on my face and some brown spots; I am fair skinned and 30 years old. Should I have a Microlaserpeel or laser resurfacing? Thanks, Lindsay, Boston, Ma.
Dear Lindsay,
Both Microlaseerpeel and laser resurfacing provide deep skin exfoliation and are excellent methods for removing wrinkles and brown spots. Unlike many popular non-ablative laser skin rejuvenation techniques and IPL treatments, often called Photo facial or Fotofacial rejuvenation which do not provide skin exfoliation, Microlaserepeel and laser resurfacing actually smooth the skin by removing dead skin and wrinkled skin and thus are much more effective for wrinkle removal and removing pigment and brown spots. Excellent results are possible.
The main difference between Microlaserpeel and laser resurfacing is the depth of the laser skin exfoliation, or the depth of dead skin removal. Microlaserpeel typically removes dead wrinkled skin down to a depth of 20 to 80 microns; a micron is a millionth of a meter, a thickness smaller than a human hair. Laser resurfacing typically removes about 400 microns of damaged skin, very deeep skin exfoliation.
The deeper skin exfoliation provided by laser resurfacing of course is more effective at wrinkle removal. Even people with deep wrinkles and badly sun-damaged skin can be restored to youthful looking smooth facial skin by a laser resurfacing. The problem is that with a deep laser resurfacing the recovery time is much longer, usually 10 days to 2 weeks of facial redness requiring soaks and ointments, and then a six-week period of pink facial skin requiring make up. The results are great but the recovery is quite difficult. Today almost all laser resurfacing is done with an Erbium laser which is a great improvement over the CO2 laser which was used 8-10 years ago. Laser resurfacing with the Erbium laser results in a recovery in about half the time as with the CO@ laser but still results in 3-6 weeks of pinkness.
The Microlaserpeel is a much more gentle, superficial peel with very speedy recovery, usually 5 to 7 days. Because the Microlaserpeel only goes about 1/5 as deep as a laser resurfacing, the skin heals much faster and there is no prolonged skin pinkness.
Since most of my patients seekin wrinkle removal and removal of pigment and brown spots cannot afford the down time associated with laser resurfacing I do a series of microlaser peels usually 3 over a period of a year. By doing a 40 to 80 micron peel every 6 weeks to 3 months, after 3 peels I have achieved a depth of 120 to 240 microns which is deep enough for effetcive wrinkle removal and pigment removal, and the patient has only had 4-5 days of pinkness on three occasions instead of the prolonged period of redness associated with the laser resurfacing. These repeated Microlaserepeels also effectively stimulate the facial skin to from new collagen as well as grow new facial skin cells, so the facial; skin looks much younger and fresher.
Since you are young and only have fine wrinkles and superficial pigment I would suggest that a Microlaserpeel would work well for you and spare you the discomfort and prolonged recovery that follows a laser resurfacing.
Of course it is very important that you see a board-certified physician experienced in laser skin rejuvenation techniques who can examine you and give you a qualified opinion.
For further information on laser skin rejuvenation and non-surgical facial rejuvenation techniques visit my Boston Plastic Surgery Practice, read Save Your Face or contact me.
Boston, Massachusetts
Peabody, Massachusetts