What are the Risks of Laser Skin Treatment?
by Sara in Laser Skin Treatment
Although laser skin treatment is typically a very safe treatment, no medical procedure is without risks. It is very important that you discuss these risks with your doctor before agreeing to the procedure. Although these risks are rare, you must be prepared for their possibility.
Other than routine side effects related to laser procedures, the most common risk of laser skin resurfacing is a change in pigmentation. This is more common in patients with darker skin tones because of the way in which the laser beam targets the tissue. The treated area may become darker or lighter than the surrounding skin. The skin may also stay pink for an extended period of time. It should fade on its own over time, although with multiple deeper laser treatments, it may become permanent. For most people, within a year the skin will show no signs of hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation or redness.
Reducing sun exposure in the months following the treatment can reduce your risk of long-lasting or permanent pigmentary changes in the treated skin, as your treated skin is very sensitive to sun damage as it is healing. During the year following treatment, the treated skin may not tan normally.
Rarely, the treated skin may become infected, and blistering or crusting may also appear. To reduce this risk, use an antibacterial ointment on the treated skin following your laser procedure, and keep the area clean. If the doctor believes that you have a heightened risk of infection, he or she may also prescribe an antibiotic medication for several days prior to and following the procedure. If you have a history of cold sores or herpes, the laser skin treatment may cause the virus to flare up.
In some instances, scarring may occur. This usually occurs in people who have a history of severe scarring after medical procedures. If you have experienced scarring from other minor medical procedures, be sure to discuss this risk in detail with your doctor. It may make you ineligible for laser skin treatment. Scarring is also more prevalent after procedures using lasers that penetrate the skin deeply; if you are worried about scarring, ask about the possibility of several shallower procedures instead of one deep laser treatment. However, for most people scarring is not a big risk when undergoing laser skin rejuvenation. To reduce this risk, avoid scrubbing the area or otherwise interrupting the natural healing process.
Related posts:
- Are Laser Skin Treatments Right For Me?
- What are the Side Effects of Laser Skin Treatment?
- Laser Skin Treatment Introduction
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