With aisles of skincare products to choose from at supermarkets and beauty retailers alike, it seems like there’s a moisturizer, serum, or exfoliant available to treat just about anything. But sometimes, skin concerns develop that even the best of skincare formulas can’t address. That’s where advanced treatments like laser resurfacing near Cincinnati come in.
At Dermatology Aesthetics of Northern Kentucky, we offer state-of-the-art erbium lasers to help your skin reach its full potential. From wrinkles to hyperpigmentation and more, erbium lasers can restore clarity to your skin with unmatched precision.
But how do erbium lasers work? What can you expect? And what’s the difference between the Halo, Profractional, and Contour TRL erbium lasers?
Keep reading to discover why our expert team recommends laser resurfacing treatments. Plus, find out how lasers can improve not just your skin’s appearance, but your confidence too.
What Is Erbium Laser Resurfacing?
Erbium laser resurfacing near Cincinnati uses fine-tuned laser energy to remove damaged skin, creating a younger appearance while also stimulating the body’s natural healing response.
Erbium lasers emit a wavelength of light that the water molecules in the skin are highly receptive to. The light causes the water to vibrate and generate heat. This heat removes the outermost layers of skin for deep exfoliation. It also triggers the production of additional collagen and elastin.
- Collagen: A structural protein, collagen promotes firmness, moisture, and hydration.
- Elastin: Another important protein, elastin allows your skin to stretch and stay supple.
With precise, focused removal of old skin, erbium lasers cause minimal burning of the surrounding tissue compared to other options like CO2 lasers. This also results in less swelling, bruising, or redness than with CO2 lasers.
What Can Erbium Lasers Treat?
With erbium laser resurfacing near Cincinnati, we can treat a wide range of skin concerns. Able to adjust the device’s settings, our team can dial in on the specific skin concern you want us to target.
Our laser resurfacing options at Dermatology Aesthetics of Northern Kentucky can treat the following.
Wrinkles
As we age, our skin loses its elasticity and firmness, leading to wrinkles and sagging skin. UV (ultraviolet) radiation from the sun can also damage the skin, causing collagen levels to break down and more wrinkles to form. Repeated facial movements, smoking, and genetics also affect the development of wrinkles.
But with laser resurfacing, we can treat fine to medium-deep wrinkles. Especially helpful for wrinkles around the eyes and mouth, the laser removes damaged skin cells while promoting collagen and elastin production. This helps smooth and tighten the skin.
Age Spots
Age spots, also known as sun spots or liver spots, are patches of dark skin. They develop when melanin (the pigment that gives our skin color) accumulates more than it should. These dark spots often appear due to prolonged sun exposure. Genetics, aging, and smoking can also increase the prevalence of age spots.
With erbium lasers, we can precisely eliminate the outer layers of sun-damaged skin, leading to a more even skin tone. As skin regenerates through collagen remodeling after treatment, the age spots reduce and new skin takes its place.
Acne Scars
Acne scars develop as a result of inflammation and acne blemishes. They can appear in two forms: an indentation where there was a loss of tissue, or a raised scar from an overproduction of collagen.
A common skin concern, acne scars affect up to 95% of individuals with acne.
WIth erbium lasers, typically our Profractional laser, we can vaporize the outer layers of damaged skin scarred from past acne. The controlled injury helps your body replace the old cells with new, healthier tissue.
Enlarged Pores
Genetics, excessive oil production, sun damage, aging, and more can all contribute to enlarged pores. Patients often experience noticeable pores on their nose because the T-zone (or area on the face that includes the forehead, nose, and chin) produces more oil.
Our laser resurfacing near Cincinnati tightens the skin, even in the pores. With reduced pore size, skin becomes smoother and more even.
Hyperpigmentation
Hyperpigmentation is a broad category that describes any type of skin darkening, from age spots to freckles, melasma, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Erbium lasers can treat most kinds of hyperpigmentation, leading to brighter, more youthful skin.
Lip Lines
Lip lines, also known as smoker’s lines or lipstick lines, appear around the upper and lower lips. These vertical wrinkles develop primarily through aging, sun exposure, smoking, and repetitive facial movements.
With an erbium laser, we can smooth lip lines and promote a more youthful appearance. We can also use the TRL laser for more aggressive resurfacing if needed.
Stretch Marks
Stretch marks are thin lines or scars that appear on the skin due to rapid stretching or tearing of the skin’s connective tissue. Pregnancy, weight gain, weight loss, and other factors can contribute to the development of stretch marks.
Erbium lasers don’t just work on the face; we can also use them to address skin concerns across the body. For stretch marks on the thighs, stomach, or arms, erbium lasers help reduce the appearance of stretch marks and improve skin quality.
What to Expect From Laser Skin Resurfacing
While the concept of using a laser on your skin can sound intimidating, erbium lasers are scientifically backed and supported by medical study. FDA-approved for addressing wrinkles, scars, sun damage, and more, you can expect a clinically proven treatment that delivers noticeable results.
Here’s a look at what else to expect when you choose laser resurfacing near Cincinnati.
Step 1: Consultation
Once you request an appointment for laser resurfacing, we sit down for a private, in-depth consultation. During this chat, we evaluate your specific skin concerns and hear about your aesthetic goals.
We also ask questions to better understand:
- Your medical history
- Medications and supplements you take
- Any recent sun exposure or tanning
- Your skincare routine
- And anything else that could impact results
Then, we develop a treatment plan that fits your needs.
At Dermatology Aesthetics of Northern Kentucky, we offer the Halo, Profractional, and Contour TRL erbium lasers. Each laser option offers unique advantages.
We often say that we can either “mow the grass” or “aerate the lawn,” meaning our lasers can either take off an outer layer of skin or penetrate the skin with micro-channels. With either option, we can give your skin a lighter refresh or a deeper resurfacing.
Let’s take a look at how we can use each laser option to address different skin concerns.
Halo® Laser
A popular laser treatment for most skin types, the Halo laser uses dual wavelengths to improve pigment, texture, pores, and everything in between. Almost anyone can benefit from Halo’s skin enhancement abilities. With minimal downtime (3 to 7 days), we recommend Halo as a great starting point in your skin journey, or for milder skin concerns.
ProFractional™ Laser
Our ProFractional laser goes deeper than the Halo laser to address acne scarring, more severe skin laxity, and other speciality skin concerns. For milder treatments, downtime can be as little as 2 to 3 days. For deeper resurfacing, downtime can last 5 to 7 days.
Contour TRL (Tunable Resurfacing Laser)
The highly tunable Contour TRL laser targets the deepest layers of the skin to treat lip lines and deeper wrinkles. However, we can also adjust the settings to use the Contour TRL as a light peel. This versatile laser adjusts easily to any skin concern. For deepest laser resurfacing, downtime can last up to 12 days.
Step 2: Appointment
Safety and precision remain our priorities throughout your treatment. During your appointment for laser resurfacing near Cincinnati, we use a topical anesthetic to help with comfort. Then, our expert laser technician guides the laser across your skin, addressing your specific concerns.
While the laser does its work, you may feel a combination of heat and a light prickling sensation. After a treatment session, your skin may still feel warm, and you may experience redness, swelling, and tightness similar to a sunburn.
The number of sessions varies for each patient, depending on their needs and goals. Typically, we recommend a series of 3 treatment sessions, spaced out several weeks from each other, to allow your skin to heal and collagen to begin rebuilding.
Step 3: Results
After laser resurfacing near Cincinnati, our patients notice smoother, brighter skin, reduced fine lines and wrinkles, and faded scarring and hyperpigmentation. Erbium lasers also keep working behind the scenes as collagen remodeling improves skin quality in the months following your last treatment session.
Just check out some of these before and after photos to get a glimpse at what’s possible for you too:
Looking for an even gentler solution? Check out our blog on Moxi laser before and afters.
Light Up Your Skin With Advanced Laser Technology
Sometimes, our skin (and confidence) needs a helping hand. At Dermatology Aesthetics of Northern Kentucky, our erbium lasers provide that boost by helping our patients transform their appearance without surgery.
Ready to improve your skin texture, tone, and more with advanced laser technology?
Give us a call at 859.363.5394 to speak with one of our highly trained staff and book a consultation to learn more.
You can also book a consultation by requesting an appointment directly on our website.
Looking to treat rosacea? Check out our blog all about BBL® HEROic™️, our laser for rosacea redness.
