Plastic Surgery Options: Anti-Aging Benefits of Fractional Resurfacing

In an effort to improve the signs of aging, many men and women are turning to skin resurfacing and laser procedures in skin remodeling. While there are many products on the market, most cosmetic-surgery patients find they trust the decision of the dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon without fully investing the options.

If you are considering a facial skin remodeling procedure, it is important to understand what your options for resurfacing and laser treatment may be, what side effects can be expected and how best to manage those side effects. While your surgeon will ultimately outline the best plan for your particular skin type, the more you know about the facial resurfacing procedures, the better your outcome will be.

Fractional resurfacing is the latest in skin care and anti-aging cosmetic procedures. Replacing procedures that involve full ablation and full laser therapy, fractional resurfacing offers some of the components of full resurfacing while limiting the side effects associated with thermal impact, or burning, of the dermis. When meeting with your surgeon, the first procedure you should ask about is the use of fractional resurfacing because it will target only the tissue that needs to be treated without impacting healthy tissue in the surrounding area.

One of the major side effects of ablative surgery involves a complication known as overlapping. When different areas of the face are treated with ablative procedures, there is risk for overlapping and creating more thermal damage to the tissues. When this additional thermal damage is created, the kertinocytes must regenerate and develop new epidermis which, ultimately, leads to pain, burning and even distorted coloring of the skin. While there is some degree of risk associated with fractional resurfacing, the risk for overlapping is significantly reduced and, therefore, does not lead to the complex issues of tissue regeneration.