As a child, your skin was soft and smooth.  Over the years, the sun, wind, and toxins in the air have taken their toll and your skin is showing signs of aging.

You have been eating better, living healthier and generally keeping fit.  Now, you want the image you see in the mirror to reflect the way you feel inside.  For many of us, this means reversing the years of wear and tear on your skin caused by fun in the sun, the environment, and aging.

Signs of aging skin
At first, fine lines appear near the eyes, around the lips, the forehead and across the cheeks.  Next, the creases deepen near the mouth and between the eyes.  Facial skin begins to loosen and sag.

All the while environmental assailants such as UV from the sun, toxins in the air, cigarette smoke, stress and poor nutrition accelerate the aging process.

What is Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing is an exciting medical procedure which corrects the effects of the sun, wind and time.

Physicians around the world use the pinpoint accuracy of advanced CO2 (carbon dioxide) lasers to repair damaged skin.  Laser skin resurfacing reduces wrinkles without scalpels or stitches.  The laser emits an intense beam of energy that heats and vaporizes tissue instantaneously.  It is so precise that the normal surrounding tissue is not affected.

As Dr. Shumway guides the laser’s beam over the damaged or wrinkled skin, it gently removes the outer layers.  Fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth and eyes are smoothed.  Deep creases and frown lines will be softened and acne scars are minimized.  Once the outer layer of skin has been removed, the new skin beneath is softer, smoother with a more youthful appearance.

Laser skin resurfacing may be performed in the office with local anesthesia when limited areas are treated.  Full facial resurfacing is usually performed with the administration of intravenous sedation.

What are the benefits of laser resurfacing?
•    Lasers cause less scarring, bleeding and bruising than other treatments.
•    Lasers provide a level of control that is difficult to achieve with other treatments.
•    With lasers the doctor can immediately visualize the effect of the treatment.
•    Laser resurfacing is more predictable than other forms of treatment.
•    Laser surgery requires shorter recovery time than traditional treatments.

Are you a candidate for Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Dr. Shumway will review your medical history, age, skin type and pigmentation, consider your desired results, and determine if you are a candidate for laser skin resurfacing.  Results will vary from patient to patient depending on age, skin type and condition.

What else can lasers treat?
Lasers can be used to treat a variety of other skin conditions including the removal of age spots, freckles, moles, keloids, certain types of skin cancers, other skin growths and conditions as well as tattoos.

What about recovery?
Generally, patients enjoy a short recovery time after laser skin resurfacing.  Most of the healing occurs in the first one to two weeks.  During this time the treated areas must be kept moist.  The initial redness fades in a few weeks to a light pink, which can be camouflaged with cosmetics and usually disappears completely in about three months.

In just a few short weeks, you will look “well rested” and “refreshed.”  What our patients like the most is that they don’t look like they just had plastic surgery. – “They just look great!”