Love Your Look with Lasers: Everything You Need to Know About The Anti-Aging Wonder

As summer nears its end, many people will look in the mirror, after having spent endless hours in the sun over the past few months and wonder “Where did those dark spots come from?” This will likely be followed by the thought, “How do I get rid of them?” Well, laser therapy might be the answer. And while lasers have become infamous for helping remove unwanted dark spots they can do so much more.

We had the chance to talk with one of the best plastic surgeons in the business, Dr. Michael K. Newman, who is based in Southern California. Dr. Newman and his staff are trained in many forms of laser therapy and have the knowledge, plus years of experience, to help you decide if lasers are going to help you love your look.

First things first, let’s talk about what lasers actually are.  LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, which is essentially light amplification with a narrow wavelength. Lasers in general help make the skin look younger in one way or another. The stronger the laser, the more drastic the results. Of course, the stronger the laser the more downtime you will need after treatment, and the more costly the treatment will be. Now that you know what lasers are, let’s talk about what they can do.

Treatments:

We think of lasers for the face, but Dr. Newman shared that they can work wonders for other parts of the body as well – décolletage, neck, hands, legs and arms.

• Dark Spots, Discoloration & Melasma
• Moles (flat ones that can’t be lanced)
• Texture/Acne Scarring
• Fine Lines & Wrinkles
• Sagging Skin
• Blood Vessels & Superficial Veins

Preparation:

While lasers can work wonders, avoiding the things that cause skin damage in the first place is key. Stay out of direct sunlight for extended periods of time, and always ensure you wear sunscreen. Dr. Newman recommends that all of his patients who will be having laser treatments use creams that help lighten or prevent dark spots as well, such a Tretinoin or Retin A. He usually has patients use the creams for 6 weeks prior to laser treatments. Lasers heat the skin, and heat can actually make dark spots darker or melasma more pronounced, so you want to amply prepare the skin so the laser does what you are hoping it will do.

Recovery:

When we talk about recovery from lasers, it’s not as if you will need to be bed-bound, resting for weeks after. Dr. Newman said it’s very much patient specific, but most people will peel or scab with lasers, depending on which type they’ve had and for what is being treated. Because of this, patients may just not want to be in social settings following treatment. Recovery time can range from a couple of hours to a couple of weeks.

The more surface level the treatment, such as dark spots, the shorter the recovery time. For things like acne scarring, where the laser needs to get below the skin’s surface, the laser will likely be more intense and the recovery time longer. Dr. Newman tends to see more patients seeking laser treatment in fall and winter months, as there is more time to hibernate a bit, avoiding the sun and the social activities that abound in warmer months.

Benefits:

• All Natural
• Non-invasive
• Quick Treatments
• Minimal Downtime
• Relatively Fast Results
• Anti-Aging

Probably the most important thing to consider when you are contemplating laser treatments is where you get them done. There are many medical spas that offer lasers these days, but Dr. Newman said it’s crucial to have treatment done at a place where there is a doctor on staff, and ideally when the doctor is present at the location during treatment. A dermatologist or plastic surgeon is likely going to be your best bet. While a nurse may administer the laser treatment, at a doctor’s office, where the doctor is present, the staff is likely to be better trained and certified in more types of laser therapy. Dr. Newman recommends asking as many questions as you have, so you are comfortable with what will be done and have accurate expectations of the anticipated outcome.

For more information on Dr. Michael K. Newman and the services he offers, including laser treatment, fillers and botulinum injections, please visit DrNewmanBeverlyHills.com and plasticsurgerysource.com. For incredible before and after’s, as well as fun videos of Dr. Newman weighing in on what your favorite celebrities have had done, follow @DrNewmanPlasticSurgery on Instagram.