Imagine the pleasure of smooth, beautiful skin.

The natural aging process often becomes apparent on the face. Fine lines and wrinkles appear, and skin tone and texture changes, often hastened by exposure to the sun. In some cases, hereditary factors, as well as tobacco usage, acne, and sun exposure can accelerate this process. While deep, coarse wrinkles usually require surgical treatments such as a facelift, browlift, or eyelid surgery; alternative methods such as CO2, erbium lasers, or chemical peels can reverse the effects of damaged skin. During your consultation with Dr. Beltran, he will discuss results that you intend to achieve, and therefore recommend the best procedure or procedures.

The decision to use laser or chemical peel depends upon the patient's skin color, thickness and ethnicity. Very fine wrinkles are usually best treated with CO2 or Erbium lasers. As a rule, light-colored, thin skin reacts very well with the CO2 lasers. Darker, thick-skinned individuals, especially those with large pores, achieve the best results with chemical peels.

Prior to laser resurfacing or a chemical peel, the patient's skin is pretreated with aggressive skin care for a minimum of four weeks. This skin regimen includes a special cleanser, toner, pigment disperser, Retin-A, a Retina-A activator, and a sunscreen. Both laser resurfacing and chemical peels are performed in the doctor's office. A local anesthetic may be given to ensure the patient's comfort during the procedure. With laser resurfacing, Dr. Beltran will direct the laser toward the patient's skin imperfection, quickly and accurately vaporizing the superficial layer of skin. A chemical peel involves removing the superficial layers of the skin by applying a solution to the skin.

Healing varies with the type and extent of the procedure necessary to achieve the results you seek. With laser resurfacing, a crust will form in the areas treated that will last for three to six days. Once the crust is removed, the affected skin will be very pink. Typically, you will feel comfortable going out in public after ten days when the initial 'deep' pink fades to a 'light' pink, which may be camouflaged with cosmetics. Patients enjoy the benefits not only of smoother skin, but also of diminished wrinkles and facial irregularities. Dr. Beltran will put forth his best efforts to achieve the best results for each patient that are most aesthetically pleasing, long lasting, and most natural. Imagine the joy of smiling without those little laugh lines.

Q: How long will I be out of work?
A: You will be able to return to work seven to ten days after your laser resurfacing or chemical peel.

Q: How long will my skin be pink?
A: The erythema or "pinkness" of the skin is most intense at the beginning, but subsides over a four to twelve week period. The depth of the laser resurfacing or peel also determines the length of the pinkness in most cases.

Q: Will my skin scar?
A: Scarring is a complication and not an expected result of these procedures, however prior treatment of the skin before and after these procedures is mandatory. Antibiotics and antiviral medications are given at the time of the procedure. Choosing a surgeon like Dr. Beltran with surgical expertise in this area is the best way to ensure a beautiful result.