The Groupon landed in my Inbox, and right away I thought: “Yes!” It was an offer I simply couldn’t refuse. For just a fraction of its “normal” price from a local plastic surgeon, I could receive a SmartSkin microablative laser treatment. The machine’s manufacturer, Cynosure, says its model can “treat deep wrinkles, significant photo damage, keratoses, solar lentigines or age spots, poor skin texture and a wide variety of other challenging skin conditions.”
Because I work on camera, I am sensitive to my skin’s appearance. I decided to give it a try.
Done deal
I underwent my treatment Saturday. Because I’m a highly sensitive person—self-described and confirmed by those who know me—I took one medication each to relax me, another for pain, another for nausea, as well as a course of antibiotics and antivirals both pre and post procedure. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
The treatment did hurt, but not badly. Actually, that was the plan—for I don’t really remember. I’m using Aquaphor Healing Ointment, washing a couple of times daily with gentle Cetaphyl, then mixing white vinegar and water for a “rinse.”
My face is swollen, it’s red and it’s hot—and I look pretty scary (hopefully no scarier than normal!). This feels like a sunburn and it sure looks like one.
Working my fractions
On the blog, Cosmetic Doc Talk, the author explains that fractional technology—versus more powerful C02 technology—emerged in 2004. C02 carried more risk of infections, scarring and pigmentation problems—it was and is a more complicated procedure. Fractional lasers allow just “a fraction” of the skin to be treated with less downtime and less risk. They deliver microscopic treatment “zones” in a pixilated pattern so untreated skin and treated skin heals “side by side,” more quickly.
Projections for the growth of non-invasive treatments like lasers are robust. “Marketdata estimates that revenues of the 2100 U.S. medical spas will reach $1.94 billion this year and $3.6 billion by 2016, with average revenues per facility of nearly $1 million dollars. Sales are forecast to grow 18% per year to 2016, as more med spas open.”
I’ll keep you posted on my healing process. I might even post the photos—but not until I have some “after” pix to mediate the post-procedure shots. If you’re considering laser resurfacing, please do your research online to learn the differences between lasers, severity of procedures, and always ask about the experience of the provider who’s doing your procedure.