There are primarily two main categories of laser treatments for the face, based on the type of laser resurfacing technique used.
Laser Resurfacing Categories
The two broad categories of laser resurfacing for the face are:
1. Traditional Laser Resurfacing
This method involves lasers like:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Lasers: These lasers deliver a powerful energy beam that removes thin layers of skin.
- Erbium Lasers: Similar to CO2 lasers, but generally considered less aggressive.
Both of these lasers create a uniform injury to the treatment area, which leads to new skin growth and improved skin appearance.2. Fractionated CO2 Laser Treatment
* **Fractionated CO2 lasers** treat small columns of skin, leaving the surrounding tissue intact. This allows for faster healing times compared to traditional methods, while still promoting collagen production and skin rejuvenation.Comparison of Laser Types
| Laser Type | Method | Healing Time |
|---|---|---|
| CO2 & Erbium Lasers | Uniform injury to the skin | Longer |
| Fractionated CO2 Laser | Treats small columns of skin, leaving surrounding tissue intact | Shorter |
In summary, while there are various specific lasers, facial laser treatments primarily fall under two distinct approaches: traditional resurfacing using CO2 or Erbium lasers, and fractionated laser resurfacing using CO2 lasers. The main difference lies in how the skin is treated, which impacts healing time and the overall effectiveness of the treatment.
