Facial Resurfacing San Francisco | CO2 Fractional Laser Bay Area

Even when you take the best care of your skin, changes are bound to occur over time. You might see early signs of aging like the appearance of fine lines and a bit of skin laxity. Brown spots might also appear, due to sun damage or the passage of time. These concerns and imperfections can make you self-conscious about your appearance, but you might not want to resort to surgery to correct these concerns. That’s where laser skin rejuvenation comes in.

Laser devices are designed to reverse signs of aging and address other skin imperfections that may be preventing you from looking your absolute best. Whether you are looking for an exfoliating treatment to refresh the skin or a procedure that triggers your body’s natural healing responses, laser treatments can fit the bill. At The Maas Clinic^TM, we offer a broad range of laser options to meet all our patients’ aesthetic goals. From subtle refreshment to dramatic improvement, our expert team is ready to help you showcase your best look through every season of life.

Fraxel

Fraxel is a fractional erbium laser that provides gentle skin rejuvenation with minimal discomfort or downtime involved. Fractional lasers work by creating micro-channels in the skin that stimulate the body’s healing response and increase collagen production within the dermal structure. This treatment offers subtle enhancement while reducing the following skin concerns:

Mild to moderate acne scarring
Fine lines and early signs of aging
Enlarged pores
Pigmentation irregularities (age spots)
Uneven skin texture and tone

Fraxel is safe to use on any skin type and tone. Most patients will see the best results after undergoing a series of treatment sessions. Our team at The Maas Clinic^TM will assess your needs and goals at your initial consultation and help you construct a treatment plan that will work best for you.

Active FX

This ablative CO2 laser uses a high-energy beam of laser light to precisely remove outer layers of skin and generate a layer of new, healthy skin below. The procedure can be adjusted based on the amount of correction you want. Some of the effects of the treatment are visible soon after the process. Other benefits, such as new collagen formation, occur gradually and result in continued smoothing over time.

Patients that undergo the Active FX treatment may see the following benefits:

Results in immediate skin tightening
Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Noticeably improves skin texture and tone
Stimulates new collagen formation for natural, long-lasting effects
Restores skin to a healthy and more youthful condition.

The procedure is commonly done using topical anesthetic and sedation. Most patients avoid social activities for a few days after treatment to give their skin ample time to heal and side effects like redness and swelling to subside. Results from an Active FX treatment are both dramatic and long-lasting.

Before & After Gallery

Deep FX

Deep FX is a revolutionary fractional laser technology that uses CO2 laser microbeams to precisely target the deep dermal layers of the skin. This process stimulates a cascade of healing responses that leads to tissue regeneration and new collagen formation throughout the entire treatment area. Deep FX targets a fraction of the skin’s surface, leaving surrounding dermis and tissue untouched. This technique accelerates the healing process without compromising the dramatic results our patients want.

Browse Gallery

When you undergo a Deep FX treatment at The Maas Clinic^TM, you might experience the following benefits:

Improvement in wrinkles, scars and facial folds
Noticeable improvement in overall skin texture and tone
Stimulation of new collagen formation for natural, long-lasting results
Restoration of some facial volume for a younger profile

At The Maas Clinic^TM, we offer both the Active FX and Deep FX as separate treatments. If you prefer, you can combine these technologies for even more enhancement, a process known as Total FX.

Lumenis Laser Resurfacing

For patients that are looking for subtle skin rejuvenation in a quick, comfortable procedure, our Lumenis Nd:YAG laser is an excellent fit. This procedure uses laser energy to heat the lower dermal layers without disrupting the outer skin surface. The process stimulates collagen production and cell renewal to produce a complexion that is more radiant, youthful and beautiful. This procedure improves skin texture and tone while reducing the appearance of fine lines, stretch marks and shallow scarring. Patients can schedule regular treatment sessions with this device to maintain their rejuvenated appearance.

Laser treatments are an excellent way to give your skin the boost it needs to look and feel its best despite factors like sun exposure, aging and environmental pollution that can take their toll on your complexion.

Our expert team at The Maas Clinic^TM is ready to listen to your concerns and discuss your aesthetic goals so we can recommend the best treatment plan for you. Give our office a call today at (415) 567-7000 or contact us by email to schedule your consultation.

The information about laser resurfacing was reviewed by Corey S. Maas MD^TM. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.

FAQs

Does Facial Resurfacing Thin the Skin?

Absolutely not! The top or epidermal layer might initially be thinner as layers of dead skin cells are shed, but this is a temporary phenomenon. In fact, when done correctly, the foundational dermal layer of the skin actually thickens as the body’s wound healing mechanism helps the skin harness its remodeling power.

Is Laser Resurfacing Comparable to a Facelift?

While resurfacing devices are able to significantly improve the look of the surface of the skin, including treating fine lines and brown spots, the skin tightening effect of lasers is often over-stated. If extensive contour changes are required, there is no substitute for lifting and repositioning not just the skin, but the underlying fat as well. Dr. Maas believes in honesty, and letting patients know what the benefits and limitations of each treatment are.

What is the Best Energy Treatment to Treat Hyper-Pigmentation or Other Skin Lesions?

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), often known as photo-rejuvenation, is usually used to treat red or brown spots across a larger area like the whole face or next. In contrast, lasers are more of a targeted treatment for specific indicated vessels or lesions on the skin.

Are Lasers Safe for Acne Prone Skin?

Whether you are looking to prevent acne or improving the texture and color of acne scarring, different lasers can help, and are safe for the skin. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a good way of reducing the overall bacteria count on the skin to reduce active acne and shrink oil glands and pore size. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) helps remove sun damage pigmentation and reduce the redness of skin. Fractional Resurfacing stimulates skin healing, and is effective at smoothing surface irregularities like pit scarring.

Is Laser Skin Resurfacing Safe at Any Age?

Age itself is not a contraindication for laser skin treatments, and we can help you look your best no matter how young or old you are. We often see patients well into their 80s for Fractional Laser Skin Resurfacing, and like everyone else they are able to recover within 5 or 6 days of downtime.