Throughout history, people have been trying to figure out a way to keep or recapture their youth. It’s just human nature. Usually, this means addressing the dry, wrinkled skin that gives away your age. Fortunately, modern science offers a full lineup of highly effective treatments — and so does Dr. Michael Macdonald.
At the state-of-the-art facilities of Aesthetic Surgery Center in San Francisco, Dr. Macdonald helps countless people choose exactly the right treatment to achieve their aesthetic goals while maintaining a natural, healthy look. And choosing your doctor matters just as much as choosing the right treatment. Patients come to Dr. Macdonald for his impeccable reputation, experience, and skills, and they come back because they love the results.
Depending on your stage in life, your vision of your future, and the specific issues you wish to address, Dr. Macdonald guides you through your options. From clinical spa facials and chemical peels to liquid face-lifts, you have lots of choices.
One of the most popular treatments for rejuvenating aging skin is laser skin resurfacing. It’s an excellent choice if you have minor wrinkles and issues with an uneven skin tone, and it can even reduce the appearance of scars. Here’s what you should consider to help you decide if laser skin resurfacing is right or you.
How soon do you want to see results?
If skin treatments were plotted along a timeline indicating how quickly you see results, laser skin resurfacing would rank among the top performers. But it’s not instant.
Laser skin resurfacing works by using heat energy to remove old skin cells so they can be replaced by younger, fresher cells. The laser effectively destroys the outer layer of your skin, the one that shows all of the wrinkles and pigmentation problems.
Your downtime ranges from a day to a week, depending on the intensity of your treatment, but your results begin to appear in about 3-5 days. To get the same results with a chemical peel or microdermabrasion session, you might need several treatments spaced out over several months, so laser resurfacing gets the job done faster.
And the improvements keep coming as time passes. As your skin heals and replaces the layer or layers of skin removed by the laser, your body sends healing proteins to the area and amps up its production of collagen, which strengthens your skin’s structure and makes it tighter.
Is customization important to you?
Dr. Macdonald believes that aesthetic treatments are very personal and should be tailored to your unique set of needs and desires. That’s why he offers a full array of technologies that can address anything from the most minor textural issues to deep scars and lines.
When It comes to laser skin resurfacing, he uses:
- NanoLaserPeel™: low intensity, only 1-2 days of downtime
- MicroLaserPeel®: next-level depth, 5-7 days of downtime
- Contour TRL™: deepest skin resurfacing, 1-2 weeks of downtime
Dr. Macdonald also offers ProFractional™ laser resurfacing procedures. Whatever skin complaints you have, there’s a laser skin resurfacing technology that’s right for you.
Do you fit the profile?
Laser skin resurfacing is safe and effective for most people, but there are a few issues that might have Dr. Macdonald steering you toward a different option. Laser skin resurfacing may not be for you if you:
- Smoke: It hinders the healing process; quit at least two weeks before your treatment
- Scar easily
- Have open sores or skin conditions
Otherwise, the only requirement is that you have aging skin you want to rejuvenate.
You don’t have to choose just one
If you’re still trying to decide between laser skin resurfacing and other treatment options, you’re in luck — you don’t have to choose just one.
Dr. Macdonald often recommends combination treatments that give you the best benefits of the top procedures. For instance, he may suggest adding a dermal filler to your NanoLaserPeel, or Forever Young BBL™ to your MicroLaserPeel.
As you contemplate the best way to reclaim your younger-looking skin, rest assured that you don’t have to do it alone. Dr. Macdonald and our team of professionals here at Aesthetic Surgery Center can walk you through your options and answer all of your questions. Give us a call at 415-956-3223, or request an appointment online to get started.