Cosmetic laser surgery reduces wrinkles by half, study suggests

The surgery, called carbon dioxide laser resurfacing, has previously been linked to side effects including scarring and acne. New research suggests that the treatment is safe and that after two years patients see an average 45% reduction in the number of wrinkles and fine lines on their face.

 

It works by removing layers of damaged skin as well as stimulating the face to produce more collagen, the elastic material which helps give skin its shape, filling in the wrinkles.

 

The treatment is commonly used to remove fine lines and wrinkles from the whole face or can be used to target certain areas, such as crow’s feet around the eyes. It can also be used to tighten the skin, especially in the jaw area.

 

Researchers looked at 47 patients, with an average age of 52, who received the treatment between 1996 and 2004. They found that while around half of the patients developed either acne or darkening of the skin as a result of the procedure most of the side effects had cleared up within two years. At that stage the volunteers were measured according to an agreed score to determine the reduction in the number of wrinkles.

 

On average patients had 45 per cent fewer lines and wrinkles across all areas of their face than before the laser surgery, although some had up to 50 percent fewer, the findings show.

 

Patients who undergo the treatment can often go home the same day, although they are advised to stay out of the sun for at least a few weeks as their faces are left extremely susceptible to sun damage.

 

Since 2004, The Patients Advantage is fast becoming the largest matchmaker of board-certified plastic surgeons in the world and is recognized as a leading information source on cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery – matching over 6,000 people with plastic surgeons so far in 2008!