Facial Resurfacing

Your skin changes over time, losing its youthful look and giving way to brown spots, wrinkles, and laxity. In recent years there have been a growing number of aesthetic procedures available to treat the skin. ActiveFX is a CO2 laser that is the result of the latest advances in laser technology. Using ActiveFX is a new procedure that yields remarkable, long lasting results with just one treatment. This laser resurfacing treatment is a fast, office based procedure, this will provide you minimal downtime and will give you beautiful younger looking skin with a single treatment.

Active FX is an ideal treatment option if you:

1. Have a busy lifestyle or cannot be away from work for a long time
2. Want noticeable results with minimal downtime
3. Want to treat skin discoloration, fine lines, wrinkles, and skin laxity

During an ActiveFX fractional resurfacing procedure, a high-energy beam of laser light interacts with the skin’s surface, causing the upper layer to peel off and regenerate a layer of new, healthy skin. With ActiveFX, only a fraction of the skin’s surface is treated. The laser beam is applied in a fractional pattern, leaving small “bridges” of untouched skin. This technique makes the healing process much faster and enables you to get back to normal activities sooner. ActiveFX produces a dramatic effect on the skin by:

1. Causes immediate skin tightening
2. Reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and softens deeper frown lines
3. Noticeably improves skin tone and texture
4. Stimulates new collagen formation and plumps the skin

ActiveFX results are long term, and with proper sun protection the results can last for many years. Most effects of treatment become visible right away, whereas others-such as new collagen formation- build up gradually and result in continued smoothing over time. Therefore, most people continue to show improvement up to 6 months after the procedure.

What to Expect in Recovery:

Healing:  How quickly and easily you will heal depends on a number of factors such as your genetic background, your overall state of health and lifestyle (exercise, diet, smoking, drinking, etc…).  Many people believe your doctor is solely responsible for the healing process, but no one person can make another heal.  Dr. Nuveen can facilitate (but not accelerate) your healing but you must also take an active role in that process.  Your cooperation and close attention is extremely important when it comes to your post-operative healing.
Another important factor in the course of healing is how well you follow the instructions that are given to you by Dr. Nuveen.  You will receive verbal instructions as well as written instructions after surgery and it is imperative that you follow those instructions. We set those guidelines for you to promote your healing process and to prevent the occurrence of any complications that can interfere with your recovery.

As you heal: 

Your first 48 hours:

If you are going home, a family member or friend must drive you because you have been sedated.  If you choose to stay overnight in our guest suite you must have an adult caregiver to stay with you or a caregiver can be provided for an additional fee.

Activity:  Take it easy and pamper yourself.  Try to avoid any straining.  You may go to the bathroom, try to get up and move a little every hour, but take it easy.  No matter how good you feel please do not do any strenuous activity or lifting. We do not want you to bleed and cause any more swelling and bruising that is unavoidable.  Use common sense as your guide.

Ice packs:  We recommend using cold or ice packs for the first 48 hours to help reduce swelling, bruising, and pain.  Use frozen peas in the package or crush ice cubes and the ice into a zip-lock bag.  Using ice after your procedure should help, not hurt so if the ice feels too uncomfortable don’t use it as often.  Leave the ice in place no longer than 20 minutes per area.

Diet:  If you have any post-operative nausea, carbonated sodas and dry crackers may settle the stomach.  If nausea is severe, use the Phenergan suppositories you were prescribed.  If you feel normal, start with liquids and bland foods, and if those are well tolerated, progress slowly back to your regular diet.

Alcohol:  Alcohol dilates the blood vessels and could increase post-operative bleeding.  Please do not drink until you have stopped taking the prescription pain pills, as the combination of pain pills and alcohol can be dangerous.

Smoking:  Smoking may adversely affect wound healing and cause loss of skin and tissue death.  Smoking reduces arterial (blood) oxygen supply which is necessary for normal wound healing.  Exposure to second hand smoke has also been implicated in delayed or abnormal wound healing.  It is best to avoid smoking &/or exposure to second hand smoke in the post-operative period while your incisions are healing.  Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict and may interfere with normal wound healing.  When blood vessels constrict there is less blood supply that can get to the wound which means less oxygen for normal healing to take place.  You should avoid cigarette replacements such as nicotine gum, patches or the inhaler during your post-operative period as these have similar effects as smoking and second hand smoke.

Driving:  Please do not drive while taking prescription pain pills.  Please be advised that all medications may impair judgment and the ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. 

One potential drawback after surgery that can take places is that quite frequently patients experience a very brief period of “let down” or depression after cosmetic surgery.  Some may subconsciously have expected to instantly look and feel better, even though they rationally understand that this will not be the case. You will be told what to expect during your recovery but the incisions can still come as a shock sometimes to see the initial results. Patients commonly question their decision to have surgery during the first few days after surgery because it’s hard to imagine the incisions once they are healed and everything has settled into place.  As the healing occurs, these thoughts usually disappear quickly.  If you feel depressed, understanding that this is a “natural” phase of the healing process and that the final outcome will be much different than what it looks like right after your procedure may help you to cope with any emotional “let down” you may feel initially.