eMedicine Specialties > Dermatology > Surgical

Nonablative Resurfacing: Follow-up

Author: Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary; Private Practice
Coauthor(s): David Goldberg, MD, Clinical Professor, Dire Research and Mohs Surgery, Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York/New Jersey
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Mar 28, 2008

Outcome and Prognosis

All treated patients should note improvement in the quality, the tone, and the texture of their skin. Mild improvement in early rhytids may also occur. The outcome is maximized when other adjunctive agents, such as fillers, botulinum toxin, and microdermabrasion, are used. Ongoing treatment is to be expected.

Future and Controversies

Nonablative or subsurface remodeling represents the newest approach to improving photodamaged skin. The degree of collagen remodeling is not expected to be as great as that seen with other, more destructive ablative approaches; therefore, the nonablative technique is meant for individuals who do not wish to take time away from their daily activities to improve the quality of their sun-damaged skin through laser techniques. The technique is also not meant for individuals with extensive solar-induced epidermal pigmentary changes. Those individuals are best treated with either an ablative laser or a specific pigmented lesion laser.

Present studies are examining comparisons between the currently available systems. In the future, lasers or nonlaser radiofrequency devices may be created that can cause the same degree of improvement as ablative systems without the potential complications and down time.

The eMedicine Nonablative Facial Skin Tightening article may also be of interest, as may the Medscape Aesthetic Medicine Resource Center.

 


More on Nonablative Resurfacing

Overview: Nonablative Resurfacing
Treatment: Nonablative Resurfacing
Follow-up: Nonablative Resurfacing
Multimedia: Nonablative Resurfacing
References
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Further Reading

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Keywords

nonablative dermal remodeling, laser skin toning, photorejuvenation

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia University; Consulting Staff, Department of Dermatology, St Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary; Private Practice
Noah S Scheinfeld, MD, JD, FAAD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Optigenex Consulting fee Independent contractor

Coauthor(s)

David Goldberg, MD, Clinical Professor, Dire Research and Mohs Surgery, Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Skin Laser and Surgery Specialists of New York/New Jersey
David Goldberg, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Désirée Ratner, MD, Director of Dermatologic Surgery, George Henry Fox Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Dermatology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital
Désirée Ratner, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Michael J Wells, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Dermatology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Michael J Wells, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, and Texas Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

Mary Farley, MD, Dermatologic Surgeon/Mohs Surgeon, Anne Arundel Surgery Center
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Catherine Quirk, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, Brown University
Catherine Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Dirk M Elston, MD, Director, Department of Dermatology, Geisinger Medical Center
Dirk M Elston, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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