Laser Skin Resurfacing

Hey y’all, April Green here, coming to talk to you about one of my favorite procedures—full face laser resurfacing. This procedure really gives awesome results, and sometimes we can even extend it down onto your décolleté or chest area if you have some sun damage there. If you haven’t already watched the general surgery information video, go ahead and do that before diving into this.

Here’s what you’ll need at home: your prescription medications, as you’ll have quite a few since we’re breaking the skin barrier and leaving open wounds. We really want to protect against any microorganisms. You’ll have an antibiotic, Diflucan to protect against yeast, Valtrex for any viral concerns, a steroid pack, Phenergan for any nausea, and some pain medication.

You’ll also need a large tub of Vaseline, a gallon of distilled water (preferably kept in the refrigerator), and your post-procedure skin kit, which we’ll provide. It’s a great new kit made specifically for post-procedural care, and our esthetician, Crystal, will go over it in detail at your pre-op. You’ll also need your lab request form to get your labs drawn, plus any other items Dr. Branman may need, like an EKG or chest X-ray, to ensure you’re safe for anesthesia.

Now, let’s talk about discontinuing a few things in your skincare routine. About 10 days before your procedure, stop using any lactera products, AHA/BHA cleansers or creams, retinols, tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, or other exfoliating products. Also, discontinue tanning or sunless tanner about two weeks before your procedure.

Regarding your medications, you’ll get a laser calendar to help you track when to take each one. The day before your procedure, you’ll take Valtrex, Diflucan, and Keflex. If for some reason you forget, do not take them the morning of your surgery, as you shouldn’t consume anything after midnight the night before (except for blood pressure or heart medication with a sip of water, if prescribed).

On the day of your procedure, cleanse with the facial cleanser from your kit (provided by Crystal) and leave your skin free of makeup and moisturizer. Bring a non-metal cloth headband to pull your hair back and keep it clean—just shampoo and conditioner, no styling products. Make sure you have someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours. Avoid contact lenses; bring glasses instead. If you get nauseous or start hurting on the way home, bring a pain or anti-nausea medication to take if needed, though everything should be administered through your IV before you leave.

After your procedure, the main priority is to keep your face super moist with Vaseline. If your skin starts to feel dry, reapply the Vaseline with clean hands. I’d recommend trimming your nails and avoiding fake nails, or you could use gloves to apply it to keep things sanitary.

The next day, you’ll start washing your face. We’ve got an amazing new dermal wound cleanser from Elta MD that’s non-staining and doesn’t require rinsing, specifically designed for post-procedure care. It’s very gentle and should not cause irritation. To start, you’ll have a lot of Vaseline on your face, so use the cold distilled water with a baby washcloth or gauze to gently remove that top layer. Be very gentle; we want the spray to go directly onto the wound, so you don’t want Vaseline preventing it from getting in.

You can spray the Elta MD cleanser directly onto your face or onto a pad, then gently apply it. Afterward, reapply the Vaseline. The key to this procedure is never letting the treatment sites get dry. If you notice any crusting or scabs, work to gently remove them by saturating the area with the cleanser and letting it soften.

Continue this routine for about a week, removing Vaseline every four hours with distilled water, spraying with the Elta MD, and reapplying the Vaseline. It’s a bit tedious, but it’s essential for preventing infection and achieving the best results.

After seven to ten days, when skin sloughing is complete, you can switch to the products in your kit, like moisturizer and cleanser, as Crystal instructs. You’ll also start using the sunscreen from your kit when going outside. Usually, after seven to ten days, you can wear cover-up or makeup. Once the skin heals, typically within one to two weeks, it may look pink and slightly dry—this is normal. The pink color should fade over the next two to six months.

You’ll want to avoid activities that cause excessive sweating for 7 to 14 days. Dr. Branman will let you know when you can resume AHAs, BHAs, or retinol, typically around four to six weeks, but only with his approval, as some patients may experience sensitivity to these products.

Expect follow-up visits about a week after surgery, then around two weeks, and at one, three, and six months to monitor healing. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us. Remember to use your laser calendar to stay on track with your meds. That’s really it! You’re going to love your results, and we can’t wait to see you at your pre-op. Thanks!