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If you’ve been considering having a laser skin resurfacing treatment, but you’re hesitant because you don’t know if it’s the right time, there is no better time than right now! At Bay Area Plastic Surgery in San Francisco, CA, we encourage our patients to pursue laser resurfacing treatment during the late fall, winter, and early spring months for a variety of reasons. To help you understand the importance of timing with these laser treatments, we’ll explain what occurs during the procedure itself.

How Laser Resurfacing Works

To give you the radiant skin and glowing complexion you want from your laser resurfacing treatment, we use a safe and effective CO2 ablative laser. This laser gently removes the outer layer of skin, lightening age spots, sunspots, and smoothing surface imperfections.

This process also stimulates your skin’s natural production of collagen and elastin, two proteins that improve the fullness and texture of your skin overtime. Once your skin is healed from your treatment, you’re left with a smoother, firmer, more radiant complexion with long-lasting results.

With laser skin resurfacing treatments, your skin does need time to heal. Fall, winter, and early spring provide the perfect opportunity for healing time because the sun is at its weakest, and you are mostly indoors anyway.

The Importance of Avoiding the Sun

At Bay Area Plastic Surgery, we recommend laser resurfacing treatment during the winter months because after your treatment, you need to avoid the sun to achieve the results you want. Winter’s short, cold days make it easier to stay out of the sun than the beautiful long days of sunlight that summer brings. Therefore, the colder months automatically offer your skin more protection after treatment.

It’s important to avoid the sun after laser resurfacing treatments because for a while afterwards, your skin is much more sensitive to the sun’s UV rays, and when you go outside—even for a few minutes—you must wear sunscreen. While sunscreen is still necessary in the winter and on cloudy days, it’s easier than the multiple applications that you must put on during the summer.

The Downtime

After your laser resurfacing treatment, you may need some downtime. Depending on the size of your treatment area and the intensity of your treatment, you may experience some side effects. You’ll want to stay home and rest for a week or so while your skin heals. We recommend patients use cold ice packs and over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs to help minimize swelling and discomfort.

Although swelling and redness should resolve itself after about 10 days, it can take up to three weeks for your skin to fully heal. While you’re not homebound, you may prefer to wait a few weeks until your beautiful, fresh complexion appears before you go out with friends or make any plans.

Be Ready When Summer Comes with Laser Skin Resurfacing Treatments

If you’re planning a trip or event and you want your skin to look fresh and ready, have your treatment done during the winter. Not only will your skin appear plumper, smooth, and more youthful all summer long, but you’ll also eliminate many skin flaws and imperfections for a completely fresh slate.

To make an appointment for laser skin resurfacing with Dr. Leonard Gray, call our office at (628) 265-0220 or schedule an appointment using the convenient online booking tool.