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"Flash" resurfacing is the latest alternative to improve the texture of your skin. Flash treatment is without many of the risks and recovery time of CO₂ or Erbium laser, but better long-term benefit than micro-abrasion.

Based on established technology for treating unwanted hair or spider veins, flash resurfacing uses a balance of computer-controlled pulses of energy and cold air to induce smoother skin.

CO₂ laser energy is converted to heat so fast that you skin is vaporized, leaving a controlled, but open burn. Flash resurfacing uses light energy that is converted to heat more slowly. By blowing chilled air across the surface of your skin during treatment, the outer layers of your skin are protected, while the deeper layers of your skin absorb enough energy to cause tightening and smoothing of you skin.

While superficial burns can occur, most patients experience only redness similar to a light sunburn. This redness usually lasts only a short time.

Currently, a series of four treatments 1-2 weeks apart are recommended. Each treatment takes only 20-30 minutes. No sedation or anesthetic injections are needed. Treatment feels like a rubber-band snap, or a pinprick. Immediately after treatment, cool compresses can help minimize discomfort. Aloe (or other sunburn aids) can be used.

Except in rare cases, you can resume normal activities as soon as you are comfortable. To minimize sunburn, you need to be compulsive about sun-protection.

For CO₂ laser resurfacing, texture improvements of 80-90% are possible. For flash resurfacing, improvements of 30-80% have been seen. The best results have been seen around your eyes, but improvements in lip lines, neck texture, and jowls are also common. On average, fair skinned patients see better results. One study showed that 1/4 of patients experienced dramatic improvement, 1/4 saw minimal improvement, and 1/2 patients saw moderate change.

For some patients, the best results may require a combination of skin resurfacing and simple procedures, such as fat injections. These patients often see a synergy of treatments where "2+2=5."

To date, long term results are not yet known. It is likely that periodic maintenance treatments will be necessary.

Although the face and neck are the most commonly treated area, other areas, such as the chest and abdomen, have also been treated. 

Due to required eye protection, direct treatment of you eyelids is usually not part of your initial treatment plan. Treatment around the eyelid area still creates significant improvements in eyelid texture, especially for your lower eyelids and your crow's feet.

The most likely risk is a skin burn. If a burn occurs, it is treated similar to a splash burn from cooking. Unlike CO₂ laser, the risk of color change is very small. Unfortunately, this means you will keep your freckles and age spots.

To prevent eye injury, you will wear special stainless steel "tanning glasses" during treatment.

Copyright © 2002 Denis F. Branson, M.D.  All rights reserved.
Revised: 10/28/02.