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Article: Laser Skin Resurfacing
- Article from:
- Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients andCaregivers
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2004 The Gale Group Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Laser skin resurfacing
Definition
Laser skin resurfacing involves the application of laser light to the skin in order to remove fine wrinkles and tighten the skin surface. It is most often used on the skin of the face.
Purpose
The purpose of laser skin resurfacing is to use the heat generated by extremely focused light to remove the upper to middle layers of the skin. This procedure eliminates superficial signs of aging and softens the appearance of other lesions such as scars. Upon healing, the surface of the skin has a younger appearance. Microscopic analysis of skin after laser resurfacing shows that the healed surface more closely resembles younger, healthier skin in many ...