LASER POSTOPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS
CARE of the TREATED AREA
The treated area may show a reddish/bruised discoloration. This will
last 3-5 days, but with more aggressive treatments or more numerous pulses
of laser light, discoloration can be longer. The treated area is very
delicate and should be treated with care. Please read and follow these
instructions.
Discomfort or stinging may be evident, but usually lasts no more than
a few hours. Tylenol or
Ibuprofen may be taken or ice applied during this period.
If swelling occurs, ice water compresses may be applied. To decrease
facial swelling, sleep with your head elevated. To decrease leg swelling,
sleep with legs elevated.
Apply Bacitracin or Polysporin Antibiotic ointment, or a moisturizer
to the treated area 3-4 times a day as long as the bruising/red
discoloration is present. It is important to keep the area moist
until healed.
You may apply makeup to your face as soon after the treatment as
you desire, unless your skin is too irritated or sensitive. In
that case,
allow the skin to settle for a few days using only moisturizer
and sunscreen. Please use hypoallergenic / non-comedogenic make-up
as
recommended by
your aesthetician.
If a crust or scab develops, allow it to fall off on its own.
Do not pick at the area. Keep the area moist with antibiotic
ointment
until
the crust falls off. Do not apply make-up as long as crusting
is present.
Do not scratch or rub the treated area until any bruising or
crusting disappears.
Showers are permitted, but gently pat the area dry. Do not
rub with a towel or washcloth as the area is extremely
delicate while
the
bruising/red
discoloration is present.
Avoid swimming to reduce skin irritation and infection
risk until fully healed.
Avoid exposure to the sun. Apply a sunscreen of SPF 15
or higher to prevent pigmentation changes until the
treated area is healed.
If the treated
area has a scab or tissue changes, cover the area with
a
dressing while exposed to the sun.
After the red discoloration
disappears, hyperpigmentation (brown coloring) or hypopigmentation
(white) may be
present for up
to 3-6 months. This
is rare, but if it occurs, use a sunscreen (SPF 15)
on the area until the normal color returns.
For best results, avoid vigorous, aerobic exercise,
hot tubs, hot sauna, or skin flushing (redness)
for 5 days.
No alcohol,
spicy
foods or other
vasodilators for 5 days. No aspirin or anticoagulants
for 2 weeks.
Do not use Retin A, Glycolic or Alpha Hydroxy
Acid skin products 24 hours before, and avoid
their use
on the
treated facial
areas while bruising/red
discoloration or crusting is present. You may
use your topical products around the treated
areas.
Support hose (compression stockings) are recommended
for 5 days.
When any discoloration/bruising clears, there
may be very little initial change in the
cutaneous vascular
lesion
or facial wrinkle.
Improvement
will take place slowly over a period of
several months.
For vascular lesions, 3-5 treatment sessions
4-6 weeks apart, are needed for maximum
improvement. For facial
wrinkles, 4 treatment sessions are
required, 4-6 weeks apart. Final results
are expected
at 3-4 months
following the last treatment. This time
line is due to the
gradual formation of
collagen in the treated areas that is
the basis of wound healing.
If you have any have questions or concerns
regarding your laser treatment, please
contact IV Seasons
Skin Care. Even
if there
are no problems,
call in for a progress report one week
after your treatment.
If the area becomes tender, reddened
or shows signs of infection, please
call the
office
(303) 443-2277 or IV Seasons Skin
Care (303) 938-1666
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