The competitive job market has led to an increase in the use of lasers to improve physical appearance. In the past, lasers that were used to minimize wrinkles often had a long recovery period. The redness of the skin often lasted for months.

Fractional laser treatments require less post-treatment care and can dramatically improve appearance. Lasers for skin rejuvenation can be characterized as ablative or non-ablative. Non-ablative lasers, laser deep into the skin. Moisturizers are needed after treatment because the skin feels dry. Dryness is the laser-treated tissue that comes to the surface. Laser is only applied to a fraction of the skin at a time. Multiple treatments are needed, but the swelling is minimal and the redness can last one to two days. Typically, five treatments are needed two to four weeks apart between each treatment. Non-ablative fractional lasers can be used on all skin types. Ablative lasers remove the top layer of skin. Fractional ablative lasers remove a fraction of the skin; therefore, healing is faster than with older CO2 lasers. Usually within seven to ten days, the skin has healed and the redness has almost completely disappeared. The ointment is used after treatment while the skin is healing.

There are also less aggressive lasers that will diminish fine lines, remove age spots and skin discolorations. Multiple treatments are needed, but little or no care is required after each treatment. Laser treatments are often combined with other laser-like modalities to increase collagen production in the skin and maximize skin tightening.

Other popular options are the combination of laser treatments with injections or fillers. Fillers are substances that are injected under the deepest wrinkles to fill them in. The most popular ones are made from natural substances, so no skin tests are needed to detect allergic reactions. Combination therapy with lasers and fillers can provide dramatic improvement by reducing wrinkles and pore size. Age spots, skin discoloration, and acne scars are also improved.

In short, lasers alone or in combination with fillers can improve appearance, which can be helpful in today’s competitive job market. These procedures are more cost effective than surgery and can perhaps delay a more aggressive surgical procedure for many years.