Erbium lasers, like CO2 lasers, are powerful ablative lasers that are designed to remove the outer layers of the skin using a burst of energy.
Laser resurfacing or laser peel has many advantages like lesser bleeding, and more precision to target tiny structures like moles. It also has less recovery time.
Erbium laser resurfacing helps remove superficial and moderately deep wrinkles and lines on the face, hands, chest, and neck. The laser results in a lesser area of heating for adjacent tissues as compared to other laser skin-resurfacing methods. Hence, this offers a more focused removal of old skin cell layers. Therefore, the benefit of Erbium laser resurfacing is minimum burning of the surrounding tissues and lesser side effects such as redness, bruising, and swelling. Patients who get Erbium lasers recover twice as quickly as those who have had CO2 laser treatments. Making the recovery faster in lesser time than with CO2 laser resurfacing makes Erbium Laser treatment better than CO2 Resurfacing.
As per a review in 2020, treatments with erbium laser mostly requires only one session with lesser side effects than CO2 lasers
Benefits of Erbium Laser
- Treats hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and fine lines
- Helps in reversing sun damage
- Requires less time
- Safer for deep skin tones
Number of Sessions for Best Results?
The results will vary based on type of problem and from person to person. However, significant results are visible after the first treatment. But depending on the desired results, some people may require several repeated treatments every 6 to 12 months.
Side Effects of Erbium Laser
Every cosmetic procedure, may have potential side effects. For resurfacing procedures, if a person has cold sores or smokes, they will require special care. Laser resurfacing may trigger outbreaks, so a doctor may provide you an antiviral medication to be taken before and after the procedure. If a person smokes, they should stop it at least two weeks prior to the procedure to improve the healing process. A person may also be instructed to stop any supplements or medications that may increase bleeding. For example, ibuprofen, aspirin, and vitamin E.
