Laser recovery can be a challenge. Whether it’s a couple of days or a couple of weeks, the journey back to healed skin can be a frustrating process. In this blog, Dr. Lisa Ishii covers an unexpected benefit of neuromodulators like Botox for improved laser healing and supporting a smoother laser recovery.
Typical Laser Healing – What to Expect
Laser healing is variable on the type of laser utilized. In general, pigment or non-ablative resurfacing lasers typically heal with redness, swelling, and scaling or coffee-ground crusting that may last 5-7 days. While the V-beam laser has the most intense swelling (lasting 3-7 days), there is no crusting or scaliness involved. Fully ablative lasers such as CO2 or Erbium lasers typically have the most intensive downtime, with need for wound care for two weeks. Typically, lasering performed on the face and neck heal faster than the same laser performed on more distal body sites.
The Role of Facial Movement in Healing
With more intensive lasers, dynamic movement of the face can affect healing, especially if the movement is robust within the treatment area. As swelling and crusting take place post-laser, excessive movement can cause creasing and make it difficult to perform the necessary skin- or wound-care. Furthermore, excessive movement can cause dislodging of crusting prematurely, causing prolonged redness or other untoward side effects.
Neuromodulators (Like Botox) for Laser Healing
Neuromodulators help relax the excessive movement to aid in the healing process. In addition to creating the ideal healing conditions for your more intensive laser treatments, neuromodulators will augment your results to help with overall facial rejuvenation.
A prospective, randomized trial showed that pre-treatment with botulinum toxin prior to laser treatment to the crows’ feet region showed that the side treated with botulinum toxin showed statistically significant improvement over the nontreated side!
Who Might Benefit
Patients who have etched lines or deeper lines with movement are excellent candidates for pre-treatment with neuromodulator. Typically, the neuromodulator is performed at least two weeks prior to procedure to ensure that it has fully taken effect. This allows for a smooth canvas for the laser on treatment day and relaxed lines and creases during the healing phase.
Other General Tips & Tricks for a Smooth Recovery
Pre-care and post-care is key for successful healing. Oftentimes, we recommend starting the Rapalogix Re-Q and Alastin Regenerating Skin Nectar 1-2 weeks before your laser procedure. Depending on the intensity and body areas planned for the laser, an antibiotic and/or antiviral may be prescribed to be taken starting a couple of days before procedure day. Post-care instructions are always provided with details on how to care for the skin – these are specific to each laser treatment and should be followed exactly! This may include eliminating your usual skincare regimen for a more simplified, specific, and gentler one. Especially in the acute healing phase, more does not mean better!
More recently, many patients have been utilizing the MMSphere LED therapy to augment their healing journey at home. If a follow up appointment is scheduled, it is vital to attend each appointment to ensure that proper evaluation can be performed to track the healing progress.
Setting Realistic Expectations
Even with neuromodulator on board, this does not eliminate recovery or decrease recovery time. Neuromodulator treatment aids in the recovery process, but doesn’t mean that all other recovery protocols go out the door! Even those who choose to undergo neuromodulator pre-treatment are expected to follow the same pre- and post-care instructions as those who choose not to.
Using neuromodulators before laser treatments can help minimize facial movement during the critical healing period, helping support optimal recovery. If you are in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area and considering laser resurfacing, contact our office for more information.
