Which types of laser therapy can be used for the eyes and face?

There are many types of laser machines used to treat a variety of different skin problems because no single device can do it all. Ablative lasers are more powerful and give better results but have more downtime. At EFI, we use ablative lasers (carbon dioxide) for eyelid and full-face skin resurfacing either alone or in combination with blepharoplasty and other facial surgeries. Non-ablative lasers (e.g. pulsed-dye or Nd:Yag) have less downtime but also produce less powerful results. For this reason, 3-5 treatment sessions are often required. Fractionated delivery of laser energy (i.e. broken up into smaller segments) can be employed for ablative and non-ablative lasers to decrease downtime but can also be less effective. Intense pulsed light (IPL) is a minimally-invasive photofacial, that is not technically a laser, but effectively treats small blood vessels, acne, sun spots, pigmentation, and rosacea.

How many treatment sessions will I need?

For ablative (carbon dioxide) skin laser resurfacing, typically only one treatment session is required whereas non-ablative laser therapy or IPL photofacial needs to be repeated every few weeks for 3-5 treatment sessions to get the maximum benefit. Overall, there is always a trade-off between how powerful an effect we want the laser to create, how many treatment sessions we would like, and how much downtime can be tolerated.

How painful is laser therapy and what is the downtime?

Ablative (carbon dioxide) laser resurfacing creates wonderful results and is safe to use around the eyes and face in experienced hands but needs to be done in the operating room with sedation for patient comfort. This is because the laser energy is delivered into deeper tissue structures and a portion of the superficial skin is removed. The downtime includes one week of swelling, scabbing, peeling, and redness followed by 2-3 weeks of resolving redness. Most patients feel comfortable in social settings after 2 weeks time. Non-ablative laser and IPL therapy is much more comfortable (feels like a rubber-band striking the skin) and the downtime is minimal. This is because laser energy travels through the skin without removing the superficial layer. Most patients experience some redness and tightness for 2-7 days but feel comfortable in social settings almost immediately.

What are the risks of laser therapy around the eyes and face?

All laser devices used around the eyes and face carry a theoretical risk of damage to the eye surface and so protective shields covering the eyes are used at all times. Certainly, in inexperienced hands, even the least invasive laser device can be very dangerous so you must ensure that your laser professional has expertise. Although some degree of post-treatment discomfort, tightness, swelling, and redness can sometimes occur, long-term risks are rare. Such risks include hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, scarring, skin retraction, infection, persistent blurry vision, and chronic dry eyes. Such risks are avoidable by careful patient selection and pre-treatment planning. You should tell your laser professional about any active infection, medical issues, current medications, smoking history, or a history of recurrent cold sores. If you are currently smoking it’s best to stop at least 2 weeks prior to laser therapy.

How much does laser therapy cost?

Laser treatment cost can vary significantly based upon the device used, whether or not an operating room is required, patient-specific factors, number of treatment sessions, and the experience level of the laser professional. For instance, a single IPL photofacial around the eyes can cost as little as $300 while full-face ablative (carbon dioxide) laser skin resurfacing of the eyelids, face, and neck in an operating room can cost $7,000 or more. Furthermore, laser therapy is often used as an adjunct to other eyelid and facial treatments, which will impact the overall cost of combination therapy. During your consultation with us at EFI, we can determine your unique needs to devise a customized plan.