Before Treatment
Before you take the decision to undergo laser facial resurfacing, your laser resurfacing doctor will begin with a complete medical history and will examine your facial skin and the underlying bone structure. He or she may also take photos to compare your appearance before and after the laser skin treatment, and will give you specific instructions to follow before your laser facial treatments. This may include special skincare products that you will need to use on your skin prior to the laser resurfacing, to ensure that your skin is in optimal condition. Your laser resurfacing doctor will determine if laser skin resurfacing or another form of skin resurfacing is right for you. Careful consideration of your natural skin color and type and degree of scarring will determine the treatment best suited for you to minimise the risk of developing additional pigmentation or a loss of pigmentation (whitening of the skin).
Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision about laser skin resurfacing. The success and safety of your laser skin resurfacing procedure depends on you honestly answering all questions during the consultation. Your doctor will discuss with you:
* Why you want the procedure, your goals, expectations and desired outcome
* Your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
* The options available to you
*Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, aspirin, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
* If you smoke
* Any cosmetic procedures that you may have had in the past
* Likely outcomes of a laser skin treatment and any risks or potential complications
Here are some guidelines for questions to ask during your consultation:
* Am I a good candidate for laser resurfacing?
* Are my described expectations realistic?
* Where is the laser resurfacing performed?
* How long will the procedure take?
* What kind of anesthesia is used?
* What is your experience in performing laser resurfacing?
* Can I see your qualifications?
* Ask to see any laser resurfacing before and after pictures of recent procedures?
* What percentages of your laser resurfacing patients have had significant post-treatment complications? (surgeons should disclose this information to you)
* How much will my laser resurfacing cost?
* Do you offer patient financing? (Flexible payment schemes for your surgery)
* Will you repeat/correct procedures if the agreed goals are not met? If this is the case, will I be charged again?
* Ask to observe the exact procedure you are considering before you decided to have surgery if you are unsure (this could be on videotape or in real life).
* What is the recovery and healing period for laser resurfacing? When can I resume full normal activity?
* Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, suspended?
* Ask for and follow up on patient references (these can be invaluable to finding out what your surgeon is really like and the level of customer satisfaction he/she has received in the past)
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