Dear Dr. Winder:
Q. I read your column a couple of weeks ago about treatments for wrinkles that don't require surgery. However, I think I'm beyond that . . . I'm only 48, but have spent way too much time in the sun. My face is not sagging or drooping, but is heavily wrinkled. So, I don't think I need any kind of facelift, but am wondering about laser. What do you think?

A. Without being able to see your face and the condition of your skin, I cannot say for certain. However, it sounds like laser skin resurfacing may be perfect for you!

When done by a board-certified plastic surgeon who has considerable experience with a Carbon Dioxide laser, as I do, it can resurface the skin and greatly improve wrinkles. A laser beam actually vaporizes away damaged and/or wrinkled skin, layer by layer. It's advantage over chemical peels is that the surgeon has much more control over the level of penetration.

The best candidates for laser skin resurfacing can be any age; the ideal patient has fair, healthy skin and a clear under-standing that if lines and wrinkles are quite deep, the treatment may need to be repeated for optimal results. The fall and winter months are usually the best time to undergo this procedure as you'll need to limit your time in the sun and take precautions to protect your skin when you are outside; just as you wouldn't take a baby out in the sun without sun protection, you, too, will be need to be cautious.

For patients who do have laxity or sagginess of the face over and above the wrinkling of the skin, laser skin resurfacing does not replace facelift procedures. But whether done by itself or as a follow-up to some form of facelift, laser skin resurfacing can have very dramatic effects and wipe away many, many years.

Call my office at 970-259-3818, or send me an email, to schedule a consultation to determine that this is appropriate for you.

Read more about laser resurfacing.