Pearl and Pearl Fratctional Laser Skin Resurfacing: Less Invasive?

Filed in archive Laser Skin Resurfacing , Procedures on February 13, 2010

An interesting video on the process if
you can ignore the sales pitch.

Pearl fractional laser treatments are relatively new skin resurfacing procedures, touted as less painful, less invasive, and requiring less recovery time than other common laser procedures like CO₂ or Er-YAG ablation.

But before you brave the burn for that baby bottom-esque skin texture, it's a good idea to do a little (or a lot of) research on what this procedure offers and how it compares to other laser approaches to skin renewal.

The Claims:
Pearl laser treatments may improve the overall tone and texture of the skin, giving it a freshness that is often compared to-you guessed it-a baby's bottom. It is reputed to remove fine lines, brown spots, and sun damage and stimulate collagen deep under the skin: Using microscopic pin-points of laser light, the collagen is heated, irritated, and stimulated, encouraging it to knit back together, filling in deeper lines.

The Treatment:
The procedure takes about 10-15 minutes and may require more than one treatment to obtain the desired result. After the treatment a natural, protective dressing forms on the skin. The skin may appear sunburned and feel tight. Healing time is approximately 3-5 days, at the end of which the top layer of skin sloughs off to reveal the new, finely textured skin underneath. Though there is reportedly less down time for recovery, it's important to remember that as with all surgery or procedures where the body is injured, healing times can vary due to the characteristics of a person's body.

The Outcome:
Results may vary. Because the Pearl laser is not as powerful as the CO₂ or E-YAG, results are commonly reported to be in the 50-60% improvement range. It's a good idea to look for personal accounts of any procedure to get an idea of what kind of results you can expect. On the surface of things, Pearl seems to be a good overall choice for a less invasive approach to laser skin resurfacing or even conventional dermabrasion.