Laser Skin Therapy Revealed

Make-up that seems barely there and a flawless complexion are the latest rage these days. The number of people heading to a dermatologist in search of a clear complexion is increasing daily. They might not have large blemishes or scars on their faces, but as a simple skin treatment, more and more are opting for laser surgery, which helps with birthmarks, age spots, or any other discolorations of the skin.

In order to understand the procedure better and learn about its effects, professionals at Choi’s Clinic in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, explained laser surgery step-by-step.

What happens when you don’t take care of your skin-

Seo Seon-yi (36, Songpa-gu) has many blemishes on her face and has constant breakouts. In her twenties, she studied abroad in Japan for six years and didn’t have the time to pay attention to her skin. When she returned to Korea, she began having skin trouble.

She works at a research laboratory for a chemicals company and is single. People refer to her as an unmarried woman with great skill and potential, but she cannot help but be troubled by her complexion. The “flawless complexion” that everyone strives for these days only adds to her distress.

Seo has a dark complexion which seems to make her look older than her age, and that is what is most upsetting for her. She went to a dermatologist when her friend recommended laser treatments, something that had worked for her. Besides basic skin care and make-up, Seo Seon-yi had never received any professional treatment for her face.

Annoying pimples and a dull complexion-

Choi Gwang-ho, director of Choi’s Clinic, took a look at Seo’s face and made his diagnosis.

When a person reaches their thirties, the aging process begins for the skin, epidermal elasticity decreases, and even a small amount of UV rays (ultraviolet rays) can cause age spots or blemishes. A little exhaustion can result in persistent pimples. Seo showed all these symptoms. The problems were minimal, but age spots (liver spots) and dark blemishes left her with a dull complexion. She also had mild acne that had turned slightly red.

Her job requires a lot of mental work and is highly stressful, plus she has sensitive skin and because she had not been diligent about her skin care regime, she was experiencing a multitude of skin problems.

For the discolored blemishes and redness of the skin, she would be treated with the “New I2PL-Laser.” For deeper-rooted discolorations such as the age spots, she would receive “Laser Toning.”

3 Procedures, each 3 weeks apart, and a brighter complexion-

Seo underwent New I2PL surgery first. A gel was applied to her face and a laser was shot over it. There is no anesthesia. Seo said she felt “some stinging, but it was fairly minimal.” The procedure took five to ten minutes.

After the procedure, her skin was a bit red in some places, but the next day she was able to go to work as usual with the help of some light make-up. There was a thin scab that covered the area of her blemishes, but it fell off after one week.

Three weeks later, she received the same procedure. There were significantly less blemishes on her face compared to the first time, and Seo noticed that her complexion was not as dull. Much of the redness had disappeared from her face as well.

Another three weeks later, she received a laser toning, which also does not require anesthesia. Carbon powder was lightly spread on her face and a laser was used. Unlike the first two procedures, there was no scabbing. After her second treatment, the darker pigmentation had faded and after the third treatment, Seo stated that some of her skin’s elasticity returned.

Sunblock, a must for skin care-

“People say they almost can’t tell it’s me because my skin looks so much better!” Seo exclaimed. For Seo, each application cost 500,000 won, but since she paid for three applications at once, she received a discount.

After laser surgery, sunblock is imperative. The treatment is not permanent, and patients who do not take care of the skin can experience a relapse. It is also smart to understand there are some side effects of laser therapy. Doctors may mistake the depth of the epidermal discolorations, and incorrect use of the laser will result in a spotty complexion.

jameshuh@donga.com