
A laser is a beam of light. Different types of lasers have different wavelengths, or colors. Certain colors are absorbed best by pigment molecules, and remove dark spots on the skin. Other colors are absorbed by red blood cells, and remove vascular lesions or red spots. The CO2 and Erbium laser light (which is invisible to the eye) is absorbed by water, which is present in all of our cells.
During the laser skin resurfacing process, when the light is absorbed by water in the cells, the water is heated very rapidly and disappears in a little puff of steam. The remaining skin is gently and easily wiped away, revealing a smooth underlying surface. In this way, Dr. Weiss can precisely remove sun-damaged, aging skin, layer-by-layer. In addition, laser energy causes collagen shrinkage that actually tightens up the skin surface. There is no bleeding and no cutting. There is also no discomfort during the process because the skin is totally anesthetized or the procedure is performed under general anesthesia.