The term "ablative" literally means “to carry away.”  In the world of class IV medical lasers, this term refers to treatments wherein the top layers of the skin are being removed for the purposes of resurfacing the skin.  These treatments involve a certain amount of downtime or “social” downtime depending on the degree of treatment being rendered and the condition being treated.  Generally, these more aggressive laser treatments create desired changes to the dermis (the layer below the epidermis) wherein collagen and tissue remodeling takes place.  Ablative laser resurfacing at Celibre Medical is performed for patients interested in wrinkle removal and acne scar removal.

Celibre Medical Los Angeles Ablative Laser Resurfacing.

Los Angeles Ablative Laser Resurfacing Free Consultations. 

Los Angeles Ablative Laser Resurfacing Before and After Photos.  

Ablative laser treatments offer a quicker, more dramatic method of achieving your skin care goals.  However, anytime one chooses a more aggressive laser treatment like ablative laser resurfacing, there are usually potential negative side effects and/or discomfort associated with it.  On the other hand, non-ablative laser treatments do not involve downtime and generally have far less potential for negative side effects.  The trade off would be more treatments to reach one’s goals and potentially less dramatic results for those conditions that are more appropriate for ablative procedures.

As an educated patient/consumer, remember that not all cosmetic laser procedures are appropriate for all conditions, lifestyles, or skin types.  Make certain you do your research prior to your consultation and understand the benefits vs. risks with all proposed laser treatments.

Lori Haney, RN, MEP-C

Certified Medical Laser Safety Officer