Introducing Clear + Brilliant Touch

Now introducing Clear + Brilliant Touch - a light resurfacing laser with no social downtime. Invest in yourself for beautiful, healthier-looking skin without any pain. Clear + Brilliant Touch is a CO2 laser treatment that comes with only minimal post-procedure redness or swelling, so you can reveal your new look to the world after just a short session. It's never been easier to be confident and radiant in your own skin.

Skin resurfacing can restore your skin to youthful beauty

Skin resurfacing procedures are designed to improve the quality of the skin’s surface by minimizing fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation issues, and skin laxity. Treatment options include:

  • Laser surgery
  • Chemical peels
  • Dermabrasion

Good candidates for treatment include men and women who are looking to improve their skin quality. Patients with darker skin types may not be candidates for aggressive skin resurfacing.

How does Clear + Brilliant Touch work?

How does Clear + Brilliant Touch Laser work its wonders on your skin? By targeting the epidermis, or the uppermost layer. It uses laser energy to create millions of microscopic treatment zones in this area where it induces collagen-building and rejuvenation for optimal results. This way, you can achieve a radiant complexion that looks refreshed, vibrant, and youthful.

Peels, dermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing before and after

It’s normal to feel self-conscious about aging skin, uneven tone or texture, or blemishes. Therefore, countless people worldwide undergo skin resurfacing to treat a range of issues, from wrinkles to scars. By restoring your skin to its beautiful, youthful appearance, peels, dermabrasion, and CO2 skin resurfacing can boost your confidence, which in turn can have a major positive influence on many other areas of your life. Look over our peel, dermabrasion, and laser skin resurfacing before and after photo gallery to see what these treatments can do for your appearance.

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Why choose Gold Coast Plastic Surgery?

Those living in Chicago, or the surrounding areas will benefit from seeing esteemed facial plastic surgeon Dr. Moynihan, who provides among the best skin surfacing treatments in Chicago. Dr. Moynihan is double-board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and was educated at Villanova, Loyola, and the prestigious Rousso Facial Plastic Surgery Center. He currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Loyola University Medical Center and Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Moynihan is passionate about delivering natural-looking results, adhering to the highest standards of safety and excellence, and creating a seamless, stress-free patient experience from start to finish.

Laser procedures before and after

Patients should discuss with their provider their treatment goals as well as expectations. Laser procedure before and after photos may be requested to give the patient an idea of what to expect in terms of their outcome. Additionally, these before and after photos may help the patient decide whether laser resurfacing will provide them with their desired results, or a more aggressive form of treatment is the better option based on their treatment goals.

Will insurance cover my laser resurfacing?

Insurance does not generally cover treatments that are done purely for cosmetic reasons. Surgery to correct or improve congenital deformities or accidental skin injuries may be reimbursable in whole or in part. The patient must check with the insurance carrier for information on the degree of coverage. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about laser procedures.

Skin Resurfacing FAQs

What is skin resurfacing?

What is a chemical peel?

What is dermabrasion?

What is laser therapy?

What types of lasers are there?

What happens during my consultation?

Am I a good candidate for laser resurfacing?

Where is skin resurfacing performed?

What happens during the skin resurfacing consultation?

Is anesthesia used during my resurfacing treatment?

How much pain occurs during skin resurfacing?

How long does skin resurfacing take?

How long is skin resurfacing recovery time?

What is recovery like after skin resurfacing?

How much time should I take off from work after my skin resurfacing?

Will I be able to exercise after my skin resurfacing procedure?

Are there any risks associated with undergoing skin resurfacing?

How long do skin resurfacing results last?

How much does skin resurfacing cost?

Will my insurance company cover the cost of skin resurfacing?

What is skin resurfacing?

Skin resurfacing refers to a number of different procedures that can improve the quality of the skin’s surface by diminishing sun damage, fine lines and dynamic wrinkles, pigmentation problems, and skin laxity. These procedures include chemical peels, dermabrasion, and laser surgery.

What is a chemical peel?

A chemical peel is a procedure that uses a chemical solution to peel away the top layers of the skin. Chemicals come in three different strengths including glycolic acid peels (the mildest), trichloroacetic acid (TCA) peels (a medium-depth peel), and phenol peels (the strongest). Chemical peels can smooth the skin and provide a more youthful appearance.

What is dermabrasion?

Dermabrasion is a procedure that removes the top layer of skin through a method of controlled surgical scraping using a high speed rotating brush. Dermabrasion can smooth the skin and improve the appearance of wrinkles and scars.

What is laser therapy?

CO2 laser skin resurfacing is a procedure that uses a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser device to remove the top layer of skin. This process improves the appearance of wrinkles, sun damage, and acne scars. An example would be the Clear + Brilliant Touch.

What types of lasers are there?

Laser-assisted skin resurfacing techniques are generally divided into two categories: ablative and non-ablative. At Gold Coast Plastic Surgery, our providers use Acupulse and CO2 lasers, which both provide full-ablative and fractionated (non-ablative) resurfacing using super-pulse technology.

What happens during my consultation?

The first step to a successful treatment, whether it is regarding laser skin resurfacing or another laser-assisted procedure, is a consultation with an experienced medical esthetician, esthetic nurse, or surgeon. During your consultation for laser resurfacing:

  • Your provider will perform a thorough examination of the target area, evaluate your skin condition and issues, and review your medical history.
  • The information gathered here will help the provider determine whether a laser resurfacing procedure is ideal for you or if you will benefit more from another type of treatment.
  • Your provider may show you before and after photos.
  • A thorough discussion of laser procedures before and after care, as well as how to maintain results, may also ensue.
  • Remember that the consultation for laser resurfacing is the perfect opportunity to find out everything there is to know about the procedure from a trusted and reliable source.
  • Your consultation for laser resurfacing will provide the information needed to develop the right treatment plan for you.

Am I a good candidate for laser resurfacing?

A laser resurfacing procedure is ideal for men and women who wish to improve the appearance of such common skin issues as pimples and acne scars, skin discoloration like age spots or sunspots, wrinkles and fine lines, crow’s feet, and mild to moderate skin laxity. Before the procedure, your provider may recommend specific steps and/or treatments to prepare your skin for treatment. It’s important that you strictly follow these to ensure the best results are achieved. Aggressive skin resurfacing is not advised for patients with darker skin types.

Where is skin resurfacing performed?

Our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Moynihan, or one of his skilled providers, may perform the treatment in his office or at an outpatient surgical center. Please refer to our contact information for the exact location of each facility.

What happens during the skin resurfacing consultation?

During the consultation, your skin will be examined, your medical history taken, and your goals discussed. A treatment plan will be recommended, and all aspects of the procedure will be explained, including the anesthesia, the recovery, the risks, the costs, and so on.

Is anesthesia used during my resurfacing treatment?

Local anesthesia or sedation may be used for the treatment. If only small areas need to be treated, your doctor will use local anesthesia to numb them. They may, in addition, sedate you. If your entire face requires treatment, you’ll likely need general anesthesia.

How much pain occurs during skin resurfacing?

In general, these treatments cause little to no pain. However, local anesthesia or sedation may be used to drastically reduce any discomfort.

How long does skin resurfacing take?

The procedure may take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour to perform. Treating the entire face may take 2 hours.

How long is skin resurfacing recovery time?

Depending on the treatment, you’ll need between 7 to 10 days to heal. After this period, you’ll be able to wear oil-free makeup to conceal any lingering redness in the treatment areas. This redness will gradually fade within a couple of weeks.

What is recovery like after skin resurfacing?

  • Following treatment, the treated areas may need to be bandaged.
  • A day after treatment, you’ll need to wash these areas four to five times daily and apply an ointment to prevent the formation of scabs.
  • You may experience issues such as minor swelling and itching in the treated areas. These side effects can be managed using medication prescribed by your doctor.
  • Expect your skin to dry up and peel around a week after treatment. It takes 7 to 10 days after your treatment for the superficial layers of skin to repair themselves.
  • The skin may still appear pink for up to 4 more weeks, but makeup may be worn to help conceal discoloration.
  • As the side effects fade, the results of your treatment will gradually appear. Depending on the type of treatment, expect full results to be revealed within 3 to 6 months.

How much time should I take off from work after my skin resurfacing?

You should plan on taking a leave from work lasting about 7 to 10 days. Any lingering redness can be concealed with makeup.

Will I be able to exercise after my skin resurfacing procedure?

Light exercise may be resumed around a week after the procedure, though more strenuous activities will need to be postponed for at least 2 weeks.

Are there any risks associated with undergoing skin resurfacing?

All surgery carries some risk. For skin resurfacing, this may include the risk of hyper or hypopigmentation, prolonged redness, and scarring.

How long do skin resurfacing results last?

  • Depending on the strength of your chemical peel, results can last around a month, 2 to 6 months, or much longer.
  • Dermabrasion removes scars, abnormal growths, and blemishes. Aging and sun exposure will gradually affect changes in skin texture and color.
  • The results of laser skin resurfacing can last between 3 and 5 years.

You can always return to your doctor for touch-ups once you feel the results of your treatment are fading.

How much does skin resurfacing cost?

Skin resurfacing costs depend on the results you wish to achieve, and the type and complexity of the treatment required to produce said results. Typically, peels can cost anywhere from $150 to $3,000. Dermabrasion can cost from $500 to $4,000. CO2 laser skin resurfacing costs can range from around $1,400 to $2,500

Based on your unique needs, our double-board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Moynihan, or one of his aesthetic experts, can break down and go over the cost of your treatment.

Will my insurance company cover the cost of skin resurfacing?

Patients will need to check with their own insurer. In general, skin resurfacing procedures that are performed for cosmetic reasons alone are not covered. When treating a deformity or skin injury, some degree of coverage may be available.

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