Skin abnormalities such as wrinkles, acne scars and pigmentation issues can result from age, genetics and sun and skin can also become looser over time. If you want to improve your skin’s appearance, skin rejuvenation or resurfacing may be right for you. Dr. Congdon is a double board-certified specialist experienced in skin care who can help bring a smoother, clearer and more youthful appearance to your skin through skin resurfacing treatments provided by Cedar Valley ASCENT. These treatments include chemical peeling, laser surgery or dermabrasion, which can form part of a multifaceted approach to treating your specific skin issues and which are available at our offices in Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Waverly, Independence, Grundy Center and the surrounding communities.
Skin Resurfacing
Skin Resurfacing Treatments
Skin resurfacing with chemical peeling, laser surgery or dermabrasion can improve the look of your skin by fading pigment changes due to sun damage, as well as softening some scars and wrinkles. Each procedure is performed differently and involves unique treatment steps and effects, which are discussed below.
- Physician-Strength Peels
- With physician-strength peels, one of several chemicals, which vary from medium to deep, is applied to the skin by a facial plastic surgeon. Glycolic acid is the mildest; TCA (trichloroacetic acid), can be used in varying strengths for longer-lasting smoothness and the deepest peel is done with phenol, which cannot generally be repeated. These peels initiate an intense facial sensation that lifts the top layer of skin (as well as the sun damage, wrinkles and aging lines associated with it), revealing underlying, healthier skin. A physician-administered chemical peel is usually performed as an outpatient procedure.
- Laser Surgery
- Laser surgery is used to resurface facial skin with wrinkles caused by excess sun exposure, “crow’s feet” and acne scarring. Using IPL Photofacial technology, high energy, amplified light waves of carbon dioxide (CO2) laser vaporize the top layer of skin instantly, allowing new cells and a more vibrant look to arise during the healing process. This procedure results in no bleeding and minimal trauma to the surrounding skin.
- Dermabrasion
- Dermabrasion is a procedure which mechanically removes the top layer of skin to the appropriate level using a surgical scraping tool. This hand-held tool lifts existing skin and releases and exfoliates underlying skin and after about 10 days, new healthy skin begins to emerge that is finer with fewer lines and wrinkles.