The effects of aging and sun damage bring upon fine wrinkling, uneven pigmentation, along with roughness of the skin. Variety of lasers e.g. CO2 and Erbium are available at the present time.

Chemical peels and dermabrasion also have been used successfully for years for the treatment of fine wrinkles and uneven pigmentation.
All these procedures can be done on the whole face or targeted to particular areas e.g. lower eyelids, around the mouth for upper and lower lip wrinkles, crow's feet area, etc.

Patients with a tendency to develop cold sores will be started on medication 24-48 hours prior to surgery and continue with the medication for another week or so post-operatively.

Surgery is undertaken under local or intravenous sedation anesthesia on an outpatient basis.

Post-operatively, the skin is treated with either antibiotic creams or occlusive dressings. Pain is controlled with appropriate medications. Healing should be complete in 10-12 days. New skin will be red and sensitive. Camouflage make-up is helpful during this period. Redness may last from 3-4 weeks and fades in 3-6 months. It is extremely important to avoid sun exposure and tanning. Sun exposure increases the risk of dark, patchy pigmentation. This is treated with bleaching agents. Post-op sunscreens, good make-up, and skin care programs are strongly recommended for continued maintenance of healthy skin.

The above procedures are not an alternative to surgical procedures e.g. eyelid surgery or facelift, etc. More often, they are done in conjunction with other surgical procedures for facial rejuvenation as an overall, complete plan.