ERBIUM-YAG TREATMENT
What is an Erbium-YAG laser treatment?
The Erbium-YAG laser is a surgical or vaporising laser that produces a light that is absorbed mainly by water, heating the large amount of water in the body and vaporising the tissue touched by the laser beam. This laser technique allows specialists to remove the skin layer by layer in a very precise way (wide laser beam) or to cut in an accurate way (thin laser beam).
This type of modern laser treatment causes less pain than other laser treatments. Another advantage of this laser device is that the skin heals faster, it can be used with greater precision and the risk of complications is much lower.
When will you benefit from Erbium-YAG laser treatment?
Erbium-YAG laser treatment is an effective technique for treating body blemishes, deep wrinkles and lines. Even raised defects such as stubborn acne scars can be flattened with this device as it also stimulates the production of connective tissue.
In principle, the treatment is suitable for all patients but our experience shows that people with darker skin tones are more at risk of developing light or dark pigmentation spots after treatment.
Tijdens een voorbereidende consultatie wordt uw huid grondig geanalyseerd en wordt ook besproken in welke mate u gemakkelijk last heeft van littekenvorming of ervaring heeft met trage wondgenezing. Hou tijdens dit gesprek zeker geen belangrijke informatie achter voor uw specialist. Op basis daarvan wordt besloten of u een geschikte kandidaat bent voor deze behandeling.
U plant de behandeling best niet tijdens de zomermaanden of vermijdt alleszins voor (en na) de behandeling uitgebreid zonnebaden of een zonnebankkuur. Vanaf zes weken voor de behandeling zorgt u best voor een goede zonnecrème met een hoge beschermingsfactor wanneer u bij stralend weer buitenkomt. Eventuele andere noodzakelijke behandelingen of preventieve maatregelen voor de lasertherapie worden vooraf met u besproken.
Meestal worden voor de behandeling foto’s gemaakt en wordt een proefbehandeling gedaan om de reactie van de huid op de laserbehandeling uit te testen.
The treatment is done under local anaesthesia. During treatment, a laser beam is used to remove the top layer of skin, temporarily creating a wound. Usually, the treatment is limited to one session.
After treatment, a wound is visible that takes about a week to heal. After healing, the effect is already almost completely visible. Small wrinkles usually disappear completely, deep wrinkles are less visible. Dr Lemmens will give you clear instructions and tips on the aftercare of the wound. The treated area will also be red but this is again a temporary effect that will disappear after a few weeks or months. The effective result can only be assessed after several months.
Treat the skin with care after treatment. Wash it gently without soap. Protect the treated area with a plaster if you experience irritation from clothing, and if itching, apply an oily skin cream without scratching. In case of increasing swelling, pain, irritation, redness and inflammation, it is best to contact Dr Lemmens immediately.
After treatment, it is recommended to apply sunscreen (factor 50 or higher) to the treated area for six weeks to three months to prevent pigmentation. The sunscreen should be applied at least every two to three hours. Sunbathing or tanning sessions after treatment are strongly discouraged. Therefore, it is best to schedule the treatment outside the summer season.
Especially in people with a darker skin tone or those predisposed to permanent skin lesions after damage there is an increased risk of developing light or dark pigmentation spots or unsightly scars after treatment. Normally, this consequence is temporary and disappears on its own after three to six months (or a year at most), especially if you follow Dr Lemmens’ advice regarding pre- and aftercare.
In heel zeldzame gevallen, bijvoorbeeld bij mensen met een zeer trage wondgenezing, kan dit permanent zijn. Het zou ook kunnen dat u kortstondig last krijgt van koortsblaasjes na de behandeling.