When people think about looking younger, they often think about lifting sagging skin. While facial plastic surgery can create beautiful, natural-looking improvements by restoring youthful contours, it’s only one part of facial rejuvenation.
The truth is, your skin tells its own story.
Years of sun exposure, collagen loss, fine lines, uneven pigmentation, redness, and changes in texture can’t be corrected with surgery alone. That’s where laser treatments come in.
Whether you’re preparing for facial plastic surgery, maintaining your results afterward, or simply looking to refresh your appearance without surgery, our team in Ann Arbor uses advanced laser technology to improve skin quality and help patients achieve healthier, more radiant skin.
Surgery Shapes. Lasers Renew.
Dr. Galina Primeau often compares facial plastic surgery to the work of a skilled clothing tailor.
“A tailor can tighten, adjust, and reshape a garment to fit beautifully,” she explains. “But no matter how talented they are, they can’t change the quality or texture of the fabric itself.”
Facial plastic surgery works the same way. A facelift can reposition tissues, tighten loose skin, and restore youthful facial contours. But it doesn’t erase years of sun damage, smooth rough texture, reduce discoloration, or stimulate healthier skin.
Laser treatments complement surgery by improving the skin itself and creating a more complete, refreshed result.
What Can Laser Treatments Improve?
One of the biggest misconceptions about laser treatments is that they’re only for wrinkles. Modern laser technology can address a wide range of skin concerns, including:
- Sun damage and age spots
- Uneven skin tone
- Redness and acne-related inflammation
- Fine lines
- Rough texture
- Enlarged pores
- Acne scars
- Loss of collagen
- Overall skin quality and radiance
Because every patient’s skin is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all laser treatment. Choosing the right technology depends on your skin concerns, goals, lifestyle, and desired downtime.
Choosing the Right Laser for Your Skin
For sun damage, pigmentation, and redness: BBL HERO®
BBL HERO (BroadBand Light High Energy Rapid Output) uses advanced light technology to target unwanted pigmentation and redness while improving overall skin tone.
It’s an excellent option for patients looking to treat years of accumulated sun damage with minimal downtime and can also be incorporated into a long-term maintenance plan to help keep skin looking healthier over time.
For active acne and acne-prone skin: BBL Forever Clear®
Clear skin isn’t just for teenagers. BBL Forever Clear combines specific wavelengths of light to target acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation, and support the skin’s natural healing process. It’s an effective option for patients experiencing active breakouts while helping minimize future flare-ups.
For brighter, smoother skin with minimal downtime: Nano Laser Peel
Sometimes called the “weekend laser peel,” the Nano Laser Peel gently removes the outermost layer of damaged skin to improve texture, brightness, and mild pigmentation concerns. It’s a great choice for patients looking for noticeable refreshment with relatively little recovery time.
For deeper skin resurfacing: MicroLaserPeel®
The MicroLaserPeel removes a slightly deeper layer of damaged skin than the Nano Laser Peel, helping improve fine lines, texture, and uneven pigmentation. Many patients choose this treatment when they’re looking for more dramatic skin renewal while still avoiding the recovery associated with deeper resurfacing procedures.
For wrinkles, scars, and advanced sun damage: ProFractional™ Resurfacing
Rather than treating the entire skin surface, ProFractional Resurfacing creates microscopic treatment zones that stimulate collagen production while leaving surrounding tissue intact to support healing. It’s an excellent option for improving acne scars, deeper wrinkles, texture, and overall skin quality.
For comprehensive skin renewal: Contour TRL™
Contour Tunable Resurfacing Laser (TRL) offers customizable laser resurfacing based on your skin concerns and desired level of correction. By adjusting the depth of treatment, it can address everything from moderate sun damage to more advanced wrinkles and textural changes, making it one of the most versatile resurfacing options available.
Why Healthy Skin Matters During Surgery
According to board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Sherick, healthy skin is something he notices immediately in the operating room.
“As soon as I begin surgery, I can tell the difference in skin that has been consistently cared for,” says Dr. Sherick. “Patients who have invested in medical-grade skincare and treatments that improve skin quality often have healthier tissue. They’re frequently happier with their results because surgery improves the facial structure while healthy skin enhances the final outcome.”
Healthy skin doesn’t just contribute to a beautiful surgical result, it also reflects years of good habits and ongoing care.
Laser Treatments Help Protect Your Investment
Facial plastic surgery can provide long-lasting rejuvenation, but it doesn’t stop the natural aging process. Your skin continues to be affected by sun exposure, collagen loss, and environmental damage.
That’s why laser treatments often remain an important part of long-term maintenance after surgery.
Periodic treatments can help improve new signs of aging, stimulate collagen production, and maintain healthier, more radiant skin for years to come. Think of surgery as restoring youthful structure and laser treatments as preserving the quality of the skin that covers it.
The Best Treatment Plan Is Personalized
No two patients age exactly the same way.
Some patients are primarily bothered by pigmentation. Others are concerned with wrinkles, acne scars, redness, or skin texture.
That’s why every consultation at our Ann Arbor practice begins with understanding your skin, your goals, and your lifestyle. We develop a personalized treatment plan that may include one laser treatment, a series of treatments, medical-grade skincare, or a combination of therapies designed specifically for you.
The goal isn’t simply younger-looking skin. It’s healthier skin that looks as vibrant as you feel.
Can laser treatments replace a facelift?
No. Laser treatments improve skin quality by addressing pigmentation, texture, fine lines, and collagen production, but they cannot lift sagging tissue or reposition facial structures. Patients with significant skin laxity may benefit from surgery, while many others achieve excellent results with laser treatments alone or in combination with surgery.
Which laser is best for sun damage?
The best treatment depends on the type and severity of sun damage. BBL HERO is an excellent choice for pigmentation and redness, while resurfacing lasers like the Nano Laser Peel, MicroLaserPeel, ProFractional Resurfacing, or Contour TRL may be recommended for patients with more advanced textural changes or wrinkles.
Are laser treatments painful?
Most laser treatments are well tolerated. Depending on the procedure, topical numbing cream and other comfort measures may be used to make treatment as comfortable as possible. During your consultation, we’ll explain exactly what to expect based on the treatment that’s right for you.
How much downtime should I expect?
Recovery varies depending on the treatment. BBL HERO typically involves minimal downtime, while resurfacing treatments such as the MicroLaserPeel, ProFractional Resurfacing, and Contour TRL require more healing time but can produce more dramatic improvements. We’ll help you choose a treatment that fits both your goals and your schedule.
Can I combine laser treatments with facial plastic surgery?
Yes. Many patients benefit from combining laser treatments with facial plastic surgery because the two address different aspects of aging. Surgery restores youthful contours, while laser treatments improve the quality of the skin itself. Your surgeon will recommend the safest timing based on your procedure and goals.
How long do laser treatment results last?
Results vary depending on the treatment, your skin, and how well you protect your skin afterward. Daily sunscreen, medical-grade skincare, and periodic maintenance treatments can help preserve your results for years.
Am I a candidate for laser treatments?
Most healthy adults are candidates for some form of laser treatment, but the best option depends on your skin type, concerns, medical history, and desired downtime. A consultation allows us to recommend the safest and most effective treatment plan for your individual needs.
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