If you and your dentist decide that a laser procedure is your best option, you receive a local anesthetic for a small area you want to have treated. Larger areas require more preparation. Your dentist then uses the laser to precisely remove your skin, layer by layer, until achieving the desired effect. It’s a safe procedure in the hands of a trained specialist.
Afterward, your skin may feel sunburned, which is normal. You have to wear bandages for the first 24 hours. Your dentist provides specific instructions for cleaning and moisturizing your skin, usually with an ointment such as petroleum jelly, four to five times a day for about a week. Steroidal and sleeping medications and elevated pillows reduce any swelling you experience.