Skin Resurfacing
Skin resurfacing removes or remodels the damaged outer layers of the skin so that smoother, more even skin can grow in its place. It is one of the most effective ways to improve rough texture, fine lines, sun damage, uneven tone, and some scars, but the range of options is wide, from a gentle peel with no downtime to a deep laser treatment that requires a week or more of healing. Patients from Beverly Hills, Westwood, Beverlywood, and across Los Angeles come to Parsa M.D. to find out which level of resurfacing fits their skin, their goals, and their schedule.
Resurfacing near the eyes carries risks that general skin care providers may not anticipate, including changes in lower eyelid position and heat exposure close to the eye. Dr. Kami Parsa has presented research at the California Society of Plastic Surgeons Annual Meeting on the role of lower eyelid fat as support for eyelid position, and his ophthalmology training at USC’s Doheny Eye Institute guides the eye protection used whenever lasers are aimed near the lids. He developed the Duplex® Procedure, which combines radiofrequency microneedling with CO2 resurfacing, and is an Adjunct Clinical Professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC.
“Resurfacing is about matching depth to the problem. Going too deep for mild texture adds risk without adding much benefit, and going too shallow for real sun damage wastes time. Around the eyes, the lower lid has to be protected as carefully as the skin.” — Dr. Kami Parsa
What Skin Resurfacing Treats
Resurfacing can improve several concerns, often at the same time:
- Rough or uneven texture: Dull, coarse skin and enlarged pores.
- Fine lines and crepey skin: Especially around the eyes and mouth, covered further on our Fine Lines and Wrinkles page.
- Sun damage: Sunspots, blotchy tone, and leathery texture, described on our Sun Damage page.
- Pigment: Some types of brown spots, though melasma requires special caution, as explained on our Hyperpigmentation page.
- Scars: Acne scars and surgical scars, covered on our Scars page.
Levels of Skin Resurfacing
Resurfacing options are grouped by how deeply they reach and how much recovery they require:
- Light resurfacing: Superficial chemical peels and Clear + Brilliant refresh tone and texture with a day or two of redness or flaking, usually as a series.
- Medium depth: Stronger peels and fractional treatments reach deeper for more noticeable change, with several days of peeling.
- Deep resurfacing: CO2 Skin Resurfacing treats significant sun damage, deeper lines, and scars, with about a week of healing and redness that can last several weeks.
- Combined resurfacing and tightening: The Duplex® Procedure pairs CO2 with radiofrequency microneedling to address texture and laxity in the same session.
Radiofrequency microneedling with Morpheus8 is sometimes used instead of laser in deeper skin tones, since it delivers most of its energy below the surface.
Who Is a Good Candidate?
Treatment choice depends on your skin tone, the depth of the problem, and the downtime you can accept. Deeper skin tones carry a higher risk of pigment changes after heat-based resurfacing and may need gentler settings, pretreatment with topical products, or different devices. Let the team know if you have taken isotretinoin in the past year, have a history of cold sores, form raised or keloid scars, have had prior eyelid surgery or laser treatment, are pregnant, or have an active skin infection. Resurfacing is performed by Dr. Parsa or licensed members of his clinical team, described on our Our Providers page.
Recovery and Results
Recovery ranges from almost none after a light peel to about a week of healing after CO2 resurfacing. Deeper treatments usually require an antiviral medication to prevent cold sores, careful wound care, and strict sun avoidance while the skin heals. Improvement in tone appears as the skin heals, while collagen remodeling continues for three to six months. Daily sunscreen is essential afterward, since newly resurfaced skin is more sensitive to the sun and can darken if exposed.
Risks and When to Seek Care
Common effects include redness, swelling, peeling, and temporary sensitivity. Less common risks include infection, cold sore outbreaks, prolonged redness, darkening or lightening of the skin, scarring, and, after treatment near the eyes, pulling down of the lower eyelid. Contact the office right away for blistering, spreading redness, warmth, pus, fever, a cold sore outbreak, or any change in vision after treatment near the eyes.
Why Choose Dr. Parsa for Skin Resurfacing
- Fellowship Trained Eyelid Surgeon: Training at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute informs how resurfacing is planned around the lower eyelids.
- Revision Experience: His clinical focus includes revisional eyelid surgery, including correction of eyelids affected by earlier procedures.
- Full Range of Depths: Peels, gentle lasers, CO2, and combination resurfacing are all available, so depth can match the problem.
- Skin Repair Research: His current research interests include skin repair and recovery after treatment.
- More Than 20 Years of Experience: Two decades of clinical practice guide realistic recommendations on downtime and results.
Schedule a Skin Resurfacing Consultation in Beverly Hills
Your consultation takes place at our office at 465 N Roxbury Dr, Suite 1011, in Beverly Hills. Dr. Parsa and his team will assess your skin type and concerns and recommend the resurfacing depth that fits your goals and schedule. Contact our office to request an appointment.
Medically reviewed by Kambiz K. Parsa, M.D. on
