Skin Resurfacing
Laser, peels and microneedling — treating the fine lines and sun damage a facelift cannot.
What resurfacing does
Resurfacing treats the surface and quality of the skin: fine lines, crepiness, sun damage, pigmentation and texture. Options range from chemical peels and microneedling to fractional and fully ablative lasers. They work by controlled removal or stimulation of the skin so it heals smoother and produces new collagen.
Lifting vs resurfacing
This is the other half of the rejuvenation picture. A facelift repositions tissue but does nothing for skin texture or fine wrinkles — especially around the lips and eyes, which a lift does not reach. Resurfacing addresses exactly those areas.
Aggressive laser resurfacing over a facelift flap at the same time can compromise blood supply to healing skin. Many surgeons stage heavier resurfacing separately, or limit it to areas not undermined during the lift. Your surgeon will advise what is safe to combine.
Recovery
Downtime depends entirely on the depth: light peels and microneedling involve a few days of redness, while deeper ablative lasers can mean one to two weeks of healing and weeks of redness. Sun protection afterwards is essential.