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Understanding Laser Resurfacing for Ethnic Skin

We have a lot of experience in helping our Asian and our ethnic clients (including Latinos, African Americans, and Middle Eastern patients get the best laser resurfacing procedure available in Seattle. The key difference for these patients is their darker skin tones. With laser resurfacing, the top layers of the skin are removed, including your skin cells (keratinocytes) and melanocytes (pigment cells).

The epidermis and dermis are separated by the basement membrane, where the stem cells rise and populate your skin. With a pretty aggressive laser resurfacing procedure, the top layers of your skin are removed past the basement membrane and into the dermis. Your unwanted pigments and wrinkles are removed and replaced with a new layer of skin that comes from the hair shafts or pilosebaceous unit. This is called the resurfacing part of the process, where the skin cells from the hair shafts resurface the skin.

Man touching cheek

What Is Hypopigmentation?

Hypopigmentation is the loss of pigment and is often a bigger concern for our patients. This issue involves the melanocytes being damaged to a degree that there are missing pigment/melanocytes from a contiguous area, resulting in white patches that are obviously quite evident on the darkest skin types. It occurs when the melanocytes are damaged because the CO2 laser resurfacing has been taken too deeply or the post-procedure cleaning was not done adequately. It can be corrected with CO2 laser resurfacing.

Before & After Asian Ethnic Laser Resurfacing

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Understanding Hyperpigmentation

One of the things that concerns many people is the pseudo-hyperpigmentation that can occur in Asian and ethnic patients. This involves the skin turning dark after a period of redness, most evident in people who have dark hair and light skin. The dark hair signifies the level of pigmentation or risks of pigmentation the melanocytes will undergo after a period of inflammation.

This occurs any time you do laser resurfacing. What happens when you get hyperpigmentation? It can take several weeks to a few months for hyperpigmentation to go away. We can speed up the process by starting superficial chemical peels, which you can do on your own. We have successfully dealt with pseudo-hyperpigmentation and can help you get rid of it.

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“My goal was to find a method to bring back a person’s natural youthfulness without the operated, unnatural look, and that is why I have my patients bring in photos of themselves when they were ages 5 to 30. My YoungVitalizer helps restore natural and youthful contours they haven’t seen in years.”

— Dr. Philip Young, Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon

Your Consultation

During your initial consultation with Dr. Young, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and relay any concerns and fears to him and our patient care coordinators. 

When you come in, we are going to discuss how aggressive you would like us to be with your laser resurfacing. We will talk about whether you would like us to do fractional resurfacing or traditional resurfacing. You can email, call 425-990-3223, or text 425-341-3893 to set up an appointment. If you live out of town, we can schedule a phone consultation with you. Here at AFPS, our staff will take the time and care to set you up with a great treatment plan. Treat yourself today to a more beautiful, rejuvenated look.

Why Expertise Is Key

Note: Individual results will vary. Images do not constitute a promise or representation of any particular outcome or experience.

The use of lasers, chemical peels, and resurfacing techniques for East Asian patients requires experience. Many clinicians are wary of using resurfacing on dark Asian skin. The risks of hyper and hypopigmentation are high because lighter tones and colors of the skin are more conspicuous in the darker Asian skin.

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can present a challenge to the doctor and the patient during recovery. Sometimes, hyperpigmentation can be permanent. These are some of the reasons why surgeons all over the world hesitate to treat East Asian patients with resurfacing techniques.

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Client Testimonials

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Amazing doctor

Amazing doctor and the result are amazing too.

—S.M.

Dr. Young is very personable

Dr. Young is very personable and was very detailed in his work, with much concern about his patients.

—L.C.

Very happy

Very happy with how my otoplasty turned out. Thanks Dr Young

—J.P.

More than pleased with the fantastic results!

I have had two procedures done by the amazing Dr. Young and am more than pleased with the fantastic results!

—C.V.

Amazingly impeccable after care

Amazingly impeccable after care from all of the staff, including of course Dr. Young who ensures the patient has access to him at all times.

—S.S.

I would recommend him to my family and friends.

My experience with Dr. Philip Young and his entire staff has been really positive! I would recommend him to my family and friends.

—J.Y.

It looks completely natural

Wonderful experience. The doctor did a little Botox around my eyes and it raised my droopy eyebrows - it looks completely natural.

—R.H.

I made the right choice.

I had a great experience. I had some deep scars from acne but now after a scar surgery, my over all skin texture is more smooth. I made the right choice.

—F.S.

A brilliant and amazing doctor.

I would like to share my experience. Dr.Philip removed a mole for me that was disfiguring my face. He removed it with a laser. It was a very wonderful experience. As I mentioned be...

—Allaa Kamill

Dr. Young is not only a superb surgeon, he is a kind, empathetic person

Dr. Young is not only a superb surgeon, he is a kind, empathetic person who values his employees, his patients and the community. He runs a very busy practice, with a long waiting ...

—Angela R.

My experience with Dr. Young and his staff was excellent.

My experience with Dr. Young and his staff was excellent. I had a blephaloplasty (eyelid lift) and from the 1st consult all the way through the follow-up care, the entire experienc...

—Tara Kenneway

The staff was super nice and accommodating!

The staff was super nice and accommodating! They were very informative. Dr Young was also very informative. You can tell he cares for all his patients! He always answers any questi...

—Haystacks Grassy

Dr. Young and his team are spectacular!

Dr. Young and his team are spectacular! They helped me with a scar revision with the utmost sensitivity and care. The follow up is amazing, they truly take time to make sure you ar...

—Amira Beidas

He went above and beyond!

Dr. Young is an outstanding plastic surgeon who is very passionate about his work. He made me feel very comfortable with the surgery I came in for. He went above and beyond!
I w...

—chuck meyer

I trust him and his work and will keep coming back!

I’ve been a patient of Dr. Young for over 10 years and have had several procedures with him, including Asian blepharoplasty, Perma lip implants, Asian rhinoplasty, and neck liposuc...

—Taylor D

Dr Phillip Young and his office are fantastic!

Dr Phillip Young and his office are fantastic! They are thorough, patient, and kind. Particularly, I appreciate Dr Young’s attentiveness and expertise - I previously went to Seoul ...

—Carolyn Chong

Truly grateful to Dr Philip Young

Truly grateful to Dr Philip Young for taking such excellent care of me before, during and after my face, neck and brow lift. I have felt well informed and well cared for through...

—Jennifer Kent

Kindest Doctor I’ve ever met!

I can’t say enough about Doctor Young! He is an amazing person and Doctor! I drive four hours there and four hours back just to see him! He is a perfectionist and loves to help peo...

—Stacia Wright

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