Some people say everyone deserves a second chance. Of course others believe that there are no second chances in life; we have to live with the cards we’re dealt and the mistakes we make while playing them. But no one can deny that the notion of renewal inspires hope. We cannot help but be comforted by the idea that from time to time we are handed an opportunity to wipe the slate clean. Sometimes those opportunities come in the form of forgiveness, rehabilitation, or redemption. And sometimes, they come in the form of applied science. In this case, the development of precision laser technology has created the opportunity for some to get a second chance by changing their circumstances or undoing their mistakes.
Wrinkle Reduction
When Ponce De Leon set out to find the fountain of youth over 500 years ago, he probably never could have imagined that one day youth would be captured. Not by a stream of liquid of course, but by a beam of light. Today, lasers, broad band light sources and radio frequency technologies are all used for turning back the clock with wrinkle reduction or tissue tightening treatments.
Wrinkles happen as people age because of the natural break down of collagen and elastin in the skin. But that process can be expedited and exacerbated by choices made early on in life. People who smoke, and fail to use sunscreen will show the signs of aging sooner and more severely than others; and may find themselves longing for a second chance to make different choices.
The wrinkle reduction procedure can provide an opportunity for younger looking skin. Laser light is used to re-stimulate collagen growth, and wrinkles are filled in by the new collagen giving skin a smoother tighter appearance. The results are visibly noticeable relatively soon after a treatment, but unfortunately this fountain of youth does not spring eternal. Results of skin tightening treatments begin to fade after about 3 months or so meaning that repeat treatments will be required. The good news is that the procedure is painless; the bad news is it’s not cheap. While laser treatments can help reverse the appearance of aging, there is nothing more effective for anti-aging than taking proactive measures throughout life.
Tattoo Removal
For many people tattoos represent self expression, and art. For others, tattoos signify impulse and, years later, remorse. A 2004 study by The American Academy of Dermatology indicates that about 17% of respondents with tattoos have at least considered having them removed. Tattoos have long been regarded as a heavy commitment due to their permanent nature, but now there are ways of undoing that engagement.
There are any number of reasons someone might one day find themselves ready to undo a tattoo. Times change, bodies change, lifestyles, jobs and people change and often those evolutions bring with them a wish for a do-over.
Fortunately for those with post tattoo regret, through tattoo removal processes, that wish can come true. Thanks to modern technology it has become possible to divorce a tattoo. However, like divorce, some methods such as, Dermabrasion, are painful and can leave scars. That’s what makes laser tattoo removal so appealing. Through the use of laser wave-lengths, the tattoo is broken up into tiny fragments that are small enough to be absorbed by the body. Surprisingly, darker pigments, which absorb more light, are actually the easiest to remove.
Thanks to the constant development and improvement of laser procedures, many people with tattoo regret are getting a second chance at a clean slate. Even though lasers mean that, when it comes to tattoos, nothing is forever, the treatments can be costly. So, in the end, it’s still wise to only get a tattoo if you’re sure you want to spend a lifetime with it.
Eye Surgery
The sense of sight is something most of us take for granted, even when our vision is imperfect. But, thorough the use of lasers, many people are getting a chance to have the sight they were denied by nature. Sure, glasses and contacts have been offering clearer vision for hundreds of years, but only with the advent of LASIK technology can 20/20 vision be achieved with the naked eye.
The best candidates for laser eye surgery, are those who suffer from near or far sightedness or astigmatism. Those particular conditions have to do with how the light rays from an image focus on the retina, when the image falls in front or behind the retina that is near and far sightedness respectively. The condition of astigmatism is slightly different in that blurriness occurs as a result of a mal-formed cornea. In any condition, lasers are used to re-shape the cornea to improve vision. With this technology, people are getting a second chance to live a life of near perfect vision. In some cases this surgery can represent a revived dream. Laser surgery can offer a second chance to someone who was previously disqualified from an occupation requiring perfect vision. Fighter pilots and FBI Agents are among many professionals whose job description requires perfect vision. While these are rare positions, they are also highly coveted by those brave individuals that aspire to them.
In most cases, the quality of our eyes is determined when we are young and often by genetics. But thanks to laser technology we can have a chance at seeing the world the way we have always dreamed, clear, beautiful and without corrective lenses.
These treatments and procedures are among many technological advancements allowing people a chance for a new beginning. Whether or not we choose to take advantage of these opportunities, we can find solace in the knowledge that they exist. As a society we may still struggle with the more spiritual elements of rebirth, but as a civilization we have fostered opportunities to free ourselves of our burdens, natural or self-imposed, and start over.
This guest post is written by Janet Peterson, a writer for “New Look” a Houston laser tattoo removal business. Janet has extensive experience writing about tattoos and tattoo culture.
