Your doctor will likely give you antibiotics to prevent severe cold sores from forming.

The skin may be treated with ointment and a wet or waxy dressing. After surgery, your skin will be quite red and swollen. Eating and talking may be difficult. You may have some aching, tingling, or burning for a while after surgery. Your doctor can prescribe medicine to help control any pain.

Swelling usually goes away within 2 - 3 weeks. New skin starts to itch as is grows. If you had freckles, they may temporarily disappear.

You may have enlarged pores or whiteheads after the skin-smoothing surgery, but they eventually go away.

If the treated skin remains red and swollen after healing has started, this may be a sign that abnormal scars are beginning to form. Talk to your doctor. Treatment may be available.

Doctors recommend that men who have this procedure avoid shaving for a while, and to use an electric razor when shaving can begin again.

The new layer of skin will be a little swollen, sensitive, and bright pink for several weeks. Most patients can go back to normal activities in about 2 weeks. You should avoid any activity that could cause injury to the treated area. Avoid sports that involve balls, such as baseball, for 4 - 6 weeks.

Keep your face out of chlorinated water (such as that used in pools) for at least 4 weeks.

Protect the skin from the sun for 6 - 12 months until your skin coloring has returned to normal. Hypo-allergenic makeup may be worn to conceal any discoloring. When full color occurs, it should closely match the surrounding skin, making the procedure virtually undetectable.

For about 3 weeks after surgery, your skin will turn red when you drink alcohol.