All Procedures
Laser Skin Rejuvenation
Useful information for patients on Laser Skin Rejuvenation - using a LASER to exfoliate and stimulate skin rejuvenation
What Is Laser Skin Rejuvenation?
Laser treatments use focused light to improve skin texture, pigmentation, and fine lines.
Different lasers target different skin concerns. LASER uses a variety of intensely focused light beams to treat skin conditions.
LASER settings can be adjusted to consider your skin type, the strength of treatment and associated healing time or downtime.
Types of Laser Treatments
CO2 and Erbium LASERs target the top skin layers removing the top epidermal layer and stimulating collagen production and thus skin rejuvenation and improvement in skin texture, pigmentation, fine lines, and overall skin appearance. Pulsed Dye and Nd-YAG LASERs can target thread veins and other superficially visible veins under the skin. Scars can also be targeted for improvement.
Each LASER type works in a specific range of the light spectrum and thus can target different tissue structures. Settings can be mild or stronger and can target a full uninterrupted area of skin for a stronger effect or in a fractionated or ‘grid pattern’ which can heal quicker. Milder forms of light treatment such as IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) are not considered LASERs but have some similarities in concept and application.
LASER skin rejuvenation is best performed when you are less tanned. Some LASERs should be used cautiously with settings adjusted for darker skin types. It is vital to protect your skin from the sun while healing.
*ISAPS does not endorse any named company or product.
Who is this for?
Suitable for patients seeking:
- Skin rejuvenation
- Treatment of pigmentation
- Treatment of scars
- Treatment of fine lines
When Treatment May Not Be Suitable
Treatment may not be suitable if you have:
- Active infection, irritation, or dermatitis in the treatment area.
- Current or recent isotretinoin use (a medication used to treat acne). Treatment may need to be delayed.
- A history of cold sores (herpes simplex) without preventive antiviral medication.
- Recent tanning or planned sun exposure while the skin is healing.
- Darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick skin types IV–VI) may have a higher risk of developing dark patches after treatment, depending on the type of laser used.
- Use of medications that increase sensitivity to light.
Preparation
Before treatment, patients may undergo:
- Skin assessment and discussion of laser type
You will need to wear eye protection during the LASER treatment. You will also hear the LASER when it is activated. These are safety measures for your protection. It may feel hot during the treatment.
Useful Information
Ensure you consider all aspects of a procedure. You can speak to your plastic surgeon about these areas of the procedure in more detail during a consultation.
Length
How Long Is the Procedure?
0.5 to 1.5 hours depending on the extent and type of LASER.
Anesthesia
Do I Need Anesthesia?
Dependent on the type of treatment and extent of area being treated, however typically none or topical local anaesthetic cream.
Inpatient/Outpatient
Is The Procedure Inpatient or Outpatient?
Usually an office-based procedure unless combined with other procedures e.g. a facelift.
Additional Information
Some side effects that can be seen include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Peeling
- Sun sensitivity
- Mild irritation
Potential risks include:
- Infection of the skin during healing
- Pigmentation changes
- Scarring
- Skin breakouts
You can significantly reduce these risks by carefully following your aftercare instructions and managing specific risk factors:
Cold Sore Outbreaks/Infection: Patients with a history of herpes simplex (cold sores) should take preventive antiviral medication before treatment to reduce outbreak risk during healing.
Dark Patches (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation): Protect your skin from direct sun exposure and apply sunscreen regularly while healing to prevent or minimize dark spots.
Your skin will feel tight and can be swollen to a variable extent depending on the strength and type of LASER. The outer layers of skin can take up to 2-3 weeks to heal including raw skin, peeling, crusting and sometimes pinpoint bleeding of the skin. Will achieve long-lasting skin improvements.
You may have some pinkness of your skin for a while after this. You must protect your skin from the sun while healing and you may have very specific skin care regimes prescribed for the healing period. It is important to follow these.
Results can be long-lasting depending on the type of LASER chosen and treatment type. Sometimes the full effect takes time to achieve.
Combining LASER skin rejuvenation with long-term skin care such as retinoid/retinol-based skin care and sun protection will help maintain the results of a facial LASER rejuvenation for longer periods.
Please note: Individual results vary from patient to patient due to factors such as age, skin quality, body type, and overall health. To understand what results you can expect, consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon.