Overview

Laser resurfacing is a controlled procedure, where the outer surface of the skin is heated and slowly peels off over about 1-2 weeks. If you would prefer something a little deeper than a chemical peel, ablative laser resurfacing may be appropriate for you. It is a method to get slightly deeper into the skin, while still maintaining the skin integrity.

What to expect

Laser skin resurfacing is performed in the hospital, for your comfort and safety. Do not expect to have much pain after the treatment. Usually pain killers are only necessary for 24-48hrs after your treatment. The natural sequence of events can be a little alarming for patients, so please expect to have oozing and bleeding from your face in the 1-3 days after your treatment. After this time, your old skin starts to flake off and your new skin will appear underneath. The downtime you should expect is about 2 weeks.

Procedure specific risks: scarring, persistence of skin irregularities, infection, hyper or hypo pigmentation.

Frequently Asked Questions