Laser Skin Resurfacing

Improves skin texture, wrinkles, and sun damage by removing or heating the outer skin layers with a laser, prompting new collagen and smoother skin as it heals.

What is laser skin resurfacing?

Laser skin resurfacing treats fine wrinkles, sun damage, uneven texture, acne scars, and age spots by precisely removing damaged outer skin layers (ablative lasers) or heating the deeper layers without removing the surface (non-ablative lasers). The controlled injury prompts the skin to heal with new collagen and a smoother surface. It is a skin-quality treatment, not a lift: it does not reposition sagging tissue, and deep folds or jowls need surgical or volume treatments instead.

How is laser skin resurfacing done?

After numbing (topical, local, or sedation depending on depth), the clinician passes the laser over the treatment area in a planned pattern. Ablative lasers (such as carbon dioxide or erbium) vaporize the outer layers and require more downtime; fractional lasers treat a fraction of the skin in a grid, leaving surrounding skin to speed healing; non-ablative lasers heat without removing the surface, with minimal downtime but more modest results and usually multiple sessions.

What are the options for laser skin resurfacing?

Ablative resurfacing. The strongest single-session change, for significant sun damage and wrinkles, with the longest downtime. Fractional ablative resurfacing. A grid of treated columns with faster healing, for moderate damage and scars. Non-ablative resurfacing. Minimal downtime, multiple sessions, for mild texture and tone concerns. Resurfacing with other treatments. Combined with eyelid surgery, facelift, or fillers when skin quality and structure both need addressing.

What affects the cost of laser skin resurfacing?

There is no single fixed charge for laser skin resurfacing, and this guide does not publish prices: the written quote you receive at consultation is the binding figure.

Factors that commonly move the total include the surgeon's experience, the facility type (office procedure suite, ambulatory surgery center, or hospital), the type and length of anesthesia, the complexity of the surgical plan, whether other procedures are combined in the same operation, garments and follow-up visits, and the revision terms. Ask for an itemized written quote that states exactly what is included, and what would cost extra if a revision or an overnight stay became necessary.

What is recovery like after laser skin resurfacing?

Recovery depends on depth: ablative resurfacing involves redness, swelling, oozing, and peeling for one to two weeks, with pinkness fading over weeks to months; fractional treatments involve several days of redness and peeling; non-ablative treatments involve a day or two of redness. Sun protection after resurfacing is critical — newly resurfaced skin is highly sensitive to sun, and Florida's year-round sun makes strict protection, including hats and sunscreen once cleared, essential to protect the result and avoid pigmentation problems.

What are the risks of laser skin resurfacing?

Risks include redness, swelling, infection (including cold sore reactivation in susceptible patients, usually prevented with antiviral medication), scarring, and pigmentation changes — darkening or lightening — which are more likely in darker skin types and with sun exposure during healing. A frank discussion of skin type, sun habits, and realistic improvement matters before treatment, since resurfacing cannot erase deep wrinkles entirely or stop future sun damage.

What should I ask at a laser skin resurfacing consultation?

• Which laser and depth fit my skin type and my goals, and how much downtime should I plan?
• How will we prevent cold sore reactivation and pigmentation changes in my case?
• What sun protection will I need afterward, and for how long?
• What is the total quote, broken down, and what are the revision terms?
• Can you confirm your board certification? (Check the badge on each profile in this directory.)

Sources: American Society of Plastic Surgeons patient information and procedure guidance; U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance where applicable. General information only, not medical advice. Confirm details with a board-certified surgeon at consultation.