When your skin texture starts to feel rough, your pores look larger, or fine lines make your face seem more tired than you feel, this treatment can help smooth and refresh the surface so you recognise your own healthy skin again.
Laser resurfacing, also known as laser skin rejuvenation, is a non-surgical treatment that uses a focused beam of light at a chosen wavelength to act on the layers of your skin. The laser either removes part of the outermost layer or sends heat into the deeper layers. Either way, it prompts the skin to make collagen, the supportive fibre that keeps skin firm and smooth, and to renew itself. The aim is a surface that feels smoother, looks more even in tone and appears fresher. There are several different types of laser, from gentle ones that work at the surface to stronger ones that reach deeper. Whether this treatment suits you depends on your skin condition, your skin type and what you would like to improve. Here is how to tell.
It all begins with a consultation. Your doctor looks closely at your skin, assesses your skin type, the degree of ageing or roughness on the surface, and what you would like to improve. This step matters, because there are many lasers with different strengths, and choosing the right one along with the right settings decides much of both your result and your recovery time. Your doctor also asks about your medication history, your sun exposure habits, how your skin tends to scar, and any skin treatments you have had before.
Before the session, the area is usually cleansed, and a numbing cream may be applied to the skin to keep you more comfortable. How much numbing you need depends on the type of laser, how deeply it works, and the size of the area being treated. Both you and the person treating you wear protective eyewear throughout, because laser light can harm the eyes.
During the treatment, your doctor moves the laser handpiece across the area being worked on. Depending on the laser, the beam either removes a very thin part of the surface layer or delivers heat into the layers below to prompt the skin to renew and make collagen. You may feel something like the light snap of an elastic band, along with a warm, tingling sensation on your skin. A session usually lasts around 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the area and the type of laser.
Laser rejuvenation usually needs a course of several sessions a few weeks apart, so your skin has time to recover in between. Some of the stronger lasers may need fewer sessions but a longer rest each time. After each session, your doctor assesses how your skin has responded and adjusts the plan for the next one. The exact number of sessions depends on the type of laser and the condition of your skin.
This treatment works towards skin that feels smoother, looks more even in tone and appears fresher, with improvement building gradually across your sessions and becoming clearer as your skin makes more collagen in the weeks that follow. How much you improve depends on the type of laser, the starting condition of your skin, and how you care for it afterwards. It helps to see the result realistically and one step at a time.
What you experience afterwards depends a great deal on the type of laser. A gentle surface laser usually causes only passing redness, and you return to your routine soon. A laser that works deeper needs a longer rest, and the skin peels more. How you care for your skin afterwards plays a large part in the result. The stages below are rough guides; everyone, and every laser, moves at a different pace.
Most cases carried out to sound principles go smoothly. But every procedure carries risks worth knowing about beforehand, and with laser rejuvenation, some of these relate directly to your skin colour, how deeply the laser works, and sun protection. Your doctor will talk these through with you in detail.
The result of laser rejuvenation depends a great deal on choosing the right laser, the right depth and the right settings for each individual skin. At the hospital, our doctors take the time to assess your skin type, the degree of ageing and your individual tendencies before deciding which laser suits you, because the same device, set wrongly, can darken the skin or draw out your recovery. When the main problem is skin that has become very loose, your doctor will tell you honestly that a surface laser may not be enough, and will consider other directions with you.
Our doctors build the course session by session, assessing how your skin responds and recovers each time and adjusting accordingly, rather than applying a fixed formula. You also receive clear guidance on skin care and sun protection between sessions, the part that matters most for protecting your new skin and holding on to your result, along with a clear conversation about the realistic rest time for the laser you choose.
Many people describe it as the light snap of an elastic band, with a warm, tingling feeling on the skin. The area is usually numbed with a cream beforehand to keep you more comfortable. How much you feel depends on the type of laser and how deeply it works.
Downtime depends on the laser. With a gentle surface laser, many people return to their routine the same day with a little redness. With a laser that works deeper, the skin peels more and you may need a longer rest while it heals.
A surface laser usually needs a course of several sessions a few weeks apart, while a stronger laser may need fewer. The exact number depends on the type of laser and the condition of your skin, and your doctor will discuss it after examining you.
The goal is a smoother, fresher version of your own skin, not a different skin. Improvement builds gradually across the course and as your skin makes more collagen, so the change usually looks natural over time.
Age is not the only deciding factor; what matters more is the condition and firmness of your skin. If your skin is mainly rough with fine lines, a laser may help. If it has become very loose, your doctor will discuss whether laser is enough or whether another direction is worth considering.
Darker skin can be treated, but the risk of darkening or lightening after treatment is higher, so your doctor needs to choose the laser and settings carefully. An in-person assessment helps work out the right approach for your skin.
Scarring is a rare risk when treatment follows sound principles and the skin is cared for properly. Avoiding picking or scratching the peeling area, keeping the skin clean and following your doctor's guidance all help to lower this risk.
Some people develop dark marks after inflammation, where the treated area is darker for a time. This is more common in darker skin and with sun exposure. It usually fades gradually; careful sun protection helps to limit it, and you should tell your doctor so you can be followed up.
No. Laser acts on the surface and firmness of the skin, helping it look smoother and fresher, but it does not lift tissue that has clearly dropped. When the skin has become very loose, your doctor will discuss other options that suit you better.
How long it lasts varies from person to person and depends on how well you protect yourself from the sun and care for your skin afterwards. Because skin keeps ageing over time, your doctor usually arranges follow-up and may suggest maintenance sessions.
Book a consultation to find out if this is right for you.
The content on this page is for reference only and does not replace a direct examination and consultation with a specialist physician. Surgical outcomes vary from person to person.