Laser Facial Treatment: Types, Process, Side-Effects & Benefits

Discover how laser facial treatment can transform skin and boost confidence.

Did you know how big the global aesthetic lasers market size is going to be? It’s expected to surpass USD 3.51 billion in 2032 while expanding with the CAGR of 7.2%. In 2022, this market was sized worth UDA1.88 billion.

The only reason to share this interesting fact is to build trust on cosmetic technologies, especially laser facial treatments. Majority of population visits salons and beauty clinics to look great in their own skin. But, aging does not leave anyone. It gradually makes you face filled with lots of fine lines and wrinkles. However, over-the-counter facial creams are available, but they cannot show miraculous skin transformation.

But, laser facial treatments can do it. It’s able to reduce pronounced folds and lines in just a few days. Let’s understand what it is.

Table of Contents

• Understanding Laser Facial Treatment
• How Does It Work?
• Types of Laser Facial Treatments
• The Process of Laser Facial Treatment
• Post-Treatment Care
• Potential Side Effects
• Benefits of Laser Facial Treatment
• Conclusion

Understanding Laser Facial Treatment

Also known as resurfx, laser facial treatment is a non-invasive cosmetic procedure that helps the skin quickly rejuvenate. It enhances the texture, tone, and overall appearance of your surface. On the ground level, it has fractional laser technology, which is very innovative and helpful in addressing various skin conditions within minimal downtime.

How Does It Work?

ResurFX is an incredible aesthetic technology that works with precision. It requires a certified and experienced skin specialist or therapist to deliver controlled beams of laser light to the surface. It fundamentally ensures that a particular fraction of the skin is rejuvenated at a time and the rest of the surrounding tissues remain untouched. This is why it requires minimal downtime because the healing is fast in the treated area.

As the beam penetrates, it heats up the target area and stimulates collagen production. This is how the healthier skin cells start regenerating progressively.

Basically, this nonsurgical facial treatment is super helpful when it comes to effectively reducing signs of aging. Simply put, it triggers collagen and elastin naturally in the skin, which starts addressing wrinkles, fine lines, scars, pigmentation irregularities, and other damages to the skin.

Leveraging this advanced technology for facial can benefit you with its versatility. The most striking feature is its suitability for individuals who may have different skin types and concerns. Another point that makes it popular is minimal discomfort associated with it. You see relatively short downtime in it, which allows individuals to continue what they usually do every day shortly after the treatment.

And over a series of non-invasive anti-wrinkle facial treatment, patients say “wow” because their face turns flawless. It texture improves, wrinkles fade away, and a more youthful skin emerges. That amazing radiance from the spotless skin makes this laser treatment a popular choice for those who want to look a few years younger of their age.

Types of Laser Facial Treatments

With the advent of laser technology, it is continuously evolving. You can see different types of this treatment to discover.

• Non-Ablative Lasers

Non-ablative lasers, such as Nd:YAG and diode lasers, emanate beams to the skin surface without causing any damage to the outer surface. It effect stimulates collagen production in the dermis. With the reproduction of this natural protein, you see how effectively mild skin concerns like fine lines, mild scarring, and uneven pigmentation reduce. These lasers are widely used and popular because their minimal downtime. In all, this anti-aging non-invasive treatment is ideal for individuals who want to see subtle skin improvements.

• Ablative Lasers

These lasers include CO2 and Erbium lasers. Unlike non-ablative lasers, it penetrates affecting the topmost layer of the skin. Over days, a thin layer peels off, addressing more severe skin conditions. The CO2 lasers are extremely effective in treating deep wrinkles, scars, and imperfections. On the flip side, erbium lasers can go a little deeper, act precisely, and reduce fine lines together with superficial imperfections. Despite being really effective on deeper skin conditions, patients have to wait longer for recovery because of the peeling of the outer crust.

• Fractional Lasers

This laser have completely revolutionized facial treatment industry. The lasers such as Fraxel or Pixel are able to act upon a fraction of the skin without harming surrounding area at a time. Being safe and secure to the surrounding tissues, this cosmetic technology promotes faster healing. Considering it really valuable and effective, doctors recommend it for addressing fine lines, acne scars, and enhancing overall skin texture.

• Pulsed Dye Lasers

This is mainly concerned with the treatment of blood vessels. People often go through many treatments or therapies for vascular concerns, such as rosacea, spider veins, and redness. When it comes to a nonsurgical cosmetic technology that really works well, it is pulsed dye lasers. However, doing it is not easy. The specialist has to deliver it penetrate the precise bursts of light into the target area. These laser beams can work on dilated blood vessels and reduce their appearance while improving blood flow and skin tone.

• Q-Switched Lasers

Q-switched lasers are highly effective on tattoos. These lasers emit high-intensity and quick pulses of energy. These are primarily preferred for breaking down ink particles in the skin or addressing pigmentation condition. As the pigmented particles break down, these lasers effectively fade away the appearance of tattoos or hyperpigmentation.

• Alexandrite Lasers

This is slightly different from facial lasers. However, it is commonly used for skin concerns, which is mainly removing hair. The device is specifically set to a particular wavelength of light. As the beams are penetrated in the hair follicles, the melanin absorbs them. As a result, the follicles become disabled, which hampers the growth cycle of hair. But the only downside of this laser treatment is that it is the best fit for lighter skin tones only.

• Diode Lasers

This is again an incredible laser therapy for hair removal. Like Alexandrite lasers, this treatment also focuses on the melanin in the hair follicles. The uniqueness of this non-invasive therapy is that it ensures long-term hair reduction and is capable of reducing hair from various skin tones.

The Process of Laser Facial Treatment

This process of this laser facial treatment for glowing skin has many steps involved while ensuring safety and real-time results. Let’s get started to discover it.

• Consultation

The very first step is to find a qualified skin specialist and book a consultation. Visit the doctor and discuss your skin concerns together with medical history and expectations. This discussion will help in determining the most suitable laser treatment to meet your realistic beauty goals.

• Preparation

Before the procedure, your skin requires preparation. So, it is usually cleansed, at first. And then, a topical anaesthetic cream is applied so that you won’t feel any unrest or discomfort during the whole treatment. Beforehand, eyes are protected by covering them with a protective eye-gear.

• Laser Application

Now starts the application of laser treatment. During the procedure, the technician directs the laser beams over the targeted areas. The emitted beams of light focus on a specific area. And they starts working upon skin concerns. But before that, the laser device is set to a particular wavelength and the intensity is also defined as per expected goals.

• Precision and Control

You should always remember the fact that this technology is designed to precisely address skin concerns. It allows the practitioner to proactively control the depth and intensity of the treatment. With meticulous precision, the target area is treated without harming or hurting surrounding tissues.

• Stimulation of Collagen Production

As the intensive beams penetrate the skin cells, the deeper layers see its effect. You can observe its impact through stimulated collagen production. Here, you should attend the fact that this is the very protein that keeps your skin elastic and firm. Over time, the result becomes pronounced, as collagen starts rejuvenating its texture and it turns more youthful.

• Cooling and Comfort Measures

Since it requires high-intensive laser beams, the skin may become hypersensitive to heating. To cool down that sensation, the patient may be soothed by introducing built-in cooling devices, or cool air to that very area.

Post-Treatment Care

Once the laser facial is over, the skin starts appearing a little red and inflamed. It’s similar to a mild sunburn. The skin specialist suggests following guidelines for post-treatment care. It includes applying sunscreen, soothing cream, or ointment. Also, the patient is suggested to avoid sun exposure in order to prevent any photo-damage.

• Recovery and Downtime

Though, your doctor already defines the duration of downtime or healing period. But, it differs from person to person. Non-ablative and fractional lasers typically do not require many days to recover for being very precise. These facial lasers allow patients to resume what they do right after the cosmetic procedure.

On the other hand, ablative lasers may have a longer downtime. This is simply because the skin requires recovery as its outer surface peels off.

• Follow-up Sessions

The patient may have to undergo multiple treatments. Actually, the realistic goals and the type of laser that is used define how many more sessions are required to achieve optimal results. Follow-up appointments are fixed to ensure that the desirable results are retained for a long time and also it helps in making necessary adjustments.

• Sun Protection

Once the treatment is done, the patient should strictly follow the post-treatment guidelines. The instructions advocate for sunscreen with a high SFP because the skin becomes a little more sensitive. And sun exposure can adversely effect on it. If to say straightaway, the sun protection prevents hyperpigmentation and ensure proper healing.

Potential Side Effects

Although, laser facial rejuvenation treatment is safe. But some temporary effects can be a concern. Let’s discover what these effects can be.

• Redness and Swelling: The very first is the redness and a slightly swollen face, which is common in all cases. These signs become untraceable within a few days or hours.
• Pigment Changes: The skin tone can be turned darker or lighter temporarily.
• Risk of Infection: However, the onset of any infection is rare. But, proper post-treatment care is crucial to avoid such risk.

Benefits of Laser Facial Treatment

Certainly, this nonsurgical facial treatment adds multiple benefits to your skin and overall personality. You become a confident person with a radiant and flawless skin tone and texture.

• Collagen Stimulation

Though, this has already been discussed. Lasers promote collagen production naturally, enhancing elasticity of skin.

• Wrinkle Reduction

With the insertion of laser beams, the collagen production increases. It diminishes fine lines and wrinkles while softening surfaces.

• Scar Improvement

This advanced facial procedure removes scars or marks. The collagen reproduction makes it possible. It helps in resurfacing new skin cells. The precise and controlled energy makes scars invisible over time, enhancing texture, and stimulating natural healing procedure for revitalized skin.

• Pigmentation Correction

This therapy fades pigmentation by introducing high-intensity light, which targets and breaks down melanin in the skin. Eventually, the appearance of pigmented spots turns faded, while promoting a more even skin tone.

• Tightening Effect

Aging causes depletion of collagen, which turns it lose and lacking volume. Laser technology helps deeper layers regain life through collagen. The controlled heat from lasers promotes collagen remodelling. Finally, its results appear in increased skin firmness and elasticity.

Conclusion

The world of skincare has a lot of aesthetic improvements and inventions that are getting popular all over the world. The laser facial treatment is one of them, offering an amazing skin transformation by rejuvenating and making it flawless.

The aforementioned description has everything to understand the process, benefits, and considerations. This knowledge is helpful in making informed decisions on skincare journey.

All in all, laser facial treatments are impressive, provided that a qualified skincare specialist does it. Being expert, he or she understands the skin condition and accordingly suggests which laser treatment will help in achieving desirable results. This is where the expertise matters because only a specialist understands the specifics of this facial treatment process.

As aforementioned, many lasers are there to address particular conditions. That specialist can help people to personalize that rejuvenation procedure in accordance with the skin type, condition, and suitability. Also, he or she knows how to address side effects while minimizing any pain or discomfort.

Sanjay Mohindra

Dr. Sanjay Mohindra is a qualified physician who has spent more than three decades in this medicine domain since 1989 in Australia. His journey in providing different cosmetic procedures started in 1996. Since then, he has been earning respect and reputation for doing quality work and delivering amazing results through cosmetic injectables, lasers, and light-based skin therapies in the cosmetic field.