Laser Skin Resurfacing and Rejuvenation
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.
Is this right for you?
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.
This may be a good fit if
- Your skin texture is uneven, your pores look enlarged, or your skin feels rough or looks dull, and you want it to look smoother and fresher.
- You have fine lines or mild to moderate signs of sun-related ageing, and you are looking for gradual improvement.
- You have shallow scars or rough texture that a doctor has agreed would respond to laser treatment.
- You understand this is usually a course of several sessions, and you are ready to care for your skin and protect it from the sun over the long term.
- You have realistic expectations: the goal is a healthier, smoother version of your own skin, not a different skin altogether.
This may not be right if
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding. It is usually better to wait until after this stage.
- You have active inflamed acne, an infection, or any open break in the skin in the area to be treated.
- Your skin is heavily tanned, or you cannot avoid the sun throughout the course. The risk of darkening after treatment is higher.
- You have a history of keloid scarring, you tend to develop dark marks after inflammation, or you have recently taken certain oral acne medications that your doctor needs to know about before considering laser.
How it works
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.
Realistic expectations
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 this will not do
- It will not erase every line or make your skin completely smooth in a single session. Improvement builds gradually over the course.
- It will not replace a surgical facelift when the skin has become very loose. Laser acts on the surface and firmness of the skin; it does not lift tissue that has clearly dropped.
- It will not stop the ageing process from continuing, especially if your skin keeps meeting the sun without protection.
- It will not replace daily sun protection and skin care. These are an essential part of holding on to your result.
Recovery
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.
- Right after the session
- The treated area is usually red, warm and a little swollen, much like the feeling after time in the sun. With a gentle laser, you can usually go home the same day and return to your routine soon.
- The first few days
- Your skin may feel slightly tight and dry, and it may begin to peel lightly as new skin forms. Avoid picking or scratching, keep the skin clean, and moisturise as your doctor advises.
- Around 1 to 2 weeks
- The redness and peeling usually settle over this time with a surface laser. A laser that works deeper may need longer for the skin to heal fully.
- Between sessions (a few weeks)
- Protect yourself carefully from the sun and use sunscreen every day to shield your new skin and lower the risk of darkening, while you wait for the next session.
- After the course is complete
- Smoother, more even skin becomes clearer over the weeks to a few months as collagen renews. Your doctor usually arranges follow-up and may suggest a maintenance session.
Risks & safety
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.
- Redness, swelling, a burning feeling or tightness that lasts longer than expected, especially with a laser that works deeper.
- Dark marks after inflammation, where the treated area becomes darker for a time. This is more common in darker skin and with sun exposure.
- Loss of pigment, where the area becomes lighter than the surrounding skin, sometimes for a long time.
- Blistering, raw areas of skin, and, more rarely, scarring.
- Infection in the treated area, or a flare-up of cold sores (herpes) in those with a history of them, if it is not prevented and cared for properly.
- An uneven result between different areas, or a need for more sessions than first expected.
- Less improvement than you hoped for if the main issue is loose, sagging skin, which a surface laser struggles to address.
How we do it
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does the treatment hurt?
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.
How much time off will I need?
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.
How many sessions will I need?
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.
Will the result look natural?
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.
I am older now. Is laser still suitable for me?
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.
My skin is darker. Can I still have this done?
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.
Will it leave a scar?
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.
What if my skin darkens after treatment?
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.
Can laser rejuvenation replace a facelift?
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 does the result last?
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.
The next step
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.