Your skin’s recovery time after a laser treatment will vary based on the aggressiveness of the laser, your skin’s ability to heal, and a host of other factors. Some laser skin treatments are relatively gentle and require little to no downtime. Others are more powerful, requiring several days to heal. Luckily, you can take a few simple actions to help your skin heal after a laser skin treatment.
This post will discuss what to expect after popular laser treatments and what you can do to get the best and safest outcome.
How Should I Prepare for Laser Skin Treatment?
The intensity of a laser can sometimes leave skin irritated without proper before and aftercare. Based on your skin type and the type of laser treatment you choose, there are several things you can do to get your skin ready.
- Clean your skin thoroughly with a gentle cleanser before your laser skin treatment.
- Avoid indoor or outdoor tanning a few weeks before your treatment so you don’t impact your results.
- Don’t get BOTOX® or fillers 2 weeks before your treatment. It’s best to heal completely from injectables before getting laser treatment to avoid compromising your results.
- Pay special attention to your diet and drink plenty of liquids to keep your skin hydrated.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, let your provider know before your laser skin treatment so that you can discuss your options.
Now that you know how to prepare for treatment, let’s look at your laser options and discuss how long your skin will need to heal afterward.
ClearLift™ Laser Skin Resurfacing
This non-ablative laser provides deep, targeted treatment without harming the surface of the skin. ClearLift improves fine lines, wrinkles, skin texture issues, and skin laxity. Expect your session to last around 20 minutes, and you should feel zero to minimal discomfort. Since the non-ablative laser is gentle on your skin, you won’t need numbing cream or gel to stay comfortable during treatment.
You can typically return to your usual schedule immediately after treatment.
What To Expect After Treatment
After your ClearLift laser treatment, expect mild redness in the treated areas. The redness should subside quickly, and you will see radiant and youthful-looking skin within a few weeks. Results will continue to improve over the next couple of months. Most people require a series of treatments to get their desired results.
Opus Plasma Laser Skin Resurfacing
Opus Plasma uses radiofrequency (RF) energy that can be customized based on your skin concerns. This fractional laser treatment improves wrinkles, sun damage, melasma, and age-related damage by creating controlled micro-injuries in the skin. Since Opus Plasma uses controlled RF energy during treatment, you will have minimal recovery and downtime.
What To Expect After Treatment
Depending on the intensity of your treatment session, expect to see some redness and swelling on your skin. If your treatment was mild, your symptoms should subside in 1 to 3 days. You may need up to 7 days to heal from a more aggressive treatment.
LaseMD™
This fractionated laser gently treats sun damage, discoloration, age spots, and more for youthful-looking skin. It can even address actinic keratoses. The controlled heat emitted by the LaseMD device targets desired areas without damaging the skin’s surface or surrounding tissue. Your provider will apply a cooling mask and special serums to protect the skin and help with the healing process.
What To Expect After Treatment
You may feel a mild burning sensation following a more aggressive treatment session. It will take around 1 week for your skin to heal completely, so treat the area gently and avoid strenuous activities or exercise.
How To Care for Your Skin Post-Procedure
After your laser treatment, you may experience mild to moderate redness, swelling, or bruising, depending on the strength of the laser. Here are some things you can do to soothe your skin.
Focus on Gentle Cleansing
This step may sound simple, but you might have the automatic urge to scrub or rub the skin during cleansing. Make sure to handle your skin gently when cleaning to avoid further irritation. It’s best to refrain from using skincare products with harsh and abrasive ingredients.
Don’t Forget Sun Protection
If sun protection is a part of your usual skincare regimen, this will be an easy step for you! Stay out of the sun completely, if possible, for the first week after your treatment. If you must go outdoors, apply broad-spectrum sunscreen and wear protective clothing.
After you heal, make sunscreen a part of your daily routine so that you can enjoy your laser results for a long time.
Moisturize Your Skin
Your provider may recommend using a moisturizer containing petrolatum immediately after your treatment for its healing benefits. Once your skin has healed, use a high-quality moisturizer to protect your skin from the elements and maintain your results. We offer medical-grade skincare products to help keep your skin smooth, supple, and healthy.
These tips should help you achieve the best results from your laser skin treatment so that you can enjoy glowing and radiant skin for a long time. To learn more about the laser and other skin treatments we offer, request a consultation or call us at (402) 408-0017 to schedule an appointment.
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