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How Long Does It Take to Heal After Laser Skin Resurfacing?

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is the question that most laser . that will deliver smoother texture, finer lines and brighter tone — what they want to know is how many days they need to clear from work, when they can wear makeup, when they can be seen in public, and when the final will appear.

The honest answer depends on which laser you have. This guide breaks down the recovery timeline week by week, what you’ll see at each stage, and covers the that makes the an result and an one.

The two recovery profiles

At Centre for Surgery we use the Fotona SP Dynamis Pro erbium YAG laser for all . The platform two distinct modes, each with its own curve:

SMOOTH® treatments — including and — on a principle . They thermal energy without the skin surface, so is essentially nil. This guide on resurfacing, where is involved.

For the broader of how Er:YAG to CO₂ resurfacing, including aggregate for each, see our guide on .

Day-by-day recovery: what to expect

Immediately after your skin will look red, feel hot and tight, and may weep a clear fluid. This is normal — your skin has been and is in active mode. peaks at 24 to 48 hours, around the eyes if the periocular area was . Cool applied for short intervals, occlusive ointment, and sleeping with your head all help.

You’ll likely want to be at home and unseen during this window. Most the as a to severe sunburn — uncomfortable but with . Our covers what to expect in more detail.

The and small crusts form across the area. Fresh epidermis is migrating in from sweat glands and hair to recover the . The skin feels tight, itchy and looks like a fading with patchy crusting. This is the most important phase for discipline — picking, scratching or crusts manually risks and pigmentation change.

Keep the area moist with the occlusive ointment. Gentle with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free non-foaming — only, no . Pat dry with a soft towel.

For fractional protocols, the surface is largely closed by now. The skin is pink, sometimes as a "new baby skin" appearance — uniformly fresh and tender. Most are presentable for work and short outings, though may want to wait a few more days before social events. Mineral makeup can usually go on around day 7 — see our dedicated guide on .

For fully ablative protocols, you’re still . Crusting continues, redness is pronounced.

see steady fading of pinkness. By day 14 most look essentially normal under SPF and light cosmetics, though skin .

Fully patients reach the equivalent of "fractional day 7" around now — surface closed, pink, tender, mineral makeup tolerated. The recovery is just later by a week.

pinkness — clinicians call it erythema — fades steadily but can take six weeks or more to fully. It’s easily concealed with makeup. Some patients notice their skin looks unusually clear and bright during this window as residual sun damage continues to slough.

This is where the results emerge. New collagen is laid down in the dermis, thickening and tightening the skin from underneath. Fine lines refine, scars soften, tone evens out. Most patients see improvement for six months after treatment. The skin you have at six months is generally the result of the laser .

Aftercare that makes the difference

resurfaced skin is . Unprotected sun during the first three months is the single biggest cause of poor — pigmentation changes, redness, sometimes that’s difficult to reverse. Strict daily SPF 50 mineral sunscreen, broad-brimmed hat outdoors, and avoiding peak sun hours from day one of recovery onwards.

Sun protection isn’t just a recovery measure — it’s how you the . For more on UV damage and how to address its effects, see our guide on .

The ointment goes on the treated area frequently — every two to three hours during waking hours for the first week, then less often as the closes. The aim is to keep the wound moist, which speeds and reduces scarring risk.

Lukewarm water, fragrance-free non-foaming cleanser, fingertips. No exfoliants, no acids (glycolic, salicylic, retinoids), no C serum, no scrubs. These can resume on your clinician’s say-so, usually around weeks four to six.

Skip the gym, sauna, hot bath, steam room and any for the first week. Sweat healing skin and increases infection risk.

The single most common cause of self-inflicted scarring after . Crusts will fall off on their own as the skin . If you find yourself unconsciously, the area thoroughly helps remove the .

If you have a history of perioral herpes, it at . We start antiviral a few days before and through the early healing window.

Factors that affect your healing time

Within the ranges, individual varies based on several factors. Faster healing tends to track with: younger age, non-smokers, good general health, adequate sleep and during recovery, and disciplined aftercare. Slower or more complicated healing tends to track with: smoking ( every aspect of wound healing), recent or use, diabetes or other conditions affecting skin healing, immunosuppression, history of poor scarring, and active skin conditions at the site.

If any of these apply we’ll discuss them in detail at consultation and adjust the or timing as appropriate. In some cases — particularly recent use — we’ll defer treatment until is restored.

What we don’t recommend

Frequently asked questions

Fractional Er:YAG: most patients return to office or home-based work after 5 to 7 days. roles may want 7 to 10 days. Fully ablative: 10 to 14 days.

Light walking from day three. Gentle exercise from day seven. Full intensity, sweat-inducing exercise from week two onwards. Saunas and steam rooms from week four.

You’ll see surface improvements by week two as the new skin . tightening continues for six months. Most feel the result is "finished" around month three to four.

Pink colour fades over two to six weeks. For fully ablative, can persist a little longer. makeup it easily from week two onwards.

Yes, but with appropriate spacing. is often staged a few weeks before or after; and can resume once the skin has fully healed. Plan during your consultation.

Our laser resurfacing is delivered on the Fotona SP Dynamis Pro by clinicians in protocol depth to each patient’s skin and . is written, and supported — you leave with everything you need to navigate the recovery successfully, plus direct contact for any during healing.

Centre for Surgery · CQC-regulated · GMC specialist-registered · · · ·

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Centre for is a private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic through GMC-registered surgeons. Our spans facial and , , for men, and body procedures such as and . Patient safety, surgical and results sit at the heart of everything we do.

Centre for is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic , offering plastic and led by .

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