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

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is the that most laser resurfacing . understand that will 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 on which laser you have. This guide breaks down the realistic recovery timeline week by week, explains what you’ll see at each stage, and covers the that makes the difference an average result and an excellent 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 recovery curve:

Non-ablative treatments — including and — on a different entirely. They deliver thermal energy without removing the skin surface, so is essentially nil. This guide focuses on resurfacing, where genuine is .

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

Day-by-day recovery: what to expect

after treatment 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, particularly around the eyes if the periocular area was treated. Cool compresses applied for short intervals, occlusive ointment, and with your head elevated all help.

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

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

Keep the area thoroughly moist with the ointment. Gentle cleansing with lukewarm water and a fragrance-free cleanser — fingertips only, no washcloths. Pat dry with a soft towel.

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

For fully ablative protocols, you’re still mid-recovery. continues, redness is pronounced.

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

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

Persistent pinkness — call it residual — 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 sun damage continues to slough.

This is where the 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 see continued for six months after . The skin you have at six months is generally the result of the laser session.

Aftercare that makes the difference

Freshly skin is acutely . Unprotected sun exposure during the first three months is the single biggest cause of poor — pigmentation changes, prolonged redness, sometimes hyperpigmentation that’s difficult to . Strict daily SPF 50 mineral sunscreen, hat outdoors, and peak sun hours from day one of recovery onwards.

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

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

Lukewarm water, cleanser, . 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 vigorous for the first week. Sweat skin and infection risk.

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

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

Factors that affect your healing time

Within the typical ranges, individual healing 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 . Slower or more complicated tends to track with: smoking (impairs every aspect of wound healing), recent or current isotretinoin use, or other affecting skin healing, immunosuppression, history of poor scarring, and active skin at the treatment site.

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

What we don’t recommend

Frequently asked questions

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

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

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

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

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

Our laser resurfacing is delivered on the Fotona SP Pro by clinicians in tailoring 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 questions during .

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

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Centre for Breast surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering plastic and cosmetic through surgeons. Our expertise spans facial procedures including and , , for men, and body contouring procedures such as and . safety, excellence and natural-looking results sit at the heart of everything we do.

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated hospital on London’s iconic , plastic and surgery led by GMC-registered consultant surgeons.

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