A Comprehensive Guide to Laser Recovery Times

When it comes to treatments that fully rejuvenate the complexion, lasers and other in-office resurfacing treatments tend to take the cake. While the nonsurgical cosmetic treatment can yield next-level benefits like enhanced texture, evened tone and skin-tightening, a major concern for patients considering the treatment is the dreaded downtime. With so many laser treatments on the market today, it can be hard to pick the right one. To help guide you on your laser journey, we consulted the experts for the full story on laser downtime and recovery to help your skin get back on its feet as quickly and safely as possible.

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CO2 Laser, Sciton Contour TRL and Erbium Laser Recovery

Ablative lasers remove the outer layer of the skin to “eliminate damage and stimulate deeper collagen remodeling,” New York dermatologst Julie Russak, MD. Known more colloquially as CO2 lasers or Erbium lasers, “When used properly, CO2 and Erbium lasers can be used to improve deep wrinkles, skin laxity, discoloration, uneven texture and also thick scars,” says Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD. With the intense resurfacing capabilities of ablative lasers comes a rather intense recovery process, though.

“With ablative lasers, downtime is more significant,” Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD says. “Your downtime greatly depends on what type of laser you receive, and whether your treatment is full-field or fractionated. For fractionated ablative treatments, you can generally expect about five to seven days of redness and peeling. For full-field ablative resurfacing treatments like Erbium, your downtime may be peeling for one to two weeks, followed by one to two weeks of redness, depending on the treatment area and how deep the laser was.”

Moxi Laser and HALO Laser Recovery

On the less-intense side of recovery are nonablative lasers like Moxi and HALO. “MOXI, for example, is a nonablative laser that works well as a preventative approach to aging and has downtime of just one to two days,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. “HALO, on the other hand, works at a deeper level and can provide more significant results in a single treatment, but has about five to seven days of downtime.”   

Acclaro UltraClear Recovery

Another popular fractional ablative laser beloved for its versatile uses is Acclaro UltraClear. “Acclaro UltraClear has many settings to allow different treatments that have different downtimes, and it uniquely is the only laser right now that can vaporize ablative channels that are bigger than traditional channels and lead to some improvement in loose skin and overall skin laxity through what is called laser enabled tissue coring,” says Denver dermatologist Joel Cohen, MD. “UltraClear can be used on all skin types, and some of the modes allow patients to have procedures with topical anesthesia.”

While Acclaro UltraClear can yield incredible, customized results, Dr. Russak adds that while “ablative fractional lasers offer more dramatic skin resurfacing results,” they also “require a longer recovery period and more intensive post-care.” Luckily, the post-procedural care options of today are expansive and help boost skin recovery and get you back to yourself faster with better results. “The use of advanced cellular therapies—including exosome treatments—has been shown to dramatically improve skin recovery and reduce downtime across all laser modalities,” says Dr. Russak, who swears by the regenerative treatments post-laser for her patients. “By accelerating repair and calming inflammation, our regenerative protocols allow patients to return to their routines more quickly and with enhanced treatment outcomes.”

Clear + Brilliant Laser Recovery

If you’re in the market for a laser with minimal downtime and a rather seamless recovery, Dr. Russak suggests considering Clear + Brilliant. “Clear + Brilliant involves just one to three days of mild redness and a sandpaper-like texture,” she says. “But patients are typically safe to get back to wearing makeup within 24 hours.”

Fraxel Dual Laser Recovery

Another commonly used ablative laser is Fraxel Dual, which Dr. Russak praises for its versatility and low-key recovery process. “Fraxel Dual treatments, one of our most versatile tools, typically involve three to five days of redness and flaking, starting a couple of days post-treatment,” Dr. Russak says.

Products and Tips for Better Laser Recovery

While recovery time and severity will differ from laser to laser and depending on the part of the body being treated, some key practices and products will help make your laser recovery as easy as possible. “Across all modalities, we counsel patients on more than just product use,” says Dr. Russak. “We emphasize hydration, nutrient support, quality sleep and reducing inflammatory triggers when healing from lasers.”

In terms of products that can help prepare the skin for laser treatment and recover faster post-treatment, Dr. Joel Schlessinger recommends ALASTIN Skincare Regenerating Skin Nectar with TriHex Technology ($248) “to prepare and strengthen the skin pre-treatment and reduce redness and recovery post-treatment.”  For fractionated lasers, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger emphasizes the importance of hydrating and protective products.

 “Since fractionated lasers leave many tiny holes in the skin, there is a lot of water loss and you often end up with dry, itchy skin in the days following a laser,” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger explains. “My patients love FixMySkin 1% Hydrocortisone Healing Body Balm ($21) for helping with that itch and discomfort post-laser.” In addition to avoiding sun exposure for at least one month post-treatment, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger recommends TiZO Ultra Zinc Mineral Sunscreen For Body & Face SPF 40 ($45) for the face and the Colorescience Total Eye 3-in-1 Renewal Therapy SPF 35 ($79) for the eye area.