Laser technology gives us a reliable way to resurface the skin and address a wide range of concerns. These treatments offer a level of control that makes them useful for patients looking for skin renewal while limiting recovery time as much as possible.
At San Diego Aesthetics & Med Spa in La Mesa, CA, we offer several laser options to match different skin types and goals. Each laser works in a different way, which lets us adjust your treatment based on what your skin needs. Whether you're new to lasers or exploring other resurfacing methods, we can guide you through the options available.
What Is Laser Skin Resurfacing?
Laser skin resurfacing is a treatment that removes layers of damaged skin using targeted light energy. The goal is to trigger your body’s natural healing process so that newer, smoother skin can take its place. We use this method to help reduce visible signs of aging, sun damage, and uneven skin tone.
How Laser Resurfacing Works
Lasers deliver controlled energy to the surface of your skin or slightly deeper, depending on what we are treating. That energy creates heat, which prompts your skin to produce more collagen and shed damaged cells. This helps smooth out the surface and improve the look and feel of the skin.
What Are the Different Types of Laser Resurfacing Treatments?
There are different types of resurfacing lasers, including fractional laser resurfacing, fully-ablative, and non-ablative lasers. Fractional lasers treat small columns of skin, which helps shorten downtime while still triggering noticeable improvement. Fully-ablative lasers remove the full top layer of skin and are usually better for deeper lines or scars. Non-ablative lasers heat the skin without removing it. We offer several options and make the choice based on how aggressive or gentle the treatment needs to be.
What Can Laser Resurfacing Treat?
Acne Scars and Other Scars
Scars can develop when the skin heals unevenly after trauma, acne, or surgery. Raised or indented scars stand out because of how they affect skin texture. We use laser resurfacing for scars to smooth the skin by targeting damaged tissue and encouraging new collagen to rebuild the area more evenly.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Laser resurfacing can be a good option for reducing the appearance of fine lines around the eyes, mouth, and forehead. These lines tend to form as collagen breaks down. By stimulating new collagen growth, lasers can help soften etched lines and prevent them from deepening.
Uneven Texture and Enlarged Pores
When skin feels rough or looks uneven, it is often due to buildup, past breakouts, or stretched pores. In these cases, we often recommend lasers that lightly resurface the outer layers to improve tone and texture. The right settings can also tighten the skin around large pores to make them appear smaller.
Hyperpigmentation and Sun Damage
Brown spots, blotchy patches, and uneven color are often caused by long-term sun exposure. With laser resurfacing, we can break up excess pigment and encourage fresh, evenly toned skin in the treatment areas. Each laser targets pigmentation in different ways, so we select the one that best fits your skin tone and concern.
Laxity, Sagging, and Thinning Skin
As the skin starts to thin or lose firmness, we sometimes use deeper laser settings to heat the lower layers where collagen and elastin support the skin. Lasers can offer subtle lifting and tightening and are useful when early signs of laxity start to show.
Where Can Laser Resurfacing Be Performed?
- Face: Most patients come in for laser resurfacing on the face since it’s often where fine lines, sun spots, and texture changes are most visible. Different parts of the face, such as the cheeks, forehead, or around the eyes, can be treated using different intensities.
- Neck: The neck often has thinner, more delicate skin that responds well to laser resurfacing treatments. Neck treatments improve crepey texture, sun damage, mild laxity, and more.
- Other Areas: We can also perform laser resurfacing on the chest, hands, arms, back, and more. If you have concerns that could be resolved through laser treatments, you can schedule a consultation to find out if laser resurfacing is a good option.
Comparing Resurfacing Technologies
Laser Resurfacing
Lasers are suitable for both texture and pigmentation concerns. Laser resurfacing can reach deeper than other treatments and offers precise results because of the single wavelength of light used during treatments. The level of control it offers allows us to adjust depth, intensity, and coverage for more customized treatment.
IPL
Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) is not a laser but rather a broad-spectrum light source that uses multiple wavelengths. It is mostly used to treat surface-level pigmentation, redness, and vascular concerns. While IPL does not resurface the skin like a laser, it does trigger cell turnover and collagen stimulation with minimal downtime.
Radiofrequency
Radiofrequency treatments use electromagnetic energy rather than light to heat the skin. This thermal energy targets the dermis while leaving the top layer alone, which can make it a good option for improving skin laxity without peeling or visible flaking. It is often combined with microneedling to help with both tone and firmness.
Our Featured Laser Resurfacing Technologies
DEKA SmartXide PRO
The DEKA SmartXide PRO is a CO₂ laser system used to resurface the skin. It uses a unique pulse shape and delivery system that allows us to control how deeply and broadly the laser affects the skin. We can adjust settings like energy, dwell time, and spacing to customize treatments based on how much correction is needed and how much downtime a patient is comfortable with.
- RefineX: Our RefineX treatment is for lighter resurfacing and works well for fine lines, rough patches, and early aging changes. It targets the upper layers of the skin with controlled laser energy, stimulating collagen while limiting recovery time. This setting is a good choice if you’re looking for visible improvement but want to avoid a long healing process.
- ReformX: Our ReformX option reaches deeper into the skin to address more advanced concerns like deeper wrinkles, acne scars, and severe sun damage. It removes more of the damaged skin while also heating the tissue underneath, which can lead to stronger collagen remodeling. This option involves a week of recovery, but it offers more dramatic results when surface-level treatments are not enough.
Spectrum Erbium YAG Laser by Rohrer
The Spectrum system by Rohrer™ is a versatile platform that supports several aesthetic treatments, including skin resurfacing with its Erbium YAG handpiece. Erbium YAG operates at a wavelength that is highly absorbed by water in the skin, which allows for precise ablation with less thermal damage to surrounding tissue. We recommend this option to patients who want noticeable resurfacing results with a shorter recovery period.
The Erbium YAG handpiece is effective for treating fine lines, uneven texture, and superficial pigmentation. It removes the outermost skin layers and encourages healthy skin regeneration and collagen formation underneath.
Combining CO2 Laser Resurfacing and RF Microneedling for Maximized Results
When CO₂ laser resurfacing is combined with RF microneedling using the PiXel8-RF device, we can target both surface-level damage and deeper skin remodeling in a single treatment plan. The laser helps smooth texture, reduce pigmentation, and resurface the top layers, while RF microneedling delivers controlled heat below the surface to boost collagen and firm the skin. Together, they can address fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and uneven skin more effectively than either treatment alone.
What To Expect Before, During, and After Your Treatment
Preparing for Treatment
Before your appointment, we’ll talk through your skin concerns, medical history, and past treatments to determine the best laser settings for you. We may ask you to stop using retinoids, glycolic acids, or other exfoliants for about a week to avoid added skin sensitivity. It’s also important to avoid sun exposure before your session because tanned or sunburned skin is more sensitive and may lead to more irritation after treatment.
During Your Treatment
We’ll start by cleansing your skin and applying a topical numbing cream to keep you comfortable. Once your skin is numb, we use the laser device to treat the targeted areas, working on one tiny section of skin at a time and adjusting settings as needed. During a laser skin treatment, you might feel heat or a prickling or snapping sensation. This can be uncomfortable for some patients, but using the topical numbing cream reduces these sensations.
The Recovery Process
After treatment, your skin may look pink, like you have spent too much time in the sun. Depending on the type of laser used, you might also experience swelling, flaking, or light peeling over the next several days. We’ll give you instructions on how to care for your skin, including when to moisturize, how to cleanse, and what to avoid. Continue avoiding sun exposure during this time, and use only gentle products while your skin heals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Laser Resurfacing Treatments
Finding the Right Laser Provider
Choosing the right provider matters just as much as choosing the right laser. At San Diego Aesthetics & Med Spa, we take a thoughtful, minimal approach and only recommend what we truly think will benefit your skin. We will always give you honest, realistic guidance in a relaxed setting. We are a woman-owned and operated practice with a strong emphasis on enhancing natural features and promoting skin health.
Schedule Your First Laser Skin Resurfacing Session in La Mesa, CA
Laser resurfacing offers a way to smooth skin texture, reduce visible aging, and improve clarity using controlled laser energy. At San Diego Aesthetics & Med Spa, we offer several laser options to promote the health and appearance of your skin. To schedule your consultation in La Mesa, CA, call (619) 303-0988 or contact us using the online form.
