8 common facial laser treatments & their benefits in 2025
If you're dealing with stubborn acne scars, age spots, or fine lines, you're not alone in wanting effective solutions. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, over 3.5 million laser skin resurfacing procedures were performed in 2024, making facial laser treatments the go-to choice for lasting skin rejuvenation without surgery or extensive downtime.
This guide covers eight common facial laser treatments, breaking down what each does best, how the laser technology works, recovery expectations, and the pros and cons. Understanding the types of common laser treatments helps you make the best choice for your skin goals, as treatments can vary in intensity, downtime, and effectiveness.
CO2 laser resurfacing
What it's best for
CO2 laser resurfacing tackles skin concerns like deep wrinkles, pronounced acne scars, and extensive sun damage that other laser treatments can't touch. This powerful ablative laser is commonly used for skin rejuvenation and works well for people with fair to medium skin tones who want dramatic results. However, it's not ideal for darker skin tones (it can cause pigmentation changes), active acne, or those who can't commit to strict skin care during healing.
How it works
CO2 laser technology uses concentrated beams, which get absorbed by water in the skin cells. This vaporizes damaged surface tissue and heats the underlying skin to promote new collagen growth. This ablative process explains both its dramatic effectiveness and longer recovery time.
Downtime and recovery
Your skin will look and feel like it has a moderate sunburn, with redness, swelling, and peeling lasting one to two weeks. Keep your skin moist with prescribed ointments and avoid makeup for at least ten days. Most people take seven to 10 days off work and avoid social events during visible healing.
Pros and cons
Benefits include dramatic improvement in deep wrinkles, acne scars, and sun damage, with results lasting around three to five years. However, the laser treatment involves discomfort, requires extended downtime, and carries higher risks for darker skin tones who may develop permanent pigmentation changes.
Erbium laser resurfacing
What it's best for
Erbium laser resurfacing targets fine lines, moderate wrinkles, and surface-level age spots with more precision and less heat than CO2 lasers. This ablative laser is excellent for delicate areas around the eyes and mouth where CO2 might be too harsh. It works well for people with medium to darker skin tones who want rejuvenation without the higher pigmentation risks.
How it works
Erbium lasers target water in the skin and vaporize damaged top layers with less heat damage to surrounding tissue compared to CO2 lasers. This precision means less swelling, faster healing, and lower complication risk. The laser technology excels at creating smooth, even skin texture without an intense inflammatory response.
Downtime and recovery
Expect mild to moderate redness and peeling for about five to seven days, similar to a moderate sunburn. Most people return to work within a week and resume their normal skin care routine after five to 10 days.
Pros and cons
Erbium offers faster recovery and works safely on broader skin tone ranges, making it accessible to more people wanting improvement without extended downtime. However, you may need multiple sessions to achieve the same level of improvement as one CO2 session, and it's less effective for deep wrinkles or severe scarring.
Fractional CO2 laser
What it's best for
Fractional CO2 combines traditional CO2 power with a delivery that treats a fraction of the skin in tiny columns rather than removing entire surface areas. This type of laser is excellent for acne scars, deep wrinkles, and uneven skin texture while reducing downtime compared to full CO2 laser resurfacing. It's particularly effective for people wanting substantial improvement but who can't commit to extended recovery time.
How it works
Fractional laser technology creates thousands of microscopic treatment zones while leaving surrounding tissue untreated, allowing skin to heal faster. The laser creates controlled micro-injuries that trigger natural healing and collagen production within the skin. This is still an ablative laser, but the fractional pattern reduces downtime compared to traditional CO2 treatments.
Downtime and recovery
You'll experience redness, swelling, and peeling for about five to seven days, with intensity depending on treatment aggressiveness. Most develop a bronzed appearance as treated skin cells peel away within one to two weeks. Final results become visible over three to six months as new collagen forms and new skin emerges.
Pros and cons
Fractional lasers offer effective skin renewal with notably less downtime than traditional CO2 laser resurfacing, making it a good compromise between results and recovery. However, you may still need multiple treatments for optimal results with deeper concerns, and skin remains temporarily sensitive to sun exposure for several weeks.
IPL (Intense pulsed light) therapy
What it's best for
Intense pulsed light therapy excels at treating pigmentation problems like sun spots, age spots, freckles, and rosacea-related redness, making it ideal for uneven skin tone. It's also effective for reducing overall facial redness and broken capillaries. However, IPL has limitations with deep wrinkles, pronounced acne scars, and skin texture issues requiring actual tissue removal.
How it works
Unlike traditional laser treatments using single wavelengths, IPL uses broad-spectrum light with multiple wavelengths to target specific skin pigments and blood vessels. Light energy is absorbed by pigmented spots and red blood vessels, which heat and break them down without damaging the surrounding tissue. While grouped with laser treatments, IPL technically uses light-based technology rather than true laser technology.
Downtime and recovery
IPL causes mild redness and sensitivity immediately after treatment, similar to a light sunburn that usually resolves within hours to a day. Typical downtime is 24 to 48 hours. You might notice darkened spots getting darker before flaking off over one to two weeks.
Pros and cons
IPL is a non-ablative laser treatment effective for multiple skin issues in one session, making it convenient for busy people who want gradual improvement without downtime. However, most people need three to five treatments spaced monthly for optimal results. It also has limitations in treating deep wrinkles or textural concerns, and results can be uneven if not performed properly, especially on certain skin types.
Pico laser (Picosecond laser)
What it's best for
Pico laser technology treats stubborn pigmentation like melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne, and is also effective for tattoo removal, thanks to its ultra-short pulse duration. It's particularly effective for acne scars and works safely on all skin types, including darker skin tones that might not be good candidates for other laser treatments.
How it works
Pico lasers deliver energy through short pulses that shatter pigment particles and stimulate collagen without the heat damage associated with longer pulse laser therapy. This ultra-short duration means the underlying skin doesn't have time to heat up, which reduces burn and pigmentation risks.
Downtime and recovery
You might experience mild redness or temporary darkening of treated spots, but you can usually return to most normal activities immediately. However, avoid activities that cause heavy sweating for the first two days. Some notice a slight sunburn sensation for hours, but serious side effects are rare when performed correctly. Limit sun exposure and avoid harsh skincare ingredients for a few days.
Pros and cons
Pico laser offers minimal downtime while being highly effective for stubborn pigmentation that doesn't respond to other treatments, and it's safe for virtually all skin types. However, you'll typically need around two to four sessions spaced two to four weeks apart for complete results, and treatment can be more expensive per session than alternatives.
Clear + Brilliant laser
What it's best for
Clear + Brilliant is designed for early signs of aging and maintaining healthy skin without aggressive resurfacing. This gentle, non-ablative laser improves skin tone, texture, and radiance. It works well for preventive care and to enhance skin appearance over time. It's effective for subtle, gradual improvements and serves as maintenance for those who've had intensive procedures and want to preserve youthful skin results.
How it works
This fractional laser creates microscopic treatment zones in upper skin layers, stimulating natural cell turnover and collagen production. Thanks to these controlled micro-injuries, skin heals with fresh, healthy cells while leaving surrounding tissue untreated for faster recovery.
Downtime and recovery
Most people resume their daily activities immediately after the procedure. You might experience mild redness and slight swelling, resolving within 24-48 hours, similar to a mild sunburn. Some notice temporary dryness or slight peeling over the next few days. Most can return to regular skin care and make-up routines within a week.
Pros and cons
Clear + Brilliant offers minimal downtime while effectively maintaining youthful skin and preventing early aging signs.
However, this approach isn't ideal for deep wrinkles, major sun damage, or severe skin concerns requiring aggressive intervention. You'll also need multiple sessions for best results, around three to six treatments spaced four weeks apart.
Fraxel laser
What it's best for
Fraxel improves skin texture and tone, reduces sun damage, minimizes acne scars, and smooths fine lines. This fractional laser works well for moderate skin concerns and offers a middle ground between gentle treatments requiring many sessions and aggressive procedures requiring extended downtime.
How it works
Fraxel delivers fractionated laser beams, creating thousands of tiny, deep treatment columns while leaving surrounding tissue untreated for healing. This triggers natural healing and stimulates new collagen production over the following months.
Downtime and recovery
Expect moderate redness, swelling, and eventual peeling lasting five to seven days, with intensity depending on treatment depth. Many describe it as a moderate sunburn that gradually improves daily. You can typically resume normal activities the following day after your procedure. Results become visible as healing progresses, with continued improvement over three to six months as new collagen forms.
Pros and cons
Fraxel treats fine lines, sun damage, and mild to moderate scars with less downtime compared to more aggressive procedures.
However, the laser used can cause temporary darkening in certain skin types, particularly medium to darker complexions, and around three to five treatments spaced two to four weeks apart are often necessary for deeper concerns. Some find the results less dramatic than expected.
VBeam laser (Pulsed dye laser)
What it's best for
VBeam stands out as one of the most effective treatments for redness, rosacea, broken capillaries, and vascular issues, which make skin look inflamed or blotchy. Its precision in targeting blood vessels makes it the gold standard for facial redness that doesn’t respond to topical treatments. It's commonly used for post-acne redness and can treat port-wine stains and vascular birthmarks.
How it works
The VBeam laser emits a specific wavelength that blood vessels can absorb but surrounding skin cannot. When the blood vessels are heated, they close off and collapse without damaging surrounding tissue. The laser seals problematic blood vessels that cause visible redness, allowing your body to naturally absorb them through its healing process. The treatment feels like a rubber band snap.
Downtime and recovery
You might experience redness, mild swelling, or temporary bruising, especially with higher energy settings for stubborn lesions. These effects typically resolve within a few days to a week, and many return to normal activities immediately after. Most see improvements within two to four weeks as treated vessels are absorbed.
Pros and cons
VBeam is highly effective for treating redness and vascular issues with quick treatment sessions and minimal downtime. Results can be dramatic, essentially eliminating chronic redness. However, treatment may cause temporary bruising or increased redness immediately after, and about three to five sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart are usually needed for long-term results.
How to choose the right laser treatment for your skin
Choosing the right laser treatment starts with assessing your primary skin concerns – wrinkles, damaged skin, redness, or uneven skin texture – since different types of lasers excel at solving specific problems. Your skin type, downtime tolerance, and budget help determine which treatment works best.
The most important step is consulting with an experienced laser specialist who can target specific skin issues, discuss realistic goals, and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan.
Risks of facial laser treatments
While generally safe when performed by qualified professionals, common side effects include temporary redness, swelling, and irritation, typically resolving within days to weeks. More serious but less common risks include hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, scarring, or increased sun sensitivity lasting months, with higher risks for certain skin conditions or those not following proper aftercare.
Minimize risks by choosing experienced providers who understand how different lasers affect various skin types.
Common questions to ask your provider
Before committing to any laser skin treatment, get clear answers to these essential questions:
How many sessions will I need?
What is the expected recovery time?
Will this treatment work for my skin type?
What kind of results should I expect?
What does after-care look like?
How can I best preserve my results?
Why choose SkinMatrx for your facial laser treatment?
If you're ready to transform your skin, Skin Matrx in Burbank delivers exceptional results backed by advanced facial laser technology. Our team, led by Dr. Blanka Orloff—a distinguished member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine—combines clinical excellence with personalized patient care to help you achieve clearer, smoother skin.
Call 818-600-6719 to schedule your consultation.