Laser Resurfacing Before & After: A Client’s Story

Reviewed by Aesthetic Dr. Hala Mahfoud, Md, MRCOG, DipGum, MFSRH

Written by Ali Rislan, BSc.

Curious about laser resurfacing but unsure what the treatment and recovery really feels like? Wondering if the results are worth the downtime and pain during treatment?

You’re not alone, these are questions that clients ask us often. Laser resurfacing is a strong skin rejuvenation treatment, but it is also quite intense. With that said it's also quite hard for your practitioner to describe the experience.

That’s why we’re sharing the real experience of our client, Adrianna, who had the treatment with us. Her review is honest, insightful, and incredibly helpful for anyone considering laser resurfacing.

By the end of this article, you will know what to expect before, during, and after laser resurfacing.

Summary of Laser Resurfacing Before & After

• Adrianna was looking for a treatment to stop, and reverse, some signs of aging. She had begun to notice wrinkles, especially eye wrinkles, and a bit of dullness in her skin.

• She had expected to stop using strong active skincare products before treatment. For 2 weeks before treatment she stopped using strong products like retinols, and reduced her sun exposure.

• Adrianna knew the treatment would be painful, but mentioned that it was a little more than she'd expected.

• Adrianna mentions that her skin felt quite tight and often itchy during recovery. It was difficult to resist picking her skin, but applying a rich moisturiser helped a lot.

• After seeing the results of laser resurfacing, she would do it again in a heartbeat. She's even committed to adding it to her regular skin maintenance plan.

• After laser resurfacing her skin was tighter and plumped. Signs of aging, like crow's feet, had reduced. Her skin felt totally rejuvenated, in a natural looking way.

  
  

Why Choose Laser Resurfacing?

Laser resurfacing is an ablative laser cosmetic procedure. It causes micro-injuries in your skin that give benefits such as:

• Smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles, and it's often a first choice anti-aging treatment.

• Reducing pigmentation and sun damage, though there is a small caveat here. We often do not recommend it for darker skin types, except in special circumstances and only during winter months.

• Firming and skin tightening, because of the increased collagen and elastin production in your skin.

• Improving skin texture, scarring such as acne scarring, and pore size

  
  

Laser resurfacing, or any fractional laser, works "deeper" than a regular peel or facial. This makes it ideal if you're looking for transformational results.

The Week Before Treatment

Adrianna came to us looking to address signs of aging. She was after a skin tightening treatment that would work on reducing her eye wrinkles primarily. She didn't have sagging skin, but mentioned that she would be keen to prevent her skin from sagging in future. As a bonus she was also after something to treat dull skin.

Adrianna didn't mind having a bit of downtime, and was sure she could handle a painful treatment. So, we settled on recommending iPixel laser resurfacing for her.

Before we get into the details and process of laser resurfacing, there are a few things you should know. As it's such a powerful treatment, there are a few pre-treatment precautions to take:

1. Stop using retinol (or any vitamin A) products 2 weeks prior to treatment.

2. Avoid sun exposure 2-4 weeks prior to treatment.

Day 0 - The Day of Treatment

“I knew it was going to be painful, so I was a little nervous but felt ready.”

Honesty is a priority for us at Dr Hala Medical Aesthetics. So, we'll tell you exactly what we told Adrianna about laser resurfacing:

It is a painful treatment, there's no shying away from that. Some people find it quite difficult to manage, whilst others find it quite tolerable. What is consistent between both groups of people, is that the result is worth it. So if you're willing to tolerate some pain and a week of downtime, it gives truly exceptional results.

“The treatment itself wasn’t too bad, it stung and felt hot. But the first hour afterwards was definitely the hardest part.”

That post-treatment heat is actually the hardest part of the process. The laser creates controlled thermal energy in the skin, essentially "burning" the top layer of skin. That heat continues to build for 20–30 minutes after the session ends, before easing off. The hot sensation should subside between 1-2 hours after treatment, and your skin will be quite red!

We always apply calming serums after you finish your treatment. However, it’s important to be ready for the heat you may feel afterward. It can feel similar to a sunburn or hot flush, and it's completely normal.

Days 1 to 7 - The Recovery

“The itching was tough to deal with at times, but moisturiser saved me.”

During your laser resurfacing recovery, your skin might feel tight and itchy. This is, essentially, your skin crying out for moisture. This is normal after treatment, so we recommend to regularly apply moisturiser to your skin to prevent this.

Skin resurfacing full recovery is typically around 5-7 days for most people. There's a little variation from person to person depending on your skin condition, and intensity of the treatment.

Here’s how our client described her week:

Day 1

Redness and sensitivity, her skin felt hot to the touch. There was some swelling, but nothing major.

At this point it's important to treat your skin very gently.

Days 2–5

The treatment leaves little white dots on the skin, which start turning brown gradually. The redness and swelling has reduced significantly, and starts to subside after days 2/3.

Days 5–7

The brown dots on your skin begin to flake and fall off, revealing gorgeous fresh skin underneath.

“It was quite difficult to resist picking the brown spots off—especially as it was quite itchy. Whenever I was feeling like this, I applied a rich moisturiser, which relieved the itching and reduced the tight feeling in my skin.”

One of the hardest parts? Not picking at the flaking skin, and letting it naturally fall. This is important to ensure you recover well, and don't introduce bacteria from your hands to your skin.

The Laser Resurfacing Results

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

Once the flaking finishes, the process reveals beautiful fresh skin underneath. But that's not all, as the skin heals it stimulates collagen production which continues for months after treatment.

So your full result will actually be revealed later down the line. With that said the initial result is still amazing:

• Wrinkles and fine lines have already begun to fade, with an excellent result for those around the eyes. This makes laser resurfacing a popular, and effective, eye wrinkle treatment.

• The treatment plumps skin and fills it with life. That collagen and elastin increase doesn't just work on lines and wrinkles.

• You'll notice brighter and fresher skin, as your skin renews itself and melanin is broken down.

• Skin texture is improved, leaving supple and smoother skin after recovery.

“After coming out the other side of recovery, I was so happy with the result that I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Adrianna now plans to include laser resurfacing as a regular part of her skin treatment plan.

Final Thoughts: Is Laser Resurfacing Right for You?

For a significant change for your skin and if you can handle some discomfort, laser resurfacing is a great option. The key is knowing what to expect, and planning recovery time properly.

Whether you're after anti-aging, lifting, brightening, or scar treatment; it could be for you.

But every client is different, your skin is unique. There are some situations where laser resurfacing might not be the best option, or might even be risky. That's why we offer a free skin consultation before any advanced treatments.

We will look at your skin in 3D, and discuss your goals. Then, we'll guide you through your treatment options so that you can make the most informed and best decision for your skin.

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