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Benefits of Erbium Laser Skin Resurfacing | Centre for Surgery

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The erbium YAG laser sits at the heart of modern skin resurfacing — a single of light that can vaporise photo-aged cells, smooth acne scarring, lift and collagen in the dermis below. At Centre for Surgery, we use the Fotona SP Pro Er:YAG for all at our Baker Street private hospital. Compared with older CO₂ resurfacing, Er:YAG comparable with substantially less thermal injury, faster and a markedly lower risk of pigmentary side effects.

This guide how the erbium laser works at a tissue level, where it sits relative to CO₂ and alternatives, which conditions respond best, what looks like, and how to decide whether you’re a good .

What is the erbium YAG laser?

Erbium YAG (Er:YAG) is an laser emitting light at a wavelength of 2,940 . Its defining property is high absorption by water — 10–15 times than the 10,600 nm CO₂ laser. human skin is mostly water, Er:YAG energy is absorbed almost instantly in the most cell layers, vaporising them precisely without heat into surrounding tissue.

That precision is the entire . CO₂ achieves its results partly by bulk heating; the surrounding zone of injury is what drives long recovery, persistent and a higher rate of post-inflammatory . Er:YAG removes the same damaged layers, the same response, but does so with a thin rim of thermal effect that the skin tolerates and heals far better.

For a side-by-side comparison of the two systems, see our guide on .

How erbium laser resurfacing works on the skin

relies on a wound-healing . The Er:YAG laser passes over the skin in pulses, each pulse vaporising a depth of tissue — typically 10 to 50 at a time. The clinician chooses pulse energy, pulse duration and number of passes based on the depth and severity of what’s being .

Once the damaged surface is removed, two healing happen in parallel. Within days, fresh epidermis migrates in from sweat glands and hair follicles to re-cover the surface. Over the following weeks and months, the dermis below lays down new — a process called neocollagenesis — which thickens and the skin from underneath. The visible result is smoother texture, finer OnabotulinumtoxinAAbobotulinumtoxinAIncobotulinumtoxinAPrabotulinumtoxinALetibotulinumtoxinARimabotulinumtoxinBHyaluronic Acid FillersCalcium Hydroxylapatite FillersPoly-L-lactic Acid FillersPolymethylmethacrylate FillersAutologous Fat GraftingForehead Lines TreatmentGlabellar Frown Lines TreatmentCrow's Feet TreatmentBunny Lines TreatmentChemical Brow LiftLip FlipGummy Smile CorrectionMasseter ReductionJaw SlimmingDimpled Chin SmoothingCobblestone Chin SmoothingNefertiti Neck LiftMicro-BotoxMesotoxHyperhidrosis TreatmentChronic Migraine ReliefBruxism TreatmentTMJ TreatmentCervical Dystonia TreatmentNeck Spasm TreatmentBlepharospasm TreatmentLip AugmentationLip ContouringCheekbone EnhancementTear Trough FillersNasolabial Fold SofteningMarionette Line FillersLiquid RhinoplastyNon-Surgical Nose JobJawline ContouringJawline DefinitionChin AugmentationTemple VolumisingHand RejuvenationAcne Scar Subcision Filling and tighter, more even skin.

Er:YAG can be used in two distinct modes:

A third mode — Fotona’s proprietary SMOOTH® pulse — thermal energy in a fully manner, heating the dermis without disturbing the epidermal . This is the basis of eyelid tightening, facial rejuvenation, and several intra-oral and treatments.

What erbium laser treats well

Er:YAG is one of the most versatile lasers in dermatological . The it treats best fall into three groups: surface and ageing, concerns, and skin .

Static lines around the eyes, mouth and cheeks — those visible at rest, caused by UV damage and collagen — well to or fully ablative Er:YAG. lines caused by muscle movement (frown lines, lines, crow’s feet during smiling) are better treated with or , sometimes alongside resurfacing.

Solar lentigines (age spots), uneven skin tone and the rough of chronic all clear well with erbium . For or melasma, our dedicated page covers tailored . For the role of sun in skin ageing more broadly, see our overview of the and how each can be addressed.

Atrophic acne scars — ice pick, boxcar and — are a flagship for fractional Er:YAG. The microcolumns of energy reach into the deep dermis where scar tissue sits, triggering collagen remodelling that gradually fills in pitted scars. Our service fractional Er:YAG with techniques where appropriate.

Erbium laser is ideal for benign lesions sitting in the or upper dermis — , , , , , and . Each is vaporised layer by layer under local anaesthetic, typically in a single short appointment.

The five clinical advantages over CO₂

The water coefficient of skin peaks between 2,500 and 3,500 nm. Er:YAG at 2,940 nm sits inside that peak; CO₂ at 10,600 nm does not. The result is that Er:YAG vaporises water-rich tissue and cleanly, with minimal energy left over to heat the surroundings.

By shortening pulse duration (down to around 100 microseconds), the can deliver "cold" with essentially no thermal damage — suitable for the gentlest skin refreshes, sometimes as light peels. pulse (up to 1,000 microseconds) builds in controlled thermal effect for deeper tightening. CO₂’s wavelength gives no flexibility.

Lower thermal effect directly into lower pain. Many small Er:YAG lesion treatments are under topical alone; CO₂ at depths typically requires more substantial local or oral .

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and are driven primarily by injury depth. Less heat means less PIH risk — particularly important for darker skin types (IV–VI), where CO₂ a significant risk of long-lasting pigment change. Er:YAG is far safer in pigmented skin.

Because the wound is and the tissue less heat-damaged, re-epithelialisation happens faster. A Er:YAG resurfacing heals in 7 to 14 days; an CO₂ often takes 14 to 21 days, with for months in some cases.

Erbium laser skin tightening with SMOOTH® mode

Beyond ablative resurfacing, the Fotona Er:YAG laser has a dedicated pulse profile designed to deliver thermal energy without tissue. This mode several of our most popular treatments:

treatments have no downtime, are well tolerated without anaesthesia, and work best as a course of three to four sessions spaced several weeks apart. Results emerge as new collagen forms over two to three months.

What happens during a treatment

Your visit begins with a consultation in which a clinician examines your skin, takes a medical and which Er:YAG protocol fits your concerns. For resurfacing, we’ll discuss preparation, recovery, realistic timelines and outcomes; for a localised lesion we may proceed the same day.

For resurfacing, topical anaesthetic is for around 30 to 45 minutes to numb the skin. Deeper may add local or oral sedation. eye are worn throughout. The passes the laser over the treatment area, with each pass removing a defined layer of tissue. Total treatment time ranges from 30 minutes for a focal area to 90 minutes for full-face deeper resurfacing.

Immediately afterwards the skin feels warm and looks pink — comparable to a moderate . and an are applied. You’ll go home the same day with written .

Recovery, aftercare and pain

on the depth of treatment. A timeline for fractional Er:YAG resurfacing:

Pain during the healing window is mild and usually with paracetamol. For more detail on the full healing arc, weekly milestones and what to avoid, see . If you’re about the procedure itself, our guide to covers what to expect during and after. Patients often ask when normal can resume — typically around day 10 — and our dedicated guide on covers this.

Who is a good candidate

The ideal for ablative Er:YAG resurfacing:

Patients with significant skin laxity or volume loss may benefit more from options — , or RF microneedling — sometimes with Er:YAG to address surface quality.

Combining erbium laser with other treatments

Er:YAG resurfacing is often paired with complementary to deliver a more comprehensive result. Common combinations:

For a with our other flagship platform, see .

What we don’t recommend

A few points where we differ from what’s often marketed:

Frequently asked questions

improvements from a single fully ablative treatment can last five years or more, with benefit from the renewal. The ageing continues, so maintenance with non-ablative SMOOTH® or repeat fractional can extend results indefinitely.

In experienced hands, on appropriate candidates, with proper preparation and aftercare, Er:YAG has an safety profile. The main risks — change, redness, infection, — are and largely preventable.

Pricing depends on the area treated, the depth of resurfacing required and whether single or sessions are needed. Lesion starts at around £450 per session; resurfacing ranges from £1,500 to £6,000 depending on protocol. A gives you an exact quote. We offer through .

Yes, but with caution. The neck and chest have fewer accessory skin structures than the face, which slows . We use conservative settings, often rather than fully ablative, and may stage treatments over a longer course.

lasers (such as 1,550 nm Erbium glass) heat the dermis without removing the surface, giving minimal downtime but more gradual results — typically three to four sessions. Er:YAG produces more dramatic change in a single but requires real . The choice depends on your for downtime versus desire for transformation.

We the Fotona SP Pro at our purpose-built Baker Street private — one of the most Er:YAG platforms available. Our clinicians have extensive experience tailoring protocols to skin type, and tolerance. are in a environment with the full safety infrastructure of a private hospital behind every session.

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

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

Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic , offering and cosmetic surgery led by GMC-registered .

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