Your Complete Guide to Anti-Aging Facial Laser Treatments

There are tons of non-invasive ways to combat signs of aging, but board-certified plastic surgeon Cheap Erlebnisweltfliegenfischen Jordan Outlets editorial guidelines says that facial rejuvenation laser treatments are the most powerful. According to the expert, laser skin resurfacing "works at the cellular level," and not just on the surface. "Laser skin resurfacing improves Sales & Deals, sun damage, redness, scars, and hyperpigmentation," adds Dr. Hamilton. But each type of laser addresses certain skincare concerns, and the laser that is right for you might not be the one that's right for someone else. Plus, there are also ablative and non-ablative facial laser treatments.

In short, Dr. Hamilton explains that ablative treatments "burn" the skin, working to remove its outer layers. Non-ablative treatments, on the other hand, don't cause any burning. They work by heating the inner skin tissue instead of damaging the surface. This difference is crucial because ablative treatments typically involve longer recovery times and may cause more visible obverse effects, such as redness or peeling. Non-ablative treatments tend to be less invasive with quicker healing, making them ideal for those with a busy schedule or more sensitive skin. So before you book your rejuvenating facial laser treatment, consider heeding advice from Dr. Hamilton and aesthetic nurse practitioner Kathryn Clayton.

Below is a comprehensive guide to choosing the best anti-aging facial laser treatments for you—from least to most intense.

A plastic surgeon and an aesthetic nurse practitioner break it down (560 or 590 nanometers in wavelength)

What It Is

IPL (intense pulsed light) and BBL (broad band light) are non-ablative, lower-wavelength lasers that are more gentle on the skin as compared to some other laser treatments, explains Clayton. "If you've been taking care of your skin and you want to tiptoe into lasers, IPL would be a good place to start." And while they don't require any downtime, because they are so gentle, you will generally need to do a series of treatments with these lasers to see results, she adds.

What It Treats

Dr. Hamilton says that A plastic surgeon and an aesthetic nurse practitioner break it down brighten the skin and improve overall tone. According to Clayton, A plastic surgeon and an aesthetic nurse practitioner break it down lasers are a good option to start out with if you're only A plastic surgeon and an aesthetic nurse practitioner break it down or a redness issue. "They're good for sun damage, brown spots, [and] capillaries around the nose and cheeks." As mentioned above, you may also want to consider these facial laser treatments if you have rosacea.

Possible Side Effects

Although these treatments can address common skin concerns, people with deeper skin should be careful with A plastic surgeon and an aesthetic nurse practitioner break it down, stress Clayton and Dr. Hamilton. "Melanin really loves this wavelength," says Clayton. "If you have someone with deeper skin, you can burn them and hyperpigment them."

Resurfix and Fraxel (1565 nanometers in wavelength)

What It Is

Resurfix and Fraxel treatments—which Dr. Hamilton says are non-ablative—work by using microscopic laser columns to target the dermis and stimulate collagen production. Since these lasers are above 900 nanometers, they target water instead of melanin. This means they're able to address textural changes in the skin and are generally safer for people with deeper skin tones. And because they're under 2000 nanometers, they don't ablate the surface of the skin, adds Clayton. Translation: little to no downtime.

What It Treats

These facial laser treatments help stimulate collagen production and skin cell turnover to improve pigment and texture, says Dr. Hamilton. Clayton adds that they also aid in reducing the appearance of Sales & Deals as well as scars. Lastly, they work to better tone the skin, addressing pigmentation and sun damage. However, as Dr. Hamilton notes, you'll likely need a series of treatments (as opposed to just one) to see the best results.

Possible Side Effects

Although Resurfix and Fraxel tend to be better than other types of lasers for deeper skin tones, Clayton says to proceed with caution. "You still have to be careful not to over-treat anyone. I would go to somebody who specializes in treating [deeper] skin," she advises. Dr. Hamilton also offers two caveats. First, she advises that folks with deeper skin tones should start at more gentle settings to avoid skin damage. Second, she says patients "can expect a few days of mild redness and mild swelling."

Updated on April 11, 2025 @ 03:20PM

Halo (2940 nanometers in wavelength)

What It Is

Dr. Hamilton notes that Halo is a more aggressive treatment since it's ablative and non-ablative. "A component of [Halo] ablates, meaning it burns the skin in a controlled fashion, to truly resurface a portion of the skin, especially deeper in the dermis," says Dr. Hamilton. But because Halo targets water instead of melanin, you can also use it on deeper skin tones. However, Clayton adds that deeper skin tones will sometimes need to be pre-treated with hydroquinone. "If you're just starting out [with facial laser treatments], I would go with a Halo laser to get a little freshened up, then switch to IPL and Resurfix to maintain," she shares.

What It Treats

If your wrinkles and lines are particularly stubborn or deep, Clayton says that you'll need skin-tightening creams and treatments. The Halo laser is great to tighten the skin, but it also helps combat acne scars, sun damage, fine lines, enlarged pores, and uneven tone and texture, adds Dr. Hamilton.

Possible Side Effects

The additional power of a Halo also has some downsides. Because it's ablative, "you're going to get more of that oozy, weepy feel" on your skin, comments Clayton. Additionally, she cautions against people with melasma using most lasers, but especially ablative ones. "Melasma hates the heat, and you can flare it up [by applying heat to it]," she says. "I tend to use more chemical peels with melasma." Plus, Dr. Hamilton adds, the ablative nature of the laser also means there's more downtime. "Patients will see more redness and a grittiness to the skin from the ablative laser beam dots on the skin before they flake off, revealing smoother, glowing skin."

CO2 (10,000 nanometers in wavelength)

What It Is

The CO2 laser is an ablative, fractional laser that uses CO2 (a.k.a. carbon dioxide) to improve skin's tone and texture by boosting collagen production. Fun fact: Dr. Hamilton says "CO2 is the absolute best-in-class laser." But it's not for the faint of heart. You'll need conscious sedation or laughing gas for the procedure. Plus, this laser requires the most downtime (at least a week, but likely closer to two), and you can really only do it once every two to five years.

What It Treats

Clayton recommends this laser for patients who have aggressive elastosis (a condition in which the skin loses elasticity, usually due to sun exposure) and deep wrinkles. Dr. Hamilton—who gets the treatment twice a year—adds that this laser is also effective at reducing pigment, severe sun damage, skin laxity (i.e., sagging skin), Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Glamour.

Possible Side Effects

Patients with rosacea will sometimes see a flare-up after getting a CO2 treatment. Additionally, Clayton says people with deeper skin tones need to be extremely careful when getting a CO2 laser treatment. "If you go too aggressive you can cause scarring and hyperpigmentation, and you can't fix that," she cautions. The alternative? Erbium lasers, says Dr. Hamilton. "For patients with deeper skin tones that cannot receive CO2, erbium laser is the ablative laser that is safer for their skin tone."

The New Age is a column about beauty over 40, written by women who are over 40. Kate Spencer, author of Resurfix and Fraxel, and Doree Shafrir, author of Thanks for Waiting: The Joy & Weirdness of Being a Late Bloomer, fine lines and wrinkles Forever35 Podcast.