With summer vacation season behind us, November is an excellent time of year to start thinking about scheduling any laser skin treatments you might have your eye on. Laser treatments can address a wide range of skin problems, including dark spots, uneven skin tone, acne scars, redness, signs of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and loose skin, and more. While getting laser treatments, you’ll see the best results if you’re able to avoid sun exposure in between sessions, making this time of year ideal for laser and light treatments. 

 

The first step toward choosing the best laser treatment for you is to find a highly qualified and experienced provider. A board member for Sciton, Dr. Pozner of Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center, for example, is an industry leader, training physicians around the country on lasers. As a result, Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center has access to the most up-to-date lasers and techniques in the Southeast region. 

 

The next step is to work with your provider to determine which type of laser or light treatment is the best fit for your specific needs and skincare goals. Here, we outline some of the most popular laser treatments, how they work, and what they typically treat.

 

How Do Laser Skin Treatments Work?

 

Various laser and light treatments work slightly differently, depending on the type of laser or light energy they use. Generally speaking, however, there are two main types of laser skin rejuvenation: ablative and non-ablative. 

 

Ablative lasers work by gently removing the outermost layer of skin in order to not only treat existing skin blemishes but to also stimulate the natural healing process, thus promoting collagen. In contrast, non-ablative lasers work by heating the underlying layers of skin to promote collagen growth without removing the surface layer. 

 

There are unique benefits to each type of laser treatment and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs.

 

What Are the Most Popular Laser Treatments?

 

There are many types and brands of laser treatments available, which can make doing your own research feel a little overwhelming. We’re here to help by explaining in more detail five of the most popular types of laser and light treatments.

 

1. Broadband Light (BBL) Photofacials 

 

Broadband light, or BBL, photofacials are a type of intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment that work by emitting pulses of light at various wavelengths to address specific skin concerns. The light energy gently heats the targeted layers of skin, which stimulates your skin’s natural cell renewal and rejuvenation process.

 

Cutting-edge BBL treatments such as BBL® Hero™ by Sciton are best known for their ability to treat redness, acne scars, uneven skin tone, vascular lesions, visible veins, and other pigmentation concerns. However, BBL treatments such as Forever Young BBL™ can also effectively improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

 

2. Fractional Laser Treatments

 

Fractional lasers can be ablative, non-ablative, or a hybrid of both, as is the case with Halo™ by Sciton. Halo is the first treatment of its kind that uses a hybrid fractional laser to deliver both ablative and non-ablative wavelengths to the same treatment area simultaneously. Thus, Halo laser resurfacing offers the benefits of a traditional ablative fractional laser, but with a faster healing time, less downtime, and fewer treatment sessions. 

 

Halo can be used to treat fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged pores, uneven skin texture, skin discoloration, and sun damage.

 

3. Erbium Laser Resurfacing

 

Erbium lasers such as NanoLaserPeel® offer a gentler laser resurfacing experience than with some other types of ablative lasers, removing the top layer of skin without creating wounds within the skin. The result is a highly effective treatment with little to no recovery time afterwards.

 

Often referred to as a “weekend peel,” NanoLaserPeel effortlessly brightens and smooths skin while improving minor blemishes such as fine lines, acne scars, or other signs of skin damage.

 

4. Non-Ablative Laser Treatments

 

The beauty of non-ablative laser treatments is that they do not wound skin cells and are therefore gentle on the skin and require little to no downtime. Some non-ablative lasers like MOXI™ are gentle enough to be safe and effective on all skin tones and types, even those with sensitive skin.

 

Perhaps best known for its preventative or prejuvenation capabilities, MOXI™ is a cutting-edge non-ablative laser treatment that can not only improve existing skin imperfections now but can also help to prevent signs of aging in the future. 

 

Generally speaking, non-ablative laser treatments tend to pair well with other skin treatments such as BBL photofacials for even more comprehensive results.

 

5. Laser Hair and Tattoo Removal

Laser hair removal and laser tattoo removal remain two of the most popular types of laser treatments year after year. Although these treatments are aimed at removing either unwanted hair or tattoos, LHR and laser tattoo removal work in a similar way to other types of laser skin treatments — by targeting the pigment in your hair follicle or tattoo. 

 

Laser hair removal typically requires four to six treatments spaced several weeks apart in order to achieve maximum results. Similarly, laser tattoo removal often requires at least four treatments to effectively remove an unwanted tattoo, though the exact number of treatments you will need depend on factors like the size, saturation, and location of your tattoo.

 

How to Choose the Best Laser Treatment for You

 

Understanding how various laser and light treatments work and what they can treat is a great first step to deciding which could be right for you. However, working with a reputable Boca Raton & Fort Lauderdale laser provider is the best way to choose and plan the most appropriate laser treatments for your specific skin type, needs, and goals. 

 

For more information about laser skin treatments or to schedule a consultation with one of our expert laser professionals, please call our Boca Raton & Fort Lauderdale office at 561-886-0970 or contact us online today! Alternatively, you can use our online appointment request form to set up your consultation with just a few clicks.