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How Long Does It Take to Heal After Laser Skin Resurfacing?

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Recovery is the question that most laser consultations. Patients that will deliver smoother texture, finer lines and tone — what they want to know is how many days they need to clear from work, when they can wear makeup, when they can be seen in public, and when the final results will appear.

The honest answer depends on which laser you have. This guide breaks down the realistic timeline week by week, what you’ll see at each stage, and covers the that makes the difference between an result and an excellent one.

The two recovery profiles

At Centre for Surgery we use the Fotona SP Pro erbium YAG laser for all . The platform supports two distinct treatment modes, each with its own recovery curve:

Non-ablative treatments — and — on a different entirely. They deliver thermal energy removing the skin surface, so downtime is essentially nil. This guide focuses on ablative resurfacing, where genuine recovery is involved.

For the question of how Er:YAG compares to CO₂ resurfacing, including aggregate recovery for each, see our guide on .

Day-by-day recovery: what to expect

Immediately after treatment your skin will look red, feel hot and tight, and may weep a clear fluid. This is normal — your skin has been precisely ablated and is in active mode. Swelling peaks at 24 to 48 hours, around the eyes if the area was . Cool compresses for short intervals, frequent occlusive ointment, and with your head all help.

You’ll likely want to be at home and unseen during this window. Most patients describe the sensation as a moderate to severe — uncomfortable but with . Our covers what to expect in more detail.

The subsides and small crusts form across the area. Fresh epidermis is in from sweat glands and hair follicles to the surface. The skin feels tight, itchy and looks like a fading sunburn with patchy . This is the most phase for discipline — picking, scratching or peeling crusts manually risks and pigmentation change.

Keep the area thoroughly moist with the occlusive ointment. Gentle cleansing with lukewarm water and a cleanser — fingertips only, no . Pat dry with a soft towel.

For fractional protocols, the surface is largely closed by now. The skin is pink, as a "new baby skin" appearance — uniformly fresh and slightly tender. Most patients are for work and short outings, though may want to wait a few more days before social events. Mineral makeup can usually go on around day 7 — see our dedicated guide on .

For fully protocols, you’re still . Crusting continues, is pronounced.

Fractional see steady fading of . By day 14 most look normal under SPF and light cosmetics, though skin .

Fully patients reach the equivalent of "fractional day 7" around now — surface closed, pink, tender, makeup tolerated. The recovery is just shifted later by a week.

Persistent pinkness — clinicians call it residual erythema — fades but can take six weeks or more to resolve fully. It’s easily with mineral makeup. Some patients notice their skin looks unusually clear and bright during this window as residual sun damage continues to slough.

This is where the underlying results emerge. New collagen is laid down in the dermis, thickening and tightening the skin from . Fine lines refine, scars soften, tone evens out. Most patients see continued for six months after . The skin you have at six months is generally the result of the laser session.

Aftercare that makes the difference

Freshly resurfaced skin is photosensitive. sun exposure during the first three months is the single cause of poor outcomes — changes, prolonged redness, sometimes that’s difficult to reverse. Strict daily SPF 50 sunscreen, hat outdoors, and avoiding peak sun hours from day one of recovery .

Sun protection isn’t just a recovery measure — it’s how you preserve the results. For more on UV damage and how to address its effects, see our guide on .

The prescribed ointment goes on the area frequently — typically every two to three hours during waking hours for the first week, then less often as the closes. The aim is to keep the wound moist, which speeds re-epithelialisation and scarring risk.

Lukewarm water, fragrance-free cleanser, fingertips. No exfoliants, no acids (glycolic, salicylic, retinoids), no vitamin C serum, no scrubs. These can resume on your clinician’s say-so, usually around weeks four to six.

Skip the gym, sauna, hot bath, steam room and any vigorous for the first week. Sweat healing skin and infection risk.

The single most common cause of self-inflicted after . Crusts will fall off on their own as the skin re-epithelialises . If you find yourself picking unconsciously, the area thoroughly moisturised helps remove the .

If you have a of herpes, mention it at consultation. We routinely start prophylaxis a few days before treatment and continue through the early healing window.

Factors that affect your healing time

Within the typical recovery ranges, individual healing varies based on several factors. Faster healing tends to track with: younger age, non-smokers, good General Health & Wellbeing health, adequate sleep and nutrition during recovery, and disciplined . Slower or more complicated healing tends to track with: ( every aspect of wound healing), recent or current use, diabetes or other conditions affecting skin healing, immunosuppression, history of poor scarring, and active skin at the treatment site.

If any of these apply we’ll discuss them in detail at consultation and adjust the protocol or timing as appropriate. In some cases — particularly recent isotretinoin use — we’ll defer treatment until healing capacity is .

What we don’t recommend

Frequently asked questions

Er:YAG: most patients return to office or home-based work after 5 to 7 days. Customer-facing roles may want 7 to 10 days. Fully ablative: 10 to 14 days.

Light walking from day three. Gentle exercise from day seven. Full intensity, sweat-inducing exercise from week two . Saunas and steam rooms from week four.

You’ll see by week two as the new skin . continues for six months. Most patients feel the result is "finished" around month three to four.

Pink colour fades over two to six weeks. For fully ablative, pinkness can persist a little longer. Mineral makeup it easily from week two onwards.

Yes, but with appropriate . is often staged a few weeks before or after; and can resume once the skin has fully healed. Plan combinations during your consultation.

Our laser resurfacing is delivered on the Fotona SP Dynamis Pro by clinicians experienced in tailoring depth to each patient’s skin and downtime . Aftercare is written, and — you leave with everything you need to navigate the recovery successfully, plus direct contact for any questions during healing.

Centre for Surgery · · GMC surgeons · · · ·

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Centre for Surgery is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s Baker Street, delivering and cosmetic surgery through specialist . Our spans facial procedures and , , for men, and body contouring procedures such as and . Patient safety, and results sit at the heart of everything we do.

Centre for is a CQC-regulated private hospital on London’s iconic , plastic and cosmetic surgery led by consultant .

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