Facial Resurfacing & Skin Renewal

What to expect

1. 01

   Medical and skin assessment

   Detailed review of medical history, prior cosmetic treatments, current skincare, sun exposure, photosensitising medications, scarring tendency and any active inflammation. Skin examined in natural and clinical lighting; imaging where appropriate.

2. 02

   Concern and goal mapping

   Assessment of texture, fine lines, pores, scarring, pigmentation and sun damage — matched against your goals, timeline and acceptable level of downtime.

3. 03

   Tailored resurfacing plan

   Selection of the right modality (laser, fractional, erbium, energy-based needling, or chemical peel) at the right depth. Often staged from less intensive to more intensive, with maintenance built in.

4. 04

   Preparation

   Where indicated, prescription skincare (sunscreen, pigment stabilisers, vitamin A) is started 2–6 weeks before treatment. Temporary cessation of retinoids and other products as directed.

5. 05

   Treatment and recovery

   The procedure itself typically runs 20–60 minutes with numbing where needed. A clear recovery plan is provided — cleansing, occlusive aftercare, strict SPF, sun and heat avoidance, and review appointments to monitor healing.

Results timeline

• First 24–48 hours Pinkness, mild swelling and possibly fine flaking begin. Lighter treatments settle quickly; deeper resurfacing peaks in this window before recovery progresses.
• 3–7 days Visible recovery — light treatments are typically back to social activity in 1–2 days; deeper ablative or fractional ablative work takes 5–7 days for the main healing.
• 4–8 weeks Initial textural and tonal improvements emerge. New collagen formation is underway but most of the change is still happening below the surface.
• 3–6 months Peak collagen remodelling. Texture, tone, scarring and fine lines show their most meaningful improvement. This is where the "result" of the treatment becomes most evident.
• 6–12 months and beyond Maintenance phase. Without daily SPF 50+ and periodic touch-ups, ageing and UV damage resume their trajectory. Photoprotection is part of the result.

Frequently asked questions

• Am I a suitable candidate for facial resurfacing? +

  You are likely suitable if you are in good general health and looking to improve texture, fine lines, mild scarring or sun damage. Suitability depends on skin type (Fitzpatrick I–VI all possible with the right modality), medical history (recent isotretinoin within 6 months may delay ablative work), current photosensitising medications, scarring tendency, and acceptable downtime. We will tell you honestly if a particular concern is better treated by a different pathway.
• Which resurfacing option has the least downtime? +

  Light chemical peels and very gentle fractional non-ablative treatments usually involve the least downtime — 24 hours of pinkness, sometimes minimal flaking. The trade-off is more gradual change, often requiring more sessions to reach a comparable result. Deeper ablative resurfacing produces more change per session but requires 5–7 days of recovery. The right balance depends on your concerns and how much downtime you can plan around.
• How many treatments will I need? +

  It depends on the modality and the depth chosen. Light/medium fractional resurfacing is typically performed as a series of 3–5 sessions spaced 4–6 weeks apart. Deeper ablative resurfacing is often a single session followed by maintenance (touch-ups every 12–24 months). Energy-based needling is usually 3–6 sessions. Combination plans — lighter resurfacing + collagen-stimulating injectables, or peels alternating with needling — often outperform repetition of a single device.
• Will one treatment fix everything? +

  Resurfacing produces meaningful improvement but does not stop ageing — most patients benefit from an ongoing plan that includes maintenance, medical skincare and daily sun protection. Aggressive single sessions carry higher complication risk without proportionally better results in most cases. We favour staged, layered approaches over 'one big session.'
• Is facial resurfacing safe for melanin-rich (Fitzpatrick IV–VI) skin? +

  Yes, with careful modality choice, conservative parameters and pre-conditioning. RF microneedling is particularly safe in melanin-rich skin because it bypasses surface melanin. Erbium and fractional treatments are used at modified settings with 4–6 weeks of pre-conditioning with topical pigment-modulators to reduce post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation risk. Care is delivered through our Skin of Colour Clinic — more sessions at lower intensity, with much lower complication risk.
• Can resurfacing treat acne scars? +

  Yes, for selected scar types — boxcar, rolling and mild ice-pick scars often respond well to fractional laser resurfacing, energy-based needling, or combination approaches with subcision and peels. Treatment is staged AFTER active acne is controlled — treating scars while inflammation is still ongoing risks new pigmentation and new scarring. See Acne scarring treatments → for the full structured pathway.
• What if I am on isotretinoin (Roaccutane) or have recently finished it? +

  Isotretinoin is the highest-risk medication for ablative and fractional laser. Traditional guidance has been to wait 6 months after finishing isotretinoin before non-essential ablative resurfacing, though recent evidence suggests this window may be shorter for some modern devices and protocols. We assess case by case — please tell us if you are on or have recently finished isotretinoin. See Photosensitising medications → for the wider list of relevant medications.
• How soon before an event should I have facial resurfacing? +

  It depends on the depth. Light fractional non-ablative treatments need 5–10 days clear of an event for redness and flaking to settle. Medium ablative resurfacing needs 2–4 weeks clear so the main healing is finished and the post-treatment glow has emerged. Deeper full-field ablative work needs 6–8 weeks for the result to look its best. We will sequence treatment around your event timing rather than trying to squeeze it in too close.