Notice: Users may be experiencing issues with displaying some pages on stanfordhealthcare.org. We are working closely with our technical teams to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.
 

Learn about the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccine, and our masking policy »

Stanford Health Care

Techniques

Our Approach to Laser Treatments

The doctors in the Stanford Health Care Dermatologic Surgery program not only have the expertise to help improve the health and appearance of your skin, they are leading the development of new technologies and techniques not yet available at other centers.

What We Offer You for Laser Treatments

  • Years of experience using laser treatments safely and effectively.
  • Expertise using lasers to treat wrinkles, scars, and varicose veins, and to remove tattoos.
  • Fast treatment with minimal pain and downtime.
  • Treatment available in a comfortable, private, easy to reach setting.

What is Laser Treatment?

Techniques for Laser Treatment

Laser resurfacing

Your treatment and recovery steps depend on which technology you choose:

Non-ablative procedure and recovery

  • Each appointment last about 2 hours.
  • After arriving, a topical anesthetic gel is applied to the targeted area for about a half hour. (We also use cooling techniques to make the procedure even more comfortable.)
  • Afterward, you apply a cold compress or ice pack for approximately 10 to 20 minutes each hour (as needed for the first 12 to 24 hours).
  • Wear sunblock with at least SPF 30 throughout your treatment period and for 3 months afterward to avoid pigment change.
  • Apply Vaseline 3 to 4 times each day to any areas that develop blistering or open sores.

Ablative procedure and recovery

  • Each appointment lasts 3 to 4 hours
  • After you arrive, we take photographs of the targeted area and apply a topical anesthetic cream. We also offer oral medication for relaxation and use a local anesthetic to bathe nearby nerves
  • Antibiotics and antiviral medications are typically prescribed to help prevent infection (particularly important if you have a history of cold sores).
  • You need to perform gentle skin cleansing twice daily and apply Vaseline or Aquaphor several times a day for 5 to 7 days.
  • Use a cold compress or ice pack to relieve swelling, applying for 10 minutes at a time, once or twice hourly.
  • Peeling and flaking usually occur within 24 hours — do not rub or pick, as this can cause scarring or infection.
  • Avoid direct sun exposure for up to 2 months, as well as strenuous exercise and getting shampoo on the treated area until you’ve fully healed.
  • Don't wear makeup until your skin has healed.
  • Use sunblock with SPF 30 or higher for at least 3 months.

Patient responses vary from laser resurfacing, with the type of treatment also playing a role. Call us at 650-725-5272 if you have any questions or experience:

  • Excessive swelling or pain
  • Fever
  • Blistering
  • Extreme itching
  • Infection
    • Drainage that looks like pus
    • Increased warmth at or around the treated area
    • Fever of 101.5 degrees or higher
    • Extreme itching

Non-ablative resurfacing side effects

  • Slight skin stinging for about 1 hour afterward
  • Some redness and swelling, which lasts an average of 3 days and can be covered with makeup within a day or two

Ablative resurfacing side effects

  • Redness and swelling are expected within a few minutes of completing the procedure and normally persist for 1 to 3 weeks, depending upon the depth of the peel.
  • You may experience mild burning that goes away after an hour or so.
  • Peeling can last 1 to 2 weeks.
  • Oozing or seeping of light pink, transparent fluid will occur with deeper treatments and can last for 24 to 72 hours. This is a natural part of the skin-healing process. You can gently dab the fluid with clean gauze if it mixes with your Aquaphor or Vaseline, but do not rub or scrub.

Removing a Tattoo with Lasers

Getting a tattoo removed by laser is tolerable — many patients compare it to a snapping rubber band. For additional comfort, we may numb the tattooed area with topical or local anesthesia, or with cool air.

Please keep in mind that:

It may not prove possible to remove 100 percent of your tattoo. Certain pigments are especially stubborn and may require multiple treatments or a different laser.

Multiple treatments (typically 6 to 12 or more) may be required, depending on the characteristics of the tattoo pigment and your goals.

After getting your tattoo removed, make sure to:

  • Use water and mild soap to wash the area, gently patting it dry.
  • Apply an ointment such as Vaseline twice a day until the area has fully healed.

You may use ice and acetaminophen (Tylenol) or oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to ease any discomfort.

Tattoo removal side effects

Laser tattoo removal is well tolerated by most people, but please call us at 650-725-5272 if you have any questions or concerns.

In rare cases, you may experience:

  • Darkening of some cosmetic tattoos (especially eyeliner, lip-liner and flesh-colored tattoos)
  • Skin hyperpigmentation (dark discoloration) or hypopigmentation (lightening), usually temporary
  • Indentations, scarring, depressions, or other skin texture changes

Laser vein treatment

Pulsed dye laser treatment lasts from 15 to 30 minutes, with the possibility that you'll need several sessions. Some lesions aren't treatable at all, depending on:

  • Type of lesion and color
  • Location and depth
  • Your age

After treatment, we usually have you apply ice or a cold pack right away. You can continue doing so at home for 15 to 20 minutes every hour. We also recommend putting on Vaseline and then reapplying if you experience blistering.

Laser vein treatment side effects

There are rarely any permanent problems with pulsed dye laser treatment. You may experience:

  • Lightening or darkening of the skin, which is almost always temporary
  • Depressed skin, which usually goes away in a few months
  • Scarring (less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all cases)

What to Expect from Laser Treatment

Laser vein treatment

We use a topical anesthetic cream before treating some conditions. Sometimes patients experience mild discomfort, like a mosquito sting or a snapping rubber band. But usually, the discomfort is so minimal that no anesthesia or pain relief is needed.

Pulsed dye lasers can cause a few temporary changes:

  • Redness like a slapped cheek that lasts several hours and occasionally a day or two
  • Swelling that soon goes away
  • Bruising that lasts 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the condition and the number of treatments — your doctor can modify your plan to avoid this, or you can use a water-based makeup to cover up

Most patients return to work the day after treatment.

Laser resurfacing

While our treatment recommendations depend on your specific condition, many times you can choose between 2 options:

Ablative resurfacing

  • Deeper treatments (usually to the dermis, the lowest layer) — meaning just one or two sessions but a longer recovery (the deeper the treatment, the longer the healing period and the more redness) 
  • A choice to use fractional technology — vaporizing tiny columns of skin, leaving islands of normal skin untouched to reduce complications and speed healing

Non-ablative resurfacing

  • Less downtime per sessio
  • Multiple sessions — 4 to 6 treatments for the best results, usually every 4 weeks but sometimes 7 to 10 days apar
  • Little discomfort and minimal risk — unlike the ablative approach, it spares the skin's outer barrier and the nerves in the superficial portions of skin
  • Gradual improvement — though you will notice a change even after the first treatment

Both treatments help by stimulating the production of collagen, one of the proteins that support your skin.

Laser tattoo removal

There's no reason to keep a tattoo you no longer want — we can remove a wide range of colors and inks safely and effectively with the latest, fastest lasers available.

Compared to other removal techniques like surgery, bleaching, and sanding, lasers offer important advantages:

  • Shorter treatment sessions (usually 15 to 30 minutes each)
  • Little to no scarring
  • Permanent removal of a wide range of tattoo inks and pigmentations

Our Clinics

Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology
Our laser and cosmetic clinic covers all your dermatologic needs, with top doctors, proven treatments, advanced technology and convenient hours.
Cosmetic and Laser Dermatology
450 Broadway Street
 Pavilion B, 4th Floor
 Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-725-5272 Getting Here »
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FIND A DOCTOR

RELATED CLINICS

1000 Welch Road
 Suite 100
 Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone: 650-498-9868

,
Phone: 650-736-FACE
Make An Appointment

To schedule an appointment, please call: 650-725-5272