--- title: "Laser Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation | Sutter Health" description: "I've heard about laser skin treatments for collagen rejuvenation. Can you tell me how it works and how many treatments I'll need? Also, does the treatment hurt and what can I expect afterwards?" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282" --- 1. Home / 2. Laser Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation # Laser Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation * * * Medically reviewed by - Robert M Peppercorn, M.D. ## Question I've heard about laser skin treatments for collagen rejuvenation. Can you tell me how it works and how many treatments I'll need? Also, does the treatment hurt and what can I expect afterwards? ## Answer There are two basic types of cosmetic laser treatments that offer skin rejuvenation. There are classified as ablative and non-ablative. The most effective for wrinkle removal and collagen regeneration is the CO2 laser that can remove major wrinkles and restore collagen with one treatment. Ablative treatments like the CO2 laser remove the full epidermis and outer dermis by vaporizing them. New collagen develops in the dermis and a new epidermis grows back, creating a youthful, non-sun-damaged appearance after two weeks. Results are amazing and dramatic, but two weeks of down time are needed during the initial healing process. Less aggressive fractional CO2 lasers heal somewhat faster, with less dramatic but very acceptable results. Collagen continues to regenerate in the dermis for three to six months. Non-ablative lasers require multiple treatments separated by three to six weeks and offer some collagen regeneration after the treatment series. Non-ablative lasers such as intense pulsed light, yag laser and fractional erbium offer improvement through the stimulation of collagen in the upper dermis. Fine wrinkles improve but results are more subtle. Many of the non-ablative lasers will also improve skin color by reducing blotchy sun damage and can improve skin texture. These less-aggressive rejuvenation lasers do not require downtime or days off work. When considering laser rejuvenation, always check into the experience of your laser specialist before undergoing treatment. ## Explore related topics Skin and beautySkin Care ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### Laser Treatment for Adult Acne? I have adult acne, but I'm also getting saggy skin now that I'm in my 40s. Would laser treatments help both? - Health Q&A ### Cosmetic Treatment for Sagging Skin on Neck I'm in my early 50s and I like the results I've gotten from Botox and fillers. However, my neck looks old and dry, and the skin is starting to sag. 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View all questions ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Laser Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282","name":"Laser Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation","description":"There are two basic types of cosmetic laser treatments that offer skin rejuvenation.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#question","name":"Laser Treatments for Skin Rejuvenation","text":"I've heard about laser skin treatments for collagen rejuvenation. Can you tell me how it works and how many treatments I'll need? Also, does the treatment hurt and what can I expect afterwards?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#answer","text":"There are two basic types of cosmetic laser treatments that offer skin rejuvenation. There are classified as ablative and non-ablative. The most effective for wrinkle removal and collagen regeneration is the CO2 laser that can remove major wrinkles and restore collagen with one treatment. Ablative treatments like the CO2 laser remove the full epidermis and outer dermis by vaporizing them. New collagen develops in the dermis and a new epidermis grows back, creating a youthful, non-sun-damaged appearance after two weeks. Results are amazing and dramatic, but two weeks of down time are needed during the initial healing process. Less aggressive fractional CO2 lasers heal somewhat faster, with less dramatic but very acceptable results. Collagen continues to regenerate in the dermis for three to six months. Non-ablative lasers require multiple treatments separated by three to six weeks and offer some collagen regeneration after the treatment series. Non-ablative lasers such as intense pulsed light, yag laser and fractional erbium offer improvement through the stimulation of collagen in the upper dermis. Fine wrinkles improve but results are more subtle. Many of the non-ablative lasers will also improve skin color by reducing blotchy sun damage and can improve skin texture. These less-aggressive rejuvenation lasers do not require downtime or days off work. When considering laser rejuvenation, always check into the experience of your laser specialist before undergoing treatment.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282","author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#expert"}}},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#expert"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/laser-treatments-for-skin-rejuvenation-1051061282#expert","name":"Robert M Peppercorn","honorificSuffix":"M.D."} ```