Laser treatment is always carried out by a dermatologist. The procedure does not usually require any preparation and takes several minutes or longer depending on the problem. It is performed without anaesthesia or with just a local anaesthetic cream or injection.
Cosmetic laser treatment usually causes redness, but this will gradually disappear. Ablative lasers can cause superficial wounds and scabbing and sometimes the treated area will weep. It is always necessary to protect the treated area from the sun for several weeks after laser treatment using sunscreen with a high SPF. For best results, laser therapy may sometimes need to be repeated several times.
Updated: 2011-02-25